The Courier News from Blytheville, Arkansas • Page 13

NDIANS PROVE TO MEMPHIS STATE THEY'RE FOR REAL IN 29-10 WIN By SAM KREBS Courier News Sports Editor MEMPHIS, Tenn. An athletic program grew up in a hurry here Saturday night. It was an evening some 27,669 people will never forget. Arkansas State University's Indians, fired up with blood in their eyes and hope in their hearts, officially splashed into the big time with a 29-10 shocker over the Memphis State Tigers. Coach Bill Davidson's Tribe, now unbeaten in four contests, not only splashed into the big time, they took all the water in the pool.

An opportunistic defense, quite possibly the best in the Mid-South if not the entire South, forced the punchless Tigers into seven turnovers, including five interceptions -the most ever allowed by a Memphis State team. "It was just another ballgame," insisted Davidson after the contest. "I felt like we could win the ballgame. There was no doubt in my mind. Big mistakes were a deciding factor us in the game.

Our kids had a lot of fun." ASU IN CONTROL Spurred on by approximately 15,000 ASU fans who gave their white-shirted heroes a standing ovation both before and after the game, the men from Jonesboro controlled things from start to finish. They whipped the Tigers offensively" defensively just all over the field. This was the same team that had beaten Southeastern Auburn. Or was it? Memphis State chief Richard Williamson perhaps answered that question. "I thought we were ready to play," he said.

"But obviously I was completely blind. Everybody is after every team they play. One thing for sure, though. We weren't after them tonight. They intimidated us." That intimidation began early.

ASU kicked off to the hosts, and Mike Downing bqorned it to MSU speedster Brown, particularly ineffective, threw the ball into the hands of ASU's Lloyd Walls. He caught it while on one knee to kill the drive. A-State couldn't get anywhere, but punter Dan Mullen put the Tigers in a hole with a 63-yard kick over Wright's head to the 13. After a punt exchange, the Indians had good field position at their own 46, and tricky David Hines started to weave his magic. The gutsy little quarterback kept the Tiger pursuit offguard with a 20-yard scamper into MSU territory at the 34.

He then pitched to tailback Tommy Foulks for IS more to the It. TRIBE SCORES But a holding penalty sent it back to the 34, and although the running of Foulks and bruising fullback Leroy Harris got back to the 15, Mullen came on to break the (coring ice with a 32- yard field goal. ASU led 3-0 with 4:36 left in the quarter. Nothing much happened for the rest of the period, but on the first play of the second stanza, Muckensturm stripped fullback Zack Butler from the ball, and Speer recovered at the MSU 33. Harris, Hines and super sub tailback Dennis Bolden got the ball down to the 13, but on fourth-and-one, the Tiger defense stopped Hines for no gain.

David Hints (15) engineers Indian TD drive. (Courier News Photo) 'THE BULL' SOUNDS OFF Davidson: 'Just Another Ballgame 1 returned it 20 yards before Travis Cantrell hit him at the 24. Then the tempo was set. Fierce defense forced fumbles on Memphis State's first two plays from scrimmage, but the Tigers got the first one back (for a loss of eight yards) and the official's whistle blew before the second. After Eddie Morgan stopped the next play for no gain, the spirited Indians forced a punt.

"We gave them only one play all night long," said defensive coordinator Mike Malham whose son Mike linebacker Jerry Muckensturm, mon- sterman Roy Painter and end Robert Speer keyed the defense. "The defense did what they were capable of doing all along. Everybody was great. I wouldn't try to single out a single player." Wright gave the Tigers a little hope a bit later when he broke a few tackles and kept his balance for a 32-yard run before Malham caught him from behind at the Tribe 39. BIG TURNOVER But two plays later, Memphis State quarterback Kippy i ByfcON CHRISCO Courier News Sports Writer MEMPHIS, Tenn.

"We won it for you," chided ASU coach Bill Davidson to a member of the Memphis press who covers the Indians, "because you didn't think we could beat them." It didn't matter that the reporter vehemently disagreed with him. Davidson, like the Indian players and fans in the hilariously happy dressing room were having their moment. Just moments before, the Indians had completely dominated every phase of the game with the Memphis State Tigers to come away with a stunning 29-10 victory. All week long Davidson had been telling anyone that would listen, that the game with the big time Tigers was nothing special, just one of eleven games on the Tribe's schedule. In the post-game press conference, he hadn't changed his tune.

"You guys just won't believe me, will you, that this was just another game for us?" He was right. None of the people that surrounded him in the little utility room where the press conference was being held, believed him. In fact, the more the Indian head man talked, you were quite sure he didn't believe it himself. "There was never any doubt in my mind or my coaches that we could win the football game," continued Davidson. "We certainly respected their football team, but we felt if we did the things that we do well and cut down on mistakes, we could win.

it-came down to was we took more advantage of their 'mistakes than they did of ours." The Indians did to the Tigers what they have been doing to people with success since the days Bennie Ellender was the ASU head coach taking the football and running it right at them. "They weren't ready for Harris (fullback Leroy), noted Davidson, "he just did a great job. I think they felt we couldn't run inside on them, but we proved we could and that opened up some other things for us." Davidson was interrupted time and again for emotional congratulations from fans, officials and former players. A fan gave Davidson a'hug," but couldn't find words to go with the embrace. He just shook his head and walked away.

An unidentified former Indian player put a bear hug on the ASU coach. "Coach, I want to thank you for a great night. I have been wanting to play these guys for a long time and I want you to know we love you." Turning to the reporters, the former Indian offered, "I want you people to know that this man is the Bull (referring to Davidson's nickname)." Anothe man making the rounds in the dressing room passing out congratulations to players and coaches was ASU athletic I COURIER NEWS I I SPORTS I SAM KUKHS-Sports Editor Monday, September 1975 Page Thirteen jnilllllHIIIIIIIMMIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIli 'director Dean Pryor. "I have been hollering so much I can hardly talk," said the AD. "This is a great night for Arkansas State, and I am so happy for our kids." Now it is on to the rest of the Indian schedule and Davidson may have a problem getting the Tribe back down to earth for what lies ahead.

"That could be a problem," said Davidson, "but I don't think it will be. We know what we want --a conference championship and our kids know what it will take to get it." The big question now concerns the future of this rivalry. Saturday's game was a one-shot contract. If Memphis State officials can look past the whipping they took on the field, they may find some consolation in dollars and cents. A crowd just short of 28,000 watched the contest and as most people agreed, it certainly looked like the majority of those in attendance were ASU fans.

MSU paid the Indians only $15,000 to play the game. That means MSU will probably lake better than $100,000 away from the gate. That's something they can't overlook, no matter how much their pride is hurt. ASU showed they can certainly play with them. It's a natural rivalry and maybe more important, it is a money game.

Look for it to continue. One more thing: it certainly is not just another game. Not anymore. Again, the Indian defense came on strong, and a short MSU punt gave ASU the ball in enemy territory at the 48. Hines cook control, and using himself, Bolden, Foulks and Harris, moved the Tribe to the 11.

A LITTLE DECEPTION Then came what was perhaps the play of the game. On third- and 10, ASU coaches sneaked second-string quarterback Randy Reed into the backfield. With Reed wearing No. 46 Instead of his usual No. 11, nobody noticed him in there.

Least of all Memphis State. Hines took the snap, pitched to Reed, who pulled up and fired 'a perfect strike to the left side of the end zone. The recipient of the strike was the real surprise. After making the pitch, Hines sprinted past the defensive end, and was wide open to grab the pass over his shoulder. That was the play that broke the Tigers' back.

They never really recovered. As if they could. Mullen kicked the PAT, and it was 10-0 with 6:34 remaining in the half. 'MUCK' INTERCEPTS Memphis State got a break late in the period as Steve Berrong fell on an ASU fumble at the Tribe 40 with 10 seconds on the clock, but on the next play, Brown's arm was hit by Indian yackle Dick Dixon, and the pass was corralled by Muckensturm for his first of two interceptions. The Tigers came out after the half with a little more fire, and drove to their first score, although ASU certainly hadn't lost their spirit.

A 50-yard run by Wright put the hosts at the A-Slate 14, but three plays lost a yard, and MSU's Bobby Williams came on to boot a 32-yard field goal for a 10-3 count with 10:13 to go in the quarter. Despite a couple of first downs, ASU was forced into a punting situation, but Mullen kicked a 41-yarder that rolled dead at the MSU 8. That was big because thopunt exchange gave the Indians the ball back at the Memphis State 45. Field position like that was plenty of incentive for Hines and company, who drove to the insurance touchdown in seven plays. The quarterback got 33 of the yards himself, with the big play being a 23-yard keeper to the MSU 19.

FOULKSSCORES Little David then decided to let Foulks have the glory, and the big tailback carried twice for the final nine yards. The touchdown was a four-yard blast over right guard Ken Jones, who led some fantastic offensive line blocking. Mullen's PAT was unsuccessful, but ASU held a 16-3 edge with 2:20 to go in the third period. Memphis Slate bounced back to get on the Scoreboard just before the quarler ended. Wrighl relumed Ihe unsuing kickoff 19 yards before running inlo Cantrell at the 21, and after Brown picked up four yards on a keeper, the Tigers pulled one ASU Page 14 If I Hadn't Seen COURIER NEWS SPORTS EDITOR HERE IT IS about 3 a.m.

Monday morning, Sept 29, 1975, and to tell you the truth, I'm still a little stunned over what I saw Saturday night at Memphis' Memorial Stadium. Arkansas State: 29; Memphis State: 10. All right, I'm convinced. Arkansas Sstate is definitely for real. The Indians have speed, size, depth, quickness and play strictly on emotion.

This is the stuff championships are made of. What really sold me was the fact that ASU is an exciting football team. In fact, I'd compare their electricity generated in turning a cwwd to the old Bruce Hay on a good night. Hay and ASU David Hines are similar in the way they make things a a caus ed a tiny bit of controversy by saying the Indians needed a change because they weren't exciting enough to bring people to Indian Stadium. Except for a tough defense, they really didn't have a lot going for them, at least not until Joe Duren shocked the world with his 63-yard field all that's changed.

At present, the Tribe is the most exciting major college football team to Arkansas, and that's some concession for a diehard Razorback fan to make. However, I mean it sincerely. Not only does that great defense spark enthusiasm, but Hines and that offense, featuring a half-dozen GOOD runing backs (they're so good that Dennis Bolden, after his school record 259-yard performance against McNeese State and earning National Back of the Week honors, is still the No. 2 tailback), man, can they keep a defense worried! You can say what you want, but I've got to think that the No. 1 spark is Hines, who wasn't recruited by the major schools as a quarterback because they felt he was just too small (he's but was even smaller than that during his high school days as an all-stater at Little Rock McClellan.

In fact, I believe that even the ASU coaches couldn't believe that such a little man could do such a big job. I remember talking to Tribe offensive coordinator and former Blytheville coach Bill Templeton late last winter when he was over here making his pitch for Hay and Joe T. Griffin. "We've gotta find us a quarterback," he said. "You know, we lost both (Steve) Burks and (James) Flynn." I remember telling him he had a good one right there on campus.

"Who?" he asked. "David Hines," I answered. "He was one of the best high school quarterbacks I've seen." "We've thought about it, but David's so small," Coach Temp replied. "I think we'll try him, though, if we can't recruit us one." The rest is history. Hines impressed the Jonesboro folks so much in spring workouts that he easily won the No.

1 job. Since then, he's exceeded even the ASU coaches' expectations. "We couldn't tackle him," said Memphis State coach Richard Williamson aftr ASU's 29-10 victory. "We just couldn't catch him. That little guy is some kind of operator.

He makes things happen." Little David added to his versatility by catching an 11-yard TD pass from second-string quarterback Randy Reed on a sneaky play in the second quarter. "Our people didn't even know where the ball was," Williamson recalled. "We couldn't do anything about it." Frustrating for MSU Needless to say, it was a frustrating evening for Memphis State, playing ASU for the first time since 1957. Tribe officials couldn't have picked a better year to play the Tigers, and since it's just a one-year contract, it's not likely that MSU would want to take on A-State again anytime soon, although the rivalry would do financial wonders for both schools. That was proven by the 27,669 (some 15,000 rooted for ASU) fans in attendance Saturday night.

"Gosh, we've got more fans here than we get for a home game," marveled ASU sports information assistant Harold Coggins. His boss, SID Jerry Schaeffer was all smiles. "I'll finally say what Davidson wouldn't all week," he grinned. "This is one of the biggest wins in ASU history." No doubt about that although big Bull tried to pass it off as "just another ballgame." Come on, couch. That's like saying Raquel Welch is just another pretty face.

Davidson was touched by the tremendous crowd. "That was the difference in the ballgame." he insisted. "Our fans ever whipped 'em. We came out and got a great ovation from our people, and Memphis State tried to take their ol' tiger (the MSU mascot) around and get their folks stirred up, but our folks were out-yellin' 'em. I don't have enough adjectives to put it together." KREBS Puge 14.