Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 83

4c TIMES THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1996 mm V4- Kesianation Uri 41" if- ruber's career lacks only wins 0 IMs is rebuffed CORAL GABLES Ron Dickerson followed up a bad decision with one that was even worse within a span of 15 minutes. Fortunately, BIG EAST he had time to RiOTCDnni amend his second IMU I CdUUIV mistake, allowing Temple to keep its head football coach. One minute Dickerson was making a regretable coaching error. next minute he was resigning and creating chaos. Dickerson's resignation was good only overnight.

The next day, he had a change of heart and took back everything he said. "Nobody in my family has ever been a quitter, and I decided that I wasn't going to quit now," Dicker-son said. It was bad enough that the Owls lost to Pittsburgh 53-52. Worse was that the Owls (1-4) blew a three-touchdown lead in the final IOV2 minutes as Pitt rallied from a 52-33 deficit. Dickerson blamed himself for the loss, with sufficient reason.

He opted for a fake punt on fourth and 1 with his team clinging to a 52-47 lead. The gamble backfired, and Pitt won on Billy West's 6-yard run with 58 seconds left. A teary Dickerson turned his post-game press conference into a resignation. Among his harshest ft i 1 TAMPA BAY MUTINY VS. WHAT: Game 1, Eastern Conference final.

WHENWHERE: 8 tonight, RFK Stadium. TVRADIO: ESPN; WSUN-AM 620, WAMA-AM 1550. COACHES: Mutiny Thomas Rongen, United Bruce Arena. RECORDS: Mutiny 22-13, United 18-17. PLAYERS TO WATCH: Mutiny Roy Lassiter, (has five playoff goals); Mark Dougherty, GK (19-12 this year); Cle Kooiman, (most experienced defender); Steve Ralston, (Rookie of the Year candidate); Goran Hunjak, (likely will replace Carlos Valderrama).

United Etcheverry, (one goal, four assists vs. Mutiny); John Harkes, (team leader); Raul Diaz Arce, (two goals vs. Mutiny); Jaime Moreno, (may return from Bolivia in time); Mark Simpson, GK (has two shutouts vs. Mutiny). NOTES: Valderrama likely will miss tonight's game after playing a World Tampa Bay's Steve Ralston, left, shown with Kansas City's Mark Chung, utiny starts on road again self-criticism: "I wouldn't blame the university if they fired me." Instead, the university and players begged Dickerson to re- think his resignation.

On Sunday, he said he'll stick it out for the rest of the year and beyond. "I didn't want the players coming in and pointing fingers at them- selves or each other," Dickerson said, explaining his original deci- ing torn cartilage in his knee. And guard Jim Pyne missed the last game with a neck injury. But perhaps no player has been missed as much as Gruber, who protects the passer's blind side. His return alone might be enough to cure Dilfer's happy feet.

"You've always been able to go into the games feeling like he was going to be able to play his position without any help or much help, unless you're playing against a great one Lawrence Taylor or something," Bucs coach Tony Dungy said of Gruber. "And that lets you do things in planning and play-calling that really make it a lot easier. There aren't many teams that have that and Tampa's been fortunate to have that. "Not having him, you realize how much you miss him." The Bucs got a sample of that in '93 when Gruber sat out five games in a contract dispute. Not even unrestricted free agency could sever Gruber's ties with the Bucs.

The former No. 1 pick was irked when Tampa Bay designated him their franchise player, meaning the Bucs had first right of refusal on any contract he might be offered. What's more, a team would owe the Bucs two No. 1 draft picks. Gruber sat out and nearly forced a trade to the Raiders, but couldn't agree to terms.

The Bucs finally agreed to pay his price, signing him to a four-year deal worth per season. "I could still be the franchise player again," Gruber said. "I could be in the same situation. Right now, I really want to concentrate on getting back and playing well. "It's been hard to watch.

It's tough walking into the stadium on Sunday knowing you're not going to play." The return of Gruber may open up the playbook. Since his injury, they have had to use running backs and tight ends in protection schemes and it has limited the number of three-receiver formations. "Paul's a quality starter in the National Football League," said offensive line coach Chris Foerster. "You can always count on him to block his guy. In situations where that (right defensive end) knows it's going to be a passing situation, knows you're going to throw the football, Paul will get the guy blocked a lot more times than he doesn't." What Gruber can't block out is the eight straight losing seasons he has spent in Tampa Bay.

As he enters October, it is another lost fall with the Bucs 0-5. Gruber was asked how he thought his career would be remembered. "Looking back on it, the one thing I'm disappointed about is not being able to play for a winning team," he said. "But personal recognition, that was never really that important to me." UP NEXT: Vikings at Bucs, 1 p.m. Sunday By RICK STROUD Timet Staff Writer By his own admission, Paul Gruber is in the autumn of his career.

But it's hard for him to recognize a change of season in uri Tampa Bay. Gruber is one of only three active players who has worked under four of the Bucs six head coaches, and the results have been sad and similar. "I'd just like to one day get a taste of winning, I guess," said Gruber, who will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. "It's getting toward the end of my career. I don't know how many more years I'll be able to play.

Three. Maybe four. I'd just like to experience some winning." Gruber is third on the Bucs career games-played list with 124. Eighty-three of them, he has walked off the field a loser. And as bad as the Bucs have been with Gruber, they are worse without him.

Including his holdout in '93, they are 1-8 when they play other left tackles. "It's one of the best things about playing here, knowing you have a guy who's so dependable," said quarterback Trent Dilfer. "Paul is a true worker in this league and does everything it takes to win. It's unfortunate he's never had an opportunity to." Gruber is such a diligent, team guy that most of the time you hardly know he is around. But when the Bucs left tackle doesn't suit up, it is big news.

He has only missed five games due to injury in eight-plus NFL seasons. Gruber will make his return Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings after sitting out for three weeks with a knee sprain. It will mark the first time this season that the Bucs' five starting offensive linemen have been in the lineup. Guard Ian Beckles missed the first two games with a quadriceps strain. Gruber sprained his knee in the second game at Detroit.

Mayberry missed most of the Lions game with turf toe. Backup tackle Jason Odom started one game for Gruber at left tackle before suffer- to Times files KEN ftEixE Paul Gruber is third on Tampa Bay's career games-played list. BUCS NOTEBOOK Mf 1 'J I I -4''-' Times files (1996) -THOMAS M. GOETHE leads the Mutiny at D.C. tonight.

D.C. UNITED Cup qualifier for Colombia last night. Defender Frank Yallop is definitely out while playing for the Canadian National Team. Look for Hunjak to fill Valderrama's spot and Ivan McKinley to replace Yallop. D.C.

United's Moreno played for Bolivia on Tuesday night and also may miss tonight's game Etcheverry will play. He should have played with Bolivia, but had two yellow cards in the club's previous game and is ineligible for one match Tampa Bay has not scored in two previous meetings at RFK Stadium The United has the second-best home record (1 1 -5), second only to Tampa Bay (12-4) Rongen once played for the Washington Diplomats of the North American Soccer League in 1980, the only year the team existed. The Mutiny Fan Club will gather at Champions Sports Bar in the Marriott Westshore to watch tonight's game. RODNEY PAGE sion to quit. 1 felt that 1 had 1 shouldered a lot of burdens over the past year and a half, and that it i was about time to start sharing it with the players and coaches." i-i WHO HAS THE EDGE? By Times Staff Writer Rodney Page pa Team with the edge By RODNEY PAGE Times Staff Writer The Mutiny isn't having any luck in the Major League Soccer playoffs.

Sure, Tampa Bay advanced to the Eastern Confer-SOCCER ence final, which starts tonight at RFK Stadium against D.C. United. But the team wasn't happy with the first-round playoffsetup, starting the series at Columbus despite a league-best 20-12 record. And it isn't any happier with the second-round setup. Once again, the top team will be on the road for the first game of the best-of-three series.

The last two will be at Houlihan's Stadium. However, the Western Conference final starts at top-seeded Los Angeles, then goes to Kansas City and back to L.A., if necessary. The reason for the home-away-home setup is UCLA is playing football at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, and a flea market is set up in the stadium parking lot Sunday. But the Mutiny is upset about something else. Due to a national team commitment, midfielder Carlos Valderrama likely will miss tonight's game after playing for Colombia on Wednesday.

And defender Frank Yallop will miss the first two games because of Canadian national matches. "Losing Frank Yallop really irks me," Mutiny coach Thomas Rongen said. "We're robbed of the best defender in the league. I know that the league didn't want to have teams without their marquee players, and I guess Frank doesn't fit into that category. But it's like asking D.C.

to play without (Marco) Etcheverry. "Carlos' availability will be a game-day decision. But I don't see how he can play. I don't care if you're 35 or 20, that's a long trip. We'll just have to see how he feels." D.C.

should have its Bolivian national team players. Etcheverry missed Bolivia's match Tuesday against Paraguay due to a previous red card, while Jaime Moreno played but will make it back in time. Off-field frustration aside, the Mutiny must concentrate on D.C. Tampa Bay is 1-3 against the United and hasn't scored at RFK. The Mutiny win was 2-0 on Sept.

14. "We wanted to make a statement in that game," Mutiny defender Cle Kooiman said. "We wanted to set the tone, especially on defense, in case we played them again. Etcheverry is a key player for them. We can't let him have the ball that much.

And Qohn) Harkes does a good job as well. Those two make it happen for them." No player is hotter than forward Roy Lassiter, who led the league with 27 goals and has added five in the playoffs. He's at the top of D.C.'s list of players to watch. "To stop him we need to tie a lead weight to his back," United midfielder Harkes said. "Obviously he's very quick.

He has a great burst of speed. He's like lightning. And he's showed that he's a finisher. We're going to have to stay as tight on him as possible." The Mutiny plans on shadowing Etcheverry, who has four assists and a goal against Tampa Bay. "We have to close him down," Mutiny midfielder Martin Vasquez said.

"He is their leader and a very dangerous player. When he gets in our third, we have to shut him down. They play on a big field, so that's not easy." John McKay has bypass surgery Dickerson is in his fourth year at Temple and is 5-33. "For me," he said, "the decision (to come back) came down to, 'What in the world are you doing, you knucklehead? You've put too much into this program to quit now. CHARLES MULLING Hurts lead to worry Injuries topped Florida State coach Bobby Bowden's list of Miami-game concerns Wednesday, as a slew of the ankle and knee variety hampered prac-FSU-MIAMI tice time for sev- NOTEBOOK nifentive tackle Todd Fordham and offensive guard Chad Bates were limping.

Fullback Pooh Bear Williams did not practice. "I don't know if he'll even be able to play," Bowden said. Also out was cornerback Byron Capers (sprained ankle). Bowden said Tra Thomas would back up Fordham, with Jeremy Brett behind Bates. But Fordham and Bates are the most likely of the injured to play.

Having Capers possibly out for the Miami game "makes us nervous," said junior cornerback Sa-mari Rolle. "A lot of guys have talent, but Byron has experience." MAGIC ACT: Sophomore receiver Magic Benton, who originally signed with FSU out of Miami Northwestern High but did not qualify and eventually chose UM, has been talking to some of the Seminoles from Miami. "He's called me a couple times," said FSU senior corner-back James Colzie, a former South Miami High standout. "He's a trash-talking young man, but a great player. We're going to try to make life miserable for him." Benton scored his first career touchdown for the Hurricanes in last year's game, but that was small consolation in a 41-17 Miami defeat.

He acknowledged that after the game he briefly regretted having ended up with the Hurricanes. But he pledges allegiance to UM, where he has become a top receiver and breakaway threat. "I could have been happy at Florida State, but not as happy as I am now," he said. "Now I can go home and visit my mom any time I feel like it." SOUND APPROACH: Bowden said the team would practice in Doak Campbell Stadium today, using crowd noise broadcast over the public-address system to prepare for the noisy Orange Bowl. "They've got that place pretty loud down there." Information from Times staff writer Brian Landman, Times correspondent Emily Dorman and Times wires was used in this report 1 By RICK STROUD Times Staff Writer TAMPA Former Bucs coach John McKay underwent quadruple-bypass surgery Wednesday at St.

Joseph's Hospital. The surgery was performed by Dr. Dennis Pupello. McKay was still in the coronary surgical unit Wednesday Tampa Bay Mutiny Tampa Bay is first in the league with 2.06 aoals oer game. Midfielder Carlos Valderrama (17 assists) and forward Roy Lassiter (27 goals) could be the league's best duo.

Lassiter is hot, with five playoff goals. This is normally Tampa Bay's strength, but veteran defender Frank Yallop will be missing for two games while playing with the Canadian National Team. Ivan McKinley, who has started 25 games, likely will replace Yallop and Steve Pittman may move from the wing to the inside. This is still a tough defense to penetrate. Mutiny goalkeeper Mark Dougherty is 19-12 overall and has been impressive in the playoffs.

Dougherty outdueled Columbus' Brad Friedel in the semifinals and allowed only three goals in three playoff games. If any of these games go to a shootout, it could go on forever. Both teams are 1-3 in shootouts. Tampa Bay beat San Jose late in the season for its first shootout win. Tampa Bay's Thomas Rongen has led his team to a wire-to-wire first-place finish and the best record in MLS (20-12).

He has shown an ability to use his team's depth effectively. Rongen is a candidate for MLS Coach of the Year. D.C. United D.C. is second in the league with 1 .93 goals per game.

Forward Raul Diaz Arce finished second behind Lassiter with 23 goals. Midfielder Marco Bcheverry is D.C.'s answer to Valderrama, with 19 assists, the league's best. The United I defense got a boost when Clint Peay and Eddie Pope joined the team after playing on the U.S. Olympic team. Veteran Jeff Agoos, along with Erik Imler and Mario Gori, have helped the United rank sixth in goals against (1.75).

The United has more depth. D.C. United has two keepers with experience. Mark Simpson has two shutouts against the Mutiny the only keeper to do that against Tampa Bay this year. Jeff Causey has started 19 games and is a shootout specialist.

D.C. lost its first game of the Dlavoffs when 1 1 (2) players shot before there was a winner, dui Causey is tested in these tiebreakers, and the United has been in a high-pressure playoff shootout already. United coach Bruce Arena was the U.S. Olympic coach this year and juggled his time between the Olympians and the United. D.C.

was 2-8 before Arena took over full time, and it went on to finish second in the Eastern Conference. Timet, AP art close a cut between his middle and ring finger in training camp. "It's amazing," said Bucs coach Tony Dungy. "This was just a catch warming up the quarterback. Hopefully, it'll be okay." Wednesday's mishap only added to a strange season for Harper, who now has received more stitches (14) than passes (13 receptions, 212 yards) this year.

DILFER-RHETT SUMMIT: Trent Dilfer and Errict Rhett have formally made up. Dilfer said he telephoned Rhett last week and is more sympathetic toward the holdout running back. Dilfer had been critical of Rhett's negotiating stance. Rhett responded last week by calling Dilfer "timid" and not a "rough and tough quarterback." But Dilfer has apparently made amends with Rhett. "It's a frustrating situation," Dilfer said.

"I talked to Errict for the first time last week and I really felt his pain. I wasn't very sympathetic to him early on, but now that I've talked to him, I really kind of understand where he's at. I feel for him and I feel for this team because I think we miss his fire and some of the things he brings. It's an unfortunate situation, but it's something I can't do anything about to change." INJURIES: DE Eric Curry (knee) is doubtful for Sunday's game. OT Jason Odom (knee) out.

night and no further information on his condition was available. A release said McKay was resting comfortably and that his prognosis is ex- John McKay McKay 72 was the Bucs' first head coach, taking over the helm of the expansion team in 1976 and leading them to within one game of the Super Bowl in 79. HARPER'S BIZARRE: Alvin Harper prides himself on having soft hands, but this is getting ridiculous. For the second time since training camp, Harper suffered a deep laceration between the fingers of his right hand after attempting to catch a pass from quarterback Trent Dilfer. This time it took five stitches to close the cut between Harper's index and middle finger.

He is questionable for Sunday's game against Minnesota. Harper needed stitches to 1 ti ftii fV in. in Hniliii.