The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 41

THE TAMPA TRIBUNE Spools Friday, October 24, 1980 Section Tlnce Jhs Morning After TomMcEwen Sports Editor That Mushy' Field Is Waiting For Them M-A Is Back In Stride In Win Circle cially at the north end was soft last year as it was last week. It certainly is not to our satisfaction and to our advantage. Maybe it will be belter this week. It has been dry weather. There shouldn't be any reason for the maintenance crew to do that (water it).

But of all the teams in football, the San Francisco 49ers don't want a wet field. Because when you throw sophisticated passing patterns where receivers, cut and break back and forth, you don't want slipping and sliding and that's what we got all last year," Walsh said. This year we hope it's better. We personally know there were some remarks from Tampa about it last year. We don't blame them.

And, we've asked the commissioner to send anyone he wanted to our facility and look at this thine and helD us because we certainly 7 By JIM SELMAN Assistant Sports Editor Candlestick Park's turf will be just as wet and mushy Sunday as it was a year ago when the Buccaneers were upset 23-7 by the San Francisco 49ers. John McKay complained then that the field had been watered down. It was so mushy that huge divots were gouged up all over the field. Furthermore, the grass was abnormally high. McKay said the 49ers did it to counter the Bucs' speed.

The 49ers had won only one game at the time. San Francisco's first touchdown came when left cornerback Jeris White fell down and Mike Shumann was wide open in the end zone for a 19-yard pass from Steve DeBerg. Bucs equipment manager Pat Mar-cuccillo said the team will be better prepared for loose footing Sunday than in 1979 because all players will have long cleats on their shoes. Did the 49ers water down the field? Here's what San Francisco Coach Bill Walsh said about it Thursday: "Well, tell the coaches at Tampa it could be a problem this year, too. "The problem is nobody can quite turn off one faucet.

It just keeps dripping. "I don't know. We've got a problem here. We played the Los Angeles Rams last week and the field looks beautiful. I mean, you'll like the appearance of it.

But maybe it's the same problem Oak- Tampa Bay Sun aicii i uiicicoicu iii uiuac iviuu vi inclinations. "But, that's really all I can say. We apologize for it. But, I'll tell you, you're going to get good weather anyway." The turf problem centers around the baseball infield used just a couple of weeks ago by the Giants. "Everyone will have long cleats," Marcuccillo said.

"Last year some had long cleats and some had short cleats. "I called the Rams and they said the problem is just as bad as it was last year. The problem is they try to grow grass on the baseball infield in one week after the baseball season ends, but there's something about the clay where the roots won't hold." May Joe selling Bill Walsh he complains too land has the tide or something related to the bay which is right next to us. Oakland has the very same soft field. And this one was soft last week.

"Now we have told them this week absolutely no watering and we're hoping because it hurts us more than it hurts Tampa with Tampa's strong running game. Our finesse passing game suffers much more than a strong running game. And we suffered slipping against the Rams. "The field for some reason and espe Before It Rises they want to move. They say for the 'best interest of the league, etc, By MICK ELLIOTT Tribune Sports Writer Jets9 Tass Interference9 Foils McKay's Plan etc There is reason to expect a total want t0 wh jt is for the eclipse of the Tampa Bay Sun Tarn- best IVe sent them pa's Women Basketball League tef aski those tions and franchise appears to be closer to its w(mld th wi end than its beginning, The Tribune For the WBL, beginning its third So Gerald Carter, loading lumber in Bryan, and un-contacted by anyone in the NFL until the Bucs called him Monday, is a New York Jet today, not a Tampa Bay Buccaneer.

He worked out with the Bucs Wednesday and Thursday. McKay probably will wait until after the 49ers game to fill his roster vacancy. Carter didn't figure to play at San Francisco anyway since the Bucs alternate only three receivers. Available are Gordon Jones, Isaac Hagins and Kevin House. "That's nnt fhf nnint rproiuore marh Rnvrl Dmi'lor season with talk of obtaining stability and credibility, the request by Byrne is.something of an embarrassment The fact the Tampa Bay area ranks as the 17th largest media market in the U.S.

made this area most desirable to the WBL, especially with the sporting success enjoyed by the Buccaneers and Rowdies. The options the league has are simple: either allow the sale to take place, or to veto it. Any transfer or sale of a franchise has to be authorized by the league Board of Governors. If the sale Is okayed, reports say Brought into being Feb: 29 at a WBL Board of Governors meeting, and awarded to then-league commissioner Bill Byrne, the team is now for sale before it even opened an office or bank account. Byrne, who resigned as commissioner to become the owner, is now negotiating with a group from Boston to sell the franchise.

Byrne said last week that he would arrive in Tampa during the weekend to begin business operations but never arrived. After announcing he had sold his New York home and was packed for a trip to Tampa, Byrne instead drove to Columbus, Ohio, where he has spent the Boston group' already has a staff! A .1 1 'II By JIM SELMAN Assistant Sports Editor The best matchup in the National Football League this weekend wouldn't be Pittsburgh at Cleveland, Seattle at Oakland, Detroit at Kansas City or San Diego at Dallas. It might be John McKay vs. Walt Michaels in a dark alley. McKay's Irish dander had to have reached that stage Thursday afternoon when he was notified that the New York Jets had claimed wide Gerald Carter, whom the Bucs were attempting to get through procedural waivers.

Walt Michaels coaches the Jets. However, McKay was calm when asked about the latest National Football League indignity thrust upon him by one of his fellow coaches. "I'm not mad," McKay said, perhaps holding his breath. Why not? "I am an adult," he replied. What are you going to do? "Life goes on," he responded.

And so it will for the Bucs who play at San Francisco Sunday, in all likelihood with one less than the full 45-man roster and for the 23-year-old Gerald Carter, who went unwanted for two months then found two NFL teams falling all over him. The Bucs were notified of the Jets' intervention at 3:55 o'clock, five minutes before the 24-hour procedural waiver period on Carter expired. Here's what happened: On Tuesday, Tampa Bay waived four-year -veteran wide receiver Larry Mucker. Wednesday, the Bucs claimed Carter, their ninth-round draft choice whom they released on the next-to-last roster countdown in the preseason, Aug. 26.

Because Carter was not claimed by another team in the meantime, Tampa Bay had to submit him to the procedural waiver process in order to get him back. Any team had 24 hours to pick him up. pui togemer ana operations win begin immediately. If the league the past week in a motel. Athough vetoes tne transier, Byrne tneoren- he won't return any phone calls, he cajiy wouid ejtner have to fold the iirtif cf: i aia nouiy uie vvdl oiuce eariy inis.

franchise or play. "Numberwise we will be okay for this game, unless something happens and you don't foresee anything like that. "It's a case of losing a player we thought had a good future. I thought that when I first saw him. That's the disappointment." Carter would have no other recourse than to go on to the Jets if he wants to play in the NFL.

"It is a fact. They have his contract. It is too bad." Dowler said. It is doubtful that the Bucs will make a personnel move today. They have exercised two of their three reactivations from injured reserve and are not likely to use No.

3 on the only one quarterback Mike Rae, who is eligible to return to the team. Guard Gene Sanders can come back after missing one more game. "We just found out about this (Carter) this afternoon and we have had no time to do anything," Dowler said. "I don't believe we will this week, but again something could develop tomorrow after we get together again." Asked which of the three tight ends, Jimmie Giles, Jim Obradovich or Tony Samuels, would be best suited to play wide receiver in an emergency, Dowler named Obradovich as "the one I think would know what to do as far as assignments and patterns are concerned." See BUCS, Page 4C ween Dy telegram mat ne intenas to sell the franchise. See WBL, Page 7C "Yes, Tampa Bay has asked for some particular requests which we are now responding to," said interim league commissioner.

Sherwin Fischer. "They have requested a possible sale and transfer of the franchise. I am concerned by that, concerned enough to request some more answers from them. I don't know why mm I Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat-Theodore Roosevelt. i Florida State triumphed again, mauling Boston College.

The Florida Gators returned to winning stride at Mississippi. The Miami Dolphins outlasted Buffalo. A-n-n-n-n-n-d, the ole Morning After shook its lethargy and swept back into form for an overwhelming victory. Only the Tampa Bay Bucs and Miami Dolphins remained ineffective as the football season hit midseason. You know the game.

I Each fall weekend, the Morning After accepts the challenge of a woman of high place andor achievement in, a head-and-head football forecasting matchup. The idea, begun here years ago, is to affirm male superiority in something, anyway. It has worked so well that, more often than not, the Morning After enjoys undefeated Not this year, however. Mrs. Steve Wilson, wife of the Bucs' center, struck gold.

She emerged a winner. And, two weeks ago, Mrs. Dick Howser, wife of the manager of the New York Yankees, deadlocked the M-A. Obviously, we. took the baseball-, oriented foe too lightly.

But, last weekend, comely Irene Womack, onetime basketball champ and now the private secretary to Coach John McKay of the Bucs and therefore priwy to many of the secrets of simply was no match for a fired-up Morning After. Gamely as she tried," Irene missed on 15 selections of the 35 made. The M-A, representing men everywhere, missed only 10. One of her misses' was Tampa Bay. That means the Morning After's cumulative won-lost-tie record now is 5-1-1.

Like the Bucs' 2-4-1, it should be better. But, cumulatively, through seven weeks, the M-A percentage is a good .729 with 149 correct calls in the 202 attempted. Women are at .671 with 136 properly picked in the 202 tries. First Lady Enters Fray But enough of the past and on to today's challenge. It is a test, indeed, and one from a high place.

The opponent: Mrs. Adele (Bob) Graham, Florida's first lady. And the suspicion is, seeing her selections, that she may have borrowed on the wisdom of the governor and his staff of assistants. Clearly, she did her homework. But then, Adele Khoury has a strong sports background, had it before she became engaged to and wed sport Bob Graham, a onetime basketball player, solid tennis player and football-baseball kabitzer.

"My mother was on a state basketball championship team in Richwood, Ohio. Me, I was a cheerleader for Miami Edison," said Mrs. Governor Graham. "In Miami, we had family tennis events and played on the campaign trail. Right now, I jump rope daily for conditioning and we play tennis occasionally." Golf, too, she said, was a sport of her young days because "my mother was a solid player and taught me." At the University of Florida, where her romance with the governor-to-be blossomed from double-dating to dating to engagement to marriage in his senior year and her junior year, she "didn't have much time for athletics." She'd met the gov-to-be in Miami when she was the Sweetheart of the Key Club and he was a national trustee.

But, just double-dates then, too. They did not become serious until two more years of just-friends relationship at the University of Florida. The Grahams have four daughters and their sports include horseback riding, canoeing and tennis. Their football support goes strong to all Florida teams but their strongest ties probably are to the Gators, since both went to school there, and to the Dolphins. Assistant Coach Bill Arns-barger was a Miami neighbor and remains a solid friend.

But they also attend FSU games and strongly support the Seminoles, as they do the Buccaneers, Florida and the University of Miami. i "We have strong ties to all," said Governoress Graham. Makes Strong Challenge And here are her gubernatorial guv- stimates: FLORIDA over Louisville Bob made one strong commitment when he was campaigning for governor and that Was to help see to it that Florida had a Southeastern Conference champion. 1 think that's on the way. See MORNING AFTER, Page 7C idventures Of Alli-Gator By Lamar Sparkman flcOnS To TeSt Big-Play Dragons Jefferson Coach Clarence White claims his team doesn't rely on the big play attack, it's just something that comes naturally, given the Dragons speed and talent.

"I wouldn't say we have a big play attack," said White, who would draw lots of arguing on that point from county coaches who absolutely fear the Dragons quick-strike ability. "We just run our offense and we seem to get them. I know the big plays provide our kids with a big emotional lift and I guess it would kind of hurt the other teams." That's exactly what worries Leto boss Joe Kolinsky, who must deal with the passing of Eubanks, the receiving of Bennett, Rushing, Kim Baker, Mike Bolden and McKenzie Hawkins and the double-barreled running attack of Smith and Elmer Wilson. Whew! "They can hurt you on any play," said Kolinsky with a measure of resignation. "You don't see them drive the ball consistently, they just seem to get the big play.

"We'll try and pressure their quarterback and keep their running backs from getting outside. That's the only way I know to slow them down." However, the Falcon defensive effort will be severely hampered by the loss of safety James Gambrell, who joins stellar linebacker Joe Suarez on the sidelines after breaking his leg on the last play of last week's 7-0 win over Chamberlain. But the Falcons, counted out of any race by many after suffering two early-season setbacks, could creep back in it with an upset win and Kolinsky is hop-See PREPS, Page 7C By BILL FAY Tribune Sports Writer The most feared play in Jefferson's football playbook is the fly pattern featuring Clint Eubanks-to-Jerry Bennett for say, 72 yards and a touchdown. Or maybe it's the Eubanks-to-Sam Rushing screen play for say, 60 yards and a score. Or, if you like offense from the ground up, how about the end sweep with Oscar Smith going 73 yards for a touchdown.

Take your pick. All three are actual scoring plays from the Dragons' five wins this season which have stamped Jefferson (4-0 in Western Conference, 5-0 overall) as the BIG PLAY team of 1980 as well as the conference and District 7 leaders going into tonight's crucial game with twice-beaten Leto (3-2, 3-2) at the Falcons' nest. That's not the only game with a big bearing on conference and district standings in what probably is the most competitive and exciting week of prep football this year. Problem-plagued Plant City (3-1, 4-1) hosts Hillsborough (3-2, 3-2); Plant (3-1, 4-1), an upset victim last week, will try to avoid the same at home against rival Robinson (2-3, 2-3); King (4-1, 41) travels to Chamberlain (3-3, 3-3) and winless Tampa Bay Tech (0-6, 0-6) is at Brandon (1-5, 1-5). In Class 3-A action.

East Bay (1-2 in district and 1-4 overall) heads south to play No. 4 state-rated Venice (3-0, 6 0); Tampa Catholic (0-4, 0-5) hosts Clearwater Catholic at Hillsborough and Jesuit (3-1, 3-2) will entertain Hudson (2-3) at Corral Stadium. In Class 1-A, Good Shepherd (0-6) will hit the road to play No. 7 state-ranked Ocala St. Johns (5-1 All games begin at 8 p.m.

Saturday afternoon, No. 10 ranked Berkeley Prep (4-2) will be at Lake Highland Prep at 2. For Scores 4 call 272-7483 or 272-7486 be-twcen 9 p.m. and midnight..