The Dispatch from Moline, Illinois • 53

Sports THE DAILY DISPATCH, Moline, Illinois 13, 1979 53 ut we can't play tonight, the popcorn's not ready A HURRIED CONFERENCE between opposing coaches quickly passed the problem off by telephone to the opposing principals. The principals agreed to play the game right then and place the blame later. The next problem was officials. Riverdale's assigned referees were unavailable, with one busy in Davenport and the other home with a sprained ankle. So, Morrison's referees were pressed into service.

After all the top-level conferences were held and the decision to play had been made, a lot of scrambling went on at a different level. SEVENTEEN RIVERDALE PLAYERS called home for mom to bring their uniforms to school. Thirteen pom-pon girls and eleven cheerleaders also called home for uniforms, but wound up cheering in their gym clothes. The mothers of all but two players managed to drag uniforms out of the laundry and off to the Junior high in the freezing rain. The pep band didn't make it en masse, but many of its members made it to the game.

Car pool drivers who were waiting to take team members home after practice were notified to wait or come back later. The Student Council swung into action, calling students from home to work the concession stand, popping a monumental amount of popcorn. Fans trickled into the gym as the word got around. But one father couldn't make it. He was at a private wedding out of town that had been scheduled for Tuesday night because his son was supposed to be playing Thursday night.

IN THE SEVENTH-GRADE GAME, the score was close and Riverdale coach Cary Chapman received two technical fouls when he got upset over foul calls. The score was tied when Joe Irwin made an exciting 25-foot shot as the buzzer went off, giving Riverdale a 41-39 win. The clock, which had been periodically malfunctioning during the seventh-grade game, quit altogether for part of the eighth-grade game. Both groups of fans were "getting a little out of hand," according to one spectator, as the eighth-grade game drew to a close. Riverdale lost one of its leading scorers to foul trouble.

At that point, four starters were out of the game, including one at home with an injury, one home sick and another who got sick in the locker room at halftime. By JOANNE WUCLUND Dlipatch CorrnponOtnt "The most interesting, unbelieveable night as a basketball parent," one mother said about Tuesday night's action at Riverdale Junior High gym. The coaches agree. A Junior high school basketball practice session turned into a coach's nightmare Tuesday night, with the Riverdale and Morrison Junior High coaches all participating. Also included were fans and parents, who were greatly affected by the foul-up.

DUE TO A MISTAKE in scheduling made last June, the Riverdale-Morrison meet was listed as Tuesday, Dec. 13, not Tuesday, Dec. 11 or Thursday, Dec.13. The Riverdale coaches assumed the game would be Dec. 13, since most of the games have been played on Thursday.

The Morrison coaches opted for Tuesday night this week. The twain met Tuesday night when two busloads of Morrison players and fans showed up at Riverdale Junior High, Just as the Junior Rams were finishing twenty wind sprints and 15 bleacher laps as part of their practice session. ALSO, DURING THE SECOND HALF, the Morrison referees threatened to have Riverdale forfeit the game because candy was being thrown onto the floor. According to a Riverdale fan, both sides of the floor had candy from both groups of fans. The concession stand was immediately closed and the Student Council was forced to give away the remaining popcorn.

IN THE LAST second of the game, with the score tied 41-41, a tired Morrison player had the ball. With what one disgruntled Riverdale student called a "lucky slop hook shot over his head from center court," he pulled his team out of the fray, 43-41, as the buzzer sounded. Riverdale coach William Blomgren said in retrospect, "The whole thing was a bip misunderstanding. It wasn't run smoothly, but it really couiun't have gone much better under the circumstances. "Morrison had a band concert or something Thursday night and couldn't i If we learned anyything, it -tiits." There will be no Junior High basketball game in Hir- Dec.

13. That game has played. ever Notre Dame- UCLA better than expected I TV The Hot Corner By Jim Meevan 60 th win starters from last year's team, but Meyer recruited two fine frontcourt players from the Chicago area to replace them 6-9 Terry Cummings and 6-8 Teddy Grubbs. Those freshman are starting this year, along with one of the nation's "Top Ten players" in Mark Aguirre. Aguirre, a power forward last year who can shoot like a guard, will see more than occasional backcourt duty this year.

"No guard can guard-Aguirre underneath," says Meyer, "and he can shoot from the outside." Like most coaches, Meyer does not like to compare players and teams, but he will admit that Mikan "was my sentimental favorite" and last year's DePaul squad was my sentimental team." Hank Iba (767), Edgar Diddle (759) and John Wooden (667). Part of Meyer's mountainous victory total was built with the fine George Mikan clubs of the 1940s and his most recent powerhouses of the 1970s, including last year's Final Four team. AFTER LOSING to Indiana State in the NCAA semifinals last year, Meyer's goal was well established for this year. "I made it to the Final Four," he said at the time, "and now I'd like to make it to the Final Two." This year's DePaul edition is on the opposite end of the court, artistically speaking, from last year's team. "Last year we were very quick but we had no rebounding," says Meyer.

"We were a relatively small team. A lot of our offense was created by the defense with steals. This year, we're bigger and slower. But we can shoot well from the outside. You won't see many zones played against us this year." DE KALB (AP) Not many coaches in the history of college basketball have won more games than Ray Meyer.

It's possible, though, that he would trade them all for one big one, in the NCAA finals. After gaining his 600th career victory Wednesday night with a 57-55 overtime decision over Northern Illinois, the distinguished Meyer is of course aware of the historic plateau, but seemingly more concerned with winning his first national title, not an unlikelihood this year. "IN A WAY the 600 victories mean something, I guess," says Meyer. "But actually, any victory is important that gets me nearer the NCAA playoffs. We'll need 20 this year, probably, and that's the main number I'm concerned with." Meyer started his 38th season this year at DePaul with 597 victories, a euphoric figure that ranked him first among active major college coaches.

Only five other Division I coaches have won more games: Adolph Rupp (874). Phoe Allen (771), I IP 7 Vdr I fikit: Ln "We should have played the clock. A few of the calls confused me a bit," notes Brown. "We had the opportunities to win, but we didn't do anything with the ball." As for the Tripucka incident in which it appeared that Phelps blasted Brown because Phelps thought at the time that it was a UCLA player that had purposely caused the injury, Brown said, "I can't deal with things like that. The only thing I was trying to convey was that we didn't do it.

I'm sorry things turned out like that. Losing hurt, but that incident hurt a little deeper. I'm dissappointed he thinks we have that little of class to do something like that. I tried to tell Phelps and the officials did (that Tripucka ran into the officials elbow). I can't tell you what he said to me.

He, the only guy I talked to was the guy in the Notre Dame cheerleader uniform (Phelps). "I FEEL TERRIBLE about losing," adds Brown. "It's been a while since I've been in college basketball. A series like this is something you dream about." As for his team's 2-for-10 foul shooting in the second half, Brown says wryly, "Our free throw coach did a terrible job. In the NBA he would have been fired.

To be perfectly honest, we made some fouls that did more damage than the missed foul shots." On Foster, the most talented of UCLA's greatly talented freshmen, Brown SOUTH BEND, Ind. Notre Dame vs. UCLA. THE showdown in college basketball. One goes to the game expecting the world, yet comes away with much more.

It all begins about five minutes prior to the game when an already boisterous Notre Dame crowd gets louder and louder as they look to the North end of the court. There, dressed in a blue and gold Notre Dame sweatshirt (the kind Ara used to wear), blue slacks, white sox and blue basketball shoes is Notre Dame coach Digger Phelps. His arms uplifted, he directs the crowd, signaling them to increase their decibel level. After three or four minutes of this, the crowd is in a frenzy. Phelps then sends a male cheerleader to the far end of the court.

There the cheerleader throws the final signal and out of western stands comes the Notre Dame starting five. Down to the court they come amidst a storm of gold, white and blue streamers. There they meet the remainder of the team and they come onto the floor in unison. v. THE STAGE IS SET.

In 40 minutes of basket-. ball, the game, as usual, features everything. First of all, some great play by a group of UCLA freshmen and sophomores that has to rival Kentucky's crop as the best in the nation. KiKi Vandeweghe adds a dunk and Notre Dame's Orlando Woolridge two during the game, including one skywalker from the heavens. "I came down court and saw my man go outside, so I Just took it to the hoop," explained the exuberant Woolridge.

"It felt pretty good." As is seemingly typical of a Notre Dame-UCLA game, it goes right to the wire. The Notre Dame comeback is now almost a tradition in this heated rivalry, in which the Irish have won six of the last eight games. The freshman star seems to be an annual feature, shared by both teams. But with two seconds left, the unexpected hits again. John Paxson steals the in-bounds pass and is fouled.

Seconds later, springing out of the Notre Dame bench area like Chief Illiniwek, comes Irish forward Kelly Tripucka. The junior Ail-American holds his nose and mouth as he reaches the op- "It was a team that had a lot of love for each other," Meyer says. "They had a lot of heart. They never gave up in a game." But they didn't win Meyer's long-coveted NCAA championship. Perhaps after this season, he'll have a new "sentimental team." posite end of the court and rolls to the ground, writhing in pain.

Meanwhile, the capacity crowd of 11,345 and both teams try to figure out what's going on. Trainers eventually reach the scene. AS TRIPUCKA IS attended to, the scene shifts back to midcourt where after conferring with officials, Phelps and UCLA coach Larry Brown appear to be going at it verbally. After some delay, Tripucka leaves the floor, Paxson goes to the line and adds his third and fourth consecutive swishes from 15 feet. UCLA misses a desperation shot from the midcourt area and the Irish are winners, 77-74.

The post game show reveals many things, including two cool coaches. Phelps, dressed in his cheerleader uniform complete with a shovel on the sleeve, explains that Tripucka was not hit by a UCLA player Of all the hoopla at the end, Phelps says, "I was Just trying to get the right people to Tripucka to take care of him. I was dissappointed that the officials were not ready to handle the situation. It was a bloody mess." Of his new game attire, "I just couldn't find a suit I liked, so I wore this." As for UCLA's talented freshman Rod Foster, Phelps says, "I saw him when we were recruiting last year. I compare him to Phil Ford (last year's NBA rookie of the year).

On that one transition bucket, he's just that quick. That's why he beat us." And what did he think of a freshman (Paxson) winning the game again this year. "I plan to go out and get more freshmen." EXIT PHELPS, enter Brown. The small, skinny, but wily coach of the Bruins talks in a clear but subdued fashion, almost like he was still OD'd on the NBA schedule he used to coach. RAY MEYER THE DEMONS lost two 7hite gets a ward, Woody his say tradition I can look back and say I've had great experiences in my four years there." Tony Dorsett, who won the award in 1976, is the all-time leading career rusher.

Hayes, a special guest, praised White as one of the greatest competitors he's ever seen before closing with some pointed political remarks. "The biggest thing wrong with this country right now is that people are not pulling together," said Hayes, who was dismissed as Buckeyes' coach last year after a sideline altercation with an opposing player. "People don't respect the leader anymore. No sooner is the President finished with his speech than some television guy tries to tell you what he said or should have said. they break the huddle, the split end says, 'What about and the fullback says, 'Give me the ball Connally, a candidate for the Republican Party's presidential nomination, was decidedly apolitical in his address, complimenting White for his varied interests and describing the tailback as "an exceptional athlete who always gave everything he had." Southern Cal Coach John Robinson preferred to talk about White's off -field accomplishments.

"Charlie has grown both on and off the field and I am proud to have had him here for four years," said Robinson. "He's an outstanding football player but more importantly, he's an outstanding person." Among the many former Heisman Trophy winners attending the dinner were Michigan back Tom Harmon (1940), Ohio State back Howard "Hopalong" Cassady (1955) and the 1972 winner, Nebraska back Johnny Rodgers. NEW YORK (UPI) It was tough to tell the politicians from the coaches Wednesday night at the annual Heisman Trophy dinner. Southern California tailback Charles White was formally presented with the award, given to the nation's outstanding college football player, but also on the dais were former Texas Governor John Connally and ex-Ohio State Coach Woody Hayes. John Farrell president of the Downtown Athletic Club, presented the 45th Heisman Trophy to White, the nation's top rusher who will lead the second-ranked Trojans into the Rose Bowl Jan.

1 against No. 3 Ohio State. "IT'S TRULY an honor to be awarded the greatest thing a man can win in his life," said White, a senior who finished with the second-most career rushing yards in college football history. "It's been a treat to be part of the USC says, love mm, mougn ai times he drives me to drink. All our young kids can play.

"It was a great learning experience. We won't play a tougher team in a tougher place." And finally once more on the Tripucka-Phelps incident. "Don't get me wrong. It's over with. It's like a fight with the wife." And in a way so is the Notre' Dame-UCLA game.

Perhaps that's why it's so exciting. "CAN YOU IMAGINE what would happen if football players did the same thing? The quarterback would call a pass to the tight end and as Twisted ankles strain ing A ugustana 9s moxie By ANTHONY MOTON Dlipatch Corrtspondtnt It started last September with a meaningless Sunday afternoon pickup game in the Carver Physical Education Center at Augustana College. You know, one of those five-on-flve, whole court affairs with everybody runnin', Jumpin' and shootin' trying to impress any and all onlookers. At the time, Augustana sophomore cage sensation Shane Price was on the court playing defense as Viking teammate Maxwell Artis pumped the ball upcourt on a fast break. Artis drove quickly through the lane, gliding by Price, who Instinctively went high above the rim to reject the sure two points.

PRICE MISSED the block, and in nearly colliding with Artis, the 6-foot-8 center rolled to the floor In what seemed to be a "routine" basketball tumble. However, Price let out a loud, paln-f illed "Damn! as he clutched his left ankle. It was diagnosed as a severe ankle sprain and out went Price for four weeks, signaling the start of a new "Injury Crisis" chapter In the annals of Augie basketball history. Since that mishap, six of the 10 players who were to see action regularly have been wounded in some way, shape, or form including Price who, after a gallant comeback from his ankle troubles, fractured his shooting hand in an Augustana Invitational game earlier this month. The All-CC'IW conference selection now Is In the second week of another unwelcomed vacation.

Such is life. "I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED anything like this before," said Augustana's 11-year head coach Jim Borcher-dlng. "We've got a lot confidence In our program, and It's Just going to muke everyone work a little harder." Besides Price, other regulars developing pains or otherwise damaging themselves In the line of duty include Greg Klolber, Junior forward, forced to sit out this yeHr Yet, the Vikings are putting away foes with relative ease. So why the fuss? Borcherding explains: "This has been the most promising group of players that we've had in recent years. We're fast, and what we want to do is run and press.

But with this type of basketball, you have to have depth. The injuries have hurt us more than enough. We've been playing pretty well so far. But you can't be satisfied with a performance unless you improve with your next one, and that's what we want to do. We want to improve from game 1 to game 25, no matter who's playing." ALTHOUGH THAT PROGRESS has been slowed a bit in lapses In the last two games, it's going to be necessary to compete against stiffer competition like Northern Iowa, the University of the Pacific, and of course, two-time defending Division III national champion North Park.

"We're a young team, and if we can hold together I'm sure we can achieve the goals we have set." said Borcherding. "The most Important thing for us Is to take one game at a time. It will do us no good to think about tommorow if we don't do the Job today. So what do you tell a kid like Price? The Vikings top letter-man has to wait for weeks at a time with the future being the only thing on his mind now that freshman suprise Wenzel has filled in his starting role. "After the second injury I repressed my feelings," said the mature 18-year-old.

"I'm not going to let it get me down because I know that each year I should improve." "When I get the cast off. I'm going to see if I can play and shoot. Now my ankle is getting more time to heal, but 1 can't wait to be able to show that I'm still able to play up to my potential." "I WANT TO HELP the team, and I'm ready to play on the pain If It Isn't too much," he continued. "I'm here to play, and that's what I want to do." He's not the only one at Augustana who wants to see him on the court. because of a severe ankle sprain.

He may require surgery. Jay Friestad, Junior forward, pulled ligaments In his right shoulder while diving for a loose ball two weeks ago. The shoulder then developed bursitis. A week ago, with the consent of two doctors, he took a cortisone shot to relieve the inflamation since the pills that were prescribed for him were not as effective. He came off the bench to score 10 points in Augle's 72-fiO win over St.

Ambrose Tuesday. It was the first action in 18 months for the athlete who stayed out of school completely last year. Steve Yount, senior guard and co-captain, already playing with a torn muscle sheath In the left thigh, sprained his left ankle in Friday's practice when he came down George Wenzcl's foot. He's on leave and crutches for 2-4 weeks. John Foley, senior guard, thought to have broken ribs when someone kneed him in the chest in the team's first practice session.

Foley missed several practices with badly bruised ribs. He's back now. Maxwell Artis, Junior guard, experienced knee problems at the start of the season and was slowed by a recently pulled groin muscle. George Wenzcl, frehman center, hampered by a pair of weak knees and a bum ankle. He sometimes has trouble jumping, even though he Is one of the squad's top leapers.

"No one is Indispensable," said Borcherding, maintaining confidence In a team that was tapped seventh nationally among Division III schools by Basketball Weekly's preseason poll. "We have some key players out, and it's going to really test our depth putting a lot of pressure on the guys remaining. "We're going to play with what we've got because there's simply not much more we can do." NOW THE TEAM is looking every bit as good as its national ranking. While holding the opposition to less than 60 points in the last four contests, five Vikings are currently posting double-figure scoring averages with starters Price and Friestad watij hing from the sidelines. GREG KLOEBER misses entire year SHANE PRICE forced to wait.