The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 106

iri nielli i nif "w111 1 mmanmmnrnwpwrnf'm1 m'if Metro 6-Sports The Tampa Tribune, Friday, September 8, 1 995 JUST CALL HIM TOMMY "WILD WILD" WEST: Clemson's coach GAME OF THE WEEKi As ordered last off-season by Athletic Director Hartsell lifts Eagles over Holdes was a popular guy following last week's 55-9 win over Western Carolina. It wasn't just the result. It was the flashy way it was achieved by a team that has been short on style points lately. "It's funny how it Is here," Tigers coach Tommy West said. "The fact is we ran the ball 51 times and only threw it 19.

The difference is that we don't wait until third down to Vince Dooley, the Georgia Bulldogs showed "significant Improvement" In their season-opening 42-23 waxing of Eastern Division foe South Carolina. If Coach Ray Goff can upend eighth-ranked Tennessee on Saturday at Knoxville, we might be talking long-term contract extension next week. Remember: "The Goofer," as he's known in Athens, is a combined 1-8 against divisional rivals UT and Florida in six FAMU not in awe of 'Canes The Rattlers say they're confident facing the 0-1 Hurricanes. seasons. "Coach Goff's situation is improving fast, as far as I'm concerned," Volunteers coach Phillip Fulmer said.

"Georgia is certainly a different looking team on both sides of the ball than we've seen the last couple of years." With Eric Zeier in the NFL, the Dawgs are running again. Cornerback-turned-tailback Robert Edwards rushed for 169 yards and five touchdowns in the rout, breaking UGA's single-game record previously held by six players, including Herschel Walker (three times), Tim Worley and Garrison Hearst. "Robert Edwards surprised us, no doubt," Goff said. "I think the biggest question is why we as coaches were so dumb it took us two years to move him to tailback." You asked, we didn't. TWO ON THE 50: At week's start, some 9,000 tickets remained for Arkansas' home opener Saturday against South Carolina.

Razorbacks coach Danny Ford wasn't exactly counting on fans camping out for this one. Not after the Hogs fumbled on the 1 with less than a minute left in losing 17-14 at woeful Southern Methodist. "I don't think we're gonna bring any curious people out to see what kind of team we have," Ford said. Arkansas has not started 0-2 since 1973. COUCH POTATO: Leslie County quarterback Tim Couch, rated the nation's No.

1 prep quarterback in early recruiting returns, attended Saturday night's Kentucky-Louisville game, won by the Cardinals 13-10. Couch also was heard on a Sunday morning radio show in Lexington in which Dave Baker, a local broadcaster and UK Radio Network flak, serves as host. Couch said he liked Kentucky's new offense, even though it amassed only 280 yards, a similar figure to the 1994 stat (279.7) that got former offensive coordinator Daryl Dickey canned. Couch, 6-foot-5, 220-pounds, lists Tennessee, Auburn, Notre Dame, Penn State, Florida State and UK as his early leaders. He threw for three touchdowns and rushed for three more in his team's 44-42 victory over Bluegrass powerhouse Fort Thomas Highlands last weekend.

Couch passed for four TDs the week before. ODDS AND ENDS: Pass-happy Florida is the league's No. 1 -rated rushing team through one week at 230 yards per game. The Gators are No. 3 in passing, behind South Carolina and Auburn.

In Vanderbilt's 33-25 loss to Alabama last week, the Commodores had two interesting "scoring" drives. The first was four plays for minus-15 yards; the second, four plays for minus-4. Ole Miss RB Dou Innocent had a career-high 137 yards rushing in a 46-13 loss to Auburn that extended his school-record streak of consecutive 100-yard games to seven. When Innocent passed the triple-figure barrier, an on-the-ball press box announcer informed the media that Innocent's streak started last year. No kidding.

Auburn's 383 passing yards was the most ever given up by the Rebels, breaking the old mark of 381 by Alabama in 1989. The 33-point margin of defeat was Ole Miss' largest since that same 'Bama game, won by the Crimson Tide 62-27. Former Volunteers RB Travis Cozart, dismissed from the team this summer and indicted two weeks ago for the sale and delivery of crack cocaine, signed a two-year contract last week with the Shreveport Pirates of the Canadian Football League. John Lombardi, grandson of the late Vince is working as a graduate assistant at Vanderbilt. CHRIS HARRY throw the ball.

We're getting confidence in our players and giving them a chance to make plays." That confidence was missing last year when West started rebuilding the program. Clemson went with youth and kept things simple. Now the Tigers give defensive coordinators a little more to worry about. Sophomore quarterback Nealon Greene completed 12 of 16 passes for 191 yards against Western Carolina. The Tigers had three scoring plays of more than 20 yards in the game.

They had only three all last season, including a 60-yard fumble return. All this comes just in time for Florida State, which will not be confused for Western Carolina. THREE-HEADED QUARTERBACK: Maryland redefined the term "quarterback controversy" this summer when returning starter Scott Milanovich got a four-game suspension for gambling. Out of that misfortune may have come a bolt of silver lining. Sophomore Brian Cummings completed 10 consecutive passes against Tulane last week, then had to leave with a sprained ankle in the second quarter.

In came Orlando Strozler, a junior defensive back who had only dabbled in the goal-line offense during spring practice. He moved over full time when preseason drills began and Milanovich was stuck on the sideline throwing dice with trainers. The man who was third in the ACC in punt returns two years ago led the Terps to a 29-10 victory over the Green Wave. With Cummings listed as questionable for this weekend's game, Coach Mark Duffner is hoping to fast-forward Strozier's quarterback maturation. "We've been going about 25 hours a day with him," Duffner said.

If Strozier keeps improving, Cummings is as solid as he looked and then Milanovich returns, Duffner may have a more traditional quarterback controversy to deal with. EXPOSURE: If you think there is more to the ACC than football, you'll be thrilled with the six-year television deal the league recently signed with three regional networks. Home Team Sports, the Sunshine Network and SportSouth will show about 350 hours of ACC action annually, including 18 women's basketball games, eight baseball games and coverage of 21 conference championships. The deal will increase exposure of men's basketball to almost 200 games in the 1995-96 season. Maybe there is more to the ACC than football.

ODDS AND ENDS: FSU's Rock Preston is averaging 21 yards a carry. That probably won't last, but Warrick Dunn's backup can boast a career average of 9.9 yards per rush. An early candidate for freshman of the year is Clemson linebacker Anthony Simmons. He had 10 tackles against Western Carolina in just 31 plays. He was the first Clemson freshman to start at linebacker in nine years.

"He has not looked like a freshman since he arrived," said West. "He never gets nervous." Talk about murderer's row: Clemson's last nine season openers were against Western Carolina, Furman, UNLV, Ball State, Appalachian State, Long Beach State, Furman, Virginia Tech and Western Carolina. Total score: Clemson 336, Cream Puffs 46. Russell Babb quickly has established himself as North Carolina's best offensive lineman, which only makes sense. The senior spent the summer as football coach in Australia.

It was part of a scholarship program that had Babb spend his previous three summers hiking in Wyoming, working for Merrill-Lynch on Wall Street and working with Tampa police. DAVID WHITLEY By DAVID REED of The Associated Press BLACKSBURG, Va. Mark Hartsell threw three touchdown passes, and Steve Everson caught 10 passes for 142 yards Thursday as Boston College defeated No. 20 Virginia Tech 20-14. Hartsell completed 24 of 38 passes for 273 yards, and the Eagles (1-1, 1-0 in the Big East) converted on three- mmt quarters of their An third-down lw piays.

Virginia Tech Jim Druck- enmiller, starting his first game in Virginia Tech's nationally televised opener, completed 21 of 42 passes for 296 yards for the Hokies (0-1, 0-1). The Hokies drove to the Boston College 19 on the final drive but stalled after Cornelius White dropped a pass at the six with 31 seconds to play. Boston College, held without a touchdown in the 39-6 loss to Ohio State last weekend, took just three minutes and eight plays to get into the end zone against Virginia Tech. On the opening drive, Hartsell completed all five passes and found tight end Todd Pollack near the goal post for an 11-yard touchdown pass. Virginia Tech, meanwhile, had the first-game jitters.

Linebackers missed their assignments on passing plays, receivers dropped five easy passes, a running back fumbled and Atle Larson missed a 30-yard field goal. Within a touchdown on a critical second-to-last drive, Virginia Tech was hurt by a broken play, an illegal procedure penalty and Drucken-miller's poor toss on a screen play. By JIM VERTUNO Tribune Correspondent TALLAHASSEE The Florida Rattlers will be heavy underdogs Saturday against the No. 19-ranked Miami Hurricanes, but FAMU players say they won't be intimidated at the Orange Bowl. "This isn't going to be any Ty-son-McNeeley fight," said FAMU tailback Kwame Vidal, who is from Miami.

But it was an early knockout in 1992 as Miami beat FAMU 38-0. The Rattlers return several seniors who played in that game. The Hurricanes "are not as impressive as they were in 1992," Vidal said. Miami, a perennial Division I powerhouse, opened with a 31-8 loss at UCLA. FAMU (1-0) hasn't won more than seven games in Division I-AA since 1978.

FAMU linebacker Earl Holmes said ball-control offense could help against Miami. "In 1992, the offense turned the over so much the defense was oh the field for at least 90 plays," Holmes said. "Get some ball control by us and it could be a different game. I know the defense will be ready." Regardless of the outcome, FAMU will have a big payday. The school will receive $200,000 for showing up and bringing its famous band to the Orange Bowl.

FAMU Athletic Director Ken Riley, who coached the Rattlers in 1992, said he doesn't know if FAMU will continue to schedule Division I-A teams. With two new teams coming into FAMU's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference next year and the traditional rivals on the schedule, there may not be any room left. "I would like us to play a Division I-A school every year," Riley said. "I think it can be a good measuring stick for your program." 7 7 I 020 0 7 0 7-14 Boston College Virginia Tech Msfro BC Pollack 11 pass from Hartsell (McGuire kick) BC Harding 4 pass from Hartsell (McGuire kick) VT Still 80 pass from Oruckenmiller (Larsen kick) BC Hemmert 3 pass from Hartsell (kick blocked) VT Edmonds 1 run (Larsen kick) NOISE POLLUTION AT FSU: At Tallahassee, No. 1 -ranked Florida GATORS UNDERGO MAKEOVER: At Gainesville, BC- VT State made plenty of noise during its practice on Actually, the sounds came from the loudspeakers as the Seminoles prepared for their meet fifth-ranked Florida will have four new faces on defense this week when the Gators (1-0) battle at Kentucky (0-1) Saturday at 7 p.m.

Coach Steve First downs 16 19 Rusnesyards 32 45 34-122 Passing 273 296 Return Yards 73 66 Comp-Att-Int 24-38-0 21-43-0 Punts 9-41 7-43 Fumbles-Lost 2-1 2-1 Penalties-Yards 10-80 9-82 Time ol Possession 33 37 26 23 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING-Boston College. J.Smith 23-47. J.King 1-4. Cloud 2-4. Everson 1-2.

Walker 2-0. Hartsell 3-(minus 121. Virginia Tech, D.Thomas 20-61. Edmonds 7-44. Parker 5-22.

Druckenmiller 2-(mmus 5). PASSING-Boston College. Hartsell 24-38-0-273. Virginia Tech. Druckenmiller 21-42-0-296.

J.Thomas 0-1-0-0 RECEIVING Boston College. Everson 10-142. Gibbons 3-79. Pollack 3-21. Harding 3-19.

Smith 3-7. Kino 1-2. Hemmert 1-3. Virginia Tech. White 5-89.

Holmes 4-19. Still 3-105. Jennings 3-49. Stuewe 2-25. Edmonds 2-13.

Thomas 2-(minus 4). it," Davis said. "We must make sure we don't repeat those mistakes in future games." For 'Caned followers, it is best to leave the bitterness of the opener behind. Davis is aware of the uphill climb the program faces, and the slope is getting steeper. With such a young lineup only seven seniors are on the roster the season could be one long growing pain.

Injuries have hurt the offensive line. And the problems up front became more complex Thursday. Left guard Robert Woodus, the replacement for Ricky Perry (done for season after knee surgery), is now hurt. Woodus sustained a slight tear of the lateral collateral knee ligament in his left leg. He will be in a cast for two weeks.

That moves sophomore Mike Wehner into the starting lineup Saturday against Florida Still, Davis remains upbeat for game two. "We need to play well, have fun and enjoy ourselves," he said. "We have to eliminate mistakes and show improvement in areas where we were not real good last week." JOE FRISARO HOLMES CLEARED TO PLAY: At Tallahassee, FAMU coach ready." Joe said FAMU's hard practice field contributed to the soreness Holmes felt in the leg this week. Team doctors have given quarterback Ray Domingo clearance to return to practice as soon as he feels ready. Domingo, last season's starter, hasn't practiced since surgery to correct a partially torn rotator cuff in his shoulder two weeks ago.

"I'll probably talk to Ray this weekend about when he might want to re- turn," Joe said. JIM VERTUNO AROUND THE NATION: Southern Cat: Brad Otton, a transfer from Weber State, will start at quarterback for the seventh-ranked Trojans on Saturday when they open their season against San Jose State at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Earlier in the week, USC coach John Robinson wouldn't say whether Otton or Kyle Wachholtz would start. Although Otton will start, Robinson said the two will divide time in the first half and "we'll decide on playing time in the second half based on the way the game is going." Louisiana State: Junior tailback Jer-maine Sharp has decided to transfer from LSU, Coach Gerry DiNardo said. DiNardo met with Sharp late Wednesday after he missed his second consecutive practice.

Until this week, Sharp had not missed a practice other than to undergo treatment for heat-related problems during the preseason. Reasons for his transfer were not given. Sharp led LSU in rushing last year with 135 carries for 750 yards and six touchdowns. TRIBUNE WIRES ing Saturday at Death Valley against Clemson. "The guys it crowd noise affects are the center and the quarterback," FSU coach Bobby Bowden said.

"If they can get the plays to the rest of the guys, we'll by OK. We have signals in case we can't hear. Thank goodness we have a veteran line, center and quarterback. "Clemson is one of the liveliest places we play, but no more so than Florida or Miami." There were no injuries reported after Thursday's practice. The injury report: linebacker Daryl Bush (knee), cor-nerback James Colzie (ankle), linebacker Todd Rebol (ankle) and offensive tackle Juan Laureano (knee) are questionable; and defensive tackle Tyrant Marion (elbow) and linebacker Travis Sherman (knee) are probable.

Cornerback Byron Capers (bruised right quad) will play. 'CANES PUT LOSS IN PAST: At Coral Gables, as far as Coach Butch Spurrier said Thursday that in addition to junior Demetric Jackson replacing Michael Harris at free safety, James Bates and Kavin Walton will start at the inside linebacking spots for Dexter Daniels and Jason Bartley, respectively, and sophomore Willie Rodgers will get his first career start at defensive end, subbing for Cameron Davis. "We got a lot of players anxious to play and we'll try to put the ones out there who play the hardest and the smartest," Spurrier said. "We'll play this game, then we'll see what happens as far who starts next week against Tennessee." There were two updates on this week's injury list. Defensive end Johnie Church (stomach), back from a one-game suspension, was upgraded from doubtful to questionable, while offensive lineman Elijah Brown (ankle) was ruled out.

Meanwhile, there was no ruling from the Office of Student Judicial Affairs regarding the status of running back Fred Taylor, wide receivers Reidel Anthony and Jamie Richardson, and defensive back Teako Brown. The four players agreed this week to a deferred prosecution arrangement with the State Attorney's Office after being charged with misdemeanor credit card fraud. CHRIS HARRY Saturday's College Football Noon FSU at Clemson (28) Noon North Carolina at Maryland (32) Noon Texas Tech at Penn St. (PPV) Noon Nebraska at Michigan St. (PPV) 12:30 p.m.

LSU at Miss. State (13) 12:30 p.m. Wyoming at Air Force (ESPN) 3:30 p.m. Notre Dame at Purdue (28) 6:45 p.m. Florida at Kentucky (PPV) 6:45 p.m.

Georgia at Tennessee (ESPN) 7 p.m. UCLA at BYU (28) 9:45 p.m. Colorado State at Colorado (ESPN) 10 p.m. Illinois at Oregon (SN) 3 a.m. North Carolina at Maryland (PRIME, TP) SN (Sunshine Network); TD (tape delay); PPV (pay-per-view) Sunday's Pro Football 1 p.m.

Bucs at Browns (13) 1 p.m. Dolphins at Patriots (8) 4 p.m. Broncos at Cowboys (8) 8 p.m. Eagles at Cardinals (TNT) Monday's Pro Football 9 p.m. Packers at Bears (28) Elsewhere 97, Bethel, Tenn.

7: At Martin, in one of the most lopsided college football games in years, Tennessee-Martin (1-0) cruised past Bethel (Tenn.) College (0-1), an NAIA Division II school that reinstated its football program three years ago. Division I-AA Tennessee-Martin scored on all but two possessions in outgaining Bethel 693 yards to 83 and setting an Ohio Valley Conference record for points in a game. The previous record of 73 was set by Austin Peay last season against Morehead State. The record for points by a Division I-AA school is 105, set by Portland State against Delaware State in 1980. 5 Billy Joe said senior linebacker Earl Holmes will play Saturday against Miami despite a hairline fracture of the tibia In his left leg.

"He can still play Davis is concerned, last week's 31-8 loss to UCLA is being put to rest. No sense dwelling on the disappointment. "We've graded the film and evaluated just fine," Joe said. "He'll be ready to go Saturday. The whole team will be FHSAA an exception to compassion Luiwrr'n Preps Joey Knight USF women struggle some in debut match Py DOUG CARLSON Staff Writer TAMPA The first women's intercollegiate soccer match at the 4 it.

iv 1 v. In compliance with its laws and defiance of compassion the Florida High School Activities Association declared 19-year-old Boca Ciega senior Dennis John 7 ill i 1 Li im ml, I university oi soum norma win oe remembered more for its novelty I than its beauty. The visiting North Florida Os-i preys blew a tire on their team bus parks in front of a hydrant. What's more, Davis, who wouldn't comment on the ruling, indicated his office might file an appeal. That's one fire marshal headed for traffic court.

Many rules are absolute, but the bylaw that sidelined Johnson shouldn't be one of them. It's hard to understand why the FHSAA took such a hard-line stance. Davis argued Johnson is "a year older, wiser and stronger," but it seems the handicap that hindered his speech and reading at an early age levels the playing field. Even Johnson's coach doesn't consider him a "star" player. Then again, the FHSAA's firm adherence to policy is well known.

Just ask Lakeland Civic Center officials who bid in 1993 to hold the state boys basketball tournament. Lakeland's offer clearly was the most lucrative of all set on the table but was rejected because of a technicality regarding the game schedule. The FHSAA wouldn't overlook the technicality. "This is like bidding for a baseball team," Randy Chastain, a representative of the Lakeland group, said at the time. Had Polk County's contingent known what the Johnsons do now, they may have taken their complaint to a higher level.

Rules don't always have to be followed to the letter, even when those letters are F-H-S-A-A. FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 2 He lost nearly all his hearing after contracting meningitis when he was 9 months old. As a result, his speech and reading skills progressed slowly, and his family waited an extra year before enrolling him in kindergarten. He repeated the first grade for the same reason. In an Aug.

24 lawsuit against the Pinellas County School Board, Johnson said his hearing loss merited an exception to FHSAA rules under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. That excuse didn't fly with FHSAA brass. "There's a lot of sympathy for cases like this, but I don't think the association can make an exception," Davis said. However, U.S. District Judge Susan Bucklew disagreed and granted an injunction that clears the way for Johnson.

The injunction did more than signal a victory for Johnson. It marked a significant triumph for those who question the FHSAA's often-stringent policies. If the prep powers-that-be won't budge, go over their heads. "Hopefully, they'll realize it's time to look at an inflexible rule like this and make some changes," said Johnson's mother, Gail. Such rigidness makes one wonder if the association would make an exception for a fire marshal who 1 on Interstate 4, forcing a 45-minute delay in the open- COLLEGE ing kick at the USF Soccer Stadium.

SiS-ilL Then, in spite of playing much of the game one player down, North Florida's club level team defeated the Bulls 3-0 to initiate USF's 17th varsity sport. Still, USF coach Logan Fleck failed to be disappointed. "I'm more excited now than I was before," Fleck said. "Our cohesiveness is not there yet. The best way to learn is by putting them under some pressure.

Really, I don't think we played that poorly." North Florida (1-0) scored first on Angie Coulliette's goal 15 seconds into the match. Coulliette scored again 20 minutes later and added a third unassisted goal in the second half to complete the hat trick. i son ineligible for sports this school year. The ruling prompted Johnson's family to do what many before them have done challenge the power of the state's prep sports governing body by taking it to court. A judge rose to that challenge.

As a result, FHSAA Commissioner Ron Davis, who seems to have visited more courtrooms than Jack Kevorkian, again was left to ponder the authoritative power of his organization. And Johnson is pondering how long he'll need before cracking the starting lineup as a defensive tackle on the football team. In Johnson's case, the FHSAA quoted its bylaw prohibiting students from playing sports if their 19th birthday comes before Sept 1. Johnson turned 19 in June, but there were extenuating 'lltlllll- BOB WESTENHOUSERTribune photo North Florida's Jennifer Flemming (6) and USF's Christine Torto-rici (21) battle for control during Thursday's game. 2 13 L64 M' Asiifti None.

Snots on goal North Florida 12. 0 South Florida 10. Comer kicks North Florida 4. South Flori- Noftli Florida South Florida ua vn nurm riorwa, woran aourn t-iorioa, aumner Goal Coulliette Coulliette Coulliette 7 Metro.