The Daily Courier from Connellsville, Pennsylvania • Page 6

PAGE SIX Sports Notes Jim Kriek Courier Sports Editor There may be longer athletic rivalries in this country, and even in this state, but it's a good bet than none have ever been more spirited and interesting than the long relationship between Connellsville and Uniontown. The two communities had a football relationship that started away back in 1904, and was severed in 1970 only because both schools were committed to their respective conferences and couldn't get together again. How long their basketball connection has been in existence isn't known, for records don't show the first time they met on the court. In the early going, Connellsville was the dominant team. But in later years, Uniontown ran away to lopsided margins in the overall series.

The Raiders once had almost two-decades of consecutive wins in football, and there was a stretch from 1953 to 1973 in which Connellsville couldn't win a basketball game from Uniontown. But that didn't dull the relationship any, and whenever the two teams got together--no matter what the sport--there was an ertra feeling of excitement. Last Friday night was no different. It was time for Connellsville and Uniontown to get together again in basketball, time to trot out the old cliches about throwing away the record books, time to reflect on other (and seldom) wins over the Raiders. Now, some might say it's no big deal to beat Uniontown, and in some circles maybe that's right.

But when your victories have been as infrequent as those recorded by Connellsville, it's a time to savor the occasion just a bit longer when you come out on the long end of the score. In the last 22 years, Jim Sherbondy is the only Connellsville coach who can say one of his basketball teams measured Uniontown, and they have now turned the trick three times. Including last Friday night, when the Falcons sprung a 59-48 ambush on the host Raiders. Not only did they win, but CAMS did so at the Uniontown court. No sooner did the final buzzer sound than speculation began "when was the last time a Connellsville team won a basketball game at the Uniontown Court." Tod Trent, who holds down the sports desk at the Uniontown Evening Standard, allowed he had been around here 22 years, and he couldn't remember Connellsville winning at Uniontown.

Abe Everhart went back even longer. The long-time UHS coach who must have 'Class' for a middle name, said later "I have been coaching here 29 years, and I can't remember losing at home to a Connsllsville team." So, the question was raised in the post-game headline of Saturday's Daily Courier, "who remembers the lasi time this happened?" Saturday night, the big question was answered. While stopping at West Side News, Tony Dellavechia suggested we check the 1944-45 files. Not long after that, Connellsville East basketball coach Allen Jones called to say he had been going through his wife's Uniontown High year-books, and it looked like the 1944-45 team was the last one to win in Uniontown. And just as a clincher, Joe Fierschnaller (even though he was getting over a bout with the bug) advised us "that was the last team to turn the trick.

I was a member of that team and we had quite a time that year, winning the section title, and going to the WPIAL tournament. 1 On Monday afternoon, Connellsville High librarians Elida Micklo and Sharon Mathews turned the high school yearbooks file over to us, and there it was--two wins for Connellsviile High, or the Cokers as they were known then. Almost 31 years have passed since a Connellsville team beat Uniontown at its own court (Feb. In those days, the Raiders, then coached by Bus Albright, played their home games at what is now Lafayette Junior High School. That Connellsville team of 1944-45 was the one that the Daily Courier's late news editor, but then sports editor John H.

Whoric nicknamed "The Kardiac Kids," beciuse of their ability to come from behind in the late minutes of a game to pull out a close win, or just play them close to the vest in one pulse-pounder after another. Now retired Principal William E. Dolde coached that team, whose lineup included Fierschnaller, Jack Jones, Jimmy Joe Robinson (now Rev. Robinson, in Pittsburgh), Bob Lee, George Munson, Bob Mallory, Jack Tulley, Leo King, Leo Luczak, Tom George, Jack James, and Dan Small. Jack Funari and Jay Fox were managers.

Connellsville had a so-so exhibition schedule, opening with a SOSO win over Washington, then losing to Monessen 56-32, Johnstown 36-27, Ambridge 41-38, and West Newton 28-27, before beating Redstone 50-22, West Newton 28-26, and Johnstown, 33-23, then a 5-50 loss to Monessen. The Section Nine schedule opened with a 46-29 loss to Norwin, then a 35-25 win over Jeannette, and a 42-35 loss to Greensburg. That would be the last time the Cokers lost a section game the rest of the season. They beat in succession Latrobe 48-37, Scottdale 59-22, Uniontown 27-21, Norwin 37-30, Jeannette 40-29, Greensburg 31-28, Latrobe 38-26, Scottdale 53-26, and the biggest win of them all--not only the last win by a local team in Uniontown until last Friday--but the one that clinched the Section Nine championship, 33-31 over Uniontown. That was a 'must' game for Connellsville.

since the Cokers, Uniontown, Norwin, and Greensburg were all in a dogfight for the title, and had Uniontown beaten CHS in this last section game there would have been a four-way tie for the championship and a playoff required. And some of the other hopefuls were so certain Uniontown would win that one of them called Coach Dolde ahead of time and asked where he wanted to hold the playoff game. Uniontown's lineup (no first named listed) was Sanner (11 John (10), Lyon and Murray (4), Newcomer (2), Davis, and Mclntyre, Jones and Robinson had 11 for Connellsville, Munson 8, Lee 2, Tully one, and Mallory, King, and Small didn't score. Uniontown led and 28-23 at the quarters, with CHS rallying for a 10-3 winning edge in the fourth. The late Bob Guy, a class man and fine official who moved from the Irwin area to California where he died a year ago, was the only referee on the game.

The post-game writeup by Whoric noted that Uniontown was holding a 27-19 lead late in the third. Robinson and Jones scored CHS goals, Jones two fouls, and Robinson two goals, to put Connellsville ahead. Uniontown tied with a foul (unknown), then Robinson passed to Jones for the go-ahead goal, only to have Sanner tie it for Uniontown on the foulline. Jones fired in the winning goal with a minute left, and Connellsville killed the last 30 seconds on the clock to protect its lead. The 'Kardiac Kids' had done it Connellsville went on to the WPIAL tournament that year, beating Duquesne 50-45 and Brentwood 42-41, before losing 62-29 to a Donora team, led by Arnold Galiffa, that went on to win both the WPIAL and state (PIAA) championships.

Connellsville returned home to split exhibition games with Dunbar, losing 4342 and winning 55-25, around a 4fr-37 loss to Brownsville in the Fayette Undergraduate Tournament. That last win in Uniontown was a long lime ago by the calendar, but let the players from these teams get together and it will seem like only yesterday. Memories, they're THE DAILY COURIER, CONNCUSVIUC, TUESDAY, JANUARY 1J, 1WI Teams Start Sunny Drills For Super 10 By RICK GOSSEUN MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (UPI) The Pittsburgh Steelen are looking for a good time and have abandoned frozen Pennsylvania for sun-baked Florida to find it. But don't let the attitude of the defending NFL champions fool you: the Steelers were the first of the two playoff survivors to arrive in Florida and the first to begin final drills for Super Bowl Sunday in the Orange Bowl.

The American Conference champion Steelers touched down by charter jet in Miami early Monday afternoon and were on the field less than an hour later taking part in their first outdoor practice in five days. Seven-degree temperatures forced the Steelers indoors for their final drills in Pittsburgh. The National Conference champion Dallas Cowboys, also fleeing freezing temperatures, arrived in Ft. Lauderdale early Monday evening and they take the field today for their first practice session of Super Week. It was picture day for both clubs today with the Steelers holding court at Biscayne College, the fall home of the Miami Dolphins, and the Cowboys Betting up camp at Yankee Stadium, the winter home of the New York Yankees.

The Steelers carried the same light, carefree mood into Super Bowl IX last year and came away vith a 16-6 triumph over the Minnesota Vikings. Last ear was also the only year in the last decade the Dallas Cowboys did not participate in the playoffs. But the Cowboys bounced back from the 8-6 finish of 1974 to finish 10-1 this season and slip into the as the wild card team Dallas forged its Super Bowl pass by upsetting both Minnesota and Los Angeles in road playoff games. 'We're just happy to be here," said Dallas Coach Tom i-andrv, the only coach in the dub's 15-year history. "Thi.s is a great event and we're glad to be back.

We didn't think we had much of a chance of getting here earlier in the many people did." Except for a few minor hurts, the Cowboys will head into their third Super Bowl 100 per cent healthy. The Steelers, who made their initial Super Bowl appearance a successful one last season, are not as fortunate with wide receivers Frank Lewis and Lynn still stepping gingerly. Lewis continued to nurse a bruised shoulder and Swann ib coming off a concussion suffered in the AFC title game last week in Oakland. The Cowboys have beaten the Steelers seven straight times, with the last defeat coming in Gordie Howe, the 49-year-old "Mr. Everything" of hockey, may be in his last All-Star game tonight when he leads the U.S.

squad against a speedy Canadian team in the fourth annual WHA All-Star contest. A ublic reception for Howe, who has retired TM of Pittsburgh several times and unretired Cardan is scheduled bounced back later in the year each time, has not committed for Thursday evening, prior to to down the Steelers Z4-17 en himself to hanging up his skates th dinner-program at Conat season's end but there are neUsville High School. Woodruff Program Follows: Public Reception For Bucs Caravan 1965 the first time Dallas ever broke .500. Dallas fell 22-13 to Pittsburgh that year but route to a 7-7 finish. By MIKE RABUN UPI Sports Writer MIAMI (UPI) Tom Landry walked into the sea of confusion that accompanies the Super Bowl Monday and became an instant hit at least with reporters.

The Dallas Cowboys' coach was the first member of the team's official party to step off the red, white and blue bicen- tiennial jet charter Monday and was besieged by a crowd of 20 reporters, broadcasters and photographers. Landry, making his third trip to a Super Bowl, seemed to love it. "I like the weather," Landry said. "And we're glad to be here." He then answered one question after another concerning Dallas' surprising rise as a challenger to the defending world champion Pittsburgh Steelers Patiently he handled questions that he will hear over and over again until kickoff next Sunday in the Orange Bowl. "We had some good workouts back in Dallas," Landry said, "but we plan to stay busy while we're here.

"We don't mind being the underdog. The underdog role has treated us pretty well so far." Landry said he had not talked personally with the young players who are making their first trip to the Super Bowl. "I have left that up to the veterans," Landry said. "The veterans have told some of the others what to expect." While Landry was entertaining the media, the players filed quickly off the plane and onto waiting buses. And the Cowboys' coach, with his wife Alicia, waited until the last reporter had left before he, too, headed for a bus.

Other than reporters, there were few on hand to greet the Cowboys at the Fort Lauderdale airport, 30 miles north of Miami. A small group of city officials came by, along with a high school band. That was in contrast to the 1,000 persons who came out in the middle of a workday back in Dallas to send the Cowboys off. some reasons to believe he may. For one thing, he's finally playing in an All-Star game with both his sons.

Mark, a left winger, was on last year's team with his father but Marty, a skilled, steady defenseman, was named for the first time this year. Also, if the WHA remains healthy long enough to merge with the National Hockey League or to establish overseas franchises, he may find himself too busy as president of the Houston Aeros to continue as a player. The elder Howe and a couple of other veterans on the U.S. The Pirates Caravan is scheduled here as part of the evening's activities that will climax with Olympic Champion John Woodruff presenting his Olympics Gold Medal and other track memorabilia to Connellsville High School for permanent display. The Pirates Caravan includes Manager Danny Murtaugh, players Jerry Ruess, Dave Giusti, Bruce Kison, Bob Moose, and Richie Zisk, General Manager Joe L.

Brown, and Milo Hamilton, recently named new 'radio voice' of the Pirates. The group will be in RICHIE ZISK JERRY REUSS team, defenseman Pat Staple- Morgantown, W. before ton and winger Ralph Back- Comm 8 to Connellsville. strom, and a bruising crew of A reception for the Pirates is defensemen, are the main scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the High School gymnasium, when the public can meet the players, secure autographs, ask questions about the season ahead, etc.

Dinner will be at 6:30. Officials on the arrangements committee specified that all assets of the U.S. team which must control the game to slow down the offensive-minded Canadians. Canadian Coach Jean-Guy Gendron has available two intact lines, his Quebec trio.of Chris Bordeleau, Marc Tardif, Buddy Cloutier and Winnipeg's children attending the reception Bobby Hull, Anders Hedberg, must be accompanied by a Ulf Nillson. parent or another adult.

The Canadians boast five 30- was also stated that no goal scorers in Hull, Hedberg, tickets are required for the Tardif, Cloutier and Vaclav reception. However, anybody Nedomansky and all their wanting to attend the Woodruff forwards have scored 20 goals presentation and Caravan dinner following the reception or more. None of the U.S. forwards has scored 30 goals but six have 20 or more. Starting in goal for the U.S.

will be hometown star Gerry Cheevers with Christer Abrahamsson opposing Joe Daley of Canada. Earns Courage Award PHILADELPHA (UPI) -John Hiller, the Detroit Tigers' relief star who returned to major league baseball after heart surgery, has been named the most courageous athlete of 1975 by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association. Hiller saved 14 games for the Tigers in 1975. He retired after heart surgery in 1975, borrowed $5,000 to keep his family going, and fought his way back to status as one of the major leagues' best relief pitcchers. Sam Houston St 90 Sul Row 17 SMI! 108 TCU 84 SWTexaa 61 St Edward's 56 F.

Austin 93 Angelo St 84 Texas Tech 83 Rice 56 Pac. (Ore.) 86 Lewis dark 83 Portland St. 82 No. Colorado 66 Pugel Sound 68 Fremo SL 53 S. Oregon 80 Alaska 72 of Ridflc 72 Portland U.

06 Weber St. 60 Long Beach SL Pacific (Ore 86 Lewis Oark 83 Missouri KWMacMurray 34 PurdueSl NorthwesternSl Bio Grande 82 Ohio Doninicaii 79 SE Missouri 86 NW Missouri (ot) SJU-Edvrartivllle US Oakland 63 SrU-CDale TO New Mex. SL (ot) SL Louis to Iowa SL 64 SWMissouri 88 Lincoln (Mb.) 80 Term. SL 86 Cbntral SL 68 Baylors Texas Tl Texas SL 72 Payne 70 Houston 72 Artunu 71 MldwestentflWaylandBapt 72 No Texas SL SB Artzora SL 86 KE Missouri 67 Mlssourl-Rollaei must have a ticket. Program officials said they were not sure when Woodruff would be arriving in Connellsville, but that he would be at the high school for the program at which time he will present his track mementoes to the school district.

Woodruff, then a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh, went to Berlin, Germany, for the 1S36 Olympic Games, and won the 800-meters run--the first victory by a United States runner in that event since 1912. Following his Olympics gold medal victory, Woodruff continued his brilliant track career throughout the world, and went on to earn All-American honors three years at Pitt. These honors will be part of the presentation that Woodruff will make to the school district, with arrangements already being made for their permanent display. Following dinner in the school cafeteria, there will be part of BOB MOOSE the program devoted to the visit of the Pirates Caravan, followed by the Woodruff presentation, and closing with additional participation by the Pirates party. The Pirates group will discuss the coining season, and answer any questions the audience might have.

It is also expected that Milo Hamilton, the new radio voice of the Pirates, will also attend. Included in the Pirates' share of the program will be the awarding of one dozen baseballs autographed by the Pirates, to be given to as many lucky ticket holders, whose numbers will be drawn at random. Committee members said a limited number of tickets will be available, and they advised those wanting to attend get their tickets as soon as possible. Tickets for the occasion- Woodruff Program and Pirates Night--are on sale as follows: Lions Club members in DAVE GIUSTI Connellsville, South Connellsville, Dawson-Vanderbilt, Dunbar Dunbar Borough, Indian Creek Valley, Scottdale, Uniontown, and Old Trails (Hopwood). Connellsville Kiwanis, Rotary, Knights of Columbus, Jaycees, Little League, Elks Club, Eagles Club, Sons of Italy.

New Haven Hose Geibei Boosters Club, Sandusky Lumber, West Side News, WCVI radio station, Bud Murphy's, Swan's, and Stein's. South Connellsville Firemen's Club, Cause's Barber Shop, Luigi's Restaurant, Capitol Buick, Connellsville Senior High School, Grabiak Chevrolet of Scottdale, Griffith's Restaurant in Uniontown, Ruse's Roost in Hopwood, Baer Snack Bar in the County Court House, office of Wally Schroyer (Uniontown); County Commissioner Carmine V. Molinaro and Stewart's Pennzoil, Connellsville. No More Slipping on Ice: WVU Coach Bowden Resigns Seattle Baseball Suit Opens EVERETT, Wash. (UPI) The involved story of how Seattle gained a major league baseball club in 1969 and lost it to Milwaukee in 1970 will begin to unfold before a jury Wednesday in a $14 million antitrust suit against the American League.

The State of Washington, King County and Seattle contend that the way the Seattle Pilots became the Milwaukee Brewers constituted fraud, breach of contract and violation of the state's antitrust laws. If the jury of nine women and three men most of whom said they had only a casual, if any, interest in baseball find in favor of the plaintiffs, it could cost the league and its 12 club owners as much as million. Under the law, treble damages could be awarded to the city and county. The state can collect only actual damages. The trial before King County Superior Court Judge Frank D.

Howard was moved to Everett from Seattle after defendants argued they could not be assured of a fair trial in the city that lost the Pilots. The suit was filed in late 1970 but the trial has been postponed twice with the plaintiffs hoping the American League would restore major league baseball in Seattle. But still no team for Seattle appears anywhere in sight. The jury empaneled Monday was excused until Wednesday because today's court session involved motions and procedu- ral matters. The state and city contend they have lost the tax revenues the Pilots would have generated.

The city also maintains it lost money when it modernized old Sicks Stadium on the belief the Pilots would rent it for several years while awaiting construction of a domed stadium. The county claims its taxpayers voted to finance the domed stadium largely because they believed they were building a home for the Pilots. The defendants argue that Seattle lost the franchise because the Pilots went broke and a bankruptcy referee ordered sale of the team to Milwaukee interests. By MICHAEL GOLDMAN TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (UPI) One day after arriving at Florida State University, new FSU football coach Bobby Bowden already wants to go Gator hunting.

"I want to get folks around here rallied around a common cause and that common cause is out there yonder, those folks in Gainesville (the University of Florida, FSU's arch rivals)," Bowden said shortly after he stepped off the plane Monday in Tallahassee. the game you have to win if you want to be a success at Florida State." Bowden gave up a head coaching job at West Virginia to take the position at Florida State. Named FSU's coach Monday, Bowden succeeds Darrell Mudra, who was fired after winning only four games in two years and having sharp disputes with alumni. Bowden, who compiled a 42-26 record since becoming head coach at WVU in 1970, has the Tough at Home Gator Alley Becomes Snakepif By JOSEPH A. REAVES DENVER I The Denver Nuggets have lost only four of their last 62 home games and forward Byron Beck says there's a good reason.

"When those fans start cheering it's the greatest," Beck said after the Nuggets rallied to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 139-122 Monday. With 2:46 left in the third period and the Nuggets trailing 93-78, Beck and Claude Terry went into the game and started a 15-point rally that tied the hcore going into the final 12 minutes of the only scheduled professional game Monday. By United Press International "Alligator Alley" is the dismal, dreary little gymnasium that is home to the Florida From there, it was all Den- Gators and, in it, dismal, dreary ver. David Thompson scored 18 things happen to visitors, of his 33 points in the final points period as the Nuggets pulled away for their sixth win in the last seven games. The win gave tne Nuggets a chance to wrap up the host spot in the ABA All-Star game with another victory over the New York Nets tonight.

The No. 1 team in the standings as of Jan. 18 will play the All-Star squad in Denver Jan. 27, and the Nuggets already have a game lead over the second place Nets goini into tonight's game. Ninth-ranked Alabama found out all about it Monday night when the Crimson Tide was dumped by the unheralded Gators, 71-70, in Alligator Alley.

Forward Gene Shy scored on a tap-in with one second left to hand Alabama its first Southeastern Conference loss. The loss, with Vanderbilt's 77-tt upset of lOth-ranked Tennessee, created a four-team logjam at the top of the SEC standings. Alligator Alley is the bane of Florida coach John existence during the recruiting season as the Gainesville campus is the only one in the SEC without a modern basketball facility. But, during the season, Lotz usually has his revenge. The Gators were leading 64-50 with 6:39 left when Alabama unleashed a tremendous rally to take a 7049 lead with 11 seconds left.

Florida then missed its shot, but Shy won the riot for offense to knock off the visiting Vols. Eddie Johnson scored 28 points to lead Auburn over Mississippi State 75-70, Top-ranked Indiana ran its record to 134 with a 6947 victory over Michigan State. No. 12 St. John's went into overtime before beating Hawaii, 74-71.

Glen Williams scored to lead the Redmen to their 12th victory in 13 games. Michigan, ranked 13th, got 25 points from Rickey Green to the rebound to tap in the whining edge Ohio State, 1441. basket. No. Notre Dame easily Vanderbilt, which gained a defeated Pittsburgh, 77-61, with share of the SEC lead with Adrian Dantley scoring 34 Alabama, Tennessee and Au- points, burn, employed a deliberate No.

IS Missouri had not just a laugher, but a joke, in demolishing MacMurray College, 106-34. The 72-point victory margin set a school record. No. 17 Arizona State was ambushed by North Texas State and dropped an 89-86 decision. In other major games, Jacksonville edged Rhode Island, 55-52; Kentucky beat Georgia 92-76; Virginia routed West Virginia, 11440; Illinois defeated Wisconsin, 71-61; Purdue beat Northwestern, 91411; SIU edged New Mexico State in overtime, 70-48; St.

Louis romped over winless Iowa State, 93-64; Baylor beat Texas, 82-77; Houston edged Arkansas, 72-71 and SMU blasted TCU, 10864. 14th best won-lost mark among current major college coaches. He had a 9-3 record in 1975, including a Peach Bowl victory. Bowden said a salary increase, a four-year contract, a desire to return to the South and Florida's weather were the reasons he left West Virginia. FSU officials interviewed Bowden last week in Tampa, where he coached in the American Bowl.

"As soon as I got home last night, I fell and slipped on some ice," said Bowden. "That's when the decision was made that I'd take the job, out there on a highway in Morgantown, West Virginia." A native of Birmingham, Bowden, 46, was an assistant coach at Florida State from 1963 to 1966 before going north. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (UPI) --Bobby Bowden, admitting "great desire to return to Florida," left a winning college football program at West Virginia Monday and signed a four-year contract as head coach at Florida State, one of the losingest teams in the nation over the last three years. Bowden, head coach at'West Virginia since-1970, succeeded Darrell Mudra, who was fired Jan.

4 after two losing seasons had caused sharp disputes with Florida State alumni. Over the last three years the Seminoies have won only four games while losing 29. They were 4-18 under Mudra. Bowden, who holds the 14th best won-lost record among active college coaches, led the ITth-ranked' Mountaineers to a record and a 13-10 Peach Bowl victory over North Carolina State in 1975. He served as a Florida State assistant before going to West Virginia.

"I'm pleased to be back here and I've had a great desire to return to Florida," Bowden told a news conference. "I've lived in the Southeast all my life and am glad to come back to what I consider Bowden, who made 135,800 a year at West Virginia, signed a four-year contract at $37,500 a year. He other benefits have not been settled Mudra was paid $30,000 a year. Florida State Athletic Director John Bridgers said over 100 coaches expressed interest in the Florida State job, including "12 te 15 coaches from major colleges." Bridgers would not reveal the applicants but said Bowden, former Florida State Coach Bill Peterson, Tallahassee Leon High Coach Gene Cox and East Carolina University's Pat Dye were interviewed for the position. Bowden takes over a team which has won only four games in the last three years.

He refused to guarantee that Florida State will have a winning record in 1976. "I'm not going'to make you any great promises but I think I can get the job done," said Bowden. "I'm a successful coach and I'll tell you why. I've produced and. handled the pressure.

I've had a rope around my neck and I've been up a tree, and I've .1 want to get folks around here rallied behind a common cause and that common cause is out there 'yonder, those folks in Gainesville (the University of Florida, FSU's Bowden had a 42-26 record at West" Virginia. His Mountaineers scored a come-from- behind victory over North Carolina State in the Peach Bowl and also beat nationally- ranked Pittsburgh 17-14 this past season. "When we began our search for a coach with a solid national reputation, I never doubted that we would find one," said Florida State President Stanley Marshall. "We have found jutt the person we are looking for in Coach Bowden. He has all of the credentials to lead Florida State to the level of achievement that all of us anticipate.

In Morgantown, West Virginia Athletic Director Leiand Byrd named offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti acting head coach..