El Paso Times from El Paso, Texas • 9

Ex-UTEP football coach passes away Paso Athletic Hall of Fame in 1980. At that same induction ceremony, one of his athletes. El Pasoan Ernest Keily, was inducted. Among the men who played on Curtice's Miner teams are Jim Bowden. former athletic director at UTEP.

and Vic Clark, who retired last spring as athletic director of the Ysleta Independent School District. Curtice was known as "Cactus Jack" for much of his career. He was known as a direct and simple taskmaster who stressed discipline. He was the last head football coach at the University of California-Santa Barbara from 1963-1969 The 1948 team finished 8-2-1 but lost 21-12 to West Virginia in the Sun Bowl. The following year, the record was identical, but it included a 33-20 victory over Georgetown in the Sun Bowl.

Curtice's 1948-49 teams led the nation in rushing and produced the individual rushing leader. Fred Wendt, in 1948. Wendt's 1,546 yards rushing stood as a National Collegiate Athletic Association record for 18 years, finally broken by Southern California's O.J. Simpson. Curtice was inducted into the El Times combined sources SANTA BARBARA, Calif.

Jack Curtice, a former Miner coach who emphasized a passing game in his 40 years of football coaching that included stints as head coach at Stanford and Utah, died in his home Thursday. His wife. Margaret, summoned emergency help, but Curtice, 75, was dead. A funeral home spokesman said it appeared he died of a heart attack. Curtice coached the Miners from 1M6-49, when the school resumed football after World War II, and went on to compile a 24-13-3 record.

before the school abandoned the sport. Last month, dozens of players from that period gathered to pay tribute to the coach. They praised him as a stern but fair and caring coach who often was known to say, "Yes sir, no sir, clean underwear and a clean handkerchief will get you through life." At that reunion, he said that while the young men may have thought saying yes sir and no sir "was a lot of malarkey, I just wanted you to reflect well on your moms and dads. We don't pet much of a i chance to contribute to them." Curtice was considered one of the nation's leading coaches in his long career and also was known on the athletic banquet circuit for his ho-morous anecdotes. Curtice was president of the American Football Coaches Association in 1961 and served on its Football Rules Committee for 28 years.

He was head coach at West Texas State College in 1940 and 1941 before moving to El Paso. Later, Curtice went to Utah (1950-1957) and Stanford ('58-'62). During that period, his record was 102-85-7. Jck Curtice Dead at 75 --Sporte (times Section Friday, August 20, 1982 Page 1-E Miner's destiny in his own hands failed to pick it up. A defender raced through and smacked Ward to the artificial turf an instant after he had released the pass.

Really smacked him. Ward snaked his head up to see it the pass naa Deen caugni. had. He bounced up and never I acknowledged the hit. All he said was, "Let's go.

Way to block." I And he was off again. By BILL KNIGHT Times staff writer The spring winds were blowing, the warm sun was heating the artificial turf. A few fans lounged lazily in the stands, surveying the action. Down on the field, Kevin Ward still in his first year of college stepped into the huddle and took control. Someone in the huddle was talking and Ward said, "Shut up.

We're going to take this thing down the field and score." UTEP coaches raised their eyebrows. Days later, Ward dropped back to pass. A new blocking scheme had been put in, and someone Battle on for No. 1 QB berth Kevin Ward is currently the No. 1 quarterback for UTEP.

But a junior, two sophomores and two freshmen are trying to separate Ward from that spot. Junior Brad McEachern and sophomore Jay Wiley are putting up the stiffest assault. But Miner offensive coordinator Hal Mumme, The UTEP coaches began to believe they had something. Things like these earned Ward the top quarterback spot in the spring. Things like these earned jpPr pjjHB jp him enough respect from his teammates to be selected a co-captain, even though he is only (Please see Ward, 4E) who works directly with the quarterbacks, also likes the Football 7:30 p.m., CFL, Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Calgary Stampeders, Cable 20.

Dawn Report looks of freshmen Bill Bowen and Jay Cleveland and soph omore Dave Rued a. "We really feel good about quarterback, Mumme said we teei like we re in as yood shape there as we have ever been. McEachern and Wiley saw a lot of playing time last sea son, drawing starting assign ments at times. UTEP tickets UTEP's complement of tickets for the Sept. 4 football battle in Las Cruces against New Mexico State will not go on sale until Monday, Miner officials reported Thursday.

UTEP has been allotted 5,000 tickets for the two teams' season opener. Prices will be $6 for reserved and $4 for general admission. No checks will be accepted for payment, UTEP officials reported. The tickets will be on sale at the UTEP Ticket Office. ihey re a lot alike in physical ability," Mumme Diablos snap out of slump SAN ANTONIO Had the El Paso Diablos lost to San Anto-nio Thursday night, it would have been El Paso's sixth straight setback which would have been the most losses in a row by the Devils this season.

Instead, El Paso pounded out three extra-base hits, including Randy Ready's 18th home run of the year, en route to a 9-2 victory in the Alamo City. More important, the victory assured the Diablos of remaining in a deadlock with Midland for the lead in the Texas League West Division race. Both El Paso and Midland upped their second-half records to the .500 level Thursday. The Diablos are 29-29 while Midland is 27-27 in the standings after knocking off Atiiarillo 6-5. With less than two weeks remaining in the regular season, El Paso and Midland are three full games ahead of Amarillo and San Antonio.

El Paso got on the scoreboard early and never looked back as Bill Foley's run-scoring single and Mark Corey's sacrifice fly staked the Diablos to a 2-0 first-inning lead. The Diablos doubled in the second inning and were up 6-0 before San Antonio scored its first run in the bottom of the fourth. Four of El Paso's first six runs were set up by San Antonio pitching mistakes. Three walks in the second helped account for two runs, and a pair of wild pitches in the fourth brought home two more Diablo runs. Dion James and Ready were the big guns the Diablos.

James singled in one run in the second and doubled home another in the sixth while leading El Paso in base hits with three. James as standing on base in the eighth when Ready homered down the left-field line. Diablo starter Arturo Gonzalez won his third game against no defeats since joining El Paso from the Mexican League. Gonzalez worked seven-plus innings before Derek Tatsuno came in to finish the contest. Tom Klawitter absorbed his 12th defeat in 21 decisions while San Antonio lost for the sixth time in seven days.

San Antonio's miseries were typified in the eighth inning when Tatsuno first entered the game with two outs and an apparent Dodger run already home. Before Tatsuno threw his first pitch, he backed off the rubber and threw the ball to Ready at third base. Dodger pinch-runncr Chris Chaves, who was sitting in the San Antonio dugout thinking he had scored on Ed Amelung's double that chased Gonzalez from the game, was ruled out at. third for not touching the bag. The two teams continue their five-game series Friday with Pob Schroeck (10-10) scheduled to pitch for El Paso against San Antonio's Steve Perry (2-4).

DIABLO NOTES Diablo pitcher Jack Uhey. on the disabled list for the last week, will be out for the rest of the season after doctors found a broken bone in Uhey's right elbow. said of McEachern and Wiley, "and both came back Sports on Radio Baseball 6 p.m., Texas League, El Paso Diablos at San Antonio Dodgers, KTSM-AM 1380. Sports on Tap Volleyball Prep, Ysleta Independent School District Invitational, Riverside High, 10 a.m. Auto Racing Sun Citv Dragway, 8 p.m.

Golf 37th annual Anthony Country Club Invitational, first round, all flights, 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. shotgun starts. Greyhound Racing Juarez Race Track, 8 p.m. in great shape.

They are both good leaders, well liked Times photo by l.uis VMlalobos They both have good arms and quick feet. They can run a little. They also are both intelligent, both good com petitors." How sweet it is Larry Johnston, a junior defensive tackle, was the victim of this freshman-inspired initiation during the UTEP Miners' first Frosh Night, when freshmen turn the tables and harass upperclassmen. Morris Williams standing over his team mate, made Johnson eat a cupcake on hands and knees Thursday. Head Coach Bill Yung said the night is designed to promote comraderie among varsity football players.

Mumme said the two freshmen were not nearly as Sports on TV Baseball 5:30 p.m., Major Leagues, Los Angeles Dodgers at Pittsburgh Pirates, Cable 11. similar. "Bill Bowen (of Burges) is a tremendous competitor. He can take a bad play and make it into a good one. He did a good job in the spring game, taking the team down the field to score.

Sherrill puts alumni on notice "Cleveland has really got a good arm. He probably can throw the ball almost the length of the football field Rueda does a pretty good Iween the lines job throwing and running compiled by the Times Sports Staff and has good leadership. The big tests are ahead. "The big test for a quarter will post odds on the number of pre-game high-fives. Which brings up a point: When the owners were calling around a few months ago to set up their exhibition schedules for this fall, and finally when they got something lined up, reckon they signed contracts or did they just "shake on it?" What a difference You remember Fred Sims, the off-the-bench freshman who replaced the injured Stanley Wilson and zipped to 181 yards and stardom in last year's (Please see Between, 5E) The boss is boss The word is out, politely but firmly: Support the Aggies but let Jackie Sherrill coach them.

After a sweep of the state speaking to Texas clubs, large and small, Sherrill made the remark, not out of arrogance but purpose: "We intend to work with and through the alums, but they will not tell us what to do. They will not make a difference in how I coach." And, so far, the Texas Aggie faithful are liking it. Newest nickname From Blackie Sherrocl of the Dallas Times Herald: "Our neighbor back is when they get in a scrimmage or a game, does he move the football Mumme said. Jones sez the Texas Rangers should change their name to Kleenex because they're nice and soft and pop up one at a time." Changing times At the present rate, unless there is a strike, the Vegas bookies might have to change their procedure. Rather than quoting the point spreads, they BILL KNIGHT EPHS arsenal includes strong passing game "Our defense looks very good," Pan-coast says.

"We've got eight starters back, and we feel real optimistic. The whole secondary is new, but we have capable people filling in. Our eight down people return, and we have some depth, which we haven't had in the past." Included among the returnees are all-District 1-5A honorable mentions Witterstauter on the line and linebackers Manny Ramos and Jon Jackson. Olivas and Ed Sifuentes are El Paso High's other two linebackers while Rudy Perez, Garcia and Alec Felhaber return for their senior years on the defensive line. The Tigers' new secondary will include halfbacks Javier Aldaz and Hector Luna and safety Julio Montes.

Next: Parkland Matadors. EL PASO HIGH TIGERS Coarhes Manny Rodnquei I second year) and assistants Bob Pancoast and bi 0 0 San Antonio 7 a 1 Miller It I 3 2 Sheeny 2b 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 2 1 Paso Koenqsfld James Ready Foley Corey dh Michael lb Hansen II Dovdsmier ss Peyton rt Totals 2 Chave: pr IB 1 1 Bream lb 1 1 Brewer dh 0 0 Amelunq cl 1 0 Beyers If I 0 Madison 3b I 0 Rivera ss Part of a series By MARK LEIBSON Times staff writer In the words of El Paso High assistant football coach Bob Pancoast, the Tigers "hope to make history" this season. History could be made in many different ways, depending on which EPHS coach you talk to. Pancoast, who has worked at several El Paso high schools over the last decade, says he believes the '82 Tigers will make their way into the record books with a winning season. EPHS last held its head above water in 1967.

Says Manny Rodriguez, who is starting his second season as head coach, "This year, there won't be a touchdown difference between us and anybody we play on our schedule. There are six or seven schools in our district (1-5A) who could win the championship, and I think we're one of those teams. "Last year, we missed four games by a total of 21 points, and I think that some of the reasons had to do with the fact that we only had two weeks to work with the kids before the season began." Three touchdowns was the difference from a possible 6-4 record', and the 2-8 yards and eight touchdowns his junior year, and Rodriguez says EPHS will use the strong-armed quarterback as much as possible. "There were 21 NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) rule changes made during the off-season, and most of them had to do with passing," Rodriguez says. "I think you might see a lot more schools throwing the ball in the future.

We'll take advantage of the rules by doing more passing." Rasor's main targets will be flanker Javier Aldaz, split end Ernie Bustamante and returning tight end Rudy Perez. Also back is the entire left side of the offensive line from center Gonzy Garcia (159) to guard John Esquivel (160) and tackle Kevin Clinton (175). Moving up into starting roles are right guard Phillip Flores (160) and tackle Charles Sanchez (170). Halfback Edmundo Jiminez and fullback Abel Witterstauter will handle most of the running duties. Their backups figure to be Andy Olivas and Curby Woods.

Jiminez paced the running attack last year with 416 yards and four touchdowns before an injury sidelined him for the final three ballgames. I 9 10 7 Gaontiett 2 13 i Total5 EL eiyso Till SAN ANTONIO 000 100 100 -2 Klawitter, Rivera. DP El Paso 'an Antonio 1 LOB El Paso 10. San Antonio 1, Ready, Hansen, Gaunti.tl, Rivera, Corey, Amelunq 39 Rivera HR Read- IB; SF Corey. OFFENSIVE PUNCH Mike Rasor, Edmundo Jiminez record the Tigers compiled.

They were winless in seven league games. "This year, we worked on basic mechanics," Rodriguez said. "We're operating better mechanically than any team I've ever coached," Rodriguez says. "The biggest help is that the kids have faith in what we're doing." El Paso's oldest high school may change its nickname this season to the Flying Tigers if quarterback Alex Rasor delivers. Rasor passed for almost 1,000 PITCHING tUMMMV ER BB SC IP Ml record.

7110 7 District 1 5AI Returning starters: Offense 7 Dfense I. 1902 Schedule Sept. 3 at Las duces Sept 10 Ysleta Sept 17 it Socorro Sept. 24 at irvin Oct. 1 Anoress Oct.

I it Coronado Oct. 15 Jetterson Oct. 22 it Austin Oct 2 it Bowie Nov. 5 Burges District 1 5A names 7.j F.l Pas Offittf! Tatsuno San Antonio Klwler 12 Dente 3Vs Klawitter, Dente 2 55. Art 1,477..