The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • 67

Provides Colorado Often Scary' Afternoon Friday, October 3, 1975 17 0 1 I5v Hay SoJdun Stuff Writer 'Even Oklahoma Xaas with short memories know it is no sure thing when the Sooners go up against Colorado. 'To those -with long memories, it's downright scary. Oklahoma's last football loss was to a Buff team, 20-14, on Oct. 21, 1972. Two of OU's national championship clubs were given long afternoons by Colorado before eventually winning.

Since Colorado became a Big Eight fool-ball member in 1950, it has given the Soon-. crs more lnugh battles than anyone Nebraska included. That 1950 game found OU taking a 5-0 record to Boulder on the way to the national championship. Colorado was unimpressed. The Sooners trailed only once (6-0), but the Buffs hung dangerously close.

It was a big day for quarterback Claude. Arnold, known chiefly for his passing arm. That day, he ran for 132 yards in 24 carries and passed for 73 more. Two seasons later, Oklahoma opened a season of great promise in Boulder. It was the campaign for the backfield trio of Eddie Crowder, Billy Vessels and Buck McPhall.

turned a punt 93 yards for another TD. But the Buffs won, 24-21, by recovering a bad center snap on a punt at the Sooner 18. The 1968 and 1969 games were wild ones, Colorado winning the first one 41-27. after leading 34-7 at the half and the Sooners taking the second, 42-30, Colorado's Bob Anderson scored three touchdowns in each game. Steve Owens tallied four in the latter.

OU's fir.st victory as a wishbone team was posted at Boulder in 1369. Jack Mildren ran for one touchdown and passed for another, but the key play in the 23-15 win was a 60-yard pass interception touchdown by Geoffrey Nordgren. Ken Johnson passed for 241 yards against OU's 1971 powerhouse, but it couldn't the Buffs from a 45-17 licking. The 1972 game OU's last defeat saw Colorado shove across 20 straight points after trailing 7-0 at the half. The Buffs soundly outplayed the Sooners, outyarding them, 323-238.

La.st year, OU ran up the most yards ever made o'n a Colorado team (641) to win 49-14. Joe Washington joined Owens as the only players ever to score four touchdowns on Colorado and Little Joe's 200 rushing yards in 19 carries is another all-time "record by a Buff foe. Quarterback Jimmy Harris rallied his forces superbly after intermission, directing payoff marches of 80, 48 and 70 yards, for a 27-19 comeback victory, Harris threw three TD passes that day, two to Clendon Thomas and one to McDonald. Three weeks before Notre Dame snapped OU's record run of 47 straight victories in 1957, Colorado nearly turned the trick. Trailing 13-7 entering the fourth quarter at Norman, the Sooners won, 14-13, on an eight-yard run by Thomas and a conversion by Carl Dodd.

Bill Krisher blocked the conversion attempt after Colorado's first touchdown and Thomas blocked a 30-yard Buff field goal try in the third quarter with OU clinging to a 7-6 edge. Colorado finally cracked through with victories in 1960 and 1961 by counts of 7-0 and 22-14. OU posted the biggest win of the series, 62-0, the next year as Joe Don Looney broke the longest scoring run ever against a Colorado team (84 yards), Monte Deere passed lor 246 yards (still an OU record) and the Sooners intercepted five passes. In 1966, James Jackson, subbing for the injured Ron Shotls, sped 80 yards on OU's first play from and Eddie Hinton re The Sooners lost six fumbles and needed a touchdown by Vessels with 2:10 left, capping a 78-yard drive, to escape vith a 21-21 tie. Crowder had dazzled the Buffs -with four touchdown passes in the first half the year before, as OU breezed, 55-14, But the Buffs were primed for him this time with 15 running and passing attempts by Crowder resulting in 14 minus yards.

Zack Jordan scored all three Colorado touchdowns and punted seven times for a whopping 56-yard average. The 1953 game in Norman was. a classic. Former Oklahoman-Times sports editor John Cronley described it thusly: "NORMAN Kindly slop rocking the stadium all of you nice people, for there is a story to be told about University of Oklahoma's fiction-like finish- against Colorado for its heart-stabbing triumph of 27-20 here Saturday afternoon. "Merrill Green is the man of the hour.

"Call the senior halfback who can't crash the starting lineup what you will the Chickasha Phantom, the All-American Sub, the Pinch-hitter Supreme Cronley went on to relate that after Colorado pulled into a 20-20 tie with 1:30 to go on a 26-yard run by Roger Hunt, Green was handed the football for the second time in the game. He went 51 yards on a trap up the middle with Kay Keller's block springing him into the secondary. OU thus pulled it out with 36 seconds left. In 1954, Colorado led 6-0 going into the final period before Buddy Leake slipped the Sooners in front with a 10-yard end sweep and the go-ahead conversion. The Sooners added another TD for a final 13-6 reading after Tommy McDonald passed 39 yards to Bob Burris on the Buff one.

OU's 1955 national championship team had no trouble with Colorado, winning 56-21, but the '56 champs were put in shock. Colorado led them at halftime, 19-6, scoring on a blocked punt and grind-'em-out drives of 55 and 71 yards. Buff Defense Finally ming of Age, Too Vic Odegard, went to Europe ahead of his senior year, 1974, and stayed. Nose guard Steve Griffen and tackle Tom Li-kovich, both starters last year, elected not to return this year. It's said they couldn't adapt to Mallory's strict rules dormitories, curfews and supervised It's possible Mallory was a trifle naive defensively.

A year ago, he was talking about the importance of speed in a nose guard, implying the Buffs could prosper with a small, quick lad like Hurt- Football coach Bill Mallory arrived at Colorado a year ago with impeccable defensive credentials. His was a story of uncrossed goal lines. His Miami team, the year before, led the nation in total defense with the lowest yield (177.3 yards per game) in six years among major colleges. In four of his five years at the Ohio school, it had been among the top six: nationally in defense. A defensive renaissance was envisioned at Colorado.

So what happened? those impeccable Mallory credentials became so soiled and stained that they looked like a testing ground for a laundry detergent. Colorado yielded 307 points the most the school had given up since 1962 when the squad was obliterated by a recruiting scandal. In fairness, it should be pointed out that non-conference foes like LSU, Michigan and Wisconsin are not conducive to building defensive stats. Still, it must have been a shock to Bill Mallory, defensive genius. Bill admits he has talked over the situation with his athletic director and predecessor, Eddie Crowder.

"Eddie points out we've had quite a few defensive coordinators," said Mallory. "And they've used every defensive' imaginable. We need to get defense and settle down with it." good defensive; team was in 1971. It included Herb Orvis, Cullen Bryant and John Stearns and was coached by Jerry' Claiborne, head coach at Maryland. He was followed by another respected coach, Dan Radakovich, now an aide with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Some have speculated there must be something in the rare Colorado air which inspires offense and dulls defense. Indeed, there may be a shred of truth in the theory. Colorado is a liberal school which attracts "free spirits" which in turn are not adaptable to the discipline and regimentation necessary in defense. That sounds a bit far fetched but defensively, Colorado keeps talking about the ones who got away. Bud Mangrum, a lineman with great potential, passed up his senior year.

Another regular, Griffen. In that regard, Mallory confesses 'the Big Eight has changed his philosophy. "You need a big and quick nose quard like Oklahoma's Selmon," he said by phone. "That's so important in our league. In the Mid-America conference, you could get by with a smaller, quicker nose guard.

iu "The real key is recruiting. We have to get the quality athlete." Which is what he has done at nose-guarfl. He imported Charles Johnson (6-3, 282) from -Tyler, Texas, junior college. Oklahoma heavily wooed this youngster for a tight end. So did Texas Mallory brought in 11 JC transfers this year, 9.

of them defenders. One, Mike Davis, is starting at corncrback. Another, Dave Rice, is a front-line reserve at end. Three junior college transfers were infused into the defensive lineup last year. Five jucos are among the top 11 on defense, then.

New players and a new system don't add, up to instant success. Mallory says it takes time to build up pride and tradition in as Oklaho-Conlinued on Ifrfie 18, Column 1 AiPlanning To Rest Eat For 6 Months MANILA (AP) Champion Muhammad Ali said Thursday he'd like to take six months of before defending his heavyweight championship again, "I want time to get out of shape, to get Jat," said Ali as he prepared to leave following his gruelling victory over challenger Joe Frazier. "I need six months rest." Frazier, who did not answer the bell for the 15th round in his titanic battle against Ali, left The Philippines 24 hours before the champion, heading for Hawaii with his family for a Both fighters had appeared at parties before leaving Manila. The bout left its toll on both of them and- the two meri dark. glasses "tb h'i'de 'the bumps and bruises-' their small war had -produced.

Meanwhile, promoter Don King said he would try to get ex-champion George Foreman to agree to- a bout with Ken Norton -with the winner getting the next shot at All's crown. Ali had an opinion on that match if it should be arranged. "Foreman will knock Norton out," the champion said. Ali, of course, has an opinion on most things. One of them is diets.

Muhammad's Muslim religion prohibits eating pork. And that was the subject of some of the conversation in the ring between Ali and Frazier during their bout "We talked about "beef and pork," recalled Frazier. Before the bout, Ali had said that one of the reasons that Frazier could not win was that the challenger eats pork. "Nobody who eats bacon can beat me," Ali said. When informed that Frazier had disclosed their ring conversation, Ali roared with laughter, "Pork and beef," he laughed.

"Lord, that's funny. With all that going on two guys fighting for the heavy-Aveight championship and talking about pork and beef." When Ali regained his composure, he reasserted his respect for the challenger. "I like Joe Frazier," he said. "I really I get back and go to Phila is shown during a Thursday practice. Cincinnati and Pittsburgh will begin the National League playoffs Saturday.

COMEBACK PITCHER Gary Nolan, who overcame a two-year bailie with arm problems to win 1 5 games for the Cincinnati Rods in 1 975. 89er Owner a Fan Since Youth thers." The most pressing problem is coming to an agreement with a major league team. The 89ers had a working agreement with the Cleveland Indians last season, but it will not be renewed. Valentine said it is now down to two teams, but would not say which ones. It Is believed to be the Houston Astros (a former parent club of the 89ers) of.

the National League and the Texas Rangers of the American League. Valentine said an agreement will be worked out with one of the teams in the next few days and an announcement will be made Tuesday. drew the fans to AH Sports Stadium in their early years and who returned as general manager of the team in the middle of the 1974 season, will stay on as GM. Valentine says three things must be done to turn the team around: "First, we've got to bring In a first-flight team. Second, we've got to make the ball park a real, live place.

It's got to bo fun for the fans no matter whether the team wins or loses that night. It's got to be jumping all the time. Families will find it worth their time to be there. And, the third thing is improved relations with the city the people, the city fa- be some dramatic changes between now and April 2," Valentine said Thursday at a press conference. "We feel that next season will be the turning point for this team.

They've got to do good next year, and then maybe the third year they'll be back to where they're breaking even, Valentine says ho will be moving his wife and two children to Oklahoma City shortly, lie says his primary job will be working with the 89ers, "but I've still "got business interests in the Northeast, and I'll have to go back- there occasionally." Owen Martinez, who very own baseball team the Oklahoma City S9ers. Valentino, now 40, is founder and president of the board of directors of a non-profit, private school for children with learning disabilities in New York City, is president of the board of trustees of the Vnientino-Kline Foundation and is president of a New York real estate firm with holdings iii Manhattan and Bermuda, He holds degrees from Yale and. New York University. So, he is not here" trying to get rich. He has his work cut out for him with the 89ers.

They drew less than 35,000 fans last season he was following the Brooklyn Dodgers in the National League. But then the A's moved to Kansas City and the Dodgers headed for Los Angeles. "There was a lag then when I lost interest in baseball." The lag lasted until Harry Valentine found himself in New York-City in the early 1960s, and something called the Mcts was packing them in at Shea Stadium, He was captivated once again by this weird-magnetism of baseball, so capitvatcd that he decided some day he would have his own baseball team. Harry S. Valentine III was in town Thursday to lay claim to his By Dean Bailey Staff Writer When Harry S.

Valentine HI was 10 years old in the middle 1940s, there was little which occupied his mind other than the Philadelphia A's. He lived just outside Philadelphia, and ever-ytime the A's played, Harry S. Valentine III could be found taking the train to Shlbe Park on North 'Twentieth where he would Avatch Connie Mack's guys play baseball. He knew everything there- -was to know about the A's. He mem-orized batting averages and ERAs.

He knew- every player, what he could and couldn't do. And in between NCAA Gives Mild Penalty KANSAS CITY (AP) A one-year probation without sanctions, amounting to a public reprimand, has been assessed the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee by the National. Collegiate Athletic Association as a result of basketball program violations, the NCAA said Thursday. The NCAA probation was effective Sept. 19 this year, and because the probation carries no: sanctions, the school's athletic teams remain 'eligible for postseason competition.

The NCAA's committee, on infractions found that during the sumer of 1975, the university's head basketball coach and an assistant basketball coach arranged and observed basketball workouts between members of the team and prospective student-athletes. In; addition', the NCAA reported, it was "found that in several instances institutional financial aid Was not administered- the university in with adrhinistra-tivc requirements established by NCAA regulations." I' The NCAA, said that it would review the school's "athletic, policies and procedures prior to expiration of the, pear's probation Harry Valentine and finished with the worst record in the American Association, "There are going to Snubbed by Tech, Cramer Has Incentive exactly a meeting of cousins. "We didn't like each other," Cramer says. "No; we never met except when I was tackling him or he was tackling me." Cramer also played slot-back in Coronado's I-formation "running mostly reverses and catching, passes. I guess I caught about eight my senior year, two for touchdowns." He was recruited as a defensive back, even byTCU of the Southwest Conference, but spent his first week at Stillwater as a split end.

The move to defense has been a. good one for him since the Cowboys graduated most of their secondary la.st "I think I'm getting better every, week," Cramer says. "I wis disappointed with my play against My blggost.probT lem has been helping with the run support on the option." Pass defense is his strong suit. Ho hopes to show that off Saturday. Since last spring, he's been the starting strong safety.

"Since they beat us last year," Cramer says, "I have something to prove to my friends. Wlien I go back there, I don't want to go with my head down." It's not as If Lubbock is his everything. He was bora across state in Bryan, but lived 15 years in- Odessa: He hadn't really counted on going to Tech that much, he says. "They never take more than one or two out of the whole city a year," Cramer says. "I think they two guys my senior year;" One, he remembers, is Eric Felton, the Red Raiders' starting left corncrback.

Although Coronado's big rivalry was with Monterrey, Felton's Lubbock High was not way. But, in a pressurized day on national signing date, 1974, he chose Oklahoma State over West Texas State. He wasn't about to walk-on at Tech, he says. What the Cowboys had was a tall, ol skinny kid with speed. As a junior, he'd been the district hurdles champ.

At he's still no heavyweight, having gained 10-15 pounds, up to 180. Still OSU thought enough of Cramer last year a's a freshman to put him on the traveling squad. In a return to his hometown last season, things didn't pan out. The Cowboys lost, 14-13, and Cramer went down on the kickoff team three times. His only contribution, one tackle, ho guesses.

"This year, it's different because I'm getting to play. Last year, I didn't really feel a part of it." ByWftlt Jayroe Slnff Writer The last two years he was in high school, Jerry Cramer says he saw every Texas Tech home football game. It was easy, living in Lubbock, Tech's hometown. Cramer also played football at Coronndo High School, making all-district as a senior defensive back. But when it came down to recruiting season, Cramer might just as well have lived in Anchorage.

In a word, he was snubbed. Texas Tech wasn't interested. "Tech only recruited me. during my junior year," he said the other day. "I thought (former coach Jim) Carlen might have thought I'd walk-on.

I don't know if that's true," Cramer wasn't recruited in a big, big delphia, we're gonna have to go out and" sit down and have dinner." The menu, however, will certainly avoid pd'rk. President Retained MANILA (AP) Dr. Ellas Cordova was elected to another one-year term Thursday as president of the World Boxing Association on the second day of its 54th annual convention..