The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • 25

THE SUNDAY OKLAHOMA 1B SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1979 Cowboys Get Off on Right Foot the game's key play came with 4:33 gone. North Texas had just regained possesion again at the 27 when Wor-ley Taylor couldn't control a handoff and fumbled as he hit into the lino. On the next play, with the Mean Green already dreaming of a two-touchdown bulge. Cowboy defensive end Dexter Manloy cracked North Texas halfbark Bernard Jackson just as a pitchout arrived. The resulting fumble was claimed by Pete DiClementi and the Cowboys were spared further disaster.

yards, the fourth highest one-game aerial total in Cowboy history. Yes, the OSU defense is as good as ever. Never did North Texas push into a threatening position under its own power. Yes, Colin Ankersen is becoming a more consistent field goal kicker. The sophomore, who delivered only four successful three-pointers ail last year, drilled four-of-foiir tying Abby Daigle's one-game school record.

All In all, it was a highly satisfac Yet, North Texas continued to hang on and the game entered the fourth quarter with the Mean Green still nursing a 7-6 lead. Ankersen had salvaged stalled OSU drives of 75 and 50 yards by delivering field goals of 22 and 27 yards. On the second play of the fourth quarter, Ankersen returned again to sock one through from 33 yards away and. with 1 4:19 to play, the Cowboys had I heir first lead of the game at 9-7. Once wound up, the Cowboys wore tory debut by the Cowboys under new coach Jimmy Johnson.

But it was a little slow developing. Memories of last year's early season offensive frustrations flashed to mind when the Cowboys turned the ball over to North Texas, not once, but twice, on the OSU 27 before the game was five minutes old. The visitors accepted the first gift by traveling the 27 yards in four plays to take a 7-0 lead with the game a more 3M7 old. What probably should go down as By Ray Sotdan Slaff Writer STILLWATER Oklahoma Slate pleasing answers to numerous questions Saturday while treating a Lewis Field crowd of 11.800 to a 25-7 season-opening football victory over North Texas State. Yes.

the Cowboys truly will pass the football this autumn. Quarterback Harold Bailey, removing a large question mark surrounding his own ability to perform under fire, completed 17 of 31 passes for 275 not about to slow down and the North Texas defense, so grudging early, had lost its fire. Oklahoma State proceeded to bang home two touchdowns and another field goat to ring up its ninth season-opening triumph in the last 10 yards and avenge last year's 1 2-7 loss at North Texas. Aside from the two early. so rwps at the OSU 27, North Texas never got closer to the Cowboy goal than the 30.

Rick Antle ended that mild threat with a pass interception. At the time. See Page tK, Column 1 Bailey 'Deserved' To Be Successful j.assiter smiled. Believing had to be the hardest thing of all. II is possible for a kid to have all his believing taken from him.

And that happened to Bailey, there can be no question of that. Johnson found a beaten young man. and together they believed. "It was my job io give him the confidence," said Jimmy, his nose burned cherry red by the warm September sun. "My coaches, especially Bob Leahy, are there to teach htm how to do the fundamental things.

To be able to do the right things. But it is my job to make him believe ho can do it." Quietly, the gushingly, enthusiastic Johnson paused for a moment to think about his quarter-back. Yes. the voting coach agreed, perhaps on this euphoric day, he was happiest of all for thai unhappy kid he found a few-months ago. "1 went into the dressing room before the game." he recounted, "the last chance io talk to them.

The first person I singled out was Harold Bailey. I told the kids that Harold Bailey deserved to be successful." But ihere are so many deserving kids. Every team has a suc-See Page III, Columns When Jimmy Johnson picked Harold Bailey in the dead of winter as his quarterback, some thought he also should have named Snow White as his first assistant and the seven dwarfs to play the offensive line. At least, they reasoned, if the man was bent on being collegiate football's first coach Tired before he ever lost OR won a game, there would be some comic relief. After all, in throe seasons on the Oklahoma State campus Bailey had provided little more than comedy with his assorted attempts to play quarterback.

Still, it just never quite jibed that Johnson, bright, bubbly and confident as an oil sheik in a Volkswagen, would hand pick virtually sight unseen a quarterback who had been stamped a loser, and worse, by the previous regime. Why would a brow-beaten, down-and-out senior with little to gain, go out and sweat for a team that wasn't sure he possessed an ounce of courage. Hut Johnson stood by his decision, which intrigued O. Henry fans. Suppose this now coach could give Harold Bailey the r-ourage to go back on the football field and battle back even if he didn't win? And, hope against hope, suppose the thin, angular senior from Houston could make something of his 1 1th hour reprieve.

Why. the pulp magazines make a living with such stories. Well, the first chapter is written. The plot will get much thicker this autumn, but at least the opening page has a hero. Harold Bailey walked off the Lewis Field AstroTurf Saturday afternoon with his chin up, his forefinger thrust in the air and happy faces all around as the PA announcer came on with the words thai Bailey had passed for 275 yards on the button, his finest day ever In a Cowboy uniform.

How had it happened, how had this sensitive, sometimes moody young man picked himself off the carpet and come back to give Johnson a victory in his first game as a head coach. "1 believed." Harold Bailey SlaH Photo Pul SoulliiUno Oklahoma State quarterback Harold Bailey races outside behind the blocking of tight end Donnie Echols. USC Wins; White Hurt McEnroe vs. Gerulaitis Austin, Lloyd in Women's Final the victories both cr ing thi sling after a trip to the hospital where X-rays proved negative. McDonald, the poised senior quarterback of the Trojans, threw two second-half touchdown passes, while sophomore Allen gained 105 yards on 20 carries and scored a touchdown.

A record opening-game crowd of 52,991 in Jones watched the Raiders of the Southwest Conference rally from a 11-0 deficit on the passing of sophomore quarterback Ron Reeves. James Hadnot, the Rod Raiders' leading rusher, gained 91 yards. LUBBOCK. Texas AP) Top-ranked Southern California, daying without the services of injured AU-merica tailback L'harles White, rode the massing arm of quarter-jack Paul McDonald ind the rushing of full-jack Marcus Allen io tard-earned 21-7 vieio-y Saturday night over enacious Texas Toch. White, the leading usher in Pac-10 history, suffered a bruised liioulder in the second liiarter after gaining 19 yards on 10 carries, le watched the rest of he game from theside-ine with his arm in a gel some cheers," he said.

would be sad if no one applauded. If that happens, after the first set we're going io pack up and finish the match at my house." Gerulaitis has an estate on nearby King's Point, N.Y. Earlier. 1 G-year-old Tracy Austin defeated second-seeded Martina Navratiln-va 7-5. 7-5 to gain the final against four-lime defending champion Chris F.vert Lloyd.

Connors. 27. will be absent from the final for the first time in years. He won the title in 197-t, "7fi and was a finalist in '75 and '77 It is the first U.S. Open final for hoth Gerulaitis and McEnroe.

Both learned the game at the Port Washington, N.Y.. tennis academy. "We didn't play miH'h against each other, though, McEnroe said. "lie was an old man. I was 1 I and he was IK.

McEnroe loads their pro iiahy 2-1, NEW YORK (API Twenty-year-old John McEnroe pounded defending champion Jimmy Connors ii-3, f-3. 7-5 to gain the final of the U.S. Open Tennis Championships. He will meet Vitas Gerulaitis in today's all-New Yorker final. Neither has been popular with their home crowds, who seem always to root for their opponents no matter how unpopular their opponents have been.

The spectator even favored Hie N'nstase when McEnroe played him in ihe second round here. Thai match was halted 15 minutes while ihe spectators protested an umpire's penally against Nasiase. "I think it's ihe ultimate irony," said McEnroe. "They don't know who not to cheer for now," Gerulaitis, who struggled to beat Ros-coe Tanner 3-6, 2-0. 7-6, 6-3, 6-3 earlier, also was amused.

"For sure somebody's going to have to Sen her McEnroe nor Connors played flawless tennis McEnroe made a total of 13 unforced errors to Connors' 62. Connors had more outright winners 22 to 21 but not at Ihe key points. McEnroe, who was broken only three limes the whole match, quickly built a 3. 0 lead in the third sot before Connors held service. Then Connors broke back, beating McEnroe at 3(1 with a shot down the line.

McEnroe little affected by tti.tr setback. He broke Connors for 5-3. hut Connors immediately broke back, anil then McEnroe did soem a bit rattled. In the 11 th came ho double-faulted to give Connors double break point, but ot out of trouble with an overhead and a service winner. In the final game, he got double match point when Connors double-faulted John McEnroe On to the Finals.

How Good Will OU Be? 'Pretty Good' I As Onener Near. It's Hard ta Tell. Savs Switzer be as skilled re vt going how good we're going to ho." Without question, the Sooners have enough talent to guarantee themselves a 3-0 record by the lime their Big Eight opener against Colorado rolls around Oct. fi. Pro-conference (oos Iowa, Tulsa and Rice stand like Moo, Larry and Curley Joe at the lop of the schedule.

"Wo have young, inexperienced players," Switer Insists. "People don't realize this. Sure, it puts more pressure on the coach. Any time you have talented guys, people are going to put pressure on you to do what you've been doing. I think our team will lie representative of OU football, But we're not the UPI survey and in third place in the AP edition.

Another conference title is no longer enough. The decade of the 70's has been a constant clamor twice fulfilled for a national championship. There is no reason why the final season before the 80's should he any different. "My fooling It that we will be a pretty good football team," says Switzer, who'll take a six-year record of 02-6-2 the best in the country into Oklahoma's season opener Saturday against Iowa at Owen Field. "Good teams may win eight games and other good teams may win nine, 10, 11 or 12.

1 don't know By Al Carter Staff Writer You don't put an OU football helmet on a half-empty head supported by a hall-equipped body and automatically expect io thump the world into a different orbit. That has been Barry Switzer's message ever since half of last year's Sooner squad qualified for charter rates in Its exodus to the NFL. Hut who listens? Switzer was hoping for a team to strongly contend for another Big Eight title. But the pollsters have OU rated a heartbeat away from lop-ranked Southern Cal in Halfback Billy Sims, based on his Hoisman Trophy triumph last year. Is Switzer's most skilled Sooner ever.

1( the rest of the squad is less skilled than before, it likely means the killing process-will he more drawn out but probably no less effective. A review of ihe troops: OHcnsivc lino Sophomore Don Key moves into the right guard spot after winning a battle with James Carner that improved the techniques of both. Coaches have left guard Terry Crouch and right tackle Lyndlo Byford where See 1'uge 211, Column I I i Billy Sims Barry Switzer.