The Ottawa Journal from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Page 44

1 2 SPORTSFRONT Monday June 4, 1 979 Turcotte loss hurts ,1, i DBILAOS DDATf sjbTifluin.3 I UTSil IMIDIEBS SlJI k. Garlel soaks awav he pr wJ 1 Stories by Seymour -j Journal sPrts PETERBOROUGH Technically It's something called a slipped rotator cup. To Jeff Turcotte it's a broken heart, an abrupt end to a promising football season and possibly the end of a career. To Ottawa Rough Riders it's simply a pain in the neck because all-stars are tough to replace, next to impossible when they're Canadian offensive linemen. After finding the pain of a recurring shoulder injury too much to bear during a practice Sunday morning, Turcotte is back in Ottawa today, where doctors are taking yet another look at the troublesome shoulder, the same one that Turcotte thought was 100 per cent when he checked into training camp Friday.

Undoubtedly the doctors will decide to repair the cup, a ball-and-socket joint at the tip of the shoulder. It should have been operated on last season, but Turcotte didn't know that for sure until the action started here Saturday morning. "I came to camp and felt fine. I had it all checked out and the doctors said it was the best it's been in a long time. "It (the shoulder) went right away.

If it was something mild, fine. I could suck it up. "But it went right away. I couldn't last two days," said the Ottawa-born tackle. The absence of Turcotte, an Eastern all-star in 1975 and 1976 and an all-Canadian in 1977, leaves a gaping hole in the left side of Ottawa's offensive line.

The vacancy is more pronounced because both of last season's starting guards are gone. Frank Pomarico was shipped to Hamilton in an off-season trade and Charlie Brandon wasn't invited to camp because of a recurring nerve injury. "It's a blow to the" troops losing a Canadian offensive lineman," said head coach George Brancato. "Especially one of that calibre." "It's a huge gap to fill," added line coach George Hughes. "Turcotte's a good leader, a good guy and a good player." Veterans Jim Coode (right tackle), Donn Smith (centre) and Turcotte were slated to act as anchors on the line this year while a couple of relatively inexperienced 24-year-olds, Doug McGee and Val Belcher, learned the ropes.

Now the pressure's on Canadian Ray Honey to become a bit more aggressive and win himself a starting job. If he fails, the nod will likely be given to import John Anderson, an Alcorn State grad making the switch from defence of offence. Turcotte missed part of last season because of the same injury. He came back for the final few games with the aid of a shoulder harness that prevented the joint fom popping out." He and Smith went on a six-month rehabilitation program, Smith to repair a ligament problem in his knee. They worked daily, most often twice a day.

"We worked our asses off getting back," the six-year veteran said. "But now I'm in the same situation I was last year. I'm damn disappointed." A harness might have done the job again this time, but Turcotte wants to be able to play as he did in the past. "Last year was a disappointment, not being able to play to my capability the way I did for three years. I won't go through that routine again in and out of the lineup, getting back in shape." "I didn't get 100 per cent out of it and neither did the team." Turcotte said he could return to the lineup 10 weeks after an operation, but the coaching staff feels he's through for the season.

The injury is a painful one. A slight twist of his arm and the six-foot-five, 265-potind Turcotte winces in pain. But no pain can match the one he felt as he said his goodbys Sunday to his mates, particularly to his close buddy Donn Smith. The feeling was mutual. "We don't have anyone to replace him" Smith.

"There's no one in the league who can replace him. And after two days of camp, the Rough Riders have a mighty big problem. 1i i ill J. Bruce Palmer finds the sledding tough I.