The Shreveport Journal from Shreveport, Louisiana • 17

SHREVEPORT JOURNAL I I 5 SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY LA FRIDPi NOVEMBER 30 1919 1 I 1 3 0 111:1113 sHREvEpoRy JOURNAL I SHREVEPORTBOSSIER CITY 1At iRIDP 1 NOVEMBER 30 1979 I 1 11: lk To Doubts nein 111 Get ILSU Job SPORTS EDITOR DERIV DoV12Di SPORTS EDITOR DE Ray Bunc 6 SPOR1 DEE 31 Morrient'of Truth Mor Dietzel's nominee That vote was expected to be a mere for ma lity Beightol said he spoke with Rein 10 days ago but did not discuss the LSU coaching situation Beightol was rumored to be considering an assistant coaching job on the LSU staff if Rein were offered the job but the former Arkansas offensive line coach said he has not been Rein Was Odds-On Favorite if 414 '1 (-' a 14 ih IMETO 1 litt II IV 1 t0 l' l'''''' Irl 4 1 11? k' 1 Pl' Ni ti 7 i oN 11 )0 :) 'e 11i 41 Nil kyle IC1 i 1' ills If" i Ill Pilto4 'h 7ify contacted by any LSU officials about a job offer "I haven't been approached" Beightol said "I'm very close friends with Bo but no one from LSU has approached me about a job I haven't talked with Bo in the last 10 days" Beightol said Rein was the best coach available who did not have to prepare a team for a bowl game North Carolina State turned down a bowl invitation because it interfered with exams "I'm basing this on Bo being the most capable football coach around without a bowl game and I understand they tell me recruiting is the name of the game" Beightol said "I know that Bo Rein will be an excellent head coach You're going to have a real fine football coach" Rein was unavailable for comment Thursday The Raleigh newspaper said he scheduled a staff meeting for today to explain his decision The decision to select Rein apparently was made after several other candidates rejected job offers by LSU Florida State coach Bobby Bowden signed a lucratrive five-year contract and Holtz said he was not interested in the LSU job Others named as possible candidates for the vacancy were Pat Dye of East Carolina who resigned Thursday to consider "several" coaching opportunities but is leaning toward the vacant Wyoming post Darryl Rogers of Michigan State Tom Osborne of Nebraska Fred Akers of Texas By PETER FINNEY Jr BATON ROUGE La WM Louisiana State Athletic Director Paul Dietzel who kept silent with the state's hottest secret for more than a year today was to name North Carolina State coach Bo Rein as LSU's next head football coach a former coaching associate said Larry Beightol a former assistant with Rein at North Carolina State under Lou Holtz said Thursday that Rein was the logical choice because he did not have a bowl game to interfere with his recruiting job at LSU "I don't think there's any question who's going to be the next coach at LSU" said Beightol who recently was fired as head coach at Louisiana Tech "Bo Rein is more than capable and will do an outstanding job I don't think there's any question the next football coach will be Bo Rein" The Raleigh News and Observer also reported that Rein who finished 74 and won the Atlantic Coast Conference this season would be named the successor of 18-year veteran coach Charlie McClendon Beightol who also was an assistant under Holtz at Arkansas before coming to Louisiana Tech said Holtz never seriously considered an LSU offer "Holtz will not take the job" Beightol said "I know that I just feel that Coach Holtz is happy where he is I would bet my life on it" The LSU Board of Supervisors was schedultd to vote today on BATON ROUGE La (AP) LSU watchers still had Bo Rein of North Carolina State leading the pack of likely choices today as officials at Louisiana State University prepared to pick a new football coach The new coach will replace Charlie McClendon who directed LSU's football program for 18 seasons More than three dozen names have popped in and out of speculation since LSU announced a year ago that McClendon was being phased out and would "retire" after the 1979 season The athletic committee of the LSU Board of Supervisors was to meet at 9:30 am today to hear Athletic Director Paul Dietzel's recommendation The committee must act on the recommendation and then present it to the full board ice Bo Zeta go Oteletsers Oa 'ii the June 1978 hiring of Dietzel came from Shreveport Mayor Billy Hanna "We should have it wrapped up by 10:30" a spokesman for LSU said this week and Dye because he applied too late Dye however resigned his head coaching position at East Carolina Thursday saying that he wanted time to consider other coaching opportunities He was said to be pursuing an opening at Wyoming and not LSU although one East Carolina source listed the LSU job as a possibility for the Alabama graduate and six-year head coach Dietzel made his recommendation to the Board of Supervisors at the beginning of its regular meeting An 8:30 am meeting was scheduled to make plans for the Tangerine Bowl and other LSU athletic necessities preceding Dietzel's presentation to the Board at 9:30 am Dietzel's initial report was to come in a brief executive session on personnel at that time with his recommendation to be aired in an open session shortly afterward No objection to the choice was seen from the Board whose only objection to coaching staff at the same time as Dietzel's announcement today the Raleigh News Observer said in its Friday editions Rein received a vote of confidence Thursday when former Louisiana Tech head coach Larry Beightol a former assistant coach at NC State was quoted by the Associated Press as saying Rein is Dietzel's likely recommendation Other names mentioned in speculation about the job were Navy's George Welsh Nebraska's Tom Osborne Arkansas' Lou Holtz Texas' Fred Akers Baylor's Grant Teaff and Indiana's Lee Corso At various times all of these but Welsh have been quoted as removing their names from consideration Washington's Don James and East Carolina's Pat Dye both told the Journal they had been in contact with Dietzel but were not being cdnsidered James because he declined the consideration By PHIL ROGERS Journal Sports Writer BATON ROUGE And the winner is Bo Rein! Louisiana State University Athletic Director Paul Dietzel made it official this morning recommending North Carolina State Bo Rein to the Board of Supervisors as the successor to head football coach Charles McClendon Confirmation by the Board was expected to be almost automatic giving Louisiana's largest school its third head football coach in 26 years and 23rd in its 86 years of football competition Nothing happened Thursday to remove the name of the 34-year-old Rein as the top contender for the job Rein who just finished his fifth year as NC State's head coach has been listed as a possible choice since speculation on the choice became heavy this fall Rein called a meeting of his NC State McClendon's career was extended by the Board last year to include this fall season when the 18-year coach has served as president of the American Football Coaches Association With only the Tangerine Bowl against Wake Forest remaining McClendon has compiled a record of 136-59-7 at LSU Rein's five-year record at NC State is 34-22-1 including an Atlantic Coast Conference championship and wins over two bowl teams and five teams which finished with winning records this year The graduate of Ohio State came to NC State after working as Frank Broyles' offensive coordinator at Arkansas and other assistant coaching jobs at Purdue William Mary and Ohio State A hush fell over the crowd of reporters cameramen and interested onlookers as Paul Dietzel emerged from the Board of Supervisors meeting room Moving swiftly to the microphones while representatives of the press jockeyed for position Dietzel flashed the Pepsodent smile that won countless recruiting battles 20 years ago and removed an envelope from his pocket Suddenly there was a sprinkle then a downpour of plaster from the ceiling A hole appeared above the group and a chair carrying the next Louisiana State University head football coach wearing a hood to preserve the secret to the last agonizing second was lowered through it The scenario for this morning's long-awaited Board of Supervisors meeting at LSU wasn't quite that dramatic but I wouldn't be surprised if some enterprising reporters maintained an all-night stakeout at the airport in hopes of catching a glimpse of the man who will lead the Fighting Tigers into the 1980s When Paul Dietzel got the LSU coaching job in 1955 he conducted his first press conference on the steps of the administration building with three reporters taking notes and one student photographer After signing a three-year contract at $13000 per year the 29-yearold coach said "If there is one watchword it is enthusiasm I would like to see enthusiasm on the part of the players I hope to see a fireball brand of football" He was 29 years old the youngest member of a Gaynell Tinsley staff that he was required to keep as one of the conditions Some of the assistants were old enough to be Dietzel's father One of the few young coaches was Charlie McClendon who became his chief assistant IRONICALLY THE STATE'S hottest high school prospect that year was an Baton Rouge youngster named Billy Cannon He was to lead the charge that would carry Dietzel's third LSU team to the national championship This year one of the top prospects is another Baton Rouge running back named Billy Cannon Jr Dietzel didn't run off as many football players as his former boss "Bear" Bryant had done at Texas a couple of years earlier but his strict discipline shocked a lot of people especially when he dropped fullback Lou Deutschmann from the squad If you thought there was a lot of attrition at Louisiana Tech this year you should've been around then The size of the LSU squad dwindled from 74 to 43 the week of Dietzel's opener against Kentucky Mansfield's Reynolds one of the greatest passers in Louisiana high school history was a sophomore quarterback that year But a 5-9 170-pound Shreveport (Fair Park product named Joe May stole the show on opening night when he returned a kickoff 96 yards for the clinching touchdown in the Tigers' 19-7 upset victory Tall Paul and Jim Corbett criss-crossed the state selling LSU One of young Dietzel's favorite tactics was to open his coat showing he had nothing up his sleeves "I'm no magician you know" he announced "All I can promise LSU is hard work and honesty with the team" ROBERT REIN is one of many-outstanding head coaches who spent some time on Frank Broyles' University of Arkansas staff The list includes Doug Dickey Hayden Frye Bill Pace Jim Mackenzie Hootie Ingram etc etc Rein who played AND coached under Woody Hayes at Ohio State is noted for his success with the Veer offense His explosive attack helped Broyles' 1975 team reach and win Cotton Bowl Broyles' last hurrah That was Frank's only Cotton Bowl appearance in his last 11 seasons at Arkansas The strong recommendation of Broyles was probably a big factor in Rein getting the North Carolina State job at such a young age although the Wolfpack officials were already familiar with him spent four years on the staff there before leaving for a year at Fayetteville A guy who spent four years at Fayetteville Ferguson American Conference passers for the llth week in a row although his rating dropped a couple of points to 851 In addition to breaking Jack Kemp's club record for yards in a single season during the Bills' 16-13 upset win over New England last week Joe went over the 1000 mark for career completions and needs only 28 more to break Kemp's club record "I was just numb as I walked off the field Sunday" Ferguson recalled "I was thinking 'Damn we won this game' It wasn't until I reached the dressing room that it really hit me When you bea as team as good as the Patriots it's easily the biggest moment of the season Heck it's the biggest moment of the last four years" A hush cameral' Paul Die Superviso to the of the pr flashed countless and rem Sudden downpou hole appo carrying sity head preserve second' The sc awaited LSU was wouldn't reporter at the ail glimpse Fighting When job in 19 conferen administ reporter photogrt contract old con' it is enth enthusia hope to He wa member was recp conditioi were old of the fe' Charlie: assistan IRON high sch was an I Billy Ca that wot to the nz one of Rouge Jr Dietze players Bryant of years shocked he drop from tho lot of ati you shoi of the the wee Kentucl Mans greates' history that yec Shreveg Joe Ma: when II( clinchir upset vi Tall the stat Dietzel' coat sh sleeves announ work ar ROBI outstan time on Arkans Dickey Macke' Rein Woody success explosi reach Broyle! Only Cc season! The was prl the No young were a four ye for a yo A gu: Fayett Amerio week io a coup' breaki yards i 16-13 week career more "I Sunda: thinkir wasn't that it as goo bigges the big Visitors Favored in Prep playoffs Here Tonight two offenses are similar in name only "Green Oaks doesn't depend on the veer for its basic offense they don't run it all the time like Sulphur does" Ivy explained "They block it and that's the key That's their offense that's what they work on every day And their quarterback is just tremendous" Gary Littleton leads the Golden Tornado offense which did not put a single back over the 1000 yard mark this year "No one player gets to carry the ball that much" coach Shannon Suarez said "They'll confuse you and put a lot of pressure on us but the kids are ready to play" Ivy added After all this is the playoffs Everbody is undefeated win The kids wanted to prove they could win They wanted to prove they were better than they were picked" The Yellow Jackets did it with a ball control offense built around big fullbacks Kenneth Herbert (220 pounds) and Stephen Crooms (205) who combined for over 1100 rushing yards With those two pounding up the middle New Iberia was able to spring sophomore tailback James Alexis outside for 515 yards "We've got to keep them from running the ball on us and making the big error on pass defense" Hedges said "That's how they play They'll run at you and then hit you for the long pass Then if we can control the ball ourselves we'll be all By TOM KLECKNER Journal Sports Writer It would seem like a couple of gross mismatches A pair of second place teams going up against a couple of unbeaten powers in the Class AAAA quarterfinals Not just second place teams mind you but two teams which went into the last weekend of the regular season knowing they had to win just to make the playoffs But here they are 8-3 Captain Shreve runnerup in District 2- AAAA and 8-2-1 Wood lawn the second-place team in District 1- AAAA facing off against two of the top three teams in the state The Knights take on 12-0 Sulphur ranked second in the state at State Fair Stadium while the Gators only have to play No 3 right" Captain Shreve will be trying to do just that with an offense built around quarterback Ronnie Wagnon which has usually produced just enough points to win In their only playoff game two weeks ago the Gators edge 1- AAAA champ Fair Park 3-0 on a last minute field goal and have won 9-6 10-7 and 14-13 games this year Certainly Shreve has had its fair share of good luck "If it's a close game and we can get the break we feel like we'll win It's just how it goes on a given night" Hedges said Wood lawn's Ken ivj is just as optimistic despite the fact the Knights will be without linebacker Dennis Dunn who not only called the defensive signals but handled the place kicking duties as well Dunn was injured in last week's 12-7 win over Green Oaks when he was hit as he attempted an extra point But injuries should be nothing new for Ivy who has seen over 10 players missing from action at one time or another "We've had one thing after another We've always been able to come back and play good but I don't know how far back we can get and come back" he wondered "We'll have to change our personnel I don't know how that will work out but we don't have any choice" Even without Dunn for much of the game Woodlavm held the Green Oaks' veer to 51 yards rushing and an even 100 overall Sulphur brings a similar offense into tonight's games one which ground out 197 yards rushing and 273 total in last week's 14-13 win over No 1 Broadmoor The New Iberia also 12-0 at Caddo Parish Stadium Both games are at 7:30 pm In other playoff games involving area teams Winnfield travels to Delhi and Haynesville hosts Kinder in the Class AA quarterfinals and in the LISA Class A finals Glenbrook will travel to Tallulah But don't let the records fool you New Iberia coach Bobby Keasler certainly hasn't "Anytime you're in the playoffs you have to be a good ball club" he said "Captain Shreve is in the playoffs they have a good baliclub Coach (Lee) Hedges has been there a while he's one of the best They'll be ready to play" "I think we can play with New Iberia" Hedges agreed "The records don't have a lot to do with it It's anybody's game and the kids think they can play with them We're really excited about it" New Iberia has plenty to be excited about itself The Yellow Jackets were picked to finish somewhere in the middle of District 5-AAAA title as they returned just five starters off in 8-2 team of the year before with All-State running back Johnny Hector among the losses Instead New Iberia surprised everyone by rolling to the district title but not before taking an early-season 21-10 win at Opelousas and upsetting district favorite Acadiana 20-13 in double overtime "When we beat Opelousas over there that might have been the turning point" he remembered "And then to come back the next week and beat Acadiana that was obviously a big r4-' 7' i' i 'z: 77791 't ri :::4 3 ::::::1:1::: 4: 4 0' 4 ii: 4l'f: iiii" 'Itel'' 104'1'! 1 et 1 i- ifitl I 1r i 1 '')e I cp84 'kv 1f li: i 4: '4 v'f4444'-'' t': :1 1- toLe 7 ''e'-'1 1 4: 4:: 13 54 "1 1 44 v0' 'iii -1 0 i kIZNAtt WSita4e1 Woodlawn linebacker Scott Franks 7 Capt Shreve receiver Lee Moore New Iberia tailback James Alexis.