Santa Cruz Sentinel from Santa Cruz, California • Page 8

8-Santa Cruz Sentinel Tuesday, Jan. 5, 1982 iQVT Sports 1980 MllZf WIBMIKC NEWSPAPER It IM CALIFOKHI Kf WSPPf PUIIUHMI ASSOCIATION Bill Walsh Overwhelming Coach Of Year Choice Walsh, who had been an assistant Walsh served his apprenticeship in the NFL starling in 1966 as offensive backfield coach for the Oakland Raiders, then for the next nine years was coach of the quarterbacks and receivers of the Cincinnati Bengals. During that stretch he developed Ken Anderson into one of the league's best quarterbacks. And in 1976, as San Diego's offensive coordinator, he was instrumental in turning Dan Fouts into one of the game's most explosive championship since 1972. The redevelopment of the 49ers into an NFL power was achieved in two basic steps.

First Walsh put together a potent pass-oriented offense, but one which often couldn't survive the team's defense. Then, in the 1981 draft and in major acqusitions after that, he built a defense into the second best in the conference. Among the players he drafted his first year were Joe Montana and Dwight Clark, the NFC's leading pass er and receiver this year. And in 1981 he used three of his first four selections to draft Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright and Carlton Williamson, three-quarters of San Francisco's defensive backfield, then picked up a pair of defensive stars with contract problems pass-rushing end Fred Dean from San Diego and linebacker Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds from Los Angeles. Last year the 49ers' defense was the second-worst in the league.

This year it was second-best. coach at Stanford during 1963-65, returned as the school's head coach in 1977-78 before being lured to the pros by San Francisco. In the 49ers' press guide put together before the 1981 Walsh is quoted as saying: "My last year with the Bengals in 1975, we had one of the best clubs in the NFL 11-3, and I think this year's 49ers team has young talen that could become comparable to thai Cincinnati squad." Prophetic. 1 49ers Lose Home Practice Field Advantage NEW YORK (AP) Bill Walsh, who in just three seasons changed the San Francisco 49ers from the National Football League's losingest team to its winningest, was named today The Associated Press Coach of the Year. Walsh was the overwhelming choice of a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters, named on 61 V8 of the 84 ballots cast.

Forrest Gregg, who performed a "worst-to-first" feat with the Cincinnati Bengals, was a distant second with 15'2 votes. Don Shula of the Miami Dolphins received three votes, Tom Landry of the Dallas Cowboys got two and Dan Reeves of the Denver Broncos and Walt Michaels of the New York Jets received one vote apiece. The 50-year-old Walsh, who doubles as general manager of the 49ers, piloted the team to a 13-3 record, the best in the NFL, in 1981. When he took control of the club before the 1979 season, it had won just 31 of its previous 86 games and was coming off a 2-14 season. San Francisco went 2-14 again in 79, then improved to 6-10 the following year before storming to its first winning season Since 1976 and its first National Conference Western Division said, "but I'm sure it's not going to tej free, either." The footing on Candlestick's field was better than expected Sunday wher( the 49ers beat the New York Giants 38-24, to reach the NFC title game.

The rainstorm hit the area just before thej game ended, and the field was covereed immediately afterward. Only one 49er player suffered aj significant injury Sunday. Running back Ricky Patton, who made a 25-yari touchdown run. and host the NFC title game against Dallas at soggy Candlestick Park. San Francisco Coach Bill Walsh declared the 49ers' Redwood City practice field, 15 miles south of Candlestick, a "total loss" a week ago.

The club has been using a field at nearby Stanford University. But, that field was soaked, too, Monday and Walsh called off a scheduled workout. Then, Walsh and his staff decided to take the 49ers out of the area for the rest of the week. REDWOOD CITY The San Francisco 49ers, unable to practice Monday because of the violent rainstorm pounding Northern California, lost their home practice field advantage in preparation for Sunday's National Football Conference championship game at Candlestick Park. Monday night, the 49ers flew to Southern California to practice the rest of the week at the Los Angeles Rams' training facility in Anaheim.

The 49ers will return Friday evening Use of the Rams' facility was arranged by team owner Edward De-Bartolo who phoned Los Angeles owner Georgia Frontiere. "I thought that was really big of them to let us go down there," said ex-Ram Jack Reynolds, now a 49er linebacker. "Sometimes they can do some' really good things." But, the middle linebacker could not resist getting in a big at the club which released him last spring. "That shows me something," he 'lit ur'y I Bill Loveloysentlnei Bill Walsh Coach Of Year M0WTHRUSATUR Valuable 49er i 11 Elusive Solomon Remembers Old Days Whl Alignment Available a KM SPECIAL FIBERGLASS BELTED RADIALS Our Reg. 48.97 P155 80R13 SIZES RIG.

SALE I MISIOIU 53 7 45,00 1,0 PI9575HM IV. VI) J0S75I4 nik P20S7SR1S infiiiii JOtBW fJI57SM TTT Sl.99 1 P11S75RI5 fk nA P12S7SR1S Aa 7, (HIlilSI HTlilll Plus F.E.T. 1.52 Each By KEVIN WOODWARD Sentinel Sports Writer SAN FRANCISCO After watching his spectacular play in San Francisco's 38-24 NFC playoff victory over the New York Giants Sunday, one would think that wide receiver Freddie Solomon was born to catch long passes, run reverses and return punts for the 49ers, a team seemingly tailor-made for his unique talents. There was a time, however, when the gifted seVen-year pro out of Tampa would have preferred playing anywhere but the City by the Bay. Jn fact, Solomon was less than pleased when the; then-powerhouse Miami Dolphins traded him to the 49ers along with Vern Roberson and two draft picks for Delvin Williams prior to the 1978 season.

As far as Solomon could tell then, he was going from a legitimate Super Bowl contender to a team whose chances could best bo described as hopeless. "Things didn't exactly work out well for me when I first came out here," the 28-year-old Solomon recalled Sunday. "I got a few boos and a few 'Go back to Miamis' and what have you. Rut I didn't think about that. I just thought about trying to do a good job here.

This' is my home and where I want to be. I'm happy." Happy, too, is the San Francisco organization, which realizes the value of Solomon and the. intense professionalism that he brings to evCry game. Against the Giants, Solomon led all-49ers' receivers with six catches for 107 yards and a touchdown all coming in the fii'gt half. Although he didn't catch a pass in lrm4 DcMfn M-xy V-trr l- MOUNTING INCLUDED NO TRADE-IN REQUIRED THE KM 78 "Our Best" 4-PLY POLYESTER CORD BLACKWALL Bill LovejoySentinel Freddie Solomon outraced Terry Jackson for 58-yard touchdown.

the second half. Solomon keyed an important 14-yard line and three plays later Bill Ring fourth-quarter touchdown drive with a 22-yard scored from three yards out to give the 49ers a punt return and a 12-yard reverse. The run big 31-17 edge, gave San Francisco a first down on the Giants' SEE PAGE 9 suts io. I sale 7T.T7 A7lill 35 97 27.00 600.15 19.00 i itu 32.00 C7liH 41.97 3S.00 (7ill4 42.97 TS.OO 1 171.14 44.97 39,00 G76.I4 46.97 41.00 1 21 071.15 41.97 43,00 1 H7I.I4 41 97 43.00 S2 M7I.I5 50 97 44.00 I7il5 57.97 48.00 14 Our Reg. 33.97 600x12 Plus F.E.T.

1.39 Each Real' Cowboys Eager For Second Chance All Tirol F.E.T. Each -WhrttwiH Ontf K6 1 MfcdlOt I COMPUTE EXHAUST SYSTEMS AVAILA1LI DALLAS (AP) The Dallas Cowboys have a great deal of respect for San Francisco 49er quarterback Joe Montana In fact it's hard to hear a Cowboy discussing Montana without using the word respect this week as they prepare to meet the 49ers Sunday in the National Fixtball Conference's title game. But it hasn't always been that way. Going into their regular-season game against the 49ers Oct. 11, the Cowboys admit they didn't consider Montana to be a quarterback equal to a Ron Jaworski or a Terry Bradshaw.

It didn't take long for Montana to win their respect. The 49ers held a 21-0 lead at the end of Installation Available ilRRESTOR SERVICES INCLUDE: 1. Install front disc brake pods and brake linings on rear wheels 2. Resurface drums and true rotors 3. Inspect front calipers 4.

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Sami-mataiiic ahoa $10 mora. Carryout li Additional parti or avnrlctt ara titra Singit unit (waidad aytttmai ticiudad. Si 94 mam 12 Sale Price Price the first quarter and went on to beat the Cowboys, 45-14, the worst loss Dallas suffered in more than a decade. Ed "Too Tall" Jones, who hopes to spend some time face-to-face with Montana Sunday's, was one who wasn't in awe of Montana before what has been called the "Candlestick Park Massacre." "To be really honest, I didn't have a whole lot of respect for the 49ers before that game," Jones said, "I played hard But I still didn't think they could beat us regardless of what happened." "I didn't know half the names of the whole team," Jones added. "Things started happening so fast that we couldn't get control of the game." "Even though they beat us that day, they didn't beat the real Cowboys," Jones said.

Montana completed 19 of 29 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns that day, but Dallas cornerback Dennis Thurman believes it was a one-shot deal. "He (Montana! is a good quarterback and the way he has been playing they will be tough to beat," Thurman admitted. "But everything he's done up until this game means nothing," Thurman said, "To beat us, he will have to have a repeat performance of the last game against Dallas." Jones said he watched closely last Sunday as 49ers left guard John Ayers pulled out on every passing down to block New York Giants linebacker and rookie sensation Lawrence Taylor. Ayers outweighed Taylor by 30 pounds and was able to keep him out of the 49er backfield. If the same theory is used.

Ayers will be called on to keep Jones away from Montana and out of his passing lane. "AH you have to do against that guy (Montana) is throw off his timing and you blow his game." Jones said, "New York didn't pressure him at all. That's why he had so much time to pass." Jones also noticed something about Montana in the New York game. "He threw a lot of low passes and he threw them all toward my side of the field. If he does that, I'm going to get him.

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The Vikings were 31-32-1 in that period while Tampa Bay was 29-34-1, Green Bay 26-36-2 and Detroit 26-38. The Bears were 7-9 in 1978 under Armstrong and 10-6 the following year when they made the playoffs only to lose in the first round to Philadelphia. The Bears were 7-9 in 1980 andlipped to 6-10 this season. Although no successor was named, it appeared the job might go to Ditka, currently an assistant coach with the Dallas Cowboys. Halas recently asked and received permission from the Cowboys to talk to Ditka, but will not do so while the Cowboys are still involved in the National Football League playoffs.

If the Cowboys defeat San Francisco Sunday, they would earn a berth in the Super owl. That would mean Halas and Ditka would not begin talks until after Jan. 24. Although the Bears finished the season by winning their last three games, Armstrong's position appeared to be in jeopardy when Halas held a news conference Dec. 26 to announce that he was extending the contracts of defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan and defensive assistants Dale Haupt and Jim LaRue.

Obviously pleased with the work of the defensive unit, Halas announced the defensive coaches were all to get raises but he refused to speculate on the future of Armstrong or any of the offensive coaches, including offensive coordinator Ted Marchibroda. CHICAGO Neill Armstrong is a proud jnan. He's proud that in his 27-year professional football career he has never had to apply for a job. He also is proud that, until Monday, he had never been fired from a job. "Not in 17 years as an assistant and 10 years as a head coach," he said.

"Why, I played eight years of professional football and never was cut." All that changed Monday when Chicago Pears owner George Hahis fired Armstrong las head coach llalas failed to name a successor, but former Bear tight end Mike Ditka, reportedly a prime candidate, has said is interested in the job. Armstrong, 55, had been head coach of the Bears for the past four seasons in which he compiled a record of 30-34. He said he plans to leave Chicago with his head held high. "I intend to walk tall," Armstrong said. M've seen other coaches lose jobs and I know how badly I felt for them.

"And I've seen a lot of players go. I've had tell them myself. The ones I remember are the ones who took it like men. I intend to be same." Armstrong was defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings for seven years before Staking the Bear job Feb. 16, 1978.

He succeeded Jack Pardee, who left the Bears after the 1977 season to become head coach of the Redskins. -L In his four years at the helm, only had a better record than the Bears in the Our Reg. 68.88 With Exchange Maintenance-free 60-mo. Battery "Our Best" in top or side terminal styles. Many U.S.

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