Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • Page 18

Pro Football Draft Filled With Tension, Madness By JERRY IZENBERG News Service New York The day began innocently enough. Bob Lewis, who was supposed to man the hot line back to their Columbus Circle offices here, sat down at the little table with the pool-room green cloth and reached for the telephone, proving two things: (A) The telephone company has not been hijacked. (B) Maybe it ought to be. What he came up with was an old army field telephone complete with hand-crank. The entire nerve-center of what pro football euphemistically calls the draft was dependent on swift and total communication from the Belmont-Plaza Hotel to the home office, and here was Bob Lewis holding the futures of Giant footballers as- yet-undrafted with a piece of equipment straight out of the Siege of Verdun by way of San Juan Hill.

hello he shouted. hello he repeated. Then he cranked up again and whistled. he plans to draft General a guy at a nearby table said, Giants just went out of And so it went on this day of destiny during which Jim Plunkett, of the Stanford Plunketts, became the negotiable property of the Boston Patriots; Archie Manning, of the Mississippi Manings, was forever committed to the New Orleans Saints; Dan Pastorini, of the Santa Clara Pastorinis, went body, soul and pitching atm to the Houston Oilers, and nobody remembered Rayford Jenkins. Rayford who? By operation snatch minus five minutes, the Belmont- auction room was a study in the kind of tension which been seen along Lexington Ave.

since one of the Hawaiian dancers up the block got caught in the rain with her synthetic grass skirt. If you do not know Rayford Jenkins, then shame on you. It was just a year ago in this very room, while representatives of 26 football clubs, tastefully attired in red eyelids, the day bef cigar and enough litter to blo.t out Central Park, sighed in relief as the man from Kansas City put down his telephone and wearily proclaimed: Kansas City Chiefs LINCOLN, NEBRASKA JAN. 29, PAGE 19 select defensive back Rayford Jenkins, of Alcorn A. and thus ending the long, long, wait, and establishing place in history.

Only 421 college football players were drafted ahead of him. He stuck with the Chiefs until late August, and shame on you once again. How quickly they forget. He was the last man deemed worthy of kidnaping in last draft, an honor, which given a little faster clock and a little more pressure everyone to do something so they could all go to bed at last, might just as easily have gone to Hank mother-in- law. And who follows in footsteps? Well, exactly one year later in this same room, operating under the same questionable right to separate collegiate football players from most of their freedom of choice.

Commissioner Pete Rozelle announced that the Boston Patriots had chosen Jim Plunkett to lead them out of the wilderness, at least as far as Scolly Square. To pick first you have to be the worst team in football, and the Patriots got there on merit. Scon after, Billy Sullivan, who is president of the balLclub, announced that Baltimore and Philadelphia had been the most persistent in their efforts to get the pats to deal off their rights to Plunkett, and San Francisco had made a bid as late as Wednesday night. clubs made Mr. Sullivan said.

had 3,400 wires and letters urging us to keep Plunkett. I met him last night and he told me that he has no hesitance about coming to This stirring piece of oratory was followed by immediate panic back inside the big room, where it was announced that the Washington Redskins new coach, George Allen, had just traded his first and third choices in this draft, his third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh next year, and linebacker Marlin McKeever in exchange for six of the ball players he had failed to win with last year at Los Angeles. Some of them are hurt and some of them are old and some of them do not seem to be able to play very well anymore. And of the six, only tackle Diron Talbert is considered top- drawer. On paper, this is not unlike trading your car, your house and your snowblower in return for a six-month visit from your mother-in-law.

only thing I can a guy theorized, that somehow, George plans to go back and coach the Rams next Going Slowly Travel Begins At Home Probable Starters Nebraska (11-3) Okla. St. (5-10) NIssen (6-3) Kraus (6-4) Chalk (6-7) Jura (6-10) AAullen (6-7) Stewart (6-3) Clack (7-2) Gregory (6-3) Alford Tipoff; 7:35 p.m., NU Coliseum. (Freshman Intrasquad game 5:55 p.m.). customary two- game road swing to Oklahoma begins, of all places, in Lincoln Saturday night.

The Cornhuskers meet Oklahoma State in the Coliseum, then depart for Norman, where meet Oklahoma Monday night. game was originally scheduled for Stillwater, but we had to switch it because of the state high school wrestling explains Nebraska coach Joe Cipriano. The game will be played at Oklahoma State Feb. 20. Having the friendly home court, where won six straight times this season, should be of advantage to the Cornhuskers Saturday night.

coming off a two-week layoff for semester examinations. One area in which Cipriano is seeking improvement is rebounding. had some fine offensive play and shooting extremely well, but we will have to improve our says Cipriano as the Cornhuskers return to action with an 11-3 season record and a 1-1 mark in Big Eight play. State a big team, but they outrebounded us when we played in Kansas points out Cipriano. Nebraska won the Big Eight tourney encounter, 71-58.

Nebraska will again go with a smaller lineup with A1 Nissen ticketed to start at a forward spot. The 6-3 junior has been filling in in excellent fashion for the injured Mike Peterson. Peterson has had the cast removed from his ailing foot, but is not yet ready to return to action. The Cornhusker depth situation will be bolstered Monday with the return of Tom Bryan, a 6-5 lefthander who will bid for the job vacated by Peterson. Bryan played sparingly two seasons ago, then transferred to a California school and transferred back to Nebraska.

Marvin Stewart (29.5), Chuck Jura (15.0) and Nissen (14.5) rank among the Big top 10 scorers after two games. Leroy Chalk ranks No. 4 in rebounding (13.5), Nissen fourth in field goal accuracy (.647) and Stewart No. 1 in free throw accuracy with a perfect 13-13. Oklahoma season scoring leaders are forwards Tony Kraus (13.6) and Mike Jeffries (12.1).

Creighton In Romp Portland, Ore. PI) Creighton fast- break and stiff zone defense proved too much for the University of Pilots Thursday night as the Bluejays zipped to a 99-55 win. Portland trailed by only one at 17-16 with 10:26 left in the first half, but break began to click and the Bluejays led 45-31 at halftime. Creighton, now 12-5, led by as much as 39 points in the second half. record is now 315.

Big 6-10 junior Cyril Baptiste led the Jays with 23 points and 11 rebounds and Dennis Bresnahan chipped in with 16. Dave Jefferson led the Pilots with 13. Indoor Track Season Begins NU Thinclad Win String Is in Jeopardy Indiana sprinters Larry Highbaugh (left) and Mike Goodrich. A nine-year unbeaten string is on the line as Nebraska opens its home indoor track season against Big Ten outdoor champion Indiana Saturday. Coach Frank i Cornhuskers lost on the East Stadium oval in dual or triangular competition since Oklahoma claimed a 75-47 win in 1961.

Sevigne admits that the unbeaten streak is in jeopardy this year. The chief threats are Indiana Saturday and Tennessee in a triangular test here Feb. 20. has great strength in the sprints, field events and long says Sevigne. have to get some seconds in the middle distances if going to win Sevigne was talking about more than just seconds.

He meant 1-2 finishes to offset the anticipated Indiana harvest in the field events. The Hoosier field event leaders are high jumpers Gary Haupert (7-1) and Dennis Adams shot putters Bob Winchell (59-2) and Val Chandler long jumper Larry Highbaugh (24-3) and pole vauiters Dixon Boughman and Steve Calloway (15-6). Highbaugh and running mate Mike Goodrich are two of the premier collegiate sprinters, owning bests of 6.1 in the 60 and 9.3 and 9.2, respectively, in the 100 also have three two- says Sevigne. The Cornhuskers will counter with a strong middle distance punch led by John Mottley, Garth Case, Jim Hawkins and Greg Carlberg. Carlberg, the Nebraska mile run record holder, will likely double in the mile and 1,000 against the Hoosiers.

Mottley will lead the Cornhusker 440 cast. Case the 600 and Hawkins the 880 entries. Case, two-time Big Eight 600 champ, is again running well. had a 49.3 in a 440 trial recently and the third-fastest time ever run on our indoor says Sevigne. Horace Levy, a top sprinter when healthy, will lead the Cornhusker dash men against Goodrich and Highbaugh.

running well and you count him out, but on paper Highbaugh and Goodrich would have to be says Sevigne. Field events open at 1:30 p.m. and running events at 2. Frosh Falter Des Moines Drake University freshmen scrapped to a four-point halftime lead Thursday night and went on to defeat the Nebraska frosh, 7550 Bob Whitley fired 25 and Craig Davis and Otollo Burke 15 points each as Drake used a 32-28 halftime lead to gain its fifth victory in eight games. Tom Novak had 19 points, Brendy Lee 16 and Dave Rezac 13 for Nebraska.

Nebraska 28 Drake 32 43-75 )9, Lee 16, Rezak 13, Brown 12, Allen 9. 25, Davis 15, Burke 15, Seger 6, Williams 5, Godfrey 4, Graham 2, Schreck 2. Holm Retiring From Football Beatrice (Ji) Bob Hohn alL time great Beatrice High School athlete is retiring from professional football to join the management staff of State- Federal Savings and Loan Association of Beaitrice, it was announced Friday. Leonard Whittaker, president of the firm said following a period of training Hohn will be assigned to a permanent management position in Lincoln. Bowler Setting Up Pattern for Repeat Vietory Campbell Honor Set By RANDY YORK Ruth Busch is reluctant to admit it, but she may be superstitious.

Last city bowling champion in the scratch singles, Ruth just happened to roll the only 600 Series of her life when she strung together games of 204, 200 and 246. This year daughter Cindy has suggested that Ruth pattern Feb. 7 after the day last year whjen she won the city title. And such patterning includes eating at least a couple of space sticks or what is more commonly called know Ruth says, my daughter is already after me to buy a whole boxful just for the tournament. She wants me to do everything the way I did last The only catch in that strategy, however, is Ranch Bowl, site of the singles and doubles competition, which opens Saturday and runs through Feb.

7, the last day of the city tournament. Unfortnnately, Ruth has bowled at Last year when she put together that 650 series, shie was bowling at Northeast Lanes for the first time. was a really freakish she recalls. the SPORTS SLATB I AH events free unless followed by all times a.m. uoleM boldfaced for p.m.

Friday Local Basketball Northeast v. Southeast at Pershing Auditorium, Bellevue at Wesleyan, Swimming South Sioux City at Southeast, Fremont at Lincoln High, Grand Island at East, 4. State Basketball Lincoln High at Boys National Wrestling Nebraska at Indiana State. 204,1 thought great. And after the 200, I thought great, too.

But the last game, the 246, I absolutely believe it until 15 minutes What made the game so inconceivable, Ruth says, is that she been able to come anywhere close since not to a 600, let alone a 246. guess my first and only 600 just came at the right Ruth says. go out every week and try as hard as I can, but I gotten over 550 in my league since overall game, however, suffered. Her average in a Thursday night league at Hollywood Bowl is up three pins to a 163. And although she bowled at Ranch two years ago in a summer league, Ruth did manage to sneak out there again last weekend to roll a 556 three-game set.

So, another 600 is obviously within reach. a darkhorse she says, who knows? Maybe with a double helping of space sticks would you believe a Mel Oaimipbell, distance star of the 1970 Nebraska track team, will be presented the Samuel C. Waugh Memorial Trophy Saturday during the Nebraska-Indiana dual meet at Memorial Stadium. Campbell, now a medical student at the University Medical School in Omaha, came to Nebraska unheralded, but through hard work and dedication became the greatest distance man. an example of what self-sacrifice and labor can do for a Coach Frank Sevigne said.

made himself into a track sitar, while maintaining an outstanding record of The Waugh Trophy is presented annually to the Ciutstafiding senior track man. Clifton Forbes earned the first award in 1969. As a senior, Campbell set school records in the two-mile and three-mile races. He recorded 9:03 indoors and 9:07 outdoors in the two-mile and had a 13:54 in the three-mile. Mel also ran a 4:07 mile leg on the record-breaking Husker four-mile relay team that ranked No.

6 in the nation. Seniors from national championship football squad were not snaipped up quickly in the National Football League draft Thursday arid Friday. Only two Cornhuskers, running back Joe Orduna and offensive tackle Bob Newton, were in the first seven rounds Thursday. Orduna went to the San Francisco 49ers on the second round and Newton to the Chicago Bears on the third round. Early Friday Cornhusker kicker Paul Rogers was drafted by the Pittsiburgh Steelers in the eighth round.

In the eleventh round the Boston Patriots drafted CJom- husker fullback Dan Schneiss, but listed him as a tight end, indicating his profuture is as a receiver. just glad I got Newton Friday shortly after visiting with Chicago offensive line coach Jim Ringo. told me the Bears had a need for offensive line said Newton. The all America offensive tackle admitted he was a little surprised to be drafted by the Bears. coach Ringo called me it was the first time I had talked to a representative.

I kind of thought Baltimore might draft me because had a lot of calls from Newton was encouraged that he was the only offensive lineman drafted by the Bears through the first seven rounds Thursday. from the veterans will be enough to worry he said. The Bears had taken a pair of Missouri running backs, Joe Moore and James Harrison, before drafting Newton. Through 11 rounds the Big Eight leader in draftees was Kansas Sate with six choices. Comerback Clarence Scott was one of three Big Eight first round choices, joining Moore and John Riggins.

Other Wildcats chosen included Lynn Dickey, Mike Montgomery, Dean Shaternick, Ron Dickerson and Ron Yankowski. Missouri had five players drafted Rocky Wallace, Mel Gray and Larron Jacikson joining Moore and Harrison. Kansas and Nebraska had four draftees each, Colorado three, Iowa State and Oklahoma tow each and Oklahoma State none. Easterday Team Champion Of District Golden Gloves By STEVE SINCLAIR Champion Easterday will provide the nucleus for what winning coach Buzz Truax believes could be the winning team at the Midwest Golden Gloves at Omaha Feb. 19-20.

think this is the first time in several years that the Lincoln team (Southeast District winners) has a shot at the title in said Truax after his Easterday stable captured the Southeast District team championship at Pershing Auditorium Thursday nighit and advanced seven of the Lincoln fighters going to the Midwest finals. and his produced the only knockouts in the ten bout championship round. There were six fights in Thursday semifinal round which were decided by a knockout or a TKO. John Brown of Easterday floored Dan Rowe of Roberts at the end of the first round in the 139 pound title fight, and Sal Muratella put away Jim Krondack of Saylor in 1:41 of the first round in the heavyweight division for his second KO of the evening. He also knocked out Bill Jrgens of Saylor in his semifinal bout.

Brown just started boxing three months ago at the urging of Truax, and has knocked out four of his five opponents. could be Truax said. definitely a Muratella is lacking somewhat on ability, according to Truax, but he makes up for it in other ways. has trained harder than anybody Truax iiiiiiiiiimiiutmiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiniiimiiiiiHii Semifinals 139 John Brown, Easterday, dec. Roger Carmichael.

Saylor; Dan Roberts, KO'd Terry Rue, Falls City, in 1:48 of second. V56 Duane llg, Saylor, dec. Julius Easterday; Dan Fairbury, KO'd Alex Ivory, Easterday, in 1:54 of third. 165 Jim Waters, Fairbury, TKO'd John Stutzman, Saylor, In 1:10 of swond; Randy Nelsen, Saylor, KO'd Paul Sloup, Straight Edge, in 1:26 of first. 178 Dave Hill, Easterday, dec, Harry Grotehouse, Saylor; Leo Fitz, Straight Edge, TKO'd Mike Danley, Saylor, 1:57 of first.

Hwt. Sal Muratella, Easterday, Bill Jurgens, Saylor, ifi 1:16 of Jim Krondack, Saylor, dec. Fmals 112 Ray Phillips, Easterday, dec. Chip Williams, Saylor. 119 Tina Orta, Easterday, dec.

Ken Cline, Saylor. 125 Dean Strough, Easterday, won by default over Dale Strough, Easterday. 132 Mike Wilson, Roberts, dec. Jim Monie, Easterday. 139 John Brown, Easterday, KO'd Dan Rowe, Roberts, end of first.

147 Fred Orduna, Easterday, dec. Dave Underhill, Fairbury. 156 Dan Griffin, Fairbury, dec. Duane llg, Saylor. 165 Randy Nelsen, Saylor, Jim Waters, Fairbury.

178 Dave HIM, Easterday, dec. Fitz, Straight Edge. Muratella, Easterday, KO'd Jim Krondack, Saylor, in 1:41 ffirst. Special Trophies Team Champion Easterday coached by Buzz Truax, Leo Straight and Ivan Slosson. Outstanding Fighter Mike Wilson, Roberts.

Outstanding Sportsmanship Dave Hill, Easterday. KO'd second; Doug Lint, dec. Leo said. really found himself in the last was a straight right Muratella said of the punch which gave him the title. set him up with four straight Other Easterday fighters to capture titles were Ray Phillips (112), Dean Strough (125), Fred Orduna (147), and Dave Hill (175).

Hill was also awarded the Outstanding Sportsmanship Strough won his division without stepping into the ring. He drew a bye into the finals, where he was to meet his younger brother Dale. But Dale decided to forfeit the match. are both equally Truax said. Dean is an exceptional fighter, and ready to The Outstanding Boxer trophy was awarded to Mike Wilson of Roberts.

Wilson captured his third Southeast District title on a decision over Jim Monie of Esterday in the 132-pound class. Also gaining his third title by a decision was Randy Nelson of Saylor at 165 pounds, defeating Jim Waters of Fairbury. Nelson, who also coaches the Saylor team, scored the fastest knockouit of the night in the semifinals, flooring Paul Sloup of Straight Edge in 126 of the first round. STAFF PHOTO BY HARALD DREIMANIS Bill Jurgens of Saylor throws a left hook over the guard of Sal Muratella of Easterday during a semifinal match in the southeast district Golden Gloves. Muratella, nevertheless, knocked Jurgens out and went on to win the heavyweight crown on another knockout over Jim Krondack of Saylor.

Big 8 Selections FIRST ROUND New York Jets Kansas running back John Riggins. Chicago Missouri running back Joe Moore. Cleveland Kansas State defensive back Clarence Scott. SECOUND ROUND Chicago Missouri running back James Harrison. Cincinnati Kansas guard Steve Lawson.

Miami Iowa State wide receiver Otto Stowe. San Francisco Nebraska running back Joe Orduna. THIRD ROUND Houston Oilers Kansas State quarterback Lynn Dickey. San Diego Chargers Kansas State running back Mike Montgomery. Chicago Bears Nebraska tackle Bob Newton.

FOURTH ROUND Houston Oilers Missouri tackle Larron Johnson. FIFTH ROUND Pittsburgh Kansas tight end Larry Brown, San Francisco Kansas State tackle Dean Shaternick St. Missouri linebacker Rocky Wallace. SIXTH ROUND St, Louis Missouri wide receiver Mel Gray. SEVENTH ROUND St.

Louis Colorado defensive back James Cooch. Miami Kansas State defensive back Ron Dickerson. San Francisco Oklahoma tackle John Watson. EIGHTH ROUND offensive guard Den- nle Havig. kicker Paul Rogers.

St. State defensive end Ron Yankowski. Dallas Kansas wide receiver Ron Jesse. NINTH ROUND San State linebacker Therman Couch. TENTH ROUND Clevelartd linebacked Steve Casteel.

Los center Don Pop- plewel. ELEVENTH ROUND Boston Nebraska fullback Dan Schneiss. St. Louis Colorado linebacker Rick Ogle. State College Picks SIXTH ROUND New York Jets Nebraska at Omaha offensive back Phil Wise.

TENTH ROUND Green tackle Kevin Hunt. Yales Repeat Winner Bill Yates, a sophomore at Colorado CJollege, repeated as grand champion at the National Western Stock horse show competition in Denver last w'eek. Yates won for the second straight year on Flasha Otto and was the reserve champion on Mainstay. Bill won three of five classes en route to the grand championship award. Friday High School Basketball Lincoln High at Boys Town, 7:50 (KFOR).

Northeast v. Southeast, 7:50 (KLIN). Saturday College Basketball Missouri V. Oklahoma. 2 (3-10).

Oklahoma State V. Nebraska, 7:20 (KLIN, KFOR. KFAB). Los Angeles Open, 2:30.