The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas • Page 12

The Salina Journal Friday, January 2,1987 Page 12 Fiesta (Continued from Page 9) whipped Miami 35-7 in the Sugar Bowl. Both sides promise things will be different this time. "Our team is much better than we were last year," Paterno said. "There is no question in my mind that we are better both offensively and defensively. We are more experienced and in a better position than we were one year ago.

We are coming into this game very confident." Johnson said the Hurricanes are "an experienced team, much more mature than a year ago. We're a complete football team with the ability to win in a lot of different ways." The Fiesta Bowl, whose payoff was doubled for this game to $2.4 million per team thanks to the game's sponsor, Sunkist Growers, outbid the Citrus and Gator bowls and landed this dream game by persuading NBC to agree to show it in prime time on Friday night. It originally was scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Much will depend on Perm State's ability to control the ball and keep Testaverde and his standout receivers on the Miami bench. "We can't get in a touchdown-for- touchdown battle," Paterno said.

"Any time you go against a team with their explosiveness and think you can get back in it boom! boom! boom! their defense is too good. The more the score gets into the 20s the less our chances are. "Oklahoma (last year) was not nearly as well-balanced as this football team. They may be the greatest college football team that ever played the game. There's nothing I've seen on films they don't do extremely well offensively or defensively.

They're a better football team than Oklahoma, and I didn't think I'd ever say that." Johnson's reaction was predictable. "That sounds like a coach preparing to play an opponent," he said. "Penn State really has no weakness. They're probably the most experienced football team I've ever seen (16 fifth-year seniors). Their defense is very aggressive and they've performed extremely well, especially in big games.

Up front, they're as physical a team as we've faced all year. "I don't know if we've faced a team with Penn State's capabilities of running the football, and on top of that (quarterback John) Shaffer has really come on strong. "We can play a one-dimensional type of attack. Penn State's attack hurts us more than if they were only a great running or great passing team. Riggs to replace Mayes for NFC NEW YORK (AP) Running back Gerald Riggs of the Atlanta Falcons has been named to the NFC Pro Bowl squad to replace Rueben Mayes of New Orleans, who underwent suregry for an Achilles tendon injury last week.

Riggs, the NFC's fifth leading rusher this season with 1,327 yards, had been first alternate at running back for the NFC, which will face the AFC in Honolulu Feb. 1. Chicago's Three Bears'no nursery tale SUWANEE, Ga. (AP) This is a story about three Bears the smallest Bear, the biggest Bear and the head Bear. But it's no nursery tale.

It's a story about little Bear Doug Flutie, big Bear William Perry and No. 1 Bear Mike Ditka. All are with the defending Super Bowl Ditka champions, who are practicing here for Saturday's NFC semifinal game in Chicago against the Washington Redskins. Flutie, only 5-feet-9 and 176 pounds, has emerged as the team's starting quarterback for the playoffs. He also has become something of a role model for short people, just as Perry is for the jumbo set.

So, it was something of a surprise when, three weeks ago, Ditka yelled at Flutie on the sidelines at Detroit. But the coach jokingly says that never again will he raise his voice at the quarterback. "It's like hollering at Bambi," Ditka says. "I got letters from schoolteachers all over the country who say I'm not allowed to do it." Flutie says his size is no problem on the field. He also says opposing linemen treat him no differently than any other young quarterback.

Biggest Bear Perry "When you are out on the field, I don't think that's in their minds, and I know it is not in my mind that these guys are 100 pounds heavier than I am or six inches taller or whatever, "he says. On the other end of the scale the extreme other end is Perry, known because of his bulk as "The Refrigerator." A defensive lineman, Perry was also occasionally used on offense to score from inside the 5-yard line, until he ballooned to nearly 350 pounds this season. Ditka wants Perry to shed some pounds and has even threatened him with being traded unless he does. Smallest Bear Flutie "If he doesn't take it off, he'd be in jeopardy of not being here, period," Ditka says. "I'm saying it'll be a different color jersey next year." That may seem unlikely, though, because Flutie and Perry, both 24, are considered favorites of Ditka.

Flutie says Ditka has never "gone out of his way to treat me any different than the other players." But, Flutie says: "I know that he believes in me, and he thinks that I'm a player and a winner. And I thank him for all the opportunities he has given me." It was Ditka who insisted, over some scouts' objections, that the Bears sign Flutie at mid-season. He did so even though the 1984 Heisman Trophy winner from Boston College was short on size and pro experience, and the team at the time had three quarterbacks in Jim McMahon, Mike Tomczak and Steve Fuller. Now, Ditka looks like a genius. McMahon is out until at least next season after shoulder surgery, and Tomczak and Fuller have not lived up to the coach's expectations.

"I never thought I'd be here," Flutie, who played with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League, says. "I thought I'd sit out the season." Last year, it also was Ditka who insisted over the objections of former defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan that rookie Perry start at defensive tackle. Then Ditka installed Perry as a blocker, ball carrier and receiver on goal-line situations, bringing instant stardom for the biggest Bear. Perry says he's not jealous that Flutie is now in the spotb'ght, instead of him. "I'm happy for him," Perry says.

And the biggest Bear has some advice for the smallest Bear in deab'ng with fame. "Take it while you can enjoy it, and love it. It comes and goes. Even the money goes because you can't take that with you when you die." New Zealand, Stars Stripes near semifinals FREMANTLE, Australia (AP) Dennis Conner and Chris Dickson were to set sail today each looking for a victory that would set up a Stars Stripes-New Zealand meeting in the America's Cup challenger finals. Both boats have 3-0 leads in the best-of-seven semifinals to pick a challenger for the 135- year-old trophy.

Conner, a man with a mission to recapture the cup he lost in 1983, meets San Francisco's Tom Blackaller, who captains USA, in what could be their last meeting. Dickson, a 25-year-old who has only been sailing 12-meter yachts for two years, has the dominant lead over French Kiss. Which face will Jets display at Cleveland? Murray HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) Which New York Jets team should the Cleveland Browns expect to see Saturday in their NFL playoff game? Will it be the squad which terrorized the league with its deep passing attack and just enough defense to win nine straight games? Or will it be the sputtering offense and leaky defense which couldn't go anywhere or stop anyone in a five-game losing streak to end the regular season? The Browns say they are preparing for the powerhouse Jets who once were 10-1, the best record in the NFL at the time. The Jets say the Browns have chosen the right portion of the Jets' schizophrenic identity.

"Obviously, the Jets were ready to play against Kansas City," Browns coach Marty Schottenheimer said of New York's 35-15 AFC wild card victory last Sunday that broke the Jets' five-game slide. "Frankly, it didn't surprise me. "When you are in the midst of a streak like that, you finally reach a point where you are saying you are Kosar Ryan tired of all enough of this. You get tired of being berated. They proved it last week." "I think the Jets have kind of been searching for an identity the last few games," Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar said.

"From what I can see, specifically against Kansas City, they found it." What the Jets claim they found in the victory over the Chiefs is the confidence to return to their winning ways. If they have, much of the credit must go to Pat Ryan, who sparked the struggling offense with three touchdown passes and a key 24- yard run on a fourth-down quarter- back draw early in the game. Ryan once again will start in place of the benched Ken O'Brien. "I don't think you turn it all around in one game," Ryan said. "But we certainly have gotten a lift and we're not thinking about anything but playing well in The Jets beat the Browns 37-10 in the 1985 season finale, but nobody is putting much stock in that result.

"Obviously they feel they are a better football team than last year," Ryan said. "I feel we have a better team than last year. We'll go out Saturday and see who is better." Added Kosar, "I don't even remember last year. Too much has happened this year." One thing that has happened in 1986 is that the Browns moved from an 8-8 AFC Central Division winner to 12-4, the best record in the conference. That was where the Jets were headed until getting derailed just before Thanksgiving.

"They are a lot more difficult to prepare for," Jets coach Joe Walton said of the Browns. "Last year, they basically went with the run and they had two guys (Earnest Byner and Kevin Mack) to do it with. Now, they are multi-dimensional." When healthy and on-stride, so are the Jets. Running back Freeman McNeil has three straight rushing efforts of more than 100 yards, and, according to Schottenheimer, "anybody would like to have an Al Toon and Wesley Walker at wide receiver." Ryan's insertion at quarterback also has been a boost. It is on defense where the Browns could have a decided edge.

They are healthy, while New York is without Pro Bowl players Joe Klecko (nose tackle) and Lance Mehl (linebacker). Defensive ends Marty Lyons (shoulder) and Mark Gastineau are subpar. "We'll just have to go out there and get at them," Jets cornerback Russell Carter said. "If we're as aggressive as we were last week and play together, we'll do OK." Orange (Continued from Page 9) interception by Dante Jones, who replaced Bosworth in the Oklahoma lineup, set up the nine-play, 54-yard drive. Oklahoma put the game away in the third quarter when Holieway, who attempted only three passes as Oklahoma ran for 366 yards, completed a 36-yarder to Derrick Shepard to set up his 2-yard TD run.

Holieway added a 4-yard scoring run after a 60-yard run by fullback Lydell Carr, hiking the Sooner lead to 28-0 after three periods. After a scoreless first quarter, Oklahoma scored on two of its first three possessions in the second period. Tillman's 77-yard touchdown run came two plays after an Arkansas punt, and he scored again after Jones picked off a pass that glanced off Arkansas running back Sammy Van Dyke at the Sooner 46-yard line. Holieway's 11-yard completion to All-American tight end Keith Jackson gave Oklahoma a first down attheHazorback37. Six plays later, Tillman took an option pitch from the Oklahoma quarterback ami burst untouched up the right side of the field with the help of blocks from halfback Patrick Collins and Jackson, who leveled the last potential Arkansas tackier near the goal line.

Arkansas had some success moving the ball against the Oklahoma defense in the first half, but came up empty both times it advanced across midfield. One drive was fueled by a 27-yard pass from Thomas to James Shibest but the drive stalled at the Oklahoma 36 and Kazorback kicker Kendall Trainer was short with a 52-yard field Sugar Oil's Patrick Collins escapes the grasp of Arkansas' Otis Lloyd. goal with 4:56 left in the opening quarter. Arkansas drove to the Oklahoma 26 early in the second quarter with help from a 15-yard pass interference penalty against Sooners safety Ricky Dixon. Oklahoma stopped that threat with Sonny Brown's interception at the 13.

Arkansas trailed 14-0, but owned a statistical edge. The Razorbacks outgained the Sooners 157 yards lo 141 and had an eight-minute edge in possession time. The Sooner defense continued to dominate in the third quarter, sacking Thomas twice on Arkansas' first possession to force a punt that gave Oklahoma the ball at the Razorbacks 44. Holieway's 36-yard completion to Shepard covered most of the distance in the 44-yard drive, which ended with the quarterback's first TD. His second touchdown came with 7:02 left in the third period.

Arkansas' only scoring drive covered 64 yards in five plays. John Bland directed the drive after relieving Thomas, who was intercepted four times Thursday night after throwing only one interception in the regular season. Scott, Johnson fuel Lakers' rout of Trail Blazers PORTLAND, Ore. (APj Byron Scott scored 31 points and Magic Johnson tied his season high with 18 assists as the Los Angeles leakers ripped the Portland Trail Blazers, 140-104, Sunday night in the NBA. '11 ic Lakers, who turned the game into a rout in the third period, won their fifth in a row and snapped Portland's 12-game homecourt winning streak.

The victory marked the ninth straight time the Lakers have beaten Portland and tit; 22nd victory for Angeles in the last 25 meetings of the two teams. Scott scored 22 points in the first half as Ix)s Angeles built a 64-49 lead. Kareem Abdul-Jabbor and Michael Cooper scored 19 points apiece for the Lakers. i Continued from Page 9) throw the ball, said Davis. LSU faced such down and distance situations as third-and-34 (twice), third-and-31 and third-and- 25.

"LSU wasn't that good," said Nebraska nose guard Danny Noonan. "They'd never win the Big Eight. We were third in the Big Eight this year, they won the SEC and we won by 15 today. They scored their last eight points against our second-string defense." The Tigers' problem, besides Nebraska's defense, were penalties stemming from LSU's over- aggressiveness. LSU, steaming from derogatory comments Nebraska players made earlier in the week, were slapped with three personal fouls, three unsportsmanlike conduct calls and three holding calls.

The Tigers also had two players ejected, offensive guard Eric Andolsek and offensive tackle Ralph Norwood. LSU had 12 infractions for a Sugar Bowl record 130 yards. "I think we let our emotions get out of hand," said LSU center Nacho Albergamo. LSU's emotions ran high when the Tigers scored on their opening series. The Hodson-to-Davis eye-opener on the first play set up tailback Harvey Williams' 1-yard touchdown run with 12 06 left in the first quarter.

Nebraska struck for 10 points in the second quarter on a 42-yard Dale Klein field goal and Taylor's touchdown run. Taylor's option keeper with 39 seconds left in the first half capped a lightning-quick series for the Corn- huskers. His completions of 16 and 18 yards started the 72-yard scoring drive that lasted just 1 02. "We haven't lost a game this year where we've lost at half time," said Taylor. "We were behind this year at the half in the games we lost.

We had to get it in the end zone. For all practical purposes, the game was over when Nebraska tailback Tyreese Knox, starting in place of injured starter Keith Jones, scored the first of his two second-half 1-yard touchdown plunges with 10:35 left in the third quarter. "When we went the length of the field (a 78-yard drive) to make it 177," said Osborne, "I felt better." Osborne's condition improved when his defense blasted back the Tigers following LSU's lone second-half chance to regain momentum. Tiger nose guard Henry Thomas blocked Klein's 52-yard field goal attempt and was credited with a 48- yard return when it rolled the ball downfield and out-of-bounds at the LSU 17. But with Nebraska nursing a 10- point lead, Hodson was sacked for consecutive losses of 15 yards by the Cornhuskers' Broderick Thomas and 9 yards by Noonan.

LA's Johnson passes Olajuwon in voting NEW YORK (AP) Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers has moved past Akeem Olajuwon of Houston as the leading vote-getter for the NBA Western Conference All- Star team. (Continued from Page 9) jury. Everything but a bailiff and Judge Wapner. What's next? Appeal? Can the ballcarrier be excused because the tackier or the official didn't read him his rights? Can the lawyers be far behind if games are now being decided off the field of play? Will they run on the field, taking photographs of the scene of the accident, subpoenaing witnesses? Will they get injunctive relief forbidding the continuation of the game until they can get a court ruling? Will they handcuff a decision until they can haul the commissioner of football into court on discovery? Will they loudly threaten to "take this to the highest court in the land" on the plaint that their client's the tumbler's -livelihood is being menaced? In a society in which men strap themselves into a cylinder of valves and circuits and confidently go to the moon, the belief in the efficacy of machines is total. But, the joker is, people still have to interpret those machines.

Human error creeps into the equation sooner or later. If we are going to have games determined by computer, why not do away with the middlemen the players altogether? Just feed the machines the pertinent data concerning the Rams and the Redskins and let the transistors fight it out. If we don't want to do that, why don't we just let the guys in the striped shirts call the game? What do we want, a sport or a litigation? Let the machines get their own game. As long as it's being played by people let it be run by people. The machines are making us obsolete fast enough.

Let's keep them out of sport. We can still pile rules on top of rules and argument on top of argument. Who's going to get in an argument with a tape machine in a bar over the winter? Or, maybe, we'll build machines for that, too. "Serving Sulinu Since 1927" I Holca RANGE Ron Dupy We close at 2 pm on Sundays Complete Picnic Meals Also Available Call Jim for fast for help in planning large dinners! 649 S. Broadway 827-5076 Salina.