Ledger-Enquirer from Columbus, Georgia • 19

The Columbus Ga Enquirer Monday December 15 1986 3 I wf jm ifrhgfrWI 'fwilMBEZ! HHMHkr XL VSokBHh Wh ayjr O' BMMSifc JM Man i JaSH Jr iW Bct afeM jMBEL' feS JShMf vr jKjPTttBBEa WWQy nt Sr sBNRTtdSKv t7" a wMRNGHHREIr afc Associated Press Jeff Van Note the Atlanta center for 18 seasons shows emotion along with wife Dee Van Journey Ends in Tears Atlanta Says Goodbye To 40 Year Old Soldier By Tim Wheatley Statt Writer ATLANTA Like clockwork midway through the second half of of every Atlanta alcons home game this season a smattering of applause breaks out for no apparent reason as the alcons huddle up on offense A close look at the huddle reveals the reason Center Jeff Van Note has just entered the game for the first time Sunday afternoon the applause came early often and was at times thunderous for Van Note who played in his final home game against the New Orleans Saints The recognition limited to the fans either Van Note who is retiring after 18 years of serv ice was honored in a halftime ceremony that drew an outpouring of national affection Van Note standing with his wife Dee his parents and two of his sons wiped away tears during the ceremony which included a letter from President Reagan a proclamation from Georgia Gov Joe rank Harris and a telegram from NL Commis sioner Pete Rozelle Wide receiver Billy Johnson and team president Rankin Smith Jr also paid tribute to Van Note who at age 40 is the oldest player in the NL is Smith said we had been fortu nate enough to have 21 other players like Jeff Van Note the past 18 years I think we would have ever lost a The alcons also presented Van Note with a classic 1957 Chevy which came as a complete sur prise to the man who wears number 57 people show an interest in you Van Note said afterward in a crowded locker room that included family and friends is a good positive feeling and all gotten while been in He had started 230 consecutive games coming into the season but that string was snapped in the opener because Van Note lost his starting job to Wayne Radloff Van Note has still played in all 15 games this year running his consecutive games streak to 245 which is sixth on the all time list Next week at Detroit he will move into a tie with ran Tarkenton for fifth kind of like coming to the end of a long journey glad over but a feel ing of joy time to move on though You play football all your LOSERS Continued rom Page 1 That inference however carne directly from the man largely responsible for firing or re hiring Henning Team president Rankin Smith Jr said earlier in the week that the outcome of the final two games would have considerable influence cn future Smith was unavailable for com ment after the game Since Wednesday the alcon players have been unavailable for comment too Upset by re ports of last 28 23 loss to the Colts in the final seconds Henning urged his players not to speak to the media because he claimed he wanted their utmost attention on the Saints Henning explain further saying only that the players would their statement on the Sunday Henning who at first said he would answer questions only about the game offered this ex planation for his actions: the better part of the game last week they played a good football game and then let the game get away from them But through media interpretation and the questions that were asked the players I was disappointed with both factions I like to hear possible excuses you ex cuse the way we played We play as well as we would have liked to last week and I thought it was important that they focus on this Offensive lineman Bill ralic said it was still hard to concen trate because of the uncertainty surrounding future now playing alittle ralic said are worrying about what supposed to do worrying about making mistakes That af fects everyone because if Coach job is on the line job is on the line gotta say it bothers you some when on the field gotta believe that the uncer tainty affects everyone in one way or Because of that uncertainty several alcons said they wanted to win Sunday for Henning very re ceiver Charlie Brown said cause Dan and I are close friends games lost have really been out of control We as players have let a lot of games HOW THEY SCORED IRST QUARTER Saints 7 alcons Wilson 9 pass to Martin Mayes 3 run for first down Jordan 4 run Moves 5 run Jordan 1 run for first down Wilson 18 pass to Brenner for first down Mayes 6 run Moves minus 1 run Hilllord 12 run for first down Wilson pass Incomplete Mayes 1 run Wilson 7 touchdown pass to Martin 3:11 remaining Anderson kick 12 plays 65 yards 6:32 THIRD QUARTER Saints 7 alcons 6: Riggs 14 run for first down Schonert 10 pass to Dixon for first down Riggs minus 1 run Schonert 9 pass to Cox Schonert 3 touchdown pass to Whisenhunt 2:17 remaining Hall Sheikh kick failed 5 plays 35 yards 2:52 OURTH QUARTER alcons 9 Saints 7: Schonert 3 pass to Riggs Saints penalized 4 for pasS'lnterfer ence Riggs 3 run Riggs 3 run Schonert 4 pass to Cox for first down Riggs 6 run Schonert sacked for mlnus 5 Schonert pass Incomplete Matthews 12 fake punt run for first down Schonert pass Incomplete Riggs 4 run Schonert minus 1 pass to Cox Holl Sheikh 43 field goal 5:39 remaining 12 plovs 33 yards 6 40 Saints 14 alcons 9: Wilson pass incomplete Saints penalized 10 for holding Wilson 28 pass to Martin for first down Mayes 8 run Wilson 2 run for first down Wilson pass incomplete Wilson pass incomplete Wilson 24 pass to Martin for first down Mayes 3 run alcons timeout Moves I run alcons timeout Wilson 8 pass to Martin for first down Mayes 5 run Wilson 6 touchdown run 1:55 remain ing Anderson kick 12 plays 75 yards 3:44 New Orleans 7 0 0 Atlanta 0 0 6 irst Quarter Martin 7 pass from Wilson (Andersen kick) 11 :49 Third Quarter Whisenhunt 3 pass from Schonert (kick failed) 12:43 ourth Quarter Hail Sheikh 43 640 NO Wilson 6 run (Andersen kick) 13:05 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS 39994 NO Atl irst downs 14 18 Rushes yards 38 80 21 62 Passing 161 185 Return Yards 25 29 Comp Att Int 13 23 1 24 36 2 Sacked Yards Lost 1 9 6 53 Punts 7 34 6 42 umbles Lost 1 0 1 1 Penatties Yards 6 41 6 35 Time of Possession 30:45 29:15 New Orleans Mayes 27 51 Hilliard 1 12 Jordan 4 8 DWilson 4 7 wWtlson 1 2 Hebert 1 0 At lanta Riggs 13 50 Matthews 1 12 Andrews 2 5 Johnson 2 5 Dixon 2 (minus 5) Schonert 1 (minus 5) New Orleans Wilson 13 23 1 170 At lanta Schonert 24 36 2 238 RECEIVING New Orleans Martin 4 55 Edwards 3 52 Jones 3 32 Brenner 1 18 Tice 1 9 Jordan 1 4 At lanta Williams 6 75 Dixon 5 46 Cox 5 41 CBrown 2 34 Bailey 2 18 Riggs 2 12 Andrews 1 9 Whisenhunt 1 3 RETURNS New Orleans kickoff Moves 2 55 Grav 1 22 punt McLemore 4 12 interception Waymer2 13 Atlanta kickoff Williams 2 27 Interception Crou dip 1 29 New Orleans Hansen 7 242 346 Atlanta Donnelly 6 256 427 MISSED IELD None The players failed again Sun day and so did unprec edented gag rule because it looked like the alcons had their minds on everything but the Saints wanted to make our state ment on the defensive end Mike Gann said the statement come off too well But we gave it our best shot and all that matters all expected of If effort was the al best then this highly unsuc cessful franchise appears headed for more of the same unless some changes are made Consider these facts: The alcons had only 38 yards total offense in the first half and two first downs (one by penalty) The second ranked rushing offense (167 yards per game) gained 62 yards on 21 carries including only nine yards on eight carries in the first half There were three costly false start penalties including two by guard Joe Pellegrini who was subsequently benched The alcons allowed six almost uncontested sacks for 53 yards in losses including two when Turk Schonert was dropped as he was stepping away from center The final sack by linebacker Rickey Jackson cost the alcons an opportunity to win as time expired Trailing 14 9 with only 1 :49 left Schonert skillfully executed the two minute offense taking the team from its own 20 yard line to the Saints 5 with five seconds left The alcons used their last time out and called two plays in the unlikely event that they could run more than one play The unlikely almost happened though Schonert took the snap dropped back to pass but was leveled by Jackson for a 6 yard loss with three seconds left The alcons lined up quickly and Schonert tossed a touchdown pass to Charlie Brown as flags flew The officials ruled that the alcons did not snap the ball before time expired and New Orleans had its win which im proved the Saints record to 7 8 and lifte them out of last place Of course Henning and Schon ert protested that they had snapped the ball before time ran out And they made that state ment even though they looking at the game clock sacked you usually get five seconds while they (officials) stop the clock and Schonert said think they hurried it a little because I thought we had the play The decision is a judgment call and not eligible for instant replay review ending was similar to last when the alcons drove the length of the field only to see Arthur Cox drop a pass at the 1 as time ran out That the alcons even had to come from behind against the Colts or the Saints was embar rassing though And Atlanta had ample oppor tunity to win game ADAMEK I Continued rom Page 1 writer gag Said Riggs when asked about the same: not available due to sports writer gag Here Sunday was quarterback Turk Schonert driving the al cons down to the 5 yard line in the final minute with 75 yards worth of passes against a prevent defense after throwing for just 69 yards the entire first half against a conventional defensive I scheme Said Henning when asked about such a discrepancy: not available due to sports writer gag Said Schonert when asked about the same: not available due to sports writer gag Here was a team that some crazy way had one last fleeting chance to make the playoffs thanks to the logarithmic tie breaking system but depen dent on Minnesota and Houston playing to a tie Sunday Said Henning when asked about squandering that last glim mer of hope: not avail able due to sports writer gag Said safety Robert Moore who blew an open field tackle on New Orleans quarterback Dave Wil game winning touchdown when asked about the same: not available due to sports writer gag Said offensive guard Joe Pelle grini whose two first half proce dure penalties stifled Atlanta momentum and earned him a second half seat on the bench when asked about the same: i not available due to sports writer gag Said place kicker Ali Haji Sheikh who snap hooked a game tying PAT in the third quarter: not available due to I sports writer gag Said offensive tackleguard Bill ralic said re activated wide receiver Billy Johnson said running back and 1 team conscience William An drews said Charlie Brown said Rick Bryan said Joel Williams said Scott Case: not available due to sports writer gag I Sunday spoke for itself Steve Adamek is Ledger En quirer sports editor alcons Never Had Much Chance al Playoffs Anyway By Steve Adamek Sports Editor ATLANTA It is absolutely positively 'ilh question I he edkrra carnot make the playoffs Last loss to Indianap olis at first appeared to be the swan song since the best it seemed they could do was tie San rancisco for the final wild card spot a spot have lost based on their 0 1 1 record this season against the 49ers Then the tie breaking experts presumably the same experts who came up with the baffling system in the first place said that so in a letter to the alcons this past week If Minnesota had somehow played Houston a tic Sunday a rarity since the advent of overtime and lost next week if the 49ers lost their last two games AND if the alcons won their last two games the Vikings alcons and 49ers would all have finished 8 7 1 Then the alcons would have won the three way tiebreaker: best overall confer ence record even dignify it by calling it a one alcon official said after his 14 9 loss Sunday to New Orleans left the whole shebang moot After watching his long time teammate center Jeff Van Note wallow in the celebration of his final home game Atlanta run ning back William Andrews said he did not plan to call it a career after this season like Van Note have no regrets about this said Andrews the former Auburn standout who returned this season after a severe knee injury cost him two seasons I plan on coming back next year and try to improve my Andrews supplanted Cliff Austin as the second string running back behind Gerald Riggs rushed twice for five yards and caught one pass for nine yards Sunday Riggs and New Orleans rookie Rueben Mayes entered the day only 11 yards apart for second place among National ootball Conference rushers With 50 yards in 13 carries Sunday Riggs maintained a 10 yard lead over Washington State product Mayes who gained 51 yards in 27 carries NOTEBOOK Sunday Riggs now has 1302 yn tds io Mayes' 1292 si ill well behind the 1753 yards with v' iich the Rams Eric Dickerson leads the conference (and league) Except now Riggs and Mayes are third and fourth behind Dick erson and the Joe Morris Morris rushed for 179 yards Sun day against St Louis to increase his season total to 1401 yards The 62 rushing yards in 21 carries Sunday was their second worst ground perform ance of the season Only a 55 yard effort in 23 carries in their 16 0 loss to Philadelphia was worse When the alcons re activated receiverkick returner Billy Johnson with their final roster move Sunday it in effect eliminated any chance of injured quarter back David Archer returning for next week's season finale against Detroit To activate Archer who was cleared to throw this past week after separating his shoulder four games ago against Chicago the alcons would have to pass Ar cher through waivers They likely risk such a move having already lost offensive line man Eric Sanders to the Lions two weeks ago Johnson replaced running backkick returner Sylvester Stamps who was placed on in jured reserve with a hamstring injury The alcons tried to cross the Saints up on two occasions Sun day with Johnson utilizing him as a running back on pitchout plays for a net five yards John son fair caught all three of his punt return opportunities Ali Haji missed point after touchdown in third quarter was first errant PAT of the year after 27 straight Besides saluting the retiring Van Note with banners Sunday some of the 39994 fans at At lanta ulton County expressed other more controversial opin ions Perhaps the most telling sign was held up by a fan conspicu ously dressed in a Saints gold sweater: Henning and wear red T2RE K5NG 6 DAY SALE PRE INVENTORY BANK INANCING BELTED 2 2 18570R13 15580R13 20570R14 1658OR13 19575R14 21570R14 22570R14 20575R14 22570R15 21575R15 23570R15 22575R15 24560R14 23575R15 STEEL RADIAL 27x850R14 19575R14 31x1050R15 21575R15 31xll5OR15 22575R15 33xl250RV5 23575R15 324 sA Ji The Sunday Ledoer Enauirar Dec 14 19A6 11 UNREAL DEAL 19575 14 Black Poly $1899 2999 3199 3299 3699 s6999 $9999 2699 3699 3999 4199 4299 4499 4999 BANK INANCING 90 DAYS CASH ON 1ST OR USE SS PURCHASE SUN rime POLYESTER 2199 2399 2699 WHITEWALLS STEEL RADIAL XH WHITE 6499 6999 7299 7499 MICHELIN XA4 WHITE SELLS QUALITY TIRES OR LESS LESS in AN ANYBODY 1646 Manchaster Exp Exit 5 CH 185 One Block We Jt St rtmcit Hospital Between Pi xxa Hut and Mocco RV WHITE LETTER POLYESTER 4999 5499 5999 6499 WHITE LETTERS STEEL RADIAL 7:30 6:00 I 90 DAY CASH TERMS MON SAT I I i 1.