The San Bernardino County Sun from San Bernardino, California • Page 28

C6 The San Bernardino County Sun SUNDAY, J.inuaiy 26, 1997 SUPER BOWL XXXI PATRIOTS VS. PACKERS Report: Ditka to coach Saints Notebook Big game routine will stay same NEW ORLEANS As far as preparation for the same, I'll do my everyday thing: Pregame stretching, listening to my headphones, probably some relaxing music. Some I'll just turn on the radio station; 1 didn't bring any specific group or anything. Day of the game, we get tip, have a defensive meeting, go over last-minute things, plans. Everybody gets dressed, looks at the time schedule, and then go out.

We'll be there probably about three hours before the game. 1 just want to rest and relax and get off my feet. I'm not nervous at all before a NEW OKI. KAN'S Mike Ditka, ho guided the Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl championship 1 1 years ago, will become coach of the New Orleans Saints. ESPN and NBC reported Saturday.

Saints spokesman Busty Kas-miersky said he spoke ith owner Tom Benson on Sal unlay but "had nothing to add." General manager Bill Kuharich and interim coach Kick Yonturi were unavailable for comment. "When Tom is ready to say something, he'll let you know," Kasmiersky said. Ditka. who led the Bears to a Super Bowl victory in the 1985 season and as coach of the year twice, agreed to terms Saturday, ESPN reported. NBC, for whom Ditka has worked the last four years as analyst, confirmed that he had taken the Saints job.

Ditka, 57, could not immedi-atelv be reached lor comment. Before the 1996 season began, Kelly said he was promised by Wilson in a handshake agreement that a new deal would be worked out after the year was over. However. Wilson never has discussed details of the meeting. At the time, Kelly told the owner he wanted a contract that would pay him nearly $(i million, a deal similar to those given to quarterbacks Dan Marino and John Elway.

Kelly was paid about $4 million last year and was looking to play for two more years. The sources, who requested anonymity, said $1 million would be enough to send Kelly into retirement. It was unclear what would happen if the Bills declined to reach an agreement. While in New Orleans, Kelly finally became a winner on Sillier Bowl weekend. In what might be his last pub- Jim Mora, the Saints coach since 1980 and the only coach in the 30-yenr history of the franchise to produce winning seasons and playoff berths, quit alter the team fell to 2-6 last season.

Me cited personal reasons. KELLY TO RETIRE? ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. Quarterback Jim Kelly is looking to finalize a $l-million retirement settlement with the Buffalo Bills, sources told The Associated Press. Kelly and Bills owner Ralph Wilson were working on a deal that would satisfy an agreement during training camp that called for a new contract for Kelly. The two were in New Orleans on Saturday.

"1 can't talk about it now," Kelly said. "Now is not the time." APWIREPHOTO Mike Ditka, who coached the Chicago Bears to victory in Super Bowl XX, reportedly will coach the New Orleans Saints next season. Chris Hayes Hometown hero with lots of heritage 111 game; I anxious. 1 don't reallv pumped up for a game until I'm out there playing. Probably a couple of seconds before kick-olT.

I shut out li crowd. I'll SUPER BOWL DIARY 4 Jim Weatherwax. a graduate of Redlands HS and SBVC, made history while playing for Lombardi's Green Bay teams that won Super Bowls I and II. By DANNYSUMMERS Special to The Sun DANA POINT When people discuss the superstars who formed the core of the Green Bay Packers teams that won the first two Super Bowls, names like Starr, 1 1 an i often are tossed around. a 1 a Weatherwax come up.

Jim Weatherwax might be one of the most anonymous Packers from those champion- I ship years, but he's made his mark in history. Weatherwax. a graduate of Redlands High School (I960) and San Bernardino Valley College (1963). was the first San Bernardino County athlete to play in the Super Bowl. DANNY SUMMERS, The Sun Jim Weatherwax, a graduate of Redlands High School, made the first tackle in Super Bowl history.

lie appearance as an active quarterback, Kelly threw four touchdowns Saturday, leading the NFL Legends to a 30-26 victory over the Cuervo Defectors in the Margarita Bowl flag football game. Billy "White Shoes" Johnson caught two of the TDs. NOTABLE: On the day quarterback Gus Frerotte became the fifth Washington Redskins player named to the Pro Bowl, the team quitely took the first step to cut its ties til Heath Shuler. Saturday was the deadline for the Redskins to exercise a contract renewal option on Shuler. Although neither the team nor Shuler were available for comment, team sources had said previously they were not planning to take the option and were prepared instead to allow the third-year quarterback to become a restricted free agent.

From Sun News Services Shula leads class of 4 into Hall By Steve Dilbeck Sun Sports Writer NEW ORLEANS The Pro Football Hall of Fame went to the variety pack Saturday, as two players, a lifelong owner and the winningest coach in NFL history were elected. Don Shula, who won a record 347 games during 33 years in the NFL, will go into the Hall, along with cornerback Mike Ilaynes, center Mike Webster and New York Giants owner Wellington Mara. Shula, who retired from the Dolphins after the 1995 season, will become the 10th coach inducted. In New Orleans for today's Super Bowl, Shula seemed genuinely thrilled at being inducted. Players must be retired for five years before they are eligible for the hall, but coaches need only be retired.

"I can't describe how I feel," Shula said. "I'm overwhelmed. This is the ultimate recognition." Simla had been considered the only lock among the 15 finalists, but he wasn't counting on anything. "When I coached the Colts, we were 17-point favorites over the Jets in Super Bowl III," Shula said. "There aren't any locks.

And that's all I'm going to say about Super Bowl III." The Baltimore Colts were upset 16-7 by Joe Namath's Jets, the first Super Bowl victory for an American Football League team. But Shula. 67, rebounded to win consecutive Super Bowls with his 1972 and 1973 Miami teams. 1 1 is unbeaten '72 team is considered one of the greatest teams in NFL history. Simla's teams advanced to the playoffs 20 times, and he made a record six Super Bowl appearances.

lie averaged almost 10 victories a season before retiring to become vice chairman of the Dolphins last year. Also a part owner, Shula said he has no desire to return to coaching. "I'm at peace with the decision I made," Shula said. Simla spent his first seven seasons as coach of the Baltimore Colts and his final 26 with the Dolphins. Ilaynes spent the first seven years of his career with the New England Patriots and the final seven with the Los Angeles Raiders.

Ilaynes was the Patriots' first pick in the 1976 draft, and he emerged as one of the premier corncrbaeks in the NFL. He had eight interceptions as a rookie and was named to the Pro Bowl nine limes. At 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, Ilaynes was a little large for a cornerback, but he finished with 46 career interceptions. "He rewrote the book on defensive backs," Simla said. Webster, a durable center, was named to nine Pro Bowls during his 17-year career.

He played the first 15 years of his career with Pittsburgh, playing more years and in more games (220) than anyone in Sleelers history. A I 6-2 and 260, Webster was not large for an offensive lineman, but was extremely durable, lie played in every game for the Steelers during a 10-vear stretch, during which Pittsburgh won four Super Bowls. Mara's love of the game was almost a birthright. His lather, Tim Mam, got Mara started working for I he Giants nller graduating from Fnrdhnm In 1937 and never has worked anywhere else, lie is presidenl mill co-chief executive officer of the club with co-owner Robert Tisch. The Giants have produced Hi division titles and six NFI, i liiimploiisliips during his (10 yeni tenure, just be real focused on what I've got to do.

Concentrating on my assignments. Different guys get ready different ways. (Lineman) Aaron Taylor throws up before every game. He said he's been doing it ever since high school. When I'm out there.

I get my head in the helmet, tighten up my helmet and my whole focus goes to making the play or making the block. If we kick off the ball. I'm going to the ball. I'm lined up next to the kicker. My whole objective is to make the tackle.

If we receive the ball.J'm on the right end of the front line, and my whole objective Ts to block the guy coming dow n. Special teams is key every week. Field position in a game like this is everything. (Patriots returner Dave) Meggett is a threat, no doubt. He's proven that.

Their whole special teams is avhreal. I like kickoffand punt (coverage). I like that. You get to bring it to them. I look at it as competing with somebody for two to three hours of my day.

nonstop, continuously. I look at it as whoever lines up against me is going to have to be ready to go the whole game because my motor is going to be running the whole game. But I don't hate any player out here. I just run down there. 1 know what I've got to do.

I'm trying to get to the player. I don't think about injuries. I don't look at it as a suicide squad or anything. I look at it as my opportunity to make a play. I see myself always on the big play.

I see myself hitting the ball out of somebody's arms, being around every play. I'm going to be focusing on my responsibilities and what I have to do to help my team win. However the outcome comes. I'm truly blessed. I mean, you have two good teams going out there to compete.

New England, you have to respect because they wouldn't be here today if they didn't have a good team. And we have a good team down in Green Bay, so it'll be a good contest. Our fans ant us to win. We've got to bring the title back to Title Town. Rookie defensive back Chris Hayes ol the Green Bay Packers is a San Bernardino native and San Gorgonio High School alumnus.

His Super Bowl diary will appear dally In The Sun through Monday. Weatherwax file Age: 54 Position: Defensive tackle. Notable: Graduated from Redlands High School in 1960, San Bernardino Valley College in '63 and Cal State Los Angeles in '66 Played for Green Bay Packers from 1966-70. Now works as general manager of a Marie Calender's restaurant in El Toro. And when he knocked Kansas City's Mike Garrett out of bounds on the opening kiekoffof Super Bowl I in 1967.

Weatherwax was credited with the first tackle in Super Bowl history. The Packers defeated the Chiefs 35-10 at the Coliseum to win the first championship game. "I bought 40 to 50 tickets for family and friends for that first Super Bowl." Weatherwax said. "They were only S10 apiece. The next year in Miami they jumped up to $12." Said Weatherwa.x's wife of 30 years.

JoAnn: "We had to put off our edding until two weeks after the first Super Bowl. Our invitations say one day and our wedding as another." Weatherwax has numerous memories from his Green Bay days. All of the remembrances are dominated by his association and respect for Packers coach Vince Lombardi. "I still think about him almost every day." Weatherwax said. "He taught you football, but he also taught you how to live.

He taught us that the three most important things in life are family, religion and career, and to do all of them the best that we could." Weatherwax was big for his era. At 6-foot-T. 265 pounds, he made himself useful as a defensive tackle and special teams player. He started only three games during a five-year career that began in 1966. Numerous knee injuries forced him to sit out the 1908 and 1970 seasons.

He retired in 1970 at the age of 28. Weatherwax. an llth-round draft choice out of Cal State Los Angeles in 1965. recalls an incident in 1967 that epitomized "The next day, I was still in a lot of pain and tried to avoid him when I arrived at Lambeau Field for practice. Lombardi saw me and said 'Weatherwax, I've reviewed the film, and I want you to know your going to play next Sunday against He didn't believe in being hurt." Weatherwax never earned more than $19,500 in a season, but he did earn two $25,000 paychecks after winning Super Bowls I and II.

Weatherwax also played in the famous "Ice Bowl" against Dallas with temperatures in Green Bay shuddering at 13-be-low and the wind-chill factor at 48-below. "Dallas scored a touchdown right before halftime to pull within 14-10. and then tried an onside kick that I recovered about midfield." Weatherwax said. "It was like an ice rink on the field that day. The field was soft before the game, but after the first quarter, your cleats wouldn't even go into the ground.

"The Super Bowl was the final goal, but beating Dallas both those years for the NFL championship meant as much if not more than winning the Super Bowl." Prior to playing with the Packers, Weatherwax was a member of the Redlands HS team that won the 1959 Citrus Belt League championship. But Paul Womack, who was an assistant to Terriers coach Frank Serrao from 1958-1962. said Weatherwax was not even the best lineman on the team. "He as about b' -2 and weighed 215 pounds, and he probably was our second best lineman behind Paul Butler," recalled Womack, who later coached Redlands from 1903-1982. "He came back a few years later and all of the sudden, he was 6-7 and 275 pounds." Weatherwax has remained in contact with a few ex-teammates through the years, and admits he has become "pretty private." He did attend a Super Bowl reunion in September at Lambeau Field, where he was introduced on the field prior to a Packers-Chargers game.

Because of a 1990 car accident, the 54-year-old Weatherwax now walks with a cane. But he still works six days a week as general manager of a Mario Calender's restaurant in El Toro. "You know, I've been very lucky," said Weatherwax, who has lived in Dana Point since 1971. "I came out of a small college (Cal State L.A.) that canceled football two years after I graduated; I was drafted by the Green Bay Packers, and I played for Lombardi. I couldn't nave asked for anything more." Lombardi.

"You never wanted to let him know you were hurt because you feared what might happen," Weatherwax said. "We were in St. Louis for an experimental Monday Night Football game against the Cardinals. I had broken several ribs the week before in practice, but I was afraid to tell Lombardi. "Our defense was on the field for the first series of the game, and St.

Louis ran 12 or 13 plays. I came off the field and could hardly breathe. Lombardi saw me and chewed me out. Super Bowl: After two weeks of hype, game is here his time tracking Glenn, the Patriots' big-play receiver. Both teams have received fine play from their kicking units, with Green Bay having an edge thanks in large part to Desmond Howard, the former Heisman Trophy winner who has returned four punts for touchdowns this season.

Green Bay's Chris Jacke is an eighth-year veteran with 17 career field goals of 50 yards or longer. New England rookie Adam Vinaticri is more likely to put kickofTs into the end zone and converted field-goal attempts this season. Green Bay has won 11 NFL championships, including two Super Bowls, but this is its first appearance in the Super Bowl since 1968. The state of Wisconsin has gone slightly nuts over its team, and thousands of fans known as Cheeseheads have descended upon New Orleans for the game. New England has made one previous Super Bowl appearance, losing to the Chicago Bears 46-10 in the Superdome in 1986.

Some keys to the game: The Packers are 13-0 when tied or leading at halftimo. Green Bay scored 12 regular-season touchdowns of 50 vards or more, most in the NFL 'since 1970. New England is 12-0 when scoring 23 or more points. New England is 10-3 when it scores first. The Patriots are 13-0 when Bledsoe completes at least 55 percent of his passes.

0-5 when he doesn't. Said Parcells: "I don't go into this game saying we can stop the Packers; they scored 450-some points. We just have to keep their big plays to a minimum." New England's offense revolves around fourth-year quarterback Drew Bledsoe, ho threw for 4.086 yards on a league-high 623 passes. He threw for 15 touchdowns, but also threw 15 interceptions. Bledsoe's favorite receivers are rookie Terry Glenn and tight end Ben Coates.

Curtis Martin is the focal point of New England's ground game. The second-year back has rushed for 1.000 yards in consecutive seasons. Green Bay's defense is led by Reggie White, the 12th-year end and all-time sacks leader with 165'j. Other key players are tackles Santana Dotson and Gilbert Brown, safeties I.eRoy Butler and Eugene Robinson, and cornerback Craig Newsome (out of Rialto's Eisenhower High School). Newsome will spend much of Continued (rom C1 of touchdown passes to interceptions.

He also is an elusive runner scrambling out of the pocket. The Green Bay ground game is less impressive, but Edgar Bennett has gained just shy of 2.000 yards over the past two seasons, and fullback Dorsey 1. evens is solid. New England will attempt to stop Green Bay with a quick, improving defense that did not surrender a touchdown in two playoff games. Top Patriots defenders include USC alumnus Willie Me-Ginest.

an end, and linebacker Ted Johnson. Said McGinest: "They've got a running game that's been playing well, receivers that are explosive. They've got a quarterback who's mobile who can hurt you getting out of the pocket. They have a good offense, a good scheme and a good game plan." APWIREPHOTO Patriots Wille Clay and Ty Law have some fun during the walkthrough Saturday for today's Super Bowl..