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Show Standard-Examiner SPORTS Thursday, December 16, 1993 3B Coaches’ comments add fuel to BYU-Sooners mini-feud PROVO — Nearly 10 years after the two schools first learned they didn’t like each other, there’s still no love lost between Oklahoma and Brigham Young University. - ‘In 1984, then-OU football coach Barry Switzer made disparaging comments about - the BYU football program and the way the Cougars went about winning that year’s national championship with a perfect 13-0 record. This year, some ill-feelings have surfaced once again — this time surrounding BYU's basketball program and the school’s - use of LDS missionaries. Last week, after rumors surfaced that BYU might join a super conference that involved several schools from the Southwest Conference and the Big Eight Conferénce, Oklahoma University basketball coach Billy Tubbs made anoff-hand remark about the Cougars’ use of returned missionaries as athletes. “Maybe we could send our guys to the “I don’t know anything about Billy Tubbs, but anyone who makesa statement like that simply doesn’t know what he’s talking about — he’s wayoff base onthat. BYU NOTES Jim Burton I don't care what Billy Tubbs has to say Standard-Examiner ing foreign teams with older players.” At last year’s Maui Invitational, Tubbs approached BYU coach Roger Reid about the fact that his son Randy served a mission in New Jersey. “You know Ne Tames emt mernerane said Tubbs. Both Reid and BYU football coach LaVell Edwards were asked about Tubbs’ comments during separate teleconference calls on Monday. Edwards said he wasn’t aware of the anyway.” Those were basically Reid’s feelings, too. “I don’t want to get involved in name-calling or anything like that,” said Reid. “But that’s typical of Billy Tubbs. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. To me, it’s just sour grapes.” Sour grapes because, at the Maui Invitational last year, Tubbs’ Sooners lost to BYU 76-75 on the strength of a 17-point, 10-rebound performance from a thenlittle-known sophomore named Russell Larson, who had recently returned from an Basketball players Alan Andrus, Shane Shippen, Craig Spjute, Roland Smith, Da- rently playing at schools outside Utah. served a mission to Cleveland, Ohio. A new QB question Rising WACstars LaVell Edwards refuses to compare his past BYU quarterbacks, reasoning ihat questions like, “Who was better, Jim McMahon or Ty Detmer?” are pointless And speaking of Edwards’ current starter, Walsh was named to the Football News first team all-sophomore team in last week’s issue. BYU punter Alan Boardman was named to the all-freshman first team. month’s Rose Bowl and see Wisconsin starting quarterback Darrell Bevell, who reporter put a new spin on the age-old question. older and bigger, so they can be better ball- Work-study program for two years,” Tubbs players, then why are we sending guys to third world countries?” Edwards respond- was quoted in an Associated Press story. the LDS missionary program isn’t exclusive to BYU. In fact, all of the in-state schools have ed. “When (players) commit to serve mis- used returned LDS missionaries at one time or another, and a numberof schools outside Utah have done likewise. “Coach,” the writer asked, “if you could ming offensive lineman Steve Scifres, to one wouldit be?” Edwards, falling for the clever twist, thought for a second andfinally said: “I'd take Marc Wilson’s body and put Jim McMahoninit ... or maybe Ty Detmer — the all-freshman first team. New Mexico defensive lineman Buddy was more working on assignment and alignment than any particular andard-Examiner staff fundamentals.” The Aggies also got a chance to see the sights of Las Vegas during - LAS VEGAS — There’s no doubt that Las Vegas BowlII will have plenty of heroes come Friday night, whether it is some running back who hasa big game,or a defensive back who makes a game-saving play downfield for all to see. Yet, as in most football battles, it’s along the line of scrimmage where the game is usually won or lost. Theycall that area the “trenches.” And two Ogden-area athletes will spendtheir Las VegasBowl experience in the “trenches.” Onpaper, the two teams — Utah State University from the Big West Conference and Ball State from the Mid-American Conference match up very evenly. The Aggies’ offensive line, led by Weber High graduate Jed DeVries, is big, averaging 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds. Ball State is just as big, however, checking in at 6-3 and Grieve leaves; Marc Laforge heads for SLC By DENNIS LARSEN Standard-Examiner staff SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake Golden Eagles left wing Brent Grieve was traded Wednesday by the National Hockey League parent club New York Islanders to the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers for minor-league defenseman Marc Laforge. Grieve played in 22 games with the Golden Eagles this season, scoring 14 points on nine goals and five assists with 30 penalty minutes. He is headed for the Cape Breton (Nova Scotia) Oilers, Edmonton’s American Hockey Leagueaffiliate. their free time, including a visit to the children’s ward at University Hospital. “The weather’s nice and it was great for the guys to see the city,” Weatherbie added. 269 pounds. Things are just as even along the defensive front, where USU averages 6-3 and 251 pounds. Junior Dave Balls, who played his high school football at Bonneville, is the mainstay of that group. Meanwhile, Ball State averages 6-2 and 245 pounds along its D-line. If there are advantages, they comein the offensive backfield and wide receiver positions, where Ball State boasts slightly bigger players, and at linebacker, where the Aggies boast the bigger athletes. The Aggies will run through a short practice this afternoon, then participate in other bowlactivities Both teams gottheir first chance to practice on the Sam Boyd Silver Bowl Astroturf on Wednesday, mostly fine-tuning their respective attacks. It was Utah State’s first time on artificial turf since beating Nevada-Las Vegas, 33-26, in a Big West matchup in October. “Most of what we did today was about polishing our game,” said USU coach Charlie Weatherbie. “It the rest of the day. Las Vegas Bowl notes: USU running backs JamesDye (turf toe) and Profail Grier (ribs) are at full strength, while Weatherbie reported receiver Jim Ray (stress fracture in his foot) is at 95 percent. Aggie linebacker Willie Jackson (knee injury) will not play. ... The Aggies are 1-1 in games on Astroturf this season, beating UNLV and losing to Utah. ... Utah State's total offense output — 442 yards per game — was 15th-best in the NCAAthis year. Ball State averaged 357 yards per game, 59th-bestin Division|. effects of the trade for Laforge. “I feel that this trade is a huge move by the Islanders to improve the Golden Eagles,” he said. “The fact that they are willing to trade a player of the caliber of Brent Grieve really makes a strong Statement about their commitment to the success of this hockey club.” Laforge is expected to be available for Friday night's game against the Las Vegas Thunder in the Delta Center, the start of a stretch where Salt Lake plays three games in four nights on homeice. Golden Eagles notes: Goaltender Jamie McLennan has been returned to Salt Lake by the isles. He was called up late last week as an injury replacement for Tom Draper and backed up Rion Hextall in the Islanders’ 5-2 win Saturday over the Philadelphia Flyers. .. Goalie Dan Lorenz responded with two victories over the Kansas City Blades as the Golden Eagies extended their season-high winning streak to three games. WSU lineup was junior Jeff Lentfer and DeGraffenried, who Abegglen wanted to reward for their solid From 1B bounding got him some buckets and free throws,” Abegglen said. DeGraffenried had five offensive rebounds, while Kirk Smith had seven of his game-high 14 re- bounds on the offensive end. The Wildcats outrebounded the Hus- tlin’ Owls 60-38 and had 31 offensive boards. Greer, a 6-6 forward, added 17 points in just 14 minutes for the play during the past several games. Nembhard and senior Johnnie Moore came out of the starting lineup. Elroy Miller, Robbie Johnson and Smith remained as the Wildcats’ other three starters. “We wanted to wake everybody up to the fact that everything isn’t perfect,” Abegglen said. “We want to keep them guessing.” There was no guessing as to who would win this game. It was the Greer showduring the Wildcats, while Ruben Nembhard played his best game in two weeks with 13 points and four assists. Nembhard scored 10 points in latter part of the second half, as he scored 13 points in the final 1! 1 minutes. His 17 points is a careerhigh; his previous high was six points. the second half when WSU coach Ron Abegglen opened up the offense and let the 6-3 guard penetrate to the basket and either get fouled, score a layup or pass the “It’s good to get past four points,” Greer said. “It was a good night for the whole team.” ball off to a teammate for anyeasy shot. ; Abegglen tried a newstarting lineup after going with the same five players for the first eight gamesof the year. Entered into the Rafid Kiti, who came into the game averaging 28 points a game, led the Hustlin’ Owls with 18. Marvin Woodard added 13 and Alex Kruegar 10. saa! CHRISTMAS ately Hot Dogs andSoft Drinks, Just For ComingIn! (SaturdayOnly 486DX2-66 COMPUTER iHL Mike Forbes also sees the positive Billingsley and San Diego State kicker Peter Holt were also named to the all-freshman squad. FURNISHINGS HOME FURNISHINGS EE The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Laforge, who has played in 14 games with Cape Breton (0-O—0, 91 PIM), will report to the Golden Eagles and arrive in Salt Lake City tonight. The 25-year-old Laforge, who turns 26 on Jan. 3, is a native of Sudbury, Ontario. A sixth-year professional, he was the Hartford Whalers’ secondround pick (No. 32 overall) in the 1986 NHLentry draft. Laforge was traded to the Oilers on March 6, 1990, for the rights to Cam Brauer and has been in Edmonton’s farm system since 1990. In 77 gameslast season at Cape Breton, he was 1-12—13 with 208 PIM. During the 1991-92 season, he played 59 gamesfor the Oilers, going 0-14—14 with 341 PIM. “I think this will be good for both individuals involved, and I think it will help the Salt Lake hockey club in one of the areas where we’ve been lacking — our defensive, physical type of play,” said first-year Salt Lake coach Dave Farrish. “Marc Laforge is going to bring that to us. It’s obviously going to hurt losing Brent Grieve, but hopefully things will work out very well for him with Edmonton.” Golden Eagles general manager Other Western Athletic Conference selections were: Fresno State receiver Charlie Jones, to the all-sophomore third team; and Wyo- clone any of your past quarterbacks, which Despite Vegas glitter, game is in the trenches y CHRIS J. MILLER skills and talents they brought to the team. We've got a pretty good one hereright now.” That “pretty good one” is sophomore John Walsh. Tubbs may even want to watch next For the most part, Tubbs just plain put his foot in his mouth. “(BYU) has a tremendous advantage in sions, they don’t know where they’re going, that little rule. It’s like playing these tour- _ T assure you. “I really don’t like comparing the quarterbacks,” he said. “Theyall had different missionaries who have played or are cur- comments, but that he “wasn’t surprised (Continental Basketball Association) for a farther though. Rick Danielare just a short list of returned anyway. But during Monday’s conference call with several Ohio State beat writers, one Reid correctly pointed out that use of he had a great quarterback’s body.” Edwards didn’t take the question much vid Rose and Mark Santiago, and football players Jeremy Leach, Tavita Sagapolu and LDS mission to Argentina. But sour grapes may only be a part ofit. by them.” “If we’re sending guys on missionsto get one of those guys. 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