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Show - PageMA THE HERALD, Frovo, Utah, Thursday. August 30. 1984 Perserverance Paying Off for XY' Receiver EFFIE SEEWER Herald Sporti Writer By Perserverance leads to excel- lence, excellence breeds success, and success is what Neil Balholm is perservering to attain as he anticipates his third year in professional football. Neil was voted "Most Inspirational Player" by his teammates at Hudson's Bay High School where he played his High School football. He lettered in football three years and basketball one year. He was aptly coached by Marv Crowston (Oregon State), re- actively cruited by Washington State, State, speed, but all are good athletes, who could play other sports as well as football.'' BYU s recruiting and training program defies the professional attitude that seems to have evolved that the only good receivers are the flashy, quick type. BYU receivers are slowly but surely giving the sports world notice through consistent, dependable play that "flash" can sometimes stay in the pan. Sure hands and dependable routes, like those fitting Balholm's remarkable talents are just as important, and far more reliable than the flashy, t Oregon Idaho State and Idaho. . Neil investi- - ' gated these op- portunities, was not ' g f1 but im- pressed enough to take chance. opted a He instead for one year at Eastern Washington State, where he knew he wouldn't sit on the bench, and then left to serve a mbsion for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Da- y Saints in Argentina. Upon his re- " turn, he enrolled at BYU ind decided to try and make the football trating amount developmental on the of a team squad of time that started the season with a bang and ended it in a struggle. Only an athlete who has suffered through a similar period can understand what he was enduring at this time. Knowing his abilities were more than adequate to help his faltering team, (hadn t his previous year s stats proven that1), Balholm sat on the bench and held on, hoping from one week to the next to give his talents to help his team win the division title. Finally, in the last three games of the season. Neil got some playing time. When I traveled to Tempe, Ariz., to watch the Wranglers square off against the Gold toward USFL season end, I encountered a discouraged, frustrated Neil Balholm. After watching for him on the Denver side of the field, I was amazed to see him on the Arizona sideline, dressed casually in the colors of the enemy'. At that point, Neil, as many of the other players on the Denver Gold, was about ready to call it quits as far as football was concerned. Discord between coach, management, and players was reaching a peak. Unrest and flooded the camp, and eventually came to a head, resulting in the release of Morton as head coach. Sometimes, when things get so bad. they can only get better. After Morton's release, Denver owner Douglas Speckling, who Balholm. who used to work out with Lomax in his home state of Washington, and knows something of Davis' football philosophy, has suddenly taken on a glow of positive enthusiasm for the upcoming season. Davis' offensive talents are having coordinated well-know- the Houston Gambler offense this year, and his plans are nearly perfectly tail"d to the style and talents "of Neil Balholm. Davis hopes to implement his "Run & Shoot'' offense in Denver; an attack featuring a lone running back (Super Back), no tight ends, and four receivers, two split all of wide, and two slot backs whom use extensive motion. Like I said, tailored for the talents of a Balholm. Receiver training camp takes place in September, where Davis is expected to weed out any receivers who are slow at grasping his complicated offense. Having played his college at BYU, Neil should have a boost going in, and is anxiously awaiting his chance to prove he could be a compelling force in the dynamic offensive scheme of his new Coach and the Denver Gold. His goal: To perservere - to prove to the people who know him as ' Old Reliable", a nickname he picked up during his Wrangler season, that he has the talent and determination to succeed in a d offense with flashy, his sure stable catches and the heart and style of a winner. For Perserv-erenc- e Neil Balholm, Talent x Opportunity Success. Davis was formerly Head Coach at Portland State, a college in Oregon, where his teams led the Nation in passing and total offense for six consecutive years, and in scoring for three of those years. He coached at least 14 players who have gone on to professional ball, the most n of which is Neil Lomax. QB of the St. Louis Cardinals. 2-- pass-oriente- well-know- 5 w .k Ti DE; HflfllllMYI&lf i nib 50liiuuiy iiyy TO THE FIRST Dayton Thorobred Steel Belted Radial Dayton After much hard work, and with ';he encouragement of coach Vorm Chow, Balholm made the unior varsity roster in 1979. He in 1980, behind Lloyd lones. Matt Braga and Bill Davis, ie moved into a starting role in .981 one of the receivers who eplaced the "irreplacable" crew f receivers from 1980 s 'miracle' eason. Without missing a beat, Bal-iolCollie, Koslowski & Co. ept up the BYU tradition of naking great quarterbacks look ven better. Balholm's big college moments eemed to come when BYU was p against Hawaii. In 1981, he ecovered a fumble in the end one for the only 'Y' touchdown f the game. In 1982, at the omecoming game, he scored a eceiver's dream . . . a TD from ie' first two passes of the second alf, eventually leading to the d 's first victory in the Cougar Stadium. At BYU, Balholm was c id team. 1982; District 7 and a gradu-t- e player, he had his degree efore his last year of eligibility as over. newly-tpande- C Aca-emi- Coach LaVell Edwards said in recruit receivers for about or ;ight as well as speed. And ;tter iviously, they've got to .be able catch. We don't always get the once-in-a-whi- le FD7-FD- 8 Steel Belted Radial Modern European tread and an. While wide receivers like Balholm seem to be nearly assembly-lin- e equipment at BYU, when they enter the pro ranks, it's a different story. After his final season at the 'Y', Balholm joined the USFL's Arizona Wranglers in their premiere season. He had an outstanding year, finishing fifth in the league in receiving. a pecuDuring the liar change of events took place. The Arizona Wranglers suddenly became the Chicago Blitz and the Blitz became the Wranglers. Rather than simply trading franchises and coaches, the owners, in their questionable wisdom, decided that the teams should be a first in the switched as well wacky world of sports. Balholm's roots are in the -- ... West, having been born and raised in Washington. Playing in Chicago would take him a long way from home.. .also, with the League's seasons beginning in early spring, the Windy City didn't hold much charm for this d receiver. ..so with the aid of his agent, Neil's trade to sure-hande- the Denver Gold was en- in the West and in the game he loves. Neil's season with Denver was, if nothing else, a trying, learning experience. He labored under a controversial coach. quarterback Craig Morton, and spent a frus acted. keeping him shoulder design. Aggressive tread design. Two tough steel belts. Smooth-rtdirg polyester cord body. Fuel efficient radial construe! ton. SIZE Smooth, easy riding polyester cord body. grab. Quiet running tread partem. Long mileage, oggressive tread deiign. 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Main, American Ferk U Vll 111 in yj OPEN SUNDAY WIST VALLEY CITY 1699 W.3500S. 972-S53- 2 I s CUSTOMERS TO PRESENT THIS AD. EXPIRES SEPT. 15, 84. 1 Neil Balholm .:eam as a walk- - 2, ".We , had purchased the team hired Darrell .Mouse Davis as his new head coach for the coming season. SAKDY 11901. 9400 571-94- 02 0REM S. 1797 S. 225-73- 31 Statt St. |