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Show THE UNIVERSITY JOURNAL SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY NATIONAL SPORTS FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1996 - Miami may bid Shula 'goodbye' By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Don Shula's reign as the Miami Dolphins' coach may be over. Shula will resign after 33 NFL seasons and a league-recor- d 347 victories, television I'm still trying to reach coach Shula to find out whether there's anything to announce," Dolphins spokesman Flarvey Greene said. "No one has told me about preparing for a press conference tomorrow. I know how widespread the rumors are, but I'm not in a position to confirm them." stations reported Responding to the reports of Shula's resignation, Thursday. A spokesman for the Dolphins' owner Smith said: "I think and team officials said they're a little far ahead of themselves. they had no knowledge of such a move. "I just recently talked to Eddie Jones. He's not WTVJ and WPLG, both aware of any planned press citing sources in the conference tomorrow. Dolphins' organization, reported Shula's Wayne will be back tomorrow. I don't have any resignation could come as early as today. knowledge of a Stan Smith, a resignation. Neither does Eddie Jones," Smith said. spokesman for Dolphins As recently as Sunday, a owner H. Wayne After the AFC wildcard game Don Shula after the loss to day Huizenga, confirmed shakes hands coach with Marv Buffalo Levy Buffalo, Shula said he Huizenga had met with would honor the final year of his contract. Shula on Wednesday. But Smith said neither he Greene said he last spoke with Shula on nor Dolphins general manager Eddie Jones knew of a resignation. Wednesday, after a reporter phoned asking whether tbe coach still planned to return next Smith said Huizenga was traveling on season. "Coach's answer to me was, 'Nothing business and would be unavailable for has changed,"' Greene said. "This has caught comment. Shula was out celebrating his 66th me by surprise if it's true." birthday last night and couldn't be reached. In 1993, Shula broke the previous NFL record Shula this season led a Miami team with Super for victories of 324, set by George Halas. He Bowl expectations to a 7 record and a 37-2- 2 d loss in the playoffs Saturday at became the only NFL coach to guide a team Buffalo. through an unbeaten season and postseason when the Dolphins went 17-- 0 in 1972. He called this season his most frustrating and Some suggested he be replaced by former was offended by newspaper columns and polls Dallas Cowboys and Miami Hurricanes coach suggesting it was time to quit after 26 years in Miami. Shula, whose career record is Jimmy Johnson. "South Florida doesn't know has one year left on his contract. The reports did what they're going to miss yet," Dolphins linebacker Bryan Cox said on his weekly radio not address whether Shula would move into the show. 'We'll want Shula back.'" front office or leave the team. record-breakin- g 9-- first-roun- DIGEST MICHAEL JORDAN"S FATHER'S KILLER CURRENTLY ON TRIAL: Defense lawyers for Daniel Green charged with killing Michael Jordan's father repeatedly questioned yesterday whether the body found in 1993 could be someone else's. Prosecutors say James Jordan, 57, was shot to death July 23, 1993, after he stopped his car alongside U.S. 74 to nap during a postmidnight drive from Wilmington to Charlotte. Daniel Green ANOTHER MINNESOTA VIKING GOES ON CHARGES OF SPOUSE ABUSE: Minnesota Vikings defensive end James Harris was charged yesterday with third-degre- e assault, accused of breaking the nose and collarbone of a woman who says she is his second wife. Police in Eden Prairie, where the woman was assaulted, said the bigamy issue is under investigation. Harris' first wife lives in Philadelphia. 1 IN AUSTRALIA No. 1. In OPEN: In the world, Monica Seles is times she has Australia, she's the one and only .Twenty-onplayed a match at the Australian Open, the year's first Grand Slam tournament. Twenty-ontimes she has walked off the court a winner, including the title matches in her last three "I've always done pretty well trips Down Under in in Australia," Seles admitted during a telephone news conference Tuesday. "I have never lost a match there." After a r absence, Seles will return to the tournament, which run Jan. 15. Her closest rival, Steffi Graf, begins its No. 1, will miss the Australian Open who is because she hasn't fully recuperated since she had foot MONICA SELES LOOKS TO BE e e 1991-92-9- two-yea- two-wee- k surgery. 347-173-- NFL playoffs could favor favorites By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The oddsmakers like the seeds, the teams that sat home last week while the Bills, Eagles, Packers and Colts expended a lot of energy and got themselves beaten up in the wild-car- d round. They like them so much that they're all favored by at least six points and the two NFC hosts, the 49ers and Cowboys, are double-dig- it favorites. Winners? Yes. Covering the spreadwill be tougher. In order of appearance: Buffalo (plus 6) at Pittsburgh This is the most obvious spot for an upset, given the Bills' experience at this level. Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Steve Tasker et. al. are not about to wilt under pressure they wait for the Super Bowl to do that. Pittsburgh won eight of its last nine games. So the Steelers get the fans and they get pressure on Kelly, who was never mobile and is less so at this stage of his career. The Buffalo defense pressures Neil O'Donnell and creates turnovers. STEELERS, 24-2Green Bay (plus 10) at San Francisco For the last two years, the Packers have reached this stage only to be dispatched by the Cowboys, who have beaten them five times in three seasons, all in Irving. So now they try their hands at the NFC's other "unbeatable" power, whom they haven't played since the 1990 regular season. This would have more potential for an upset if Reggie White were at full speed. Brett Favre can pull off miracles a la Joe Montana, but even if you rate the offenses relatively even, the San Francisco defense wins this one. 49ERS, 27-2Philadelphia (plus 14) at Dallas at Guaranteed: In a tie game with fourth-and-- 1 his 29, Barry Switzer will go for it again. That, of course, is how the Cowboys lost to the Eagles in Philadelphia. But it was 34-1- 2 in Dallas. The Eagles' biggest edge is Ray Rhodes over Switzer, but they can only overachieve for so long. Rodney Peete is a classic 1 12, a very good backup but a mediocre starter who is unlikely to throw three TD passes two straight weeks. One other edge for Dallas is Kevin Williams. After underachieving for 14 games, Williams has played the last two well enough to force defenses to pay attention. That in turn allows Michael Irvin a little more room, particularly if Jay Novacek is able. COWBOYS, Indianapolis (plus 8 12) at Kansas City The Chiefs have now been alerted to Zack Crockett. So unless Marshall Faulk comes back, the Colts running game probably won't go far, third-bes- t defense particularly against the NFL's run. the against Yes, Jim Harbaugh's having a career year, but so is Steve Bono. Yes, Harbaugh's a coach on the field, but so is Marcus Allen. And all this winning ugly stuff? Throw out Miami, which was the Chiefs' worst game of the season, and they've finished on cruise control with the NFL's best record. CHIEFS, 24-- 1 1 . SOUNDS EASY VIDEO STORE Cedars Largest Video Store WE RENT SUPER NINTENDO & SEGA GENESIS GAMES 31-1- J Good Monday through Friday Only. Expires January 18th, 1996. J i i SOUNDS EASY I ! i VIDEO STORE 568 South Main Street i 586-712- 0 i i |