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Show V The Salt Lake Tribune, Wednesday, October i N, 1 Healthy BYU Back Lane Looks to Cowboys OHO By Ray Herbat f Tribune Sports Writer Eric Lane, who nursed an ankle injury the first two weeks of the Brigham Young University football season before busting loose with a strong offensive game against Long PROVO .a SS-- r V (57? Beach State, admits he is anxiously awaiting the Cougars Wyoming confrontation here Saturday afternoon. Just when Lane, who had to study hard to leam BYUs sophisticated offense after transferring from Chabot (Hayward, Calif.) Junior College before Ag Jeisrsey Issue Dims As Big 4 Pilots ''mr,f x Look to Saturday I f y By Ray Herbat Tribune Sports Writer Main topic of conversation at the Big Four Huddle at the Printers Loft Tuesday dealt with the controversy surrounding the greasy jerseys worn by Utah States offensive linemen in the first quarter of the Aggie-Utagame last Saturday. The seriousness of the incident seems to have abated, and some joking popped up between the coaches and school officials attending the weekly football meeting. For example, each of the four schools brings a player or two to these meetings to be interviewed by the press. However, Tuesday the Aggies were not represented by a player, causing a USU spokesman to quip: I wanted to bring an offensive lineman, but I couldnt GET AHOLD of one." Wayne Howard, whose Ute defenders called attention to the jersey incident when they kept slipping off the Aggie I think blockers, said in retrospect: the whole thing is funny; I really cant take it seriously, except the officials should have continued charging a time out until the players finished changing their jerseys. I dont want to downplay the incident, offered Aggie Coach Bruce Snyder, because it happened, but I also dont want to make this thing any more serious than it is. The whole thing has been resolved. It wont happen again. I take full blame because Im the h I: - .' !; L-j-,.:. Utah defensive lineman Steve Clark has rebounded from knee I I surgery and is now shooting for recognition. Surgery Hasn t Slowed Utes Bid All-Americ- an By John Mooney Tribune Sports Editor Steve Clark earned honors as a prep football player on Skylines two state championship teams and now, coming off knee surgery, hes making a bid for college recognition next year. After playing about 20 plays a game as a freshman on Utahs 3 team. Clark was a regular until he suffered a knee injury against Utah State. How did you feel about playing against the Aggies? Steve was asked. They did put you out for 8-- 79. I really looked forward to that game and it felt great beating the Aggies. No, I wasnt recruited very hetvily by Utah State, because I think the coaches realized I didn't care much about Utah States football schedule. I liked the idea of playing against better competition and I felt Utah offered that opportunity. "Like I played opposite Nebraska's guard, Randy Schleusener, and graded out one of my best games. I believe I play better against better opponents," he added. Garks knee is healed, although he has a little soreness after a tough game. As a defensive lineman, what did you think when you grabbed an Aggie offensive lineman and your hands slipped?" I noticed it on the first play of the game, he laughed. My hands are my biggest asset and I use them to control the blocker trying to get at my body. But I couldn't grab anything and when I looked at my hands, they were all slippery. How do you feel about the victory, coming from behind against the Aggies, and how do you explain the poor showing against Boise State in the opening game? I think from here on out we will be tough and the defensive line will improve each game, he responded. I think we were flat against Boise State because we had only one tough scrimmage in the fall and that was two weeks before the opening game. I think everyone, players and of coaches, was a little gun-sh- y injuries after we lost so many players early last season with crippling injuries which took us out of the championship race. Gark had a fine game against the Aggies, getting 12 tackles and one sack of the quarterback. But that's expected because the Gark name has been big in Utah athletics for many years, and Steve figures to top all the Garks before he completes his athletic career in the 1981 season. coach. BYU Coach LaVell Edwards, whose Cougars had a bye last Saturday, said that although he is not totally in favor of the bye came at a good time s, team. havent played a wishbone team four years, said Edwards, and the for his We in extra week gives us a chance to get ready for Wyoming (BYUs opponent this week in Provo). Also, we had a chance to have some injured players heal, so in this case I think the bye helped us. "This will be the first week this season we will have had all three running backs Eric Lane, Scott Phillips, Homer Jones healthy at once. Also, lineman Ray Linfords leg Injury has healed and he will be ready to play. Jim McMahon will play," continued Edwards. He injured his back in the first quarter against Long Beach and we had taken. The showed no fracture. Both Edwards and Howard feel the' WAC has more balance this year than in recent seasons. I hope I'm right with thatstatement but I doubt the league champion will go through the season undefeated, said Edwards, whose Cougars need some help since New Mexico, the team which upset BYU in the opener, is now after stunning Wyoming in Laramie last week. There isnt any team in the WAC that can be taken for granted now, echoed Howard, whose Utes must play at El Paso against UTEP this week. I saw the films of UTEPs win over Hawaii, and they (the Miners) simply manhandled Hawaii. UTEP has cut down on its mistakes and seems to have it together now, Howard said. 2-- 0 t By Lex Hemphill Tribune Sports Writer The NBAs Pacific Division has a different look this year, but its still probably the leagues strongest. The Lakers are the champions and the division's best right now. Seattle and Phoenix, because of their Dennis Johnson-Pau- l Westphal trade, are different teams Golden State may be the most improved team in the division, and the specter of Bill Walton still if he returns, his shadow will hangs over San Diego loom over the whole division. An agent, Howard SI usher, may be one of the most influential men in the he represents guards Kelvin Ransey Pacific race of Portland and Gus Williams of Seattle, and neither is in camp yet. The Jazz played these teams six times each last (28 percent). Thanks year and went a disastrous to expansion, Utah gets each team only five times this year. Here is a look at the division's six teams in their projected order of finish, with their final preseason records in parenthesesLos Angeles (4--1) They're not going to break up this combination, which relies on just seven men, led Magic Johnson, Norm by Kireem Abdul-Jabba8 r, The University of Utah has been selected to host 1981 NCAA skiing championships, scheduled for at Park City and Deer Valley ski resorts. M arch 1 The alpine events will be held at Park City, with the nordic competition scheduled for Deer Valley. Four events one each day will be held during the meet. The giant slalom is set for March 11 and will be followed by the 15 kilometer cross country race, the slalom and the cross country relay. The cross country relay has replacid jumping as an NCAA event. More than 120 competitors representing 20 schools are expected to compete in the 1981 finals. It will be the siond time Utah has hosted thy event. The first Among Lanes big games in his first season with the Cougars last year, were-thcontests with San Diego State and Hawaii. Lane gained 111 yards in seven carries and scored two touchdowns against SDS, and picked up 109 yards on 10 carries against Hawaii. In this day and age when the rushing game has become the accepted standard of big game for a running efforts are more back, Lanes noteworthy because BYUs offense is geared mostly toward the pass. It was satisfying to have a good game against Long Beach," explained Lane, "because I felt I was still rusty after laying off for almost two weeks." Eric is just as proud of his blocking as he is of his running and receiving abilities. We stress blocking at BYU, and I think Im a good blocker. The five touchdowns I scored at Utah State last year were nice, but I think it was a bigger thrill for the offensive line. The name Lane has been a magic word in the Intermountain Area for a long time, but Eric hopes that his future does not hinge on his name alone. I dont know if I have a future in the pros or not," he explained, but I certainly dont want to have an edge in that direction because of my uncle (MacArthur was a St. Louis star for years). I want to make it on my own. 100-yar- 100-yar- d Its have obvious that the Cowboys will Erics name etched in their minds when they enter Cougar Stadium Satur- day afternoon. Astro Ace Richard Set For Additional Surgery NEW YORK (AP) Houston Astros pitcher J. R. Richard, whose life was threatened by a stroke less than three months ago, will undergo additional surgery early next week in an undisclosed California hospital, Tom Reich, his agent, said Tuesday night. This is an important step in J. R.s recovery, Reichs said in a telephone interview from his home in Pittsburgh. He still has a clot remaining in his shoulder and the surgery will be to correct that problem, Reich added. Richard collapsed during a workout at the Astrodome on July 30. He was rushed into emergency surgery later that day and surgeons removed a blood clot in a neck artery. At the time, a hospital spokesman said the blood clot could have been a life and death situation had it been dislodged. and Jamaal Wilkes. The Lakers shot a phenomenal 52.9 percent from the floor last year in this age of defensive emphasis. Barring injuries, they should be able to do it again. Magic, who gives the Lakers a unique dimension as a rebounding guard, has come back off his preseason sprained ankle to inject his enthusiasm. If Kareem can play up to the MVP level of last year, the Lakers should own the division again, while the other teams struggle early to find new combinations. Nixon, Seattle (4-Lenny Wilkens was quoted last week as describing Dennis Johnson as a cancer" on his team. If thats how they felt, maybe the Sonics are better off without him, and after all, they got an excellent player in return in Westphal, who will give them scoring punch. Westphal has been teaming with Vinnie Johnson in preseason, while the Sonics await the arrival of Williams. If Gus doesn't return, this team shouldnt challenge the Lakers. The frontcourt is the same Jack Sikma, John and the playing time Johnson, and Lonnie Shelton of the departed Paul Silas will go more to emerging star James Bailey. Without Silas and D. J., the Sonics may lack some of their old defensive elan, but theyre still the NBA s best rebounding team and Westphal will make the offense more potent. Phoenix (3-It may take a while for the Suns to shine, as they change their basic look this year. The new backcourt is Dennis Johnson and Walter Davis, with Kyle Macy and Don Buse in reserve. Utes to Host NCAA Skiers in 81 the soft--spok- and depending on what he does,' I either stay in to block or run out on a pass pattern. Sometimes I will key on the inside linebacker, but mostly my man is the outside linebacker." Weber States Pete Riehlman is concerned about the Wilcats Saturday night opponent, Montana U., in Ogden. We have never beaten Montana in Ogden and we have won only four games in the entire series against them, said Riehlman. We have to stop their running game, headed by Rocky Cleaver. Hes a good one. Our defense has been great this season but we still have a long way to go on offense, continued Riehlman. Our quarterback, Bill Tantillo, never had a chance in the first half of the Montana State game because our line didnt protect him. In the second half we gave better protection. Surgeons who removed the clot later said there were apparent signs of neurological symptoms indicating impairment of circulation to the brain that would be suggestive of a stroke. Reich said next weeks surgery was not being forced by new complications. This one (the surgery) is planned, he said. The agent refused to disclose the name of the hospital or the surgeon who would operate on Richard. I do not want to bring attention to the surgery for purposes of J. R.s comfort, said Reich. Richard, who led the National League in earned run average in 1979, had compiled a 1.89 ERA before complaints of a dead arm led Astros officials to place him on the teams disabled list on July 16. NBAs Pacific Division Takes on New Look This Is the fourth In a series orf articles preparatory to Friday's opening of the NBA season. This article deals the Pacific Division. the 1979 season, had finally recovered from the ankle injury to play brilliantly a bye against LBS, the Cougars had week last Saturday. More idle time for Eric. Well be ready for Wyoming this Lane promises. It should be week, if quite a battle, and we dont care they did lose last week to NewMexico Wyoming will be ready for us." another The Cougars can WAC slip if they are to retain their championship and a trip to the Holiday Bowl, and BYU will look to Lane for continued offensive punch. The whose uncles, MacArthur and Sid, played starring roles for Utah State more than a decade ago, chewed up the Long Beach State defense for 96 yards rushing and 68 pass receiving. Lane knows he is just one of a bevy of offensive sparks playing for BYU. "We dont have any problems on the team as to which guy will lead the offense each week," said the tailback. "We are completely unselfish, and we have to work to help each other. Each of us knows that it takes a block or something special by another guy for a play to work. So we make contributions to each other." Lane caught 10 passes against Long Beach State and carried the ball 11 times. He was the key figure in that game, much like Scott Phillips played a key role against Wisconsin the previous week "We dont go into a game with specific designs that one certain player will handle the ball most of the time, Eric, a physical education major, explained. A lot depends on what the defense gives us. For example, I will usually key on the outside linebacker, time was in 1957 when the competition was held at Snow Basin in Ogden. Utah Athletic Director Amie Fcrrin said he was pleased the NCAA championship event would be coming to the state in 1981. This is a state institution," Ferrin said. "The taxpayers support us and it should be our responsibility to give them recognition. We can do that in a couple of ways. First, with winning teams Second, by hosting events like the NCAA skiing championships. "This is ski country. I think the 1981 championship meet will allow the University of Utah to give something back to the state and the people. Were very excited about it The idea is to get more rebounding by moving Davis to a guard (only the Jazz collared fewer rebounds than did the Suns last year), so the new frontline has Truck Robinson and Jeff Cook at the forwards, with Alvan Adams and Rich Kelley at center. This is a more physical team, and the character change may be what the Suns need in the playoffs. Portland (3-Theyve got injuries again in Portland (Bob Gross, Dave Twardzik, and Mychat Thompson), but there are enough good players still to make this team better than the one that slipped Into the playoffs last year. Thompson has recovered from a broken leg that kept him out all last year, only to come up with a twisted knee in camp. Still, he can play strong forward and spell Tom Owens at center when he comes back. The forwards are solid Calvin Natt and Remit Washington (with Thompson and Gross also in the picture). Jim Paxson and Ron Brewer have been the starting guards in preseason, and Billy Ray Bates and the return of Twardzik and Ransey would make this a deep backcourt. The Blazers were second-to-la(to Utah) in scoring last year, but they should be more explosive this time. st Here's a team that decided it Golden State (5-was sick of last place and went out and did something for better or for worse. The wholesale about it changes now leave the Warriors with an explosive starting lineup Joe Barry Carroll at center, Purvis Short and Bernard King at forwards, and Lloyd Free and John Lucas at guards. If A1 Attles can blend these guys together, this team could get into the playoffs. The Warriors have two other good frontcourt rookies in Rickey Brown and Larry Smith. Inexperience would be their biggest problem. Still, fifth place might get them into the playoffs, because they could well wind up with a better record than the Midwest Division runner-up- . San Diego You'd have to watch this team if Walton, with his nagging foot problems, could come back. But history teaches us (and new coach Paul Silas) not to expect the brilliant center to come back and play regularly. Still, his sub, Swen Nater, isn't so bad; he only led the league in rebounding last year. (4-- The backcourt of Brian Taylor, Phil Smith, and Freeman Williams is solid, and Michael Brooks looks like he'll be a legitimate NBA player at one forward. This is a dangerous team but it's not a playoff one, not without Walton. Tribune BYU fullback Eric Lane looks for hole to add to his yard- - Salt Palace To Study Lighting Salt Palace ager Douglas Man- S. Borg Tuesday told Palace directors that television station engineers will inspect the arena and make recommendations to improve lighting. The Utah Jazz meets the Portland Trail Blazers Friday night and the Salt Lake Golden Eagles test Wichita Saturday night in the Salt Palace. J. Howard Dunn, chairman of the board's executive committee said the Palace officials want to do everything required to make telecasts and still photography for sporting events at the facility as good as possible. We want the Jazz, Golden Eagles and other tenants to know that when they are happy and making a little bit of money, we are benefitting, too," Mr. Dunn said. Frank Layden, Jazz general manager, and Ken Beck, vice president of business operations for the pro bas-ketba- ll team, at- tended the meeting. They told the board they would appreciate any improvement In lighting at the arena and said they were in favor of another new floor for the arena. $tH Photo Frank Porschafis by age totals. Lane will be a key against Wyoming Saturday. Winfield Enters Draft Re-Ent- ry SAN DIEGO (UPD Dave Winfield, the San Diego who is now a free draft in November, it was announced Tuesday by his agent. . Padres slugging agent, will enter baseballs right-fieid- ry Hes opting for agency, said A1 Frohman, Winfield's agent. Dave feels that as long as San Diego has already put a value on him its only fair for both sides to find out what hes worth on the market. The announcement will be made Wednesday at a news conference. Dave will go on television and explain his position tonight and will hold a news conference Wednesday to make the announcement to the media. Frohman has let it be known his client will be contract. seeking a Dave Parker-typ- e Parker, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed in 1978 for an estimated $1 million per year for five years. Frohman doubted that Winfield would play for San Diego next season. Right now I wouldnt bank on it at all," said Frohman. "Hes not going into the draft to establish his value and then go back to the Padres." Winfield, who has spent his entire career with San Diego, batted .276 with 20 home runs and 87 e FBI this year for the Padres. He just completed the final year of a four year contract with San Diego, earning $350,000 a season, and the have made an offer of approximately $700,000 per yer him. year for the next five years in an effort to him. "A part of any agreement Dave signs would be that the team must agree to work with the community, said Frohman. He believes that baseball and all sports should be involved with children." draft, According to the conditions of the once a free agent has been selected by 13 teams, that players name automatically is dropped from the list. The 26 major league teams draft in Inverse order of their finish in the standings and with the Padres finishing last in the National League West, they will be able to select Winfield. The New York Yankees have been said to be interested in Winfield but by the nature of their finish this season, they might not have a chance to choose him In November. right-fielde- r, last-plac- re-sig- n re-ent- V v T ; |