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Show The Salt Lake Gribune SPORTS Mi BASEBALL/C-.3 i PREPS/C4 & OBITUARIES/C-6 if NBA LOCKOUT/C- BSWESZ WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER2, 1998 GORDON MONSON Section C UConn(m) Washington. Penn State 69 WeberSt.(m) 69 Kentucky (m) 63 Ind.(m) 76 (OT) 48 BoiseState 61 Kansas 45 NotreDame. 72 65 Senators 3 Mighty Ducks 4 Rangers. 5 (OT) Temple (m) 64 Predators 1 Peen Penguins 4 Panthers 4 70 lowaState 81 Ark. St. 58 Northern ill. (w) 43 Kansas (w) 65 61 Bigwigs Join Outcry Against NFL Refs Thanks to poorofficiating, it will take three refs to handlea coin toss BY ERIK BRADY BYU’s Yancey Raised Big, Can Makeit Big Daren Yancey maybe oneof only a few modern college football play- ers who wouldfit, all comfortable like, in an old episode of Bonanza. Youcould see him saddling up alongsideLittle Joe, properly requesting permission — was the Ponderosa the only place where grown men had to ask Pa before leaving the house? — to ride on into town, orhead off hunting rabbits, or go punch doggies out on the north 40. Because Yanceyis ... Hoss Cart- wrightin pads. There may beparts of other characters in his character. Perhaps some Huck Finn. Or Elmer Fudd. Or Opie Taylor. He’s a country boy, USA TODAY A pair of old-guard ownersjoined in the outery against NFL officiating, say- ing it has never been worse than it was over the holiday weekend. And one of them owns a team that won William Clay Ford, 73, who owns the Detroit Lions, thought the officiating in Thanksgiving’s 19-16 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers was the worst he had seen. “I don't give a s--- if the commissionerfines me,” he said, “It’s just terrible.” RalphWilson, 80, who owns the Buffalo Bills, was defiant after Sunday's 25-21 loss to the New EnglandPatriot ‘That was the worst officiating I have ever seen,” he said. “It’s embarrassing to the league.” Argumentsover officials’ calls are as old as sports. Cries of “Kill the Ump” began last century. But criticism of National Football Leagueofficials has sel- dom been as vociferous as it has been this season. Can't anybody here officiate this game? Or evenflip a coin correctly? The NFL's directorof officials, Jerry Seeman, deluged bycalls from news or- ganizations, declined comment through an NFL spokesman. But he told USA 70DAY in 1995 that with an average of 154 plays per gameon field with 22 players in a fast, full-contact sport, it is unrea- sonable to expect perfection “We always kid them,” Seeman said. “We say they can be excellent because theyaregoingto try to be perfect.’ Lately, NFLofficials have fallen far shortof excellence, let alone perfection. The Patriots benefited from back-to- back controversial calls at the close of Sunday's game. Trailing 21-17 with 11 secondsto play, they had a fourth down and9 yards to go for a first down when quarterback Drew Bledsoe threw a pass to receiver Shawn Jefferson on the sideline. Replays appeared to show thatJeffer- son hadfailed to come downwith either foot in bounds, thoughby rule he needed to land both of them. He also appeared short of the first down. Either way, the Bills could have run out the game's last six seconds. But, given a first down, the Patriots See REFEREES,Page C-6 who grew up chasingcritters, tightening fences and running through fields of grain, who might also hit the big time. Maybea bit of Merlin Paul Sakuma/The Associated Press Plenty of teams,including the Giants, have been pointing fingers this yearat the refereeing. The blowncalls have even included a controversial coin flip. Rivers Steps Up With 26 as Cougs Finish Off Losing Streak, Denver Olsen, ‘The BYU defensive tackle was born and raised in Riverton, Idaho, which is just a hocked loogie from Blackfoot, on 200 acres of God’s grandestland. There, along the banks of the Snake River, on his father’s ranch, Yancey grew big — 6- BY JOE BAIRD foot-6, 305 pounds — andstrong. THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE He didn’t sit around watching TV. Hedidn’t play video games, He PROVO — With a 6-foot-11 holein the middle of their lineup, the BYU Cougars didn’t lounge in the comfort of indoor heating. He didn’t idolize pro athletes. needed somebody tostep up and playbig against Denver University Tuesday night. It did not take Silester Rivers long to Yancey worked. He chopped and sawed wood for the fireplace because no one ever bothered to turn on the furnace. He hitched up the flatbed to the John Deere and droveto thefields, loading and stacking 125 hay bales onto figure out that the job was his. With center Bret Jepsen sidelined by the concussion he suffered in last week- end’s loss to Arizona,Rivers scoreda ca- reer-high 26 points and grabbedninere- thetrailer, returning to the yard to boundsto lead the Cougars to an 89-71 victory over the Pioneersat the Marriott Center, unload before heading back for more. “My dad was an engineer who de- The win snapped BYU’slosingstreak, signed micro-chips,” says Yancey. “Hewanted to get into cattle-breeding, so he did that, too. He was mak- which reached three with the overtime loss to the Wildcats. It also puts the 2-3 Cougars in a reasonably good frame of mind goinginto their first extended road cold in the house, we built a fire. If hay neededto be hauled, we hauled it, instead of using an automated hauler, He wanted my brother and me to learn to work. So, we did. Growing up, my twofavorite things (Tuesd: “This wasa big, emotional win for this ing $125,000 a year,but, if we got trip ofthe season — a two-gameswingto Oregon (Saturday) and WashingtonState team, especially after last Saturday,” in the world werea tractor and a “I found ‘Bullet’ on the way to kindergarten one day,” Yanceysays. He was a mix of St. Bernard and blue heeler, He was mybest friend. Wewent on all kinds of adventures together.” Like varmint and game hunting. BY PATRICK KINAHAN THESALTL laboring in Puerto Rico, Steve Sharp duckthree times a week,” hesays. sprinkler pipe across muddy crop Yanceybecamea prototypical de- Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune lineman withouteven realiz- Surrounding the Shooter ing it. Life on the ranch enhanced his size, strength, speed, Still, he Hunter's Sally Toia waitsto get hershotoff as Korbie Timlinson (5), Ashley Busweil (30) and Malinda Champiain (33) defend for Timpanogos.Toia had 18 points and Hunter won, 72-53. See story, page C4. ‘The hardest thing aboutplaying football at BYUwas giving up the wish I could be up there.’ " No smallconversion for a guy whotheretofore would rather pop a duck or a squirrel than sack a quar- terback, who grew up with pictures of assault rifles and four-wheel-drive trucks hanging on the walls in his bedroom, instead of images of John Elway and Bruce Smith. “I didn’t know anyof those guys,” he says. He knows them now. After an AllWAC seniorseason, with only the league championship and the Liber- ty Bowlleft, Yancey wants to play with them next year. Thetractor and chainsaw, ‘Bullet’ and the shot- gun can wait. Hoss is headed for the NFL. oughly frustrated with his three-point, two-rebound effort against Arizona That, and Jepsen’s absence, provided all of the fuel he needed for a breakthrough performance. “After the way I played Saturday, I knewit was time to start helping this team,” said Rivers. “With Bret down, it was time for somebody else to carry the load.” Rivers was frustrated early by what wasa tightly called game. But the CouSee COUGARS,Page C-5 ™@ WeberDefeats Boise State C4 Sharp, about his playing time five games into the season. When othersfell, Sharp rose. 7 While leading Alta High to the 5-4 state championship in 1995, Sharp’ ac- Rick Majerus. Before enrolling in ¢pllege, he dropped out ofsight for two Returning home barely before schdéol started, Sharp redshirted last season: notonly is onthe teambut plays a signifi- Absent from a game for three years, he cant role. Going into tonight's game against Rhode Island in the Great Eight Tournament at the United Center, the 6-foot-2 freshman is averaging 20 minutes a the season. With an injury to Shane Willis and Tony Harvey's suspension, Sharp sud- tational, as Alex Jensen was saddled with foul trouble, Sharp played 17 minutes in the second half and was instrumental in Andre Miller for a few minutes and atso sliding over to replace Jeremy Killion, “T knewwe didn’t have too many guys “Tm pleasantly surprised,” said See UTES, Page C-5 game. Against Michiganin the Maui Invi- was somewhat of a mystery coming-into denly becametheonly backcourt reserve with anyexperiencebeyond high school Hehas a dual role, spelling point guard Region 6 Coaches Pay Timpview Ultimate Compliment And re-arranged his passions, look up at the mountains during developed tendinitis. Rivers were’thor- years on a mission Utah’s comebackwin. ball, and foundhis future. “Boise practice without saying, ‘Damn, I first required arthroscopic surgery, then cepted a scholarship offer from Coach who assured hima scholarshipwas available for the son. Oneyear later, Sharp A funny thing happened amid so hunt,” says Yancey. “But, eventually, I learned to love football. I could Nobodymoreso than Rivers. TRE"6-7 junior from Utah Valley State College hasstruggled because of a bad knee that church mission. ‘The father rang up the Utah coaches land, earning up to $30 a day. much rough-hewn, double-barreled countrification, ball, that opened myeyes,” there was a little more pressure than usual. We knew how important it Was,” heard rumblings that his son would have no place on the University of Utah bas- ketball team upon his return from a To earn money for ammo, he moved State and Idaho State wanted me for both sports,” he says. “But when I started getting letters from Nebraska, Arizona State and BYU for foot- TRIBUNE CHICAGO — While Adam Sharp was Froman early age, Yancey hunted nearly every day, everything from rock chucks to ducks to elk. “I ate preferred basketball to football, in part because Blackfoot High School was a joke on the turf and strong on the hardwood. But, his senior year, ancey played basketball and foot- knew wehad to getthis one at homeyso Hustle, Heart Give Freshman Sharp Edge Offthe Bench for Runnin’ Utes chainsaw.” Excluding, of course, his dog and his shotgun, fensive said BYU Coach Steve Cleveland..““‘We sat on that Sunday and Monday: "We BY JAY DREW THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Call it local knowledge The two-time defending champion Provo Bulldogs are ranked No. 1 by a poll ofthe boys basketball coaches in Class 4-A, but are picked to finish second in their own regionin a vote of Region 6 coaches. Whatgives? Coaches around the state don't know how good Timpviewis.” Craig Drury Provo boys basketall coach [aan “Coaches around the state don't know how good defense and we both sucked on offense,” Drurysaid Here's a look at the region races in 4-A boys basketball, with predicted order of finish: their reputation now, but says “That's great” when in- Region 4: 1, Mountain Crest. 2, Sky View. 3, Fremont. 4, Box Elder. 5, Logan. 6, Weber. 7, Bonneville. 8 Roy Having comewithin a whisker of winningit all last year behind 4-A MVP Tony Brown, now starring for Utah State, Mountain Crest doesn't appear to be as good, but couldstill contend forthetitle because 4-A overall is weaker. Coach John Nielsen says the Mustangswill be quick, but small Onceagain, Sky Viewshould push MCfor the league title. Coach Terrell Baldwin is building a program that is good everyyear. This year, Trevor Stokes (15 ppg.) is 1 Timpviewis,” said Provo coach Craig Drury. “In our region,there’s a lot of respect for Timpview.” Drury acknowledges the Bulldogs may beliving off formed Provo is No. 1 in the first Salt Lake Tribune rankings. Heis confident his young team — led by6foot-8 junior center Jake Chrisman — will be good when the state tournament arrives. “Wewill find out how good weare [tonight] against Mountain View, and go from there,” he said The Bulldogs weren't real good last week in a 43-42 season-opening loss to Davis, which is supposed to be down this year. However, Drurysays his team still playedits trademark great defense, a positive sign. “Davis played super defense and we played super the leader of a smart bunch that has a team GPAin the 3.8 range, Fremont looksto be a comer, with 6-8 sopho- more Jared Jensen a future star, but has extremely small guards. With a few breaks, Box Elder could also have its best seasonin years. The Bees havesix returning lettermen and coach Keith Mecham kepteight seniors. New Logan coach Kelly Bennett, formerly MC's girls coach, inherits four solid seniors, including K.C. Comadena, a great shooter. Bonneville, Weber and Roy will try to push Loganfor the league's fifth andlast playoff berth Region 5: 1, East. 2, Olympus. 3, Bountiful. 4, Cyprus. 5, Murray. 6, Judge. 7, Highland. 8, Woods Cross 9, West. Olympus won this league bysix games last year, going undefeated (16-0), but it should be much tighter in 199899. That’s because the Titans don’t have USU recruit John Hille and East has future Ute Lance Allred, pro- videdhe returnsfrom a hipflexor injury that made him miss the Leopards’ first two games. The Titans unveiled 6-7 New Mexico move-in Jeremy Kimbrough against Skyline, and he didn’t disappoint See CLASS 4-A, Page C-4 ! i | |
