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Show Mints DAVIS REFLEX JOURNAL, JULY 17, 1985 Dave's Thoughts Keith Duncansports editorial Baseball And Ehin Confident Headinglnto 3rd Pro Season Stuff By DAVE WIGHAM Clipper Sports There 1 was sitting in from ol television watching the As Chuck Ehin and I conversed last Saturday afternoon via the phone line, his optimism and excitement about another National Football League campaign was actually enough to send a shock of enthusiasm through me. THE FORMER BYU and Layton High great pro season to get underway. SECTION cant wait for his third ik game of the week when suddenb some of the little things ihnt wi-on started my thinking ptoc-- ' WHY WERE these play ct don things a certain way1 Stuck theic was some explanation as to ;l whyxand wherefores of this spot: knew exactly where to eo I. the answers. My two sonucs u tu n it comes to baseball is Phil Olsen the head man at Bountiful and Norm Millerw ho coached at icw mont and is now in anolhei hu-ness. I KNEW Phil would try to balfie me with that certain substance t h.i coaches throw' around a lot hm also knew he would come up with an answer. I also knew Norm would have a theory and a book to give the real answers. I mean this guy knows all the weird facts about baseball. The first thing I came up with was why the infielders throve the ball around the horn, which means to each other, after an out. Phil maintains it came from tradition and that it gives the pitcher a rest between batters. Norm came up w ith the idea that it keeps the inliel-der- s arm loose and that in fact t heart of throwing the ball around the horn isnt as complicated as it once 1 His optimism centers around a bunch of things but perhaps his undaunted confidence that he could be a member of the San Diego Chargers' defensive line for years to come brings the most worth. AT A recent gathering in the Ehin home in Bountiful, both Gary lansen (Chuck's high school coach at Layton High) and LaVell Edwards (his college coach at BYU) were on hand to say hello to Chuck n who finally made it back to Utah after a few years of spending every minute he had in 1 training. CHUCKS first full year with the Chargers he lived a tedious rookie year, mainly trying to prove himself. He ended up starting a few games that year and certainly got more second and third looks than most because of his determination to make the club and stay. IN ' Last season he started in 15 of the 16 regular season games, never once letting up with the hard work and discipline that had got him that far. AS CHUCK went to camp on Monday of this week, the work epic hadn't faded. Hes probably conditioned harder and thought more about football than during any other Have Chucks coaches noticed anything? According to Chuck they have . The 5 265 pounder has improved so much that the brains in the Charger defensive corps have decided to move him to defensive nose tackle this year after two years at tackle and defensive end. The future 6-- THEY BELIEVE Ehin has what it takes to man the middle and maybe become a legend of his own. One other nose tackle in the same league who started out on similar foundations is Miamis Bob Baumhower. Asked if he dreams of being a household word in NFL circles someday and perhaps playing in Super Bowls like Baumhower does, Ehin quipped, The future will take care of itself as long as I continue to work hard and dream like I have in the past. will take care of itself as was. Further explanation to I long as work follow. DURING THIS ritual of throwing the old ball around the horn the catcher becomes the odd man out. The poor guy doesn't get in on the I JUST feel confident this year, said Ehin over the phone, "Maybe even more confident than the past two years because then I game. Being an was trying to prove myself. "But my confidence isnt overly done because of the challenge I've got this year to man the nose tackle position. It will be a major change that will require as much concentration and dedication as I put in the first two years. PERHAPS one thing that might make the transition easier is the fact Ehin will have a new defensive line coach in Gunther Cunning-ham. Ehin likes the new coachs style and figures hell learn a bunch from Cunningham who comes to the Chargers from the Colts organization. "1 like Coach Cunningham quite a bit because we seem to work well together," said Ehin, His techniques and attitude about getting up and getting after it perhaps have been a few things weve lacked in the past couple of years. -- Chuck Ehin seldom touch the ball and this gives them a feel for the ball." THE EHINS enjoy life together as much as possible. Here is Chuck along with his wife Barbara and their son Ryan who will be two in August. They make their home in a suberb just outside the San Diego city limits. Miller had other thoughts. "Years ago they threw it around the horn with everyone touching it. After a strike out the catcher would throw to second, to first third and finally don't know why but they did. third, to short to to catch back to to pitch. I i cully they shortened ' MY NEXT observation u an explanation involved t e . leaving the field. Why is it th.c eight players run and the pi K strolls off at his own pace. lk they like to save their energv Olsen offered. insist that "At Bountiful other eight players run on and the field but I leave it up to pitchers. One this year would m. and others would walk. If they struck out the other side I didn't care how they got off.'" he laughed Norm agreed with that assessment but made one more observation. The thing that worries me is that I went to a lot of little league games this summer and not many of the kids ran on or off the field. know most high school coaches insist their players hustle." SPEAKING of the pitchers, why do they put on a jacket in sweltering heat when they get on base'. The thinking used to be to keep the pitching arm warm." Olsen said, but now they are proving that wrong and in fact they the throwing shoulder between innings." Miller came up with another theory. "I believe they used to wear them as a label for the pitchers. It let every one know that the base runner wasn't aggressive so the in fielders knew they had a little-extrtime to make the play. suppose though their thinking w ith the jacket was to keep warm." BASEBALL IS a strange game EHIN WAS getting comfortable with the end position the past two years and the tackle position in certain rushing situations. Ironically Ehin played the nose tackle slot at Brigham Young University but he claims the position carries a whole lot more responsibility in the pro ranks. People are bigger, stronger and the experisaid Ehin. ence factor means everything in most situations, I 1 THE CHARGERS will go with Ehin up front and in the middle, one n line. of three upfront in San Diegos Chucks father, Charles who is a resident of Bountiful, is needless to say quite excited about Chucks emergence with the San Diego team. Charles and his wife Betty just landed a brand new satellite in their backyard so they wouldnt miss one Charger down of 85 three-ma- football. been supportive, said Chuck, During mv contract renegotiations, he was there to give advice and basically someone to lean on. As far as renewed contracts, Chuck is quite pleased with the new income that could get package. Its reported to be a good better if Chuck reaches many of the clauses in such things as playing percentage, quarterback sacks and other things. DAD HAS always off-seas- six-figu- re AS FAR as injuries go, Chuck had his share of little nagging pains 1984 season. He had a case of tendinitis in his right leg, a couple of bruised shoulders and a cracked bone in his left wrist that required a cast. obtained through the course of the ' n You have to forget injuries the best you can, said Chuck, I'm very strong and healthy right now with the exception of a bruised shoulder that still needs a little work. BUT BASICALLY an NFL lineman has to come to the conclusion that injuries are just part of the game, they must be dealt with. When two big guys go at one on one, thats pounds clashing against each other. I've learned tht finese is an important part of the game. a five-hundr- 1 ABOUT THE Chargers as a team and hopes of improving enough to bounce back into the playoffs, the chances get better with the enthusiasm the new owner has brought. Alex Spannos is the new owner and hes been making some big changes. His first week here he got rid of nine veterans and is basically just cleaning house. and they have rich tradition. Speaking of Olsen and baseball. Phil wanted to follow up on a story THE OTHER players share my feelings that he is serious about the whole thing. Hes done everything from having locker rooms cleaned, the weight room painted and cleaned and all the little things. Its all gotta help, said Chuck in an excited voice. Chuck and Barbara Ehin have one son, Ryan, who will be two years old in August . They make their home in a San Diego suburb and gear their whole lives to making an NFL dream come true. ALL WE can say from Utah, those of us who loved to see Chuck play in the blue and white as either a Layton Lancer or BYU Cougar, is good luck, Chuck, and we hope your dream does come true. Olsen knew the answer claiming that those guys don't need the extra throwing practice. "The infielders CHUCK CANT wait for another pro season to get started. le w ill be taking on a new position but despite that still feels confident about his progress and the optimism for the 1985 season. 1 regarding youth programs. 1 read where the youth soccet programs were really helping the high school programs out and I gist wanted the people to realize that a big part of my success up here at Bountiful has been the coaching of these guys in previous years. One guy who has really helped the success has been Wally Beck Sr. who coached the automotive and legion teams for the past six years. Wally's not in the best of health this year but our thoughts are with him and we are thankful for his part in our success. |