.Mananoi- Danny Ozark on the Phillies’ first Eastern crown
’’..My players don't seem excited.”
Cat fight
Lions clawing for
consistent offense
By CHUCK BUCHANAN
Collegian Sports Writer
T' ."Consistency. Intensity. Sound familiar?
If you’ve been listening to Joe Paterno, and many people do
,'in these parts, you’ve doubtlessly heard these words in
reference to the Nittany Lions at one time or another. In fact,
iGyou listen often enough it’s most likely that you’ve heard
these words at one time AND another AND another ever since
the Stanford. Band, accompanied by the Stanford football
team, came to spend a Saturday afternoon in Happy Valley.
Only the valley hasn’t been all that happy since that
eventful afternoon. Eventful, because the Lions won a football
game on that day. Unhappy, because of consistency and in
. tensity. Or rather, the lack of them.
**. “I’m not sure what the reason is exactly,” says Joe Paterno
in trying to explain the lack of consistency displayed by this
year’s Lion offensive squad. “We do well at times, and then we
seem to break down.”
Unfortunately for Lion fans and of course, the Lions, the
breakdowns seem always to happen inside the opponents’ 30-
yard line.
"We have different players playing different positions each
week," Paterno explains. This contributes highly to the in
consistency, says the coach.
“We haven’t been as lucky as we could have been with all
the health problems, and we’ve had to shuffle players around
because of this.”
Then, too, there is the overall make-up of the 1976 squad.
the large number of underclassmen on the te.am, most
players who fill the key positions, and who have a few years of
varsity experience under their belts, have very little ex
perience at those positions.
Senior George Reihner is playing only his fourth game this
weekend on the offensive line, and senior Rich Mauti is in his
first full season at wide receiver. Situations such as these lend
themselves to inconsistency.
And if there was one hallmark of the Penn State offense in
past glory years, it was consistency. “We are obviously not
that good now,” Paterno observes, “but we’ll get there! ”
‘ Another hallmark of the great Penn State teams was in
tensity. Intensity, as applied to football players and to
football teams, refers to the vehement, fired-up, killer in
stinct. A quick review of the current season will reveal that
, t'he Lions have not killed anyone to date.
"We just haven’t done well enough to win this year,”
laments Paterno. Explaining the most recent loss, a 7-6 set
back suffered at the hands of lowa, Paterno pinpoints the
problem: "We didn’t play with enough intensity. But we’re
trying.” he adds.
And try they must. If Paterno is to be believed, and he by all
• rights should, a Nittany Lion performance against Kentucky
similar to that of last week’s against lowa will produce an
even rarer item in these parts than a 1-2 Penn State football
team a 1-3 Penn State football team.
"It’s gonna be a'good ole fashioned gang fight down there in
Lexington,” he predicts. “We’re gonna have to plnjj a real
gutty, hard-hitting football game to win this Saturday, ’
Paterno sees this game, the Lions’ first road contest of the
as a challenge. “They really out’ .ayed us last year
(when the Lions took a 10-3 decision at Beaver Stadium >. They
deserved to win, and they’re anxious to prove that this year.
This game will either make us or break us.”
Netwomen to face
Mary Baldwin team
Penn State netwomen face match lists Joy McManus in
this fall’s toughest com- the first singles slot, followed
petitor, Mary Baldwin by Wendy Gavett, Molly
when they travel to Wesnor, Micki Larkin, Gail
.Staunton, Virginia, Ramsay, and Karen Gold
tomorrow. stein.
“Mary Baldwin always ... . .
plays smart, consistent McManus will be up against
tennis,” said Coach Joan Chrissy Gonzalez, the
Nessler “They play in- number-two seed in Eastern
telligent percentage tennis Collegiates. Gavett meets
(ywith probably the best Heidi Goeltz, the number
doubles strategy we could seven seed
expectfrom any team.” -
f The lineup for tomorrow’s
PHILADELPHIA (AP) The Philadelphia Phillies, who
took pride in their togetherness during the drive to the
National League Eastern Division championship, are feuding
among themselves, and controversial first baseman Dick
Allen is the man in the middle.
The Phillies’ simmering resentments surfaced after a 34-
minute “give ’em hell” meeting called by manager Danny
Ozark before Wednesday night’s game in St. Louis.
before Wednesday night’s game in St. Louis.
Ozark was unhappy with the attitude and performance of
some of his players since the division clinching victory Sunday
in Montreal.
“It’s hard to believe,” said the normally imperturbable
Ozark. “I’ve been so excited about winning the division I get
up at seven in the morning just to feel good. But my players
don’t seem so excited.”
Ozark is disenchanted with Allen. It started in July when the
first baseman failed to show up for two games. The manager
reportedly threatened to resign because he didn’t like the way
the front office handled the matter.
And several weeks ago when the club was in an almost
disasterous slump, Allen didn’t show up until half an hour
before one game. Ozark benched Allen for three days. It was
reported that the manager was ordered to restore his first
baseman to the lineup.
The latest Allen caper occurred Sunday after the division
clinching in Montreal. The team went to St. Louis for its final
road trip. Allen took a plane to Philadelphia. He said he was
going home to celebrate with his family.
Cfzark told reporters on the plane that Allen had permission
to go home, but refused to elaborate.
Still another bone of contention is Allen’s ultimatum told to a
writer traveling with the team that he would not participate in
the National League Playoffs, or the World Series unless his
longtime friend, Tony Taylor, is included on the 25 man post
season roster. , -
The resentment unloosed by some players also involved
outfielder Ollie Brown, platooned in right field all season with
Jay Johnstone. Ozark played Jerry Martin in right field in
Sunday’s division winning game.
Then, there was grumbling oyer four players locking
themselves in an equipment room during the second game of
the Montreal doubleheader and holding their own celebration.
brewing in bluegrass country
4th retirement for Danny
Murtaugh to
PITTSBURGH (AP) Danny Mur
taugh, who led the Pittsburgh Pirates to
two World championships and four
division titles, will retire as manager of
the baseball club, it was learned
yesterday.
Murtaugh’s exit, which could be of
ficially announced yet this week, will
be his fourth as a Pirate manager, but no
doubt his last one.
but no doubtJiis last one.
At 58 he’ll be 59 on Oct. 8 he’ll
leave baseball at the same time his boss
and close friend Joe L. Brown retires.
The Associated Press confirmed his
plans just a day after Brown announced
he will step down from the post he’s held
for 21 years.
It was Brown who gave the tobacco
chewing former Pirate second baseman
his first managing job at the Pirates’
New Orleans farm club in 1952.
Brown must have seen something
more than wins and losses during
Murtaugh’s first three years in New
Orleans because the team finished fifth
twice, second once. And when Murtaugh
went to Charleston, W. Va., in 1955, his
Triple A team finished eighth with a 31-
64 record.
Joyce Tomana
Phils' title boat rocking
as Allen makes waves
l’enn Slate defensive tackle, George Reihner (68), will grapple with Kentucky’s potent Wishbone offense,
Murtaugh became third-base coach
for the Pirates in 1956 and was named
manager in mid-1957 when Bobby
Bragan was ousted.
It was the fall of 1960 when Murtaugh’s
Pirates, capped by Bill Mazeroski’s
memorable home run against the New
York Yankees in the ninth inning, won
their first World Championship in 33
years.
Murtaugh remained as manager until
1964 when he retired because of ill
health. He returned as interim manager
in 1967 for the fired Harry Walker, then
again in 1970 on a more permanent basis.
This time he led the Pirates to two
consecutive first-place finishes and the
World Series title in 1971, in which Steve
Blass and the late Roberto Clemente
excelled.
That was the year pitcher Dock Ellis
found the beds too small in San Fran
cisco for the championship series, called
the Pirates cheapskates and repeated
the complaint when he got to Baltimore.
, It was Ellis who gave Murtaugh
perhaps his most trying moment when in
August 1975 he and Murtaugh had a
showdown in front of the team over Ellis’
refusal to pitch in the bullpen.
Murtaugh said Ellis was fined a
“substantial amount.’’ ,Jhen he was
Some players were disturbed because Allen sat in the dugout
by himself during the celebration in the clubhouse.
Bitter statements were made by some of the team’s stars on
the various issues that threaten to tear apart the Eastern
champions before they meet the Western Division winning
Cincinnati Reds in the best of five game playoff for the
National League pennant'starting here Oct. 9.
“He (Allen) makes $250,000 a year, and if he was so hot to
celebrate with his family he should have had them flown here
to St. Louis,” said reliever Tug McGraw. “They said he’s been
hitting an hour and a half every day at home. What the hell
does he think his teammates are doing out here in St. Louis?”
Outfielder Garry Maddox took the opposite view on Allen’s
flight home. “Why should everybody be upset over Dick’s
going home? He got permission didn't he? He asked Danny if
he could go and he told him he could. ’ ’
Three writers traveling with the team have implied that
while Ozark said he had given Allen permission to return
home, the manager didn’t know about it until he boarded the
plane for St. Louis Sunday night.
Maddox was upset because he felt the race issue had been
injected into the team meeting by McGraw. Maddox insisted
that race never entered his mind when he, Dave Cash, Allen
all black and Mike Schmidt white entered that
equipment room in Montreal to rap about winning the
division.
“Somebody has been fooling me this season,” said Maddox.
“I never saw a sign all year of any race problems. But now one
of my teammates tells me we’ve got one. A LOT OF GUYS
ARE UPSET BY THIS.”
Another charge at the meeting was that Schmidt had joined
a clique with black players. McGraw reportedly said that
Schmidt and a group of black players had segregated them
selves from the rest of the team in recent weeks.
Schmidt was surprised at the charge. He said Maddox is his
neighbor as well as his teammate, and that he has been
friendly with Cash ever since the second baseman joined the
team. It apparently didn’t bother Schmidt too much, because
the third baseman went out and doubled and hit His 38th home
run Wednesday. • •
The Allen ultimatum about Taylor upset the front office.
The 40-year-old Taylor, who probably will be given a job with
the organization next year, has been on and off the disabled
hang it up
traded this year to the New York
Yankees.
In the early days of Clemente’s career
Murtaugh and Clemente reportedly
had problems getting along, but when
Murtaugh returned in 1973, he dismissed
such talk with his usual dry wit.
“I’m old enough, I’m intelligent and I
think I’m smart enough to get along with
anybody on our ball club especially if
he’s a .350 hitter. I have never yet
managed a ball club where 25 players
were in complete agreement. Clemente
is Clemente. He’s the best player I’ve
ever seen.”
It was that philosophy cool under
tough conditions that was his
hallmark. He sat on the bench, legs
crossed, a wad of chew lodged matier-of
factly in his cheek and watched, rarely
losing his Irish temper.
He drank a glass of milk after each
game,' swaying gently back-and-forth in
his rocking chair as he answered
questions.
The Pirates were not expected to
announce his successor immediately,
but the list of prospects could include
third base coach Bob Skinner, once the
Pirate left-fielder.
The Daily Collegian Friday, October 1,107C —
Phils' Dick Allen has given new meaning to ‘division’ title,
list all year. He’s a 19-year veteran who has never been in a
World Series. Allen thinks he deserves the chance.
If the Phils make Taylor eligible, they would have to de
activate a pitcher, and the whole 10 man staff has been effec
tive in the drive to the title.
"Much as I love Tony Taylor,” said Ozark, "and as much as
I’d like to see him play in a World Series, I’m not going to go to
one of my pitchers and ask him to sit it out. ”
The Phillies’ front office had all but decided that Taylor was
the only possible person that could be omitted from the post
season roster. Allen said he would rather sit out than have
Taylor miss tfie playoffs and Series if the Phils make it. That
well might end up as the solution.
Wildcats can run,
but defense? We 11...
By BARB PARMER
Collegian Sports Writer
Kentucky true John Denver country, where everyone gets
high on clean air, those aesthetic surroundings and, of course,
bluegrass.
Who can blame the folks of Lexington for feeling a little high
this weekend? Afterall, their unheralded Wildcat football
team meets No. 20 Penn State tomorrow and will come out of
the scuffle with nothing less than a record equal to that of the
visiting team.
The University of Kentucky players, finishing with a
meager 2-8-1 record last season, already stand 2-1 in the 1976
campaign. But as any Stat 200 scholar knows, numbers can
be very deceiving.
Although the Wildcats posted a convincing opening win over
Oregon State, 38-13, and squeaked by West Virginia, 14-10 last
weekend, the Kentuckians are quite young and inexperienced.
Top 20-rated Kansas took advantage of the mistakes of
youth, romping over the Wildcats by a 38-16 count.
Though still in a rebuilding stage under fourth year head
coach Fran Curci, Kentucky refuses to be a pushover. The
ground-oriented offense has not been shut out since Curci took
over the reins in 1973.
Quarterback Derrick Ramsey leads the newly-instituted
wishbone attack, picking up 225 yards in three games off the
option play. Ramsey saw some action as signal-caller of the
veer offense last season, but played much of the year at the
tight-end slot. With the loss of 1,000-plus yard getter Sonny
Collins and last year’s number-two running back, Steve
Campassi, an inexperienced trio has taken up much of the
slack as the Wildcats have been clipping off 289-yards per
game on the ground.
Sophomore Rod Stewart, who saw limited action last
season, holds down the vital fullback position. Flanking him
are senior defensive back-turned-running back Greg Woods
and soph Chris Hill.
Don’t look for the aerial game, although assistant coach
Joftn Cooper says, “We will go to the air if we have to. We
haven’t passed the ball in the first three ball games because
we felt we really didn’t have to pass.”
Ramsey hasn’t stacked up in his most impressive statistics
in the throwing department, completing just 13 of 31 attempts
and throwing two interceptions. Back-up quarterback Bill
Tolston is more inclined to throw, but has seen very little
action so far.
Up front, the Kentuckians stack a big line, anchored by
potential All-American Warren Bryant, a 249-lb. tackle, which
could pose some problems for the smaller Penn State defense.
The Wildcats can be expected to commit some turnovers, as
offensive errors have hurt them 10 times so far.
Defensively, Kentucky is vulnerable and should give the
Lion offense some much-needed working room. The defense
sacrificed over 300 total yards per game, and are susceptible
to an aerial attack.
Strained knee ligaments sidelined junior linebacker Jim
Kovach last Saturday. Kovach, listed as doubtful for
tomorrow’s contest, led in unassisted tackles and assists in
1975 and seemed well on his way to repeating that feat during
the first games of this season.
Noseguard Jerry Blanton and defensive end Art Still anchor
the line. Only three other veteran starters are scattered
among the defensive corps.
Both the punting and kicking specialists are back Pete
Gemmill (37.3 yards per punt) and place kicker John Pierce,
who is 8 for 8 in PAT’s and 2 for 2 in field goals.
If the Wildcats are to drop Penn State into a 1-3 oblivion,
“We’re going to have to shut down their passing game and
stop their power running,” Cooper said. “We’re going to have
to play our best football to be in the game.”
Altgelt sets red hot
pace in Sahara golf
LAS VEGAS (AP) Long- Altgelt, a 27-year-old from
shot rookie Stan Altgelt, the Dallas, one putted 10 holes
first man off the tee, fired a .with the peculiar, red-and
career-best seven-under-par white striped “Demon”
64 and tied Wally Armstrong putter he was using for the
for the first round lead first time and birdied three of
yesterday in the $135,000 his last four holes on the 6,800-
Sahara Invitational Golf yard Sahara-Nevada Country
Tournament.. Club course. ,