Stephens' Contract Not Renewed For
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ii S PoslagePAID Bronx. New York Permit No. 7608 Non ProlilOrg Thursday, November 20,1980 Volume 62 FORDHAM UNIVERSITY,* NEW YORK Number 28 Stephens' Contract Two RH Not Renewed For '81 Students by Richard Dooley and Chris Keating put myself in the picture [of coaching fully Assaulted The University did not renew second-year time at Fordham]. I don't feel at all that I've by Leslie Mantrone football coach Jack Stephans's contract for been mistreated. the 1981 season, the Athletic Department an- Two Fordham University female students "As of now I'd like to be in football," were attacked by a man with a knife Saturday nounced last Tuesday. Stephans said he Stephans said. "But I have to do what's best would not coach in any capacity at Ford ham evening on the corner of Webster Avenue and for my family. If I didn't have two children 193 Street. One woman was slightly injured in next year. to be concerned about, it would be different." the struggle. "I wasn't fired, but I wasn't rehired," said Concerning his relationship with Rice, Ste- The pair, who wished to remain anony- Stephans. "I didn't resign." phans said, "I didn't have that much contact mous, were assaulted after leaving the Lan- Stephans added, "Fordham's was the most with Dave Rice on a day-to-day basis. We tern Bar on 194 Street to go to the Eldorado enjoyable coaching job I've had. 1 have no didn't agree all the time." Cafe on Third Avenue. According to one of regrets whatsoever. I have no complaints. 1 Senior tricaptain Ted Vitale said "Ste- the women, "We left the Lantern and walked don't want to create a controversy here." phans backed Rice in everything he said. He down Decatur [Avenue] and then down 193 The Athletic Department's statement re- didn't knock the man once. He said to the to Webster.... We were on the side by the leased Tuesday stated that "due to a Univer- players, 'Don't knock Rice.' I heard him say Fotmer Coach Jack Stephans deli [The College Delicatessen] right where sity decision to change the status of the head that." the construction was. This guy ran up behind football position, Jack Stephans will not re- Vitale added, though, that "he [Stephans] ball because we love it," said one underclass- us.. .really fast and tackled us from behind. turn as coach of the Rams next year." Athlet- would come out at practice and complain. man on the team. "It's really upsetting. Then he picked me up off the pavement ic Director Dave Rice was unavailable for There was some conflict there," Vitale felt. We're doing something special for the school around the neck." comment Wednesday. Junior Bernie Flynn agreed with Vitale. but no one in the administration seems to Her friend, whom the attacker grabbed by When Stephans was initially hired two "Rice and Stephans obviously didn't get care." the arm, attempted to speak with him in years ago, the position of football coach was along," he said. In an interview before the With reference to Stephans's departure, Spanish. "I just thought that if I could get part-time. Now, according to the statement, announcement concerning Stephans was Vitale said, "I felt I lost my best friend after him to talk I could reason with him," she "Fordham has decided to make the head made, Rice said he did not feel that friction that game [the Rams' season finale against said. "He just said 'shut up, come with me, I football position a full-time, twelve-month existed between him and Stephans. "Coach Wagner College, after which it was rumored have a knife,'" the other student added. appointment with coaching and other Athlet- Stephans, as 1 know him, is a terrific man. I that Stephans had coached his final game]. The attacker, described by the woman as a ic Department-related assignments." have a terrific rapport with him." The total memory is going to be gone. You're short, round-faced hispanic man in his late "It's impossible for a part-time coach to Many of the players expressed disappoint- not going to see the same atmosphere and I'll twenties, dragged the women away from give any athlete the attention he deserves," ment at Stephans's departure and blamed the miss that more than anything, Webster Avenue toward the basement stair- Rice said Tuesday. Fordham administration for the team's 3-6 "When Rice resigned before the 1979 sea- way of an apartment building on 193 Street. Stephans said, "If the full-time job was record. son [he is the former football coach], he said "When he [the attacker] ran up I thought it offered, I wouldn't be able to take it. 1 never "We're just a bunch of kids playing Xoot- Continued on page 5 was someone I knew just goofing," said one of the women. ".. .it wasn't until he was dragging us back... once he started taking us down the steps [that the two realized he was not a friend]." 'Inside Job' In 555 Apartment Robbery "I couldn't see the steps," the woman who was being held by the neck said. "I said 'I can't walk this way.' He was pulling me back- we do, however, visitors will only be buzzed smile and the guard will let you right in. ward [down the steps]. I pulled my head out in after it has been okayed by the resident. There were plenty of people that were leaving [from under his arm], I kicked him irra very A suite in the dormitory at 555 East 191 We also want to implement the use of resi- the building even as I reported the robbery to sensitive place. I don't know what that did to Street was robbed last Thursday evening, A dent stickers on ID cards." Courtney said, the guard. I clearly remember two guys that substantial sum of money and jewelry was however, he doubts the intercom-visitor sys- him. Then I started to run toward Decatur." looked like anything but students. The securi- The other woman, who was left alone with stolen in what campus security and New York tem would have been of much use in this case ty guard should have checked IDs of those City Police officials have described as an "in- because he assumes it was an inside job. the attacker, said, "I was trying to think of that were leaving." everything I was told to do. I thought of side job." "The quickness with which the thief stole the Cooke's suitemates all feel uneasy about The victim, Fordham College senior Lor- goods and then disappeared has caused us to screaming, of tripping him. I just could not their safety since the robbery. "It is frighten- think of anything to do. raine Cook, said she was in her suite washing believe it was a resident of the building," he ing to know that someone could have come in at approximately 8 P.M. while two of her said. and done everything so quickly. It makes us "I was almost down the stairs with him," she continued, "and I knew I just didn't suitemates were in their bedroom with the Cook disagrees, saying, "I think it is some- all nervous. People don't really think about want to be down there with him by myself. I door closed. The suiteroom door, however, body from outside. All someone has to do to these things until it happens, but it is some- tried to grab the knife away from him. I real- was unlocked. Cook said she heard keys jan- get in here [555] is knock on the door and thing we have to be careful of." gling and knew that someone had entered the ly don't even remember what happened. All 1 apartment, but had no reason to suspect any- know is I got out of there." thing unusuat. Former Track Coach Takes Action: Meanwhile the first woman who had brok- Cook then "went into my room from the en away decided to go back to assist her bathroom and noticed that my jewelry box friend. "1 turned around to go back to her," and wallet were open and the picture on my ' the woman said. "Her hands were all cut dresser was overturned. All of my things had Fordham Hit With Lawsuit up." Together the women ran back to the been rummaged through." The thief took Lantern where police and an ambulance were $62 as well as two college rings, a high school summoned. ring, other rings and a watch. by Chris Keating ministrators for breach of contract and def- The woman whose hands were cut was tak- Cook said she woke her suitemates and in- Former Fordham University head track amation of character. en to North Central Bronx Hospital, where formed them of the robbery, then ran to the and cross country coach Thomas Byrne is The suit stems from Byrne's removal as she received several stitches on her hands. lobby to alert the guard on duty, Patrolman suing five current and former University ad- coach in May 1979 after nine years of service. Both women feel that robbery was not the Carlos Beltran. The 48th Police Precinct was "I was totally shocked, totally bewildered," motive of the attack. "The guy did not ask us also alerted. The other girls reported the theft said Byrne. "I was given no warning.