CoAcks MERiTS of ofpENSE ii Switzer was at IeSS-FIasIhV back oldER, Harry EXploRElates into run, run, run, and run every down isn't the best way to "I wasn't with our Oklahoma, he'd probably run the some more. happy wishbone. Bellard, consid¬ showcase your program, even if it's offense, and Emory wanted to run Emory "There's a lot ot wear and tear successful. Also, competition from the said, "so ered the lather oi the wishbone, on quarterbacks, and you have to the NFL has increased demand for triple option," Royal wonders more schools don't we decided to go for it with Chris why have a lot of good running backs," a more offensive game. Ted and Steve use the running attack that said coach ot the Dallas wide-open Gilbert, Coy Worster high-risk Switzer. But let's hearken back to the in a fullhouse backfield." used to produce national champi¬ Cowboys who won three national '60s and the birth of the 'bone. ons. "You could still win with "Eventually, Royal moved the it," titles at Oklahoma using the wish¬ Texas coach Darrell won said now alter 19 Royal fullback just two steps behind the Bellard, retired bone. a national title in 1963 the at running quarterback and split the backs years of coaching Texas, Texas -It's also a difficult offense to T. But in was A&M and State. "The split 1968, he toying instead of having the tailback Mississippi run if you get way behind. Rut it's with the idea of shifting to a triple stacked behind the fullback. offense was productive for a long, right time. It's still effective. 1 don't "Emory came up with the idea long of the wishbone as we lined in understand why more coaches don't up r\in it." Air Force does. So does it," Royal said. "We had been run¬ came an inside which I Rice. Oregon State tried it. too. "Emory uP t^e idEA of. tNe ning belly, got not the and from Frank Broyles when he was at Certainly major powers, was at not success, but Georgia Tech and I certainly with great wishboNE as we liNEd up IN IT." State. We the Falcons do have a few upsets of Mississippi just kept Notre to refining it." Dame show for it. . Texas coAck DarreII RoyAl Suddenly, the unhappy Among black schools, Winston- Longhorn alumni quit talking about Salem State and Hampton lead a how the had of schools that win still a offense. If I was still game passed Royal by. bevy by running great an master¬ The wishbone became a some in the option, alignment being giant variation of four backs coaching college football, I'd he minded bv Bellard, his assistant. headache for the defense, backfield. to use it." spreading tempted The first time Royal saw the it out and mismatches. Nebraska has two The '90s offense is centered creating straight offense, it was being run by Texas won 30 games in a row national titles and always seems to around a mobile quarterback w ith a Nederland High School coach Gene with the wishbone before Notre win at least 10 games a season with strong arm, speedy receivers and a Henderson. Dame the in the the a wishbone solid out a upset Longhorns multiple option, running game, either of "They were running a triple Cotton Bowl at the end of the 1970 variation. split backtieId or the I-formation. but were it And then there's Alabama, But former Arkansas coach option, they running season. from the I-formation, faking to the The went to six con¬ Oklahoma and Texas. All three won Jack in a national Longhorns Crowe, quoted fullback and using the tailback for a secutive Cotton Bowls while run¬ national titles during the 1960s. magazine said: 'if you took a secret man," said. "We it '70s pitch Royal got ning the offense. and '80s using the wishbone. vote, most of them (coaches) would on film, put it on the blackboard Somewhere the line, it it's non-existent tell a wishbone along Today, virtually you pure program and started talking about it." finally got a name. Royal called it among major schools, although would be highly successful in mod¬ In the 1967 cotton Bowl, Gene the "Y" formation, until some will use it inside an football. I had one coach Mickey oppo¬ ern-day Stallings* Texas A&M team sprung Herskowitz, a writer for The nent's 10-yard line. grab me at a clinic and say, "Man, a version of the offense on Houston Post at the time, asked we we could What exactly is the wishbone? if got in the wishbone, Alabama. With fullback Wendell him: "It kind of looks like a chicken It's a variation for the T-formatron kill some just people light now, Housley jammed up next to the wishbone. Why don't you call it in which the halfbacks line up far¬ couldn't we?" he scored three touch¬ "the wishbone?" ther it do is fans quarterback, from the line of scrimmage What might bore downs. and the Aggies upset Bear The name stuck. than the fullback does. And it trans- and alumni. the ball on Running Bryant's team. . iMngston Wertz Jr. Sapenter suspENckd wiih pAy pENdiNq school jNVESTiqATioiN Iii to Coach Prairie View A&M officials' fairness Sapenler. soon as possible what the findings Gilliard, who is also a track and declined to discuss details behind are," Raab told the Houston field assistant, was inter¬ the - appointed suspension of athletic director t Chronicle. im athletic director. Assistant toot- and head football coach Henslcy Raab would not specify what ball coach Fred Freeman will be the Sapenter Jr. the allegations were nor how many interim head football coach when Sapenter, whose Panthers have players were involved. the Panthers host Abilene Christian Inst an NCAA-record 58 consecu¬ "The SWAC knows about it." on Saturday. tive was w ith games, suspended pay said Raab. "The NCAA does not. Sapenter. whose telephone num¬ recently pending a school investiga¬ The process is, it is first reported to ber is not listed, could not be tion into possible violations of the conference. reached for comment Wednesday NCAA and South-western Athletic "Then, the conference either by the Associated Press. Conference rules. reports it to the NCAA or they Prairie View has not won since The allegations involve the use advise the school to report it. We Oct. 28, 1989. the first season after of ineligible players in Saturday's have not heard from the SWAC yet" the school athletic 42-24 loss to Texas Southern in the stopped offering Nertbef Raabv executive assis¬ scholarships. Sapenter, a Prairie Labor Day Classic at the wc are not releasing any informa- tant Walter Redd nor sports infor¬ View alumnus hired in 1995, estab¬ Astrodome. mation director Harlan Robinson lished an Sapcnter Jr. alumni fund to provide "The university self-reported Hensley returned Fifteen were Prairie View A&M football coach immediately telephone scholarships. offered itself," said Larry Raab, special messages Wednesday from the this season. assistant to A&M tion until the is com¬ Prairie View pres¬ investigation Associated Press. . Langston Wertz Jr. ident, Charles A. Hines. plete. We will let everyone know as Assistant football coach Clifton