Green Nearing Black That Doesn’T Bode Well for a Team Al Club
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The Prince George Citizen — Saturday, July 2,1986 «= 11 MARK ALLAN S p o r t s Sports editor Eskim o s sh o rt o f sta rte rs, cash by JOHN KOROBANIK Faragalli was pleased with the offensive Canadian Press line in last week’s all-star game but he EDMONTON — Hugh Campbell is jug still has several decisions to make. gling dollars and Joe Faragalli is shuffling N ine froni-liners gone from cham pions “ I feel we’ve got four decent starters the player deck — both looking for a bal now,” Faragalli said, referring to Rod ance to keep the Edmonton Eskimos on Still, no one is willing to w a g e r a guess Only tw o of those were traded — Duni secondary is intact, as is the solid line- Connop, Hector Pothier, Trevor Bowles top o f the Canadian Football League. •an how the fans will respond this year. gan and Blanchard to the B.C. Lions for backing cfflrps of L a rry Wruck, Dan Bass and Dave Richardson. When general manager Campbell ‘There are just too m a n y variables,’’ defensive tackle B rett (Toaster) Williams and Craig Shaffer. Faragalli is confident he’s filled Blan announced last September that the players said Campbell. and wide receiver Jim Sandusky. Offensively, there are just as many chard’s spot. The question is, ‘Who’s going had agreed to a 10-per-cent salary cut, he The Eskimos are the re ig n in g Grey Cup Despite losing that many quality start changes and perhaps even more questions. to play where?’ Connop, Bowles and veter said it was one step towards his goal of champions but they’ve m ade so many ros ers in one year, Faragalli remains con The biggest one surrounds quarterback ans B ill Stevenson, Blake Dermott and balancing the budget by the end of 1988. ier changes even the most a rd e n t Edmon fident th e team has filled most of the ho Damon Allen. After two frustrating sea Rudy Phillips are challenging. “ We still have a shot at it,” Campbell ton fans w ill need p ro g ra m s. Campbell les. The question remains whether the sons backing up Dunigan, the starting job The biggest offensive hole is the one left said this week. “ A lot w ill depend on inju ' (as eliminated weekend gam es during the plugs w ill hold for a full season. is A llen’s and his every play will be close vacant by Kelly. The Eskimos are hoping ries and, of course, attendance, but we sMnvner months in fa v o r o f Thursday The defensive line, a perennial strength ly scrutinized. Sandusky, obtained from the Lions in the still have a chance. nights. of the Eskimos, w ill be anchored by Wil “ It feels different because I’ll be start Dunigan trade, w ill be the answer. And “ We’ve cut our expenses down as far as On the field coach F a ra g a lli will start liams, the only one of the four expected ing this year,” said Allen. "But as far as Faragalli is also looking to Henry (Gizmo) we can go without hurting the quality of the season minus at least nine starters starters with more than 13 games of CFL laying, I prepare myself the same way Williams, the kick-returner, as a receiver. the team.” from last season — q u a rte rb a ck Matt Du experience. At this point, the remander of ecause I always prepared myself to Veteran Stephan Jones has the left wide The Eskimos have sold almost 27,000 nigan, wide receiver B ria n K e lly , runningthe line would consist of Anthony Parker stra’t.” receiver spot locked up. season tickets, only a marginal drop from back Milson Jones, offensive guard Leo and B ria n Warren at the ends with Gary Allen w ill be w ithout the retired Kelly, Faragalli said he hopes to carry four last season. But the team views that as a Bianchard, comerback Stanley Blair and Palumbis the other tackle. one of the greatest receivers in CFL histo running backs, as the team did last sea positive sign after ticket sales had fallen the entire defensive line o f Jam es Zache- The only other defensive change will ry, and Jones, the team’s leading rusher son. The list w ill likely be returnees Chris by about 5,000 in each of the previous two ry. Stewart Hill, John M andarich and Tom likely be the right corner after Blair unex last season who failed his medical this Skinner, Chris Johnstone, Blake Marshall years. Tuinei. pectedly refused to report. The rest o f the spring. and Tony Spoletini. C a l g a r y Coach gets credit d e m a n d i n g for B.C . optim ism G r e y C u p by SYLVIA STROJEK by GRANT KERR thews-Galat feud became irreparable. The Canadian Press Canadian Press Lions? won their last four regular-season CALGARY — For a few weeks last VANCOUVER — The tempo of training games under Donovan, the form er defen year, the Calgary Stampeders were the camp has been surprisingly upbeat for the sive line coach, but fell a p a rt in the west B.C. Lions in the wake of constant off-sea ern final against Edmonton. Canadian Football League’s miracle son turmoil for the team once considered The Lions also fell down a t the gate last team. the flagship franchise of the Canadian season. They lost nearly $3 million after But to players and fans alike, the late Football League. attendance fell to an a ve rag e of 35,000 a season resurrection of 1987 w ill mean In a period of financial restraint and bigame from 46,000 in 1986. nothing if it doesn’t end up in a Grey ckering over salary cuts, Larry Donovan, Galat was under the gun during winter Cup appearance this year. the father-figure head coach, has brought and spring to meet the league-imped A year ago, the Stampeders were some degree of stability to the Lions. football operating cap o f $3 m illio n in 1988. drowning in a sea of lost games and red He has refused to become embroiled in Financial cuts cost tne Lion s dearly. Reli ink. They lost six of their first eight the controversies which so often swirl able linebacker Glen Jackson retired. De games, didn’t like their coach much and around the office of Lions general man fensive tackle Rick Klassen wouldn’t couldn’t drum up enough fan support to ager Joe Galat. Donovan’s even tempera budge and was traded to th e Saskatche chip away at the $1.5-million debt that ment is respected by the players as he wan Roughriders. almost sank them the year before. changes the personality of the Lions, who The Lions were without a proven quar In August, a new coach was hired in last year finished first in the Western Di terback when Dewalt le ft a n d Condredge vision with a 12-6 record. Holloway suddenly retired. Donovan was a front-office shakeup that replaced “ There’s a good feeling in this camp for prepared to go with rookie pivot Rickey head coach Bob Vespaziani, general both the coaches and the players,” says Reggie from the University o f Minnesota manager E arl Lunsford and personnel Donovan. “ We’ve been able to get things Jtntu Galat’s luck suddenly turned for the director Bud Riley. done in a relaxed atmosphere without all better. New coach Lary Kuharich appeared the pressure of a tense situation.” Galat struck a deal w ith Edmonton to walk on water. The Stamps started Donovan will eventually make manywhich netted the Lions ro llo u t quarterback winning and attendance went up. roster changes from the team that lost to Matt Dunigan, a proven leader. The cost Calgary finished the season by win the Edmonton Eskimos in the divisional was high: wide receiver J im Sandusky, a ning eight of its last 10 and reached the playoff final last November. (989 first-round draft pick and two more Western semifinal against the Edmon Twenty players are gone from the 1987 players after the 1988 season. ton Eskimos where the bubble finally team, many of them seasoned veterans. The Donovan philosophy this year will burst. The newcomers begin showing their wares be to run the football m o re than usual. The miracle won’t be complete with tonight in an exhibition game against theLittle, quick running backs Reggie Taylor out the Grey Cup, says quarterback Calgary Stampeders at B.C. Place Sta find Anthony Cherry w ill challenge incum Rick Johnson, whose dead-on passing dium. bents Freddie Sims and A nth o n y Parker. arm in training camp will probably win Meanwhile, Roy Dewalt is throwing foot The kicking game is in lim b o without him the starting spot in the team’s first balls for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers after Passaglia. Rookie Tony M a rtin o of nearby taking the Lions to court over deferred Wesl Vancouver, who played at Kent exhibition contest tonight against the salary payments. He became a free agent. State, has the inside edge a s B.C.’s No. 1 Lions a t B.C. Place. Place-kicker Lui Passaglia, the CFL’a draft choice.