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 — is jug­ still has several decisions to make. gling dollars and 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, , Trevor Bowles top o f the 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 . Faragalli is confident he’s filled Blan­ announced last September that the players said Campbell. and . 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 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 ans B ill Stevenson, Blake Dermott and balancing the budget by the of 1988. ier changes even the most a rd e n t Edmon­ fident th e team has filled most of the ho­ . After two frustrating sea­ 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 , 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 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. , John M andarich and Tom likely be the right corner after Blair unex­ last season who failed his medical this Skinner, Chris Johnstone, 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 — For a few weeks last — The tempo of training games under Donovan, the form er defen­ year, the 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. ’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, , 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 Glen Jackson retired. De­ games, didn’t like their coach much and around the office of Lions general man­ fensive tackle wouldn’t couldn’t drum up enough fan support to ager . 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 . 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 , 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, is throwing foot­ The kicking game is in lim b o without him the starting spot in the team’s first balls for the 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 , the CFL’a draft choice. “We’ve got a great team,” the 27- No. 2 all-time scorer, w ill ply his trade in Gone from the starting lin e u p are defen­ year-old Chicago native said during a the for the sive backs Nelson M a rtin a n d Mel Byrd recent interview at McMahon Stadium. Cleveland Browns as a . (both retired), Jackson and defensive ta­ “ We’ve got a great coaching staff. Donovan, 47, took over from head coach ckles Klassen and B re tt W illiam s (both We’ve got the attitude it takes to go all last October after the Mat- traded). the way and that’s all we’re thinking about.” The 1986 all-star is trying to put his unsteady play o f last season behind him Holloway wouldn't steal and appears to have the edge over sec­ M att Dunigan's life used to be ond-stringer and third by PETE McMARTIN jra ft as a top college QB. H e was drafted sim ple — play a little football, choice . Vancouver Sun in the 12th round by New England. As a do a little dance. But now he's A league championship is probably offensive back. VANCOUVER — One morning last the man on the spot for the the only thing that will regain the month, woke up and “ Now you explain that one to me, 1 had Stamps the respectability they need to played all the top QBs in college. I had B.C. Lions after the trade that knew it was over. win back their public. Last year’s never been anywhere n ^a r defensive ended his career as an Ed­ He dressed, drove into town from his comeback hasn’t translated into a flood home, and met with Lions gener­back.” m onton Eskimo. of orders for season tickets. al manager Joe Galat. The next thing he But he was black. And he was five-feet- did, he did out of pride. He retired him­ 10. And the cookie-cutter im a ge of NFL A spring campaign to sell 20,000 sea­ self. QBs at the time dictated tha t they were son tickets — the figure needed to “ I made a pact with myself a long time either white, or big, or best o f all, both. It break even — has stalled at just under ago,” Holloway said in an interview. “ I didn’t m atter that H ollow ay had a heart 15,000. O f those, 3,500 have been bought made a pact with myself that I would nev­ as big as Fran Tarkenton s. What mat­ up by corporations. er steal. I would never steal from the tered was that he wasn’t the same color. Green nearing black That doesn’t bode well for a team al­ club. I didn’t want to be taking money I Holloway signed w ith O tta w a , where he ready almost $2 million in the hole. To didn’t earn. I didn’t want to be taking up found a home for his arm . H e signed for by BOB COX Austin, cut fro m the NFL’s St. keep that pit from deepening, the space. 825,000. In his second y e a r, he led the Canadian Press Lo uis C ardinals last year, led Sas­ team’s rent payment at McMahon Sta­ “ And I knew they didn’t have a place R ugh Riders to a Grey Cup win. Traded REGINA (CP) - After clingin; katchewan to its biggest w in of dium has been reduced to $200,000 from for me. And I wanted to go out my way to in 1981, he won the Schenley to life on and off the field last 1987, a late season victory over the $500,000 and some player salaries have rather than being pushed out.” MVP in 1982, and another Grey Cup in year, the 1988 Saskatchewan Grey Cup champion Edmonton been pared. 1983 (beating the Lions in B .C . Place). Galat and Holloway respect each other. Roughriders are moving slowly to­ Eskimos! Rod Proudfoot, once the promoter for The only time he ever m a d e big money Their careers in football have crossed in w ard an elusive stability. retired Canadian heavyweight boxing in the CFL, he said, was h is last year in Burgess, who came from the the U.S. and time and again, and Though $1 m illion in debt and Toronto. Rough Riders, started for champion Willie deWit, are scrambling they both know what it ’s like to devote s coming off a season when the team “ I made $250,000, and th e government much of the season, but broke his to come up with gimmicks to draw peo­ lifetime to the game. managed a meagre five wins and a But Galat could do nothing more than took $129,000 of it. That’s o n e I’ll collarbone on Labor Day. ple to home games. tie — bad enough to miss the wish Holloway well. never forget.” , 23, started the 1987 The first home exhibition game July 5 for the 11th straight sea­ “ He just told me i f he had had mon; But he had enough to s ta rt a small res­ season for the Roughriders as a will be kick-started by a pre-game bar­ son — the Roughriders are hoping control, he wouldn’t let me retire,” Hollo­ taurant — Holloway’s Deli in fashionable rookie, but was soon relegated to becue and western entertainment in line th e ir leanest days are behind them. way says. “ But he lets his coaches coach Oakville. He opened it two years ago, and backup. with the annual Calgary Stampede. The and doesn’t try to interfere with what goes lost it soon after being released by Toron­ “ O u r goal this year is to be in . first regular-season game against Ha­ on on the field.” to. The experience was a b itte r one for firs t place in the W est,” says sec- On the offensive line, either jour­ milton on July 30 is to h5iom Olympic Holloway didn’t have to be told wh.:f him, one he doesn’t like to ta lk about. ond-year head coach John Gregory< neyman Ken M oore or Rocco Ro­ volunteers. was happening on the field. Three rooki. ‘ Let’s just say when you’re not around “I wouldn’t set it as a goal if I mano is expected to take over the The club also went to training camp vacant left tackle spot alongside at training camp is not all the tim e, things happen. I t didn’t work. didn’t think we could achieve it.” with 57 players instead of 65 to cut centre Mike Anderson, guards Rog­ vote of confidence. “ I ’m not going to spend th e rest of my O n the fie ld , the Roughridei? costs. Two of those players were cut on days worrying about it, though. Somebody need only have one of their three er Aldag and Bryan Illerburn and “ I came into the league the same wry. the weekend — offensive linemen Poly took it over, and I hear th e y ’ re doing pret­ quarterbacks start clicking to guide tackle Vic Stevenson. so I knew what was happening. I was & Georganos, picked by Calgary in the rookie QB at training camp brought imo ty well.” a squad of mostly returning players There’s stiff competiton at run­ first round of the 1988 college draft, and replace a veteran. That’s how Tom Cle­ It strained his finances. bolstered by CFL veterans acquired ning back, with veterans Denny Mike Zentic from the NFL’s ments and I ended up playing.” “ Thank3 to the restaurant going under, from other teams. Fterdinand, David Conrad and Tim Cowboys. That was 13 seasons ago. He was 21 (I don’t have) a whole lot. I ’ m doing OK, O ff the field, the team trimmed McCray competing against Milson That leaves an offence largely de­ then, fresh out of the University of Ten­ but as fa r as having a nest egg for when its budget by about $700,000 last Jones, a free agent cut from pendent on quarterback Johnson, a nessee at Knoxville. He had been a star you finish up, no. You can’t do that in this year to narrowly avoid folding. Af­ Edmonton who was named most §trong crew of running backs led by quarterback at U. of Tenn. (Holloway league, the government ta k e s too much. I ter spending $5.5 million in 1987, valuable C anadian in last yea r’s came to be idolized at Tennessee and even think they like to take enough just so the club has pared m ore costs this Grey Gup game, and Brian Wal­ Gary Allen and wide receivers Larry you’ll have a living wage.” had a song written about him). He had year. ling, picked up from Toronto in the Willis and . also been the Southeast Conference’s first He is fifth on the a ll-tim e CFL passing Ticket sales have been sluggish equalization draft. Newcomer Tony Dennis from Simon list. He has thrown the b a ll more than black quarterback. Holloway predated the so far, but the Roughriders are In the Roughriders* receiving Fraser University hasn’t lived up to Doug Williams Superbowl hype by 16 25,000 yards. During 13 seasons, he has hoping a better performance on the corps, and Ray expectations and will have to improve been the object of more che ap shots than years, and his skin color made more news M cD onald, w ho joined the team to take pressure off Willis and Tolbert. he cares to count, and he has the wonky fie ld creates interest. than his ability. last year after being cut from the Import Dwight Beverly from the “ That was a big pain,” he recalls. “ I knees to show for it. He is a small guy Gregory is looking at three young NFL, will probably start as wide re­ U niversity of Illinois has had a good wlio played big, a black m a n who made quarterbacks as possible starters. played my first game, and I wasn’t just a training camp in his third try to land a young man playing quarterback, it was the question of color irre le v a n t. All of them joined the team last ceivers. job as . like I had a Martin Luther King sign He likes Vancouver and wants to stay. year and had moments in the lime­ Veterans and Todd The Stamps improved an already effi­ around my neck. Everybody asked, To do so, he is now looking f o r a job. lig h t, but none won th e permanent Brown could start at , but ‘What’s it like to be a black quarterback?’ “ People ask me what I w a n t to do, and job. vtthers in tra in in g camp include cient defensive secondary with the And my answer was, ‘I dont know; I’ve I say I don’t know. I don’t know. For the The starter will probably be c1* rookie , the Rough- acquisition of free-agent safety Scott never been a white one.’ I was just a 17- first time in 14 years, I ’m in the job mar­ ther or Tom Burgtnii; rid e rs’ top d ra ft pick, and E ric Flagel, named the league’s top Cana­ year-old kid trying to earn a job.” ket. both 24. Swanson, who has N F L experience. dian last year when he played for Win­ Holloway went into the the 1975 NFL “ I’m a rookie again.” He is 34. nipeg.