USD Football 1995

The networks had lost the power to direct game-day itineraries about the same time ticket sales plummeted. Season-ticket holders, disgusted with planning their fall Saturdays around I p.m. kickoffs o nly to have networks demand changes in the starting times on Friday afternoons, orchestrated boy- cotts. Schools had to choose

ing to take the bait posed by reporters' questions. "I just hope the university and the football staff will let me back on the team next season When told of Chase's benign reaction, the head coach added, "Football on the col- lege level is supposed to be a learning experience. Besides, when the college president makes a decision, that's it There's no appeal. In fact, the coach had several

willgraduate after next semesterwith a degree in English literature. The only remarkable aspectof Larry Bryant's introduction was that it preced- ed the opening kickoff by exactly 1 4 seconds. There was

between pleasing the casual fans who watched television and the loyal fans who bought tickets.

1. ..

avenues of appeal at his dis- posal, but he no more want- ed to take on the college

t. 1 ,I

Ultimately, the loyal fans won. And though a few schools broke ranks each year, most included NCAAguide- lines in their con- tracts with the net- works. Conse- quen tly games started at the times indicated before the season and advertisements were squeezed into normal breaks in the action Better yet, cameras were barred from team areas. No more ''Hi, Mom, and "We're No. 1." So, whatdid the players do in the 1 4 seconds between Bryant's introduction and the kickoff? They shook hands with their oppo- nents and wished them good luck. Welcome to college

president than he want- ed to eat dirt. After the establishment of the CFL, college pres- idents, initially in small groups and then in clumps, took to the h ig h road.They guar- anteed their foot- ball coaches long- te rm e mploy- me n t, provid- ed they ran a clean program while always plac- ing education above winning. This particular coach h ad screwed up three years before when he sat o n information for two weeksabout a tutor taking a history test for the starting center/ inside line- backer: Whenthe coach

exposed the scam the (day after a big game, the presi- dent nearly fired him because ofthe delay.The coach got the mes-

football, circa 2020.

sage. He knew better than to publicize his real feelings about the Chase matter, and advised Chase to keep quiet as well. "And last but not least we have Larry Bryant who plays both ways at tackle. Larry

FOR THE LAST 15YEARS, TOM SLEAR, A FREELANCER BASED IN ANNAPOLI S , MO,, HAS BEEN WRITING ABOUT MANY D I FFERENT ASPECTS OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

no irritating delay while the television network flashed advertisments to its viewers nationwide