Wednesday, April 22, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 5
Daniels is Sooners' best option
The Associated Press
NORMAN, Okla. — Brandon Daniels spent most of his first two years at Oklahoma playing receiver and then defensive back. Now, he is at quarterback, and he is there to stay.
Daniels, who moved to quarterback in the middle of last season, firmly established himself during spring workouts as the player best suited to lead Oklahoma back to
option football.
"Brandon was born to run the option offense," offensive coordinator Joe Dickinson said after
Oklahoma's final spring scrimage, in which Daniels ran for 139 yards and scored four times.
In four spring scrimmages, Daniels carried 31 times for 497 yards — an average of 16 yards per attempt. He also threw the ball well, completing 17 of 28 passes for two touchdowns and one interception.
"You may think I'm not a very good passer," he said. "I just never had to where I was at. We never had to pass (in high school). When I need I need to pass, I will do it."
Daniels and tailback De'Mond Parker was held out of spring drills to recover from a stomach injury suffered last season.
The offense was, however, not the only place where changes were installed. The defense was reshaped under new coordinator Rex Ryan, who installed the "46" that his twin brother, Rob, used with success at Oklahoma State last season.
"Overall, I was impressed with our kids this spring," Ryan said. "They picked things up for the most part pretty well. We still have a couple of guys who we're counting on who still need to do a lot better as far as grasping the system."
Blake changed coordinators following his second straight eight-loss season and came away from spring workouts optimistic.
"This football team now has a great foundation to build," Blake said. "I feel more comfortable now with this football team than I ever have since I've been the head coach."
Oklahoma opens the 1998 season Sept. 5 at home against North Texas.
Cowboys to defend winning record
Team to overcome loss of key players
STILLWATER, Okla. — An improved defense was a big reason Oklahoma State's football team had its first winning record in nine years last season. Based on what he saw in spring workouts, coach Bob Simmons expects more of the same this fall.
"I really think we have an excellent chance to be one of the better defenses in the country," he said following the Cowboys' final spring scrimmage.
Simmons is optimistic despite the defense losing its best three players.
Safety R. W. McQuarters, who left after his junior year, was picked in the first round of the NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers. Cornerback Kevin Williams was a third-round pick. Noseguard Jamal Wilms, who anchored the frontline, was suspended in February and will
enter the suppl mental NFL draft.
"D ef en s i v e l y, there 's a little bit of
concern back there in secondary. We've got to make sure we find some people that can replace them," Simmons said.
But Simmons said he thought the Cowboys (8-4 last year) were particularly strong at linebacker and expected that to be a big factor this fall. The defense has more speed and depth than it has in his first three years at Oklahoma State.
In the final scrimmage, the defense came up with 13 tackles for losses and one of the linebackers. Dewayne Levels, returned a fumble for a touchdown.
The offense used spring practices to get a feel for the philosophy of new coordinator Ron Calcagni, who was promoted when Les Miles left for a job with the Dallas Cowboys.
Calcagni would like to throw the ball more than Oklahoma State did a year ago, when freshman Tory Lindsay threw for 1,172 yards and completed 62 percent of his passes during the regular season.
Second-string quarterback Chris Chaloupka broke a wrist during the spring, which gave B.J. Tiger more snaps. The fall camp will see the addition of freshman Matt Holliday, one of the most highly regarded high school quarterbacks in the country.
The biggest void was left by All-America tight end Alonzo Mayes, whose great hands and big-play ability far surpassed any other receiver on the team. The Cowboys also had to replace a couple veterans in the offensive line.
Overall, Simmons seemed pleased with the spring accomplishments.
"I think we can go into the fall with a very good chance to be a good football team," he said.
The Cowboys open their season Sept. 12 at Tulsa.
'Bama stadium may be doomed
The Associated Press
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — There are no falling beams at Legion Field. No reason to panic—yet.
But just like Yankee Stadium, "The House That Bear Built" is stadium — long considered a cornerstone of tradition for sports fans in the South — may never play host to another major college football game.
"We don't have a threat of anything falling, but we have some areas of concern," said stadium manager Walter Garrett. "Engineers have told us it could be a problem in 10 years, five years or two months. But they think we ought to take care of the problems now."
Joints that hold the seats together in the north end zone are deteriorating. Slivers of concrete slowly are peeling off the portals. Supports for two abandoned walkways are wearing away and turning into safety hazards.
The hulking, gray structure surrounded by razor-wire fences never has been an ideal place to visit. The added safety concerns combined with the recent accident at Yankee Stadium - have brought more questions as to whether the patchwork repairs are worth it anymore.
That especially is true in Birmingham, where taxpayers will pay the $2.3 million bill for a rushed series of fixes designed to keep tenants from Tuscaloosa happy.
The news also comes with a referendum pending in August that replace Legion Field.
"Tradition is worth a great deal," says Gene Hallman, a supporter of the referendum. "But there comes a cost to maintaining tradition. At certain times, that cost no longer makes economic sense."
The problems began three years ago when a fan at the Alabama-Tennessee game was hit by a small piece of falling concrete. He sued, and the city settled for an undisclosed amount. The city began inspections that have continued ever since.
The latest inspection turned up the list of problems and jeopardized the three home games Alabama is scheduled to play at the stadium this year.
Athletics Director Bob Bockrath said that if the city could not ensure Legion Field's safety by Aug. 1, he would move the games to Bryant-Denny Stadium on campus.
The city says there will be no problems meeting the deadline.
If there are, it could hasten the end of the long-standing arrangeement between the university and Birmingham. The contract runs out in 2011, and the thought of Legion Field without Alabama has fueled debate about how much weight tradition should carry for a stadium that not even ardent Tide neighborhood Legion Field is in." Bockrath said. "And I get the sense that people really do feel and appreciate the value of having games on campus. There's an atmosphere and feeling that you just can't duplicate when you leave campus."
Still, before Bryant-Denny Stidium began expanding during the last few decades, 83,000-seat Legion Field was the place where Alabama made history.
Joe Namath, Ken Stabil and Lee Roy Jordan all led the Crimson Tide to national championships on Graymont and Sixth streets. Most of the great Alabama-Auburn games took place there. Bear Bryant coached there, and his bust graces the main entrance.
There are thousands of fans who would not miss a game unless beams really were falling.
“If the engineers deem it safe, we'll play there just like we're planning.” Bockrath said. “We want to honor the contract. And there's no doubt about it — people will stream in there just like they always have.”
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