4B - THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2002
NYC firefighter, cop to coach NFL game
The Associated Press
HEMPSTEAD N.Y. — Firefighter Sterling Alves moonlights as a football coach for a very special team made up of his peers. On Saturday night, he'll work the sidelines with the New York Jets—and even get to call a play.
Alves already warned Jets coach Herman Edwards that he'll be ordering up a blitz against the New York Giants.
The Jets, who've had a strong involvement with New York area firemen since Sept. 11, invited the coach of the FDNY football team to act as an associate coach against their local rivals and NYPD football coach Pete Moog.
For Alves, it will be a bitter-sweet moment: 21 members of the FDNY squad, many of them jets fans, died during the rescue efforts at the World Trade Center.
"It's still an open wound, not only for the fire department's football team, but the FDNY as a whole," Alves said Tuesday. "We dedicated our entire season to them, but it has been very difficult to deal with as a whole."
Alves, 50, is a 23-year veteran firefighter who works with Squad 252 in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn. He also played defensive back, running back and wide receiver for the FDNY team before turning to coaching.
He said football means a great deal to New York firefighters — the Jets' unofficial cheerleader is "Fireman" Ed Anzalone, who works as a firefighter in Harlem and tiles up the crowd from a fieldside seat for home games.
"I think more firefighters are Jets fans than Giants fans," Alves said. "In my firehouse, I know
that is true."
Alves' unit arrived at the Twin Towers just after the first building collapsed.
After Sept. 11, the Jets made weekly appearances at fire stations throughout the metropolitan area. Their "Twin Towers Tuesdays" program featured players visiting firehouses and command centers every Tuesday, which is their off day most weeks during the season. The players held barbecues for firefighters and their families, signed autographs and handed out souvenirs.
Alves hinted he would present Edwards with a white fire chief's helmet. In turn, the Jets' coach said he'd consider putting it on.
"I might wear it on the sidelines — to protect me," Edwards said.
Moog, a detective, will work in the same capacity for the Giants. Moog, 42, a 21-year police veteran, coached his team to a 10-0 victory over the FDNY squad on May 19 at Giants Stadium.
He also will be calling a play.
"I'll have him diagram his favorite play, we'll name it and we'll call it," Giants coach Jim Fassel said.
Conducting the coin toss before the game with be Joe Morris, chief of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Moog is with the NYPD Technical Assistance and Response Unit. He played for the police team for six years and has coached it for 15. Moog also played at Southern Connecticut State and Seminole Junior College.
Moog was at the World Trade Center on Sept.11.
Eagles' Cunningham calls it quits
The Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA — Randall Cunningham had a stronger arm than most other quarterbacks, ran faster than many running backs and kicked better than some punters.
But after 16 seasons of creating nightmares for defensive coordinators, the 59-year-old Cunningham will retire Friday night as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.
He returns to Veterans Stadium, where he spent the first 11 years of his career and established himself as the best scrambling quarterback in NFL history.
"At the time he was playing, there weren't any quarterbacks that were running for so many yards. There weren't any quarterbacks who could do anything he was capable of doing," said current Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, who is often compared to Cunningham.
Though he never played in a Super Bowl, Cunningham posted numbers worthy of Hall of Fame consideration. He is the all-time leader in rushing yards among quarterbacks with 4,928, had 29,979 yards passing and 242 touchdowns, including 35 rushing.
A second-round draft pick in 1985, Cunningham played in Philadelphia from 1985-95. He holds four team records, including most 300-yard passing games (13), most yards passing in a game (447 yards) and longest punt (91 yards).
Cunningham led the Eagles to the NFC East title in 1988 after a six-year absence from the post-season, and playoff appearances in 1989, 1990 and 1992. He was a backup to Rodney Peete in 1995, when the Eagles also made the
"It's going to be a very exciting and emotional moment for me," he said.
playoffs.
"It's going to be a 'wow moment for me because I don't know what to expect, but I just want to go back there and end it on a great note."
Cunningham first retired after the Eagles decided not to re-sign him following the 1995 season. He went home to Las Vegas, opened a marble business and served as a studio analyst for TNT.
But after sitting out 1996, Cunningham returned as a backup with Minnesota in 1997, and had his best season a year later. After Brad Johnson went down early in 1998, Cunningham stepped in, threw for 3,704 yards, 34 TDs and just 10 interceptions, helping the Vikings score an NFL-record 556 points and earn a berth in the NFC championship game.
He stayed three years in Minnesota, spent 2000 as a backup to Troy Alkman in Dallas and played for the Baltimore Ravens last season.
"Really, he kind of changed that position and added flair to it." Eagles coach Andy Reid said.
Cunningham credits much of his success to Buddy Ryan, who coached the Eagles from 1986-90. Ryan, a former defensive coordinator, didn't focus much on offensive game plans. Instead, he instructed Cunningham to just go out and make five big plays a game.
"Buddy allowed me a chance to do the things I did best," Cunningham said. "He simplified things and allowed me to do what it took to be the best I could be."
Cunningham brought a new dimension to the position with his mobility.
Colorado quarterback vows to stay healthy
The Associated Press
BOULDER. Colo. — Colorado quarterback Craig Ochs, who missed five games last season with a severe ankle sprain and concussion, promises he will start and finish this season.
But the Buffaloes, who turned to Bobby Pesavento in Ochs' absence last year, appear to be again well-prepared for any contingency.
Pesavento has begun play with the Arena Football League II's Cape Fear (N.C.) Wildcats, leaving seniors Robert Hodge and Zac Colvin as backup choices behind Ochs.
Camino (Calif.) College in 2001, has maintained an edge over Colvin, who started the first two games in 2000. But offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson said the 6-4, 215-pound Colvin is a strong competitor.
So far, Hodge, a 5-foot-11. 185-pound transfer from El
An elbow injury knocked Colvin out of CU's 28-24 loss to Colorado State in 2000, and he was pulled the following week in a 17-14 loss to Southern California.
He briefly transferred to Southwest Texas State, but returned to Colorado with the idea of playing tight end or wide receiver.
His transfer made him ineligible for the 2011 season, and an
injury forced shoulder surgery.
Watson said Colvin made a good showing during training camp.
"He has really tightened the race with Hodge," Watson said.
"Robert, because of Zac's performance, had to pick up his performance."
Hodge's game experience with the Buffaloes has mostly been on special teams.
He accounted for 3,616 yards, including 3,395 passing, and 30 touchdowns, including 26 passing, in his final junior-college season.
Colvin has completed 47-of-88 passes for CU, totaling 480 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.
Both players say they have learned from Pesavento, who worked hard to prepare for the possibility that he would be called to replace Ochs.
"There's not a better story than Bobby," Watson said. "Everyone knew he knew his stuff and would get it done."
Watson said neither Hodge nor Colvin needs to be reminded about how vital their roles can be.
"What I see out of both of them is an understanding of how a backup quarterback can affect a football team," he said. "They prepare themselves as if they're going to have to finish."
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