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Tuesday, April 30, 1991 / University Daily Kansan
Boomer, Wyche disagree
The Associated Press
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason is at odds again with coach Sam Wyche, claiming that Wyche should focus on football instead of outside issues.
But Wyche, who is active in helping the homeless and outspoken on women in the locker room, told Esiason and other Bengals in a meeting Sunday that he's not about to back off his beliefs.
"There's no change in this coach, I can tell you that right now." Wyeche said. "If I'm a distraction every time I talk to a banquet or give out a dinner, then the player who's distracted is not professional enough to be here."
Esainson, who in the past has disagreed with his coach on offensive strategy, said Wyche should "direct football to talking football, and football only."
"I admire his work with the homeless and his wherewithal for issues like the locker room. What I was saying was that everyone has to go up at the meeting and handled it professionally in front of everyone."
Wyche has worked for three years to help raise money for homeless people. Last year, he barred USA Today sportswriter Denise Tom from the locker room, saying the players should be to stand naked in front of women.
Wyche was fined more than $27,000 by NFL commissioner Paul Hoglebaugh for violating the league's rules on free agents who don't access to accredited reporters.
Wyche still is critical of the commissioner, with whom he met last month at the NFL meetings in Hawaii.
Wyche said Tagliabue was giving mixed signals on whether there would be changes so players did not be dressed before women interviewers.
"He tells the coaches one thing, that there'll be some changes," Wyche said. "Then he turns around the next day and tells the media what they are going to do." Once asked me ask the players have to take a shower after the game."
Joe Browne, the NFL's vice president for communications, said the league would have no comment on Wyche's statement. But he added, "Sam's all wet on that shower remark."
Esiason said Wyche also distracted the team when, in 1989, he used the
public address system to chide snowball-throwing Bengals fans for behaving as if they lived in Cleveland, and by running up the score in a 61-7 victory over the Houston Oilers.
“That’s a stupid comment.” Wyche said of Eisason’s reference to the Houston game. Wyche denies that he ran up the score.
"Better in April than August. Now it's all out on the table. We know where things stand," Esiason said of the dispute.
Defensive lineman David Grant said, "(Wyche) is a human being. He's got his own personality and that's the only way you'd like him. We're not robots. Football's our livelihood, not our life.
"I see what Boomer's trying to say and I agree with him. That that's been his problem, keeping focus on the task at hand," it says. "It's good to get it out in the open."
Offensive lineman Mike Brennan said, "Sam just said it was the wrong way to start out the season, with a big distraction. I think everybody took it with a grain of salt. Sam said he was a little disappointed that we've got the monkey on our back. He thinks it's going to be all over USA Today."
Irish job tempts Tech coach but Cremins decides to stay
The Associated Press
ATLANTA — Bobby Cremin took himself out of the running for Notre Dame's vacant basketball coaching job yesterday, deciding instead to remain at Georgia Tech
Although he admitted that the Irish job was tempting, Cremins said, "My feeling for my players and the Georgia Tech family and friends was too strong for me touxe any other interests right now.
Cremins took over a Georgia Tech team in 1981 that had won only one Atlantic Coast Conference game in two years. Four years later, he led the Yellow Jackets to an ACC title.
Cremins reportedly was the leading candidate for the head coaching job at Notre Dame after Digger Phelps resigned April 15.
"The next step was to go to Notre Dame for an interview," he said. "I decided not to do that. It might have been too tempting."
"I was never offered the job." Cremins said yesterday "I was
only offered to interview for it. But
when you are Irish and Catholic, it's
something that was very difficult
not to look into."
Among other reported candidates for the Notre Dame job are former Irish player and SMU coach John Shumate, Nebraska's Danny Nee and Stanford's Mike Montgomery.
Cremins said he made his decision Sunday night and called Notre Dame athletic director Dick Rosenthal.
"Dick Rosenthal handled this with class," Cremins said. "He wanted me to come up for there an hour before the place, and I was nervous about it."
If he had gone for the interview, would he have accepted the job? "We'll never know," he said.
Notre Dame sports information director John Heisler said Rosenthal would not comment on him, as he considered for the basketball job.
"There is no timetable," Heisler said. "All he's (Rosenthal) said is
tomorrow is better than the next day. We don't play a game until November or December."
Georgia Tech athletic director Homer Rice said he was elated that Cremin has chosen to stay and continue to build the program.
Cremins said, "I'm happy about my decision. The one rule I have is that when I make a decision, I don't look back, I look forward. I'm looking ahead to what's here, and it's a challenge.
"Leaving Georgia Tech and this city at this time is not the right thing for Bobby Cremins," he said in an interview before making a luncheon speech here. "It was a hard decision, and it was the first time I had thought about leaving. The challenge to keep things going in tech is still there. We weiped up a bit, but I want to bring it back."
Tech, who reached the Final Four in 1989-90, was 17-13 this season and reached the NCAA tournament before losing to Ohio State.