\ comedy of errors entitled “Saving Private Philpot” CHLIBOYKO _ atch the offensive team come onto the field after the kick or the over. Eleven guys trot out kly, bruised running backs, y offensive linemen and brutal ivers. One guy saunters out, ing slight and tired. He walks a southerner, only instead of ing the languid charm in the , one gets the feeling-of ennui. chinstrap hangs from his et limply, but it seems to have e strength than the tired man’s bwing arm. The word ‘torpor’ es to mind. his is Damon Allen, quarter- . This is a bad situation. \llen has been doing his best Pression of Captain John Miller e the pre-season—and he’s act- like he’s mopey that he lost the of the war-weary, shell- ked veteran to Tom Hanks. At Hanks’ Miller made it up the h and onto dry land. The s are still being machine- ed in the troop transport. he metaphor ts solid. The BC s are having a horrible sum- unable to convert anything seven points. They've scored touchdown in something like huarters of play. It is like aha beach; a bunch of pricans, except for a select few, ed down in a foreign land, ble to advance an inch. The bright spots come in ments of sheer terror, like Ins desperation 3&4 gamble to e Donaldson recently against innipeg’ Blue Bombers. The s were down by one with MISH KNOX new college football NM season has dawned upon us, and with the joy of hfternoons spent with 000 screaming fans chanting school's fight song comes nevitable hype surrounding ext crop of college “stars.” year fans are bombarded story after story of how t this quarterback is osed to be or which acker will be “the best to play for his college” by the bf the season, Unfortunately, hype disappears as soon as l, and the NFL Draft, s. The defensive lineman was going to be “the next nant force” and “a lock to lon Sundays” is now ersized to play his college ion in the pros” or “needing prove his pass rush.” Three sesaene 2 tA GHAR about a minute left. After running a crazy pattern and almost collid- ing into his own player, Donaldson had to come back for the under- thrown ball in a crowd, which he only caught because the tired Blue Bomber secondary was not look- ing. Lui, ever worth watching, booted home the win a few plays later. And this was in a game in which the Lions had four cracks at the one-yard line, and came up with a field goal. The same thing hap- pened a week earlier. What is going on? Like Saving Private Ryan, the boys in black must get through the slaughter before they find the one man that can save them. The man? Take your pick. Coach Adam Rita, displaying the wisdom of lemmings, let go. Sean Millington without a similar player to replace him; Cuilio Carravatta, without a Canadian player to replace him; and has pretty much closed the door on Cory Philpot, a loyal Lion and fan favourite. Instead, he has relied on pin- ning the whole offence on one player—Al “the Frog” Shipman, a class act who happens to be ham- pered by his still-mending broken leg—and one strategy; keep giving the Frog the football until he busts free. After nine games, it hasn't happened yet. What has happened are a lot of 2-&-Out sequences. Shipman runs a swing for two yards, next down, Shipman catches a pass in the back of the helmet. Punt. When the Calgary Stampeders massacred the Lions in the Dome. on August 20th, 55-9, they had six receiving touchdowns from six players who are probably spending their last year playing for free exemplify this “great now, average later” phenomenon. Washington University QB Brock Haurd is being hyped for every award from the O’Brien (nation’s top QB) to the Hiesman (“best” player in college football). He has size that scouts drool over (6’4” 225), but when the NFL draft rolls around his sundial speed 40 yard dash time will sink him like a stone, because, as anyone who is even remotely connected to high school football knows, your 40 time is what separates a starter and a backup, a backup and a 3rd stringer and a 3rd stringer and someone who doesn’t make the team. UCLA QB Cade McNown is in the boat opposite Haurd. While possessed with great “intangibles” (work ethic, heart, OCHSNER Ae ewe PERM 2&0 summer leads to a record of 3-6 different players. The whole game, the Lions didn’t throw passes to six different players. The play selection is worse than that of an Atari video game from IS years ago. The defence rocks, has put up a noble effort, but the offence is mortally wounded and legless. The only stable one is Passaglia, always a pleasure. Earlier on in the summer, he was being fingered for retirement, by critics who didn’t bother to look at the nomadic roster of holders Lui had to rely on. Against Calgary, he booted two SI-yarders. The man could kick till he's-sixty. drab be other bright spot against ‘Calgary was Khari Jones. Put in for an injured Allen, Jones showed flair and enthusiasm. Only miscommunication and nerves prevent- ed him from getting seven, but he did march regally upfield, getting pinned down within the Calgary I0. His reward? Allen came back the next sequence, though he was eventually pulled from the game. The first time in his career. tarting the Hypesman chase leadership), McNown stands only 61” 210, relatively puny when most scouts like their QBs in the 6’3-5” and 220-240 range. If only they could measure char- acter with a stopwatch, Cade. University of Iowa DT Jared DeVries was given a perfect 8.0 rating by NFL scouts who watched his workout last year. However, his weight (275) may drop his draft stock as most NFLers at his position play around 290-310 pounds. I will always love the college game over the pros (that’s a dif- ferent column), but the excessive bombardment of hype and proclamations of greatness at the next level detracts from a game that should be about camaraderie and playing for the love of the game (odd thought). Sadly, how- ever, this isn't and never will be the case. teue tee Adam Rita was canned. His replacement, Greg Mohns, hasn't coached in 20 years, seems uncon- fident and out-of-place, but maybe—just maybe—the move Thankfully, this past week, stands, the Lions will have played and lost to the Alouettes. But next week? Watch out. They may just make it past the bunkers and ‘ machine-gun nests. was sO crazy, it just might work. By the time this issue hits the The Leos playing against opposing team, which is what “playing against” means...they’re playing an opposing team, hmmmm... Dave Tam Photo Sport Shorts he next two weeks are the first of many significant dates for Douglas Athletics as many of our varsity sports teams are holding tryouts. The tryout times and places are posted on the Athletics billboards, but if you somehow managed to miss the posters, here are the dates and times for all varsity team tryouts. Wrestling: Men's and Women’s September IS at David Lam Campus in the Combatants Room at 5 pm Basketball: Men's tryouts at New West gym on the 8th from 4-6 pm and the 9th from 6-8 pm. Women's tryouts will be held at the New West gym on the 9th from 4—6 pm, the [0th from 6-8 pm, and the I Ith from 4—6 pm. Rugby: Women's tryouts on the 9th at 7:30 pm at Queen's Park East Field. Men’ tryouts TBA. Golf: TBA Wheelchair Basketball: Tryouts on the 10th and 14th from 2—4 pm at New West. Volleyball: Men's tryouts in New West at 6 pm. Meet in Room 1322 with tryouts to follow. Women's tryouts the 8th from 8-10 pm and the 9th from 4—6 pm. Badminton: The 9th from 6-8 pm in New West. Field Hockey: There is a league qualifying game on September 8 or 9. Anyone interested in playing for Douglas this year must attend this game. Tryouts on the [4th and 16th from 5:30-7:30 pm, site TBA. ; Intramurals: If you don't want to try out for a varsity team, but still want to participate in your sport check, out the intramural sports offered by the athletics department. Posters are up around the school with information-regarding times and sign-up. LC RRMOAN ARERR AA REKHNANE NRA RRR issdudsdsnevacansedeedvaceédecdddddadbdseticcaseaess Diteaduvdadaddesmuadaddveisessdeadia diesuee September 9 1998 Page 11 sjdandat add eeeadtneeaan aasadaataadce