European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 7, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Friday november 1986 the stars and stripes Page 26 commentary Why lefty Driesell was reassigned new York lefty Driesell said the other Day that he s still not sure Why he no longer is the univer sity of Maryland s basketball coach. It is less than a week after Driesell was Inthewoods of the Chancellor of the University of Mary land what he meant was that Driesel was fired. Not reassigned not dismissed not any of the other euphemisms that have been employed. Charles Dice Driesell was unequivocally fired. He is now an assistant athletic director and not the basketball coach simply because ten Bias the Star at Maryland died of cocaine intoxication on june 19. When Bias died the system at the University of Maryland came under intense scrutiny by the news Media. What was Learned was that five members of the basketball team including Bias were failing All their courses in their semester after the basketball season. They weren t attending classes. And when they were they were taking Dopey courses that Al Lowed them to major Only in with All this in the open now the University was forced to do something in the Wake of Public outrage. The scandal had left the University embarrassed. Embarrassed that such things were going on at this institution of higher learning doubtful. The University was embarrassed that such information had been revealed. And if Driesell continues to be confused As to Why he was fired then so Are a number of other people. After All Driesell was Only doing his Job. His con Cern was not to get students through their academics. Driesell was hired by the University 17 Yean ago to win basketball games. He did. He elevated the won lost record of the University of Maryland if not the integrity of the program to 348-159. When Driesell took the Job at Coue Separk the lacklustre team was drawing about 3,000 fans game at about $4 a head. It came to a couple of Hundred thousand dollars a year including some Small television and radio contracts. Driesell showman who rants and rips off his jacket and stomps on it on the sidelines was also an expert Recruiter. At first people came out to see left play the Down. Then they came to see his triumphant Cole Reid House regularly has sellout Ftp Toto Maryland s Chancellor or. John Slaughter found Quality of education wanting for basketball players. Crowds of 14,500 for each game at about $9 per person for about $2.5 million a year. Add to this the terrapins going to National collegiate athletic association tournaments and sharing in lucrative Tele vision network contracts and the University comes away with some $2.5 million a year. The University had been so Happy with this that just last december the school s Chancellor or. John b. Slaughter signed lefty to a new 10-year was delighted for with a salary of about $85 000 and a summer Camp and a television show and a sneaker endorsement he came away with about $300,000 a year. A Long Way from lefty s original salary of $16,000 at the University. So lefty had to be encouraged that this pillar of Academia believed he was doing a swell Job. And if the academic adviser to the basketball team quit because she said lefty did t care much for his players schoolwork and if he makes a Midnight phone Call to a woman who accused one of display ers of sexual harassment and tells her to Back off and if he is applauded by the Board of regents for his successful basketball teams and if the governor an various political satraps sit in special boxes during games and if the Chancellor proudly shows off this winning team to these Guys who might in fact get him a raise and if he turns around and Renews lefty contract to the tune of 10 More years at a raise then one can certainly understand How confused lefty i today that he can no longer take part in the sweaty hoop exercise at Cole Field House. The Chancellor recently said that his task Force Lias investigated the Quality of education that the Basket Ball players were getting and he has now found it wanting and he adds he has for some How much time before Bias death As far Back As say december when he gave lefty the new con tract to the argument that lefty s players have a higher graduation rate than the rest of the school Popula Tion the Chancellor now counters with i m much More concerned with the Quality of education Stu dents receive than the graduation when did he become More concerned and if twas before december then Why did t he Tell lefty to find another place where he can throw off his sport jacket and jump on it to show his disapproval of the referees remember this is the Chancellor of the school chancellors normally have Access to the records. And he is not just any Chancellor who allows the athletic department to go its own Way. Slaughter is the head of the presidents commission of the Mcaa a group that is supposed to clean up the excesses and hypocrisy in big time College sports. His nose is supposed to be sniffing in the right places. Leonard Bias death brought out the in depth look at the University and its athletic said. There s a coupling there we can t and if lefty is still wondering that s Why he was fired. The scape race became the Scapegoat. Volley callers vie for Usa eur Spagno a won f howl while in Ryan Doghouse emptied by Rusty . Volleyball most of Usa eur s major sub divisions will be holding i tournaments 1 saturday and sunday to narrow the Field for the Usa eur championships nov. 15-16. A corps men s Toumey is at the Rose Barrack gym in bad Treu Zach saturday. A we is Meeyung scheduled for 10 . And play is to begin i at ,10-ff the winning team earns the Host spot for the Usak eur championship. V corps women play sunday at the i end location As the men for a berth m the "sar"rrfina1 held at the site of the position tournament Winner. Was Safe local Roundup the v corps basketball coaches clinic will be at the Wiesbaden a officers club nov. 12, starting at i . Vicenza Italy will be the site for a Christmas holi Day basketball tournament dec. 16-21.there will be men s and women s division play with an Norv fee of $65. Billeting is limited and will be filled on a.3 pm run tar Fitl Lafirst come basis. For More information Contact Doug Urner or Ron Brunson at Auto on 634-7009.football the Fulda Junior b squad travels to Aschaffenbur sunday to play the Falcons for Theu Sarteur youth activities championship for 13-15 Vear Olds from smaller communities. The Junior b title game will kick off at 1 . On Graves , vhf corps Champion reached toe Fina game by blasting 7th at 62 12 sunday. Fulda is t Day at Kleber Cavern in Kaiserslautern with pay i Aunoa Rio � Pic � i i vim a. T Pir Masens won the Junior a title for communities Rith Over 800 eligible youth be defeating hosting Bamberg 24-0 saturday. Boxing the 7th at invitational for Novice and open boxers comes to Hohenfels saturday. Regts trat ionis 1-3 . For the bouts which begin at 6 .rugby the . Forces select Side an All Star team will Host the British forces Royal electrical an mechanical engineering team sunday at the Field out Sidel Kurt Swald stadium. Game time is 2 ., a change from toe original 11 . is toe second of three International matches this Philadelphia a tight end John Spag Olaof toe Philadelphia eagles has. Slipped from consecutive seasons As a pro bowl alternate to the role of whipping boy for coach buddy Ryan. If Ryan has a Nice word to say about the 238-Poundspagnola, it s cleverly concealed. Although Spagnola re fuses to Exchange barbs he said wednesday it s like water pounding against a Dike. It erodes your Confidence. I can t say i get much encouragement around Here. When Spagnola was a preseason holdout Rya made Dave Little the starting tight end. Little held toe Nore von a a 1goup-maj Gen ret Robert , me astronaut who flew x-15s, had toe right stuff when he teed off at toe fourth Hole of toe Heidelberg Golf course thursday. White 62, used an 8-Iron Fortis Hole in one shot on toe 120-Yard, Par 3 Hole. Then Spagnola started rams. On toe first pass he caught for a to he injured his left shoulder. After Spagnola caught seven passes in one game for 72 Yards Ryan remarked he caught a Bunch of passes for three or four sunday against St Louis Spagnola and tackle Joe con Well were offside nullifying Philadelphia touchdown. Monday Ryan said we got seven but the tight end was he never mentioned Conneu. Aln sport Chicago 1mb at Detroit Piston 245 both clue at Wathom Britta 2
