European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 7, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday november 7, 1987 the stars and stripes Page 23 commentary patriots Hope Flutie s a big Winner in the fourth Quarter of monday night seared too tall Jones defected two of Phil Simms passes As the Dallas cowboys rallied Tor a33-24 Victory. Too tall was Loo much for the new York giants quarterback. But As Doug Flutie watched to in his Natick man., Home he Snook his head. No a word was mentioned about Simoli no being tall enough Flutie says. If thai had happened to me trial s All people would have  at s feel 9w inches flute believe he s tall enough. And now that he s with the new England patriots sooner or later hell gel his Chance to prove it. As the patriots await sunday night s game wit the giants flu lie the i9s4 Heisman trophy Winner from Boston College is their no. 3 quarterback be Hind Steve groan and Tom Ramsey. Bui the Patri ots did t get Flutie just to stand around on the sideline the Way some no. 3 quarterbacks do before their names appear in transactions and then Van ish forever. When the patriots obtained Flutie from the Chi Cago bean a week before the player strike ended. New England rejoiced. After nearly three Yean he stack where he belongs. He had signed a six year $8 million contract in1985 with the new Jersey generals and thrown 13 touchdown passes until he suffered a fractured left Collarbone in the . Football league s final season. Drafted by the los Angeles rams he was traded tothe dears a year ago started the season finale against the cowboys and the playoff Ion to the Washington redskins. I didst have any baits deflected by the cow boys he said referring to his eight completions in 14 pauses that Day for 152 Yards and two touch Downs. If i saw a hand or a body i sidestepped and reloaded just stood in  but when he bears knew thai Jim Mcmahon would be ready to play after the strike ended Flutie was expendable. And when the patriots obtained Clave Anderson him their no. I quarterback then Tony Eason knew that flu lie s Mere presence would increase the Burden on him in Sullivan stadium someday when the patriots were struggling. There s going to be a situation Eason said when people win be chanting Doug s  Eason however won t be in that situation. A least not this year. He s out through the playoffs with a separated passing shoulder. Not that flu lie was Likely to play much this season. I m willing to wait and learn he said from the Patriot offices. Try to find a Way to get myself on the Field Flutie has t been on the Field since the strike ended. But in the patriots final replacement game he completed is of 25 passes for 199 Yards and on touchdown in a 21-7 Victory in Houston. That was a lot of fun he said. The Challenge of learning a new offence in four  at the time Flutie was concerned about an other Challenge the reaction often striking Patriot players to his crossing the picket Tine. Before in Trade with the bears was completed he hoped to phone some of the longtime Patriot players to explain that the  had promised that he would not take anybody s Job that when the strike ended they would carry four quarterbacks. The ," he said decided it was twice to let the players know about the Deal before it was done. When the players came in the next week it was a Tittle quiet in the locker room that Day. But by the next morning everybody was Loose. I Haven Thad any repercussions. I m very relaxed. It s a lot ins with the bears flu lie had nothing but  when the bears knew that Mcmahon was out last season after Charles Martin Green Bay s 280-Pound defensive end body slammed him flu lie was considered an intruder. Perhaps because Mcmahon the bean Leader still considered him an intruder. Ai Mcmahon goes Flutie said the bears  when the bears drafted another quarterback  of Michigan with their first round Choice this year Flutie s Days were numbered. Mcmahon and i got along flu lie said but Seweren t die Best of  several Days after the bears traded flu lie Mcmahon was asked for his reaction. Ii was a sad Day in Chicago football history Mcmahon said but nobody said life was fair. To get something you have to give something of equal value. Thai s what the bears did. What did we get a fifth round draft Choice for Bambi if so it was a fifth round draft Choice for a quarterback still collecting payments on $3.9 million guaranteed by Donald Trump in his generals contract. Flu lie also has a reported 1150,000 salary this season. More important to his football future the patriots understand what other National football league teams never have hat despite his size he s primarily a Drosback passer not a Roll out passer. The Day the patriots got him. Coach Raymond Berry asked the Boston College coaches How to us him Best. They told coach Berry i was at my bes throwing out of the pocket Flutie said. I like to Roll out sometimes but you can t live on it. To Cluthe Field Down. Once in a White you have to do it to keep the defense honest. But you re More effective throwing out of the  while he Waits on the sideline flu lie Ted his wife Laurie Watt for their first child due in March. He s Back where he belongs not that far from Bosto College where he passed for More Yards 10,579, than anybody else in major College history. No mat Ter How tall the pass rushers were. The nil is foot Baji. It s Alt the same he said. Florida state invades Auburn quart Nick Jeff Borger. National title for Auburn Auburn Ala. A two team still harbouring National championship dreams collide saturday when fourth ranked Florida state meets no. 6 a Burn. The one blot on each team s record May even now be too much to overcome in Luicir quest for no. 1. Florida state 7-1, dropped a 26-25heaitbrcaker to third ranked Miami on oct. 3. The seminoles misfired on a two Point conversion pass in the final minute after leading 19-3 late in the third Quarter. Auburn is 7-0-1, including a 20-20 tie with Tennessee on sell. 26. The tigers who led that game 20-10 in the third period trait Psi by a half game in the Southeastern conference race. Since the two teams Don t play each other this year. Auburn can t do a thing about it i flu wins its final two games. It s like a game Between stepchildren Florida state coach Bobby Bow Den said. The two schools Are a lot alike. They Are both in Small towns and they be had to tight big brother Florid and Alabama respectively for a Long time. Auburn has been fighting longer Thane have and a been More successful. We share the same characteristics  and similar statistics. Florida stale is third nationally i scoring at 43.4 Points a game Auburn is lllhatjl.9. Auburn a second in scoring defense yielding Only 8.9 Points a game Florida states Otott 13.1. Despite the similarities. Auburn is  by Xvi Points for am sport television College football Florida state it to buro 8 30 . Saturday. Boston Colle geat notre Dame or mid Gui at Ufau Tesort delayed2 . Sunday. Radi College football army at air Force 8 . Saturday Alabama at Louisiana state 1 30 . Sunday. The first time since a 1982 visit by Georgia which was ranked no. I in the country at the Lime. Those people that set the line Dondo it with their heart they do it based on knowledge Auburn coach Pat Dye said. This non conference game comes inthe heart of Auburn s Sec stretch drive. The tigers beat Florida last week an their final two regular season games Are against no. 10 Georgia and no. 13 Ala Bama. Florida stale is a great football team Dye said. Coach Bowdon said this was going to be his Best team and think it is. They Are averaging something Phenomena on offence. They Are a Good solid defensive football team that is Bel Ter than it has been in the past. They have great skilled folks in the secondary just like there Are skilled peo ple at wide receiver and running  also have big Strong players up front on the defensive Tine. I think the key to the game will be i we will be Able to tackle Sarnie Smith the nation s no. 5 rusher at 127.4 Yards game including a school record four straight 100-Yard games. That ii some thing nobody has done including Miami which is rated As having one of the lop defences in the nation. Florida state should have beaten Miami by  Auburn held Florida freshman pm Mitt Smith no relation to 72 Yards last week but Dye says Saraie is bigger stronger and faster. He is a different kind of runner More of a stashing Guy who ingoing to run through  Auburn leads the series 12-1-1, including a 9-0-1 record at Home with such wild scores As 59-27 in 1985, 42-41 in1984 Dye Calls it the wildest night i Ever spent in football and 27-24 in1983. Bowden says defense will decide sat urday s contest. I Don t know if this is the strongest football team we be had at Florida slate but it has the potential to be one of Thebes he said. We do have More skilled people at one Lime than we have had inthe past but i la have to evaluate it after the season. I would t Swap our firs iwo units of skilled people for anyone. There is no doubt Success will com with defense saturday. In the last three or four games. Auburn has averaged 42points la our 32, so outscoring them is not the Way to Beal them. We re a stronger defensive football team than we be been in some Yean but Well team a Loi about our defense against Auburn. Auburn u a stronger team than Miami. They Are stronger defensively have a better passing quarterback Jef Burger is lied for third nationally in pass ing efficiency More receivers and has an Edge on the offensive