European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 18, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Wednesday november in. 1987 the stars and stripes Page 21 Ohio state fires sports Erie Brace 80-26-1 Columbus Ohio a ear Lebruce who had inc Best Overall record of big ten coaches during his nine seasons Ashead coach at Ohio state University is fired monday after three straight tosses by a combined total of 10 Points and athletic director Rick Bay resigned in pro test after announcing the disc Nissl. Bay Laid Bruce i firing would be effective after saturday s season finale at also said the buckeyes 5-4-1, would not accept a bowl bid if one i offered. I guess they be got a right to fire Aguy Bruce said u he left the University. No think it s very poor timing right be fore the Michigan game the most important game on our schedule. It s unfair to do it now. They can do it any time but not before the Michigan at his weekly Media luncheon earlier monday Bruce had said he would not am slaying at Ohio stale he said. I like my Job i m going to prepare a for Michigan. I la stay and prepare through the Winter and summer so Pecan have a big ten championship next year Bruce in the second year of a three year contract had drawn the anger of Buckeye fans because of the three consecutive losses by scores of 13-7 to Michigan state 26-24 to Wisconsin and 29-27 to Iowa. Earlier the buckeyes lost31-10 to Indiana and were lied 13-13 by Louisiana slate University. Bay said Ohio Stilt president Edward Jennings told him monday afternoon that he was under pressure to make a coaching change. Bay athletic director since july 1 984,said he mimed in raise of Philosoph ical differences with the said he told Bruce of the school s decision Toul 2 30 p.m., and Brace me with the team a Short Lime later. I i a shame la s a dark Day for Ohio stale Bay said. "1 have loved being Here. It s a gnat institution Bui now have to look elsewhere and i will do Bruce Day talk "1 think he s done a whale of a Job. His record u among thievery very Best in the in his nine seasons Brace s 80-26 1record was the Best among big ten in Trie bitten was second Only to the 39-1 5 1 of coaches and hit 56-17 record i Michigan s to Schembechler in his cancer which Al of includes one year at Tampa and six at Iowa stale Bruce is 1 26-60 1. Bruce s previous eight Ohio stat teams All went to bowls winning five but losing both Rose bowl 1979 and 1984 teams won big ten lilies and the 1981 and 1986 teams were co champions. Jennings said he would recommend James l. Jones senior associate director of athletics to replace said he would also recommend that the trustees fulfil the terms of race s contract. Coach Bruce has been a Loyal Buck Eye throughout his career Jennings said. We wish him Well for inc described Bruce As very disillusioned by the firing. In some ways i have to Tell you that Asfar a the program is concerned perhaps if i bid to happen i should happen bits Bay Laid. I Don i know if i even want to by in this business right this year Bruce had considered a move to the University of Arizona after his team Defeated Texas Aam 28-12 in the Cotton bowl last Jan. 1 and finished10-3, after the Cotton bowl win i decide to Stisya a Buckeye because of the team coming Back the coaching staff and the fact that i think Rick Bay is the strongest athletic director in the country Bruc Esaid. He has said he was u frustrated a anyone Over Ohio slate s season. We thought we d have a Good fool Ball team and a Good season Bruce said. It turns out hat some things have happened this season that have made it a Little longer than we then referred to the decision by the University not to Appeal to the inca for the reinstatement of wide receiver Cris Carter suspended for accepting Money from an agent Schembechler. Commenting from an Arbor mich., ripped Ohio state for fir ing , i Hope he s established himself by now Schembechler said in referring to Bruce s record at Ohio state. "1 mean what do you have to do i m not Here to defend Earle Bruce but All i can say is this makes Columbus look pretty him not to worry Schembechler added. Tell him i la take the athletic directorship at Michigan and hire him up Here. Tell him that. That la shut Elway beats Mcmahon As Broncos Edge bears Denver a John Elway won a game of Duel ing quarterbacks with Jim Mcmahon throwing or 341 Yards and three touchdowns As the Denver Broncos twice erased deficits to beat the Chicago bears 31-29 monday Mcmahon completed 21 of 34 passes for 311 Yards and three touchdowns and scored a touchdown on Aone Yard sneak. Spending much of the night working from a Shotgun formation Elway brought the Bronco track from a 14 0 lint period deficit and from eight Points Bock in the fourth period finally running the drive that culminated in Steve swell s 4-Yard touchdown run with4 38 left for the winning Points. The game played in 22-degree weather was one of alternating quarters of dominance. The bears had the upper hand in the first and third periods the Broncos in the second and fourth. The final margin was two missed extra Points by the bears. Kevin Butler kick done wide left and another failed when Holder Mike Tomczak fumbled the Broncos 5-3-1. Turned the tables on the bears 8-2, whose three previous Post strike games were Victo Ries by one three and two Points Over Tampa Bay Kansas City and Green also marked the first Chicago loss in 26 games started by Mcmahon who had the first 300-Yardpass-ing game of his injury marred six year career. Ironically Mcmahon was also the Goat throwing Anoff balance pass that was intercepted by Rookie . Clark As the bears holding a 29-24 Lead were driving Midway through the fourth Quarter. Elway then directed the Broncos eight play 61-Yarddrive to the winning touchdown. The Denver defense then throttled the bears wit their Only three sacks of the night the final one Send ing Mcmahon limping off the Field with 36 seconds left to play. Chicago dominated the first period despite starting its first four possessions at the 10,14, 18 and 10.the bears took a 7-0 Lead just 3 15 into the game on a i 1-Yard pass from Mcmahon to Willie Gault. It cameos a third-and-2 play on which Gault took a Quick 11 Yard flip at the Denver 40 spun around Mike Harden and outraged Dennis Smith to the end zone. Chicago made it 14-0 tin minutes later on on 86-Yard, eight play drive capped by Mcmahon s 6-Yard pass to cop boso. The drive was helped by a 22-Yardpass interference Call against Denver s Mark Haynes then it was Elway i Broncos made it 14-7 with 51 seconds gone in the second Quarter when Elway connected with Vance Johnson on a 22-Yard touchdown pass. The Ball bounced off the fingers of safety Todd Bell and into Johnson s hands. It came at the end of an 82-Yard, eight play was the club record 75th touchdown pass of Elway s five year career one More than Craig bean came right Back moving 89 Yards to the Denver i. Then came what might have been the game s key play. On third Down Chicago used 315-Pound defensive tackle William the refrigerator Perry in the Back Field for the first time this season and Only the second since his precedent setting cookie season of 1985. This time the move backfired. Harden stripped Perry of Heball at the goal and Haynes returned it to the 24. From there Denver moved 76 Yards in 10 plays tying the game on Hway s 22-Yard pass to Mark Jack son with i j4 left in the bears could t move but Denver could with Elway hitting Rookie Ricky Atud on a 35-Yard pass Over Reggie Phillips with 11 seconds kit in the half u was the first nil touchdown for Mattiet who caught the Ball Justin Bounds to Cap a seven play 69-Yard drive. Elway who threw for just four Yards in the first Halfin the previous week s 21-14 loss at Buffalo had 214 Yards by intermission this time. Idle huskers oust sooner As top team by the associated pres five Days before their annual shootout Nebraska replaced season Long Leader Oklahoma Ashe no. 1 team in the associated press College football poll related Story on Page 25 the co Husken were Idle last weekend their game with Colorado was twitched to nov.28 for television but jumped Over the injury riddled sooner who struggled offensively forthe third time in their last four games. Nebraska 9-0, received 32 of 60 first place votes and 1,164 of a possible 1,200 Points from a nationwide panel or sports writers Nind sports casters. improved its record to 104 by holding off Missouri 17-13, received 20first-place votes and 1,128 Points. The remaining eight first place votes and1.101 Points went to Miami of Florida which ii no. 3 for the eighth week in a Row. The Hurri canes 8-0, Defeated Virginia tech 27-13. Neither Nebraska coach Tom Osome no Oklahoma s Barry Switzer appeared Overly concerned by the switch which ended Oklahoma said to become the first team Ever to be ranked no. 1 from the preseason through the final does t really Mailer much one Way or the other Osborne said. Nebraska and Oklahoma Are going to play and u will be settled on sat urday. My feeling is that we re probably As deserving As anybody. We re really playing Well and we played some Good teams Early Urcla Arizona stale South Carolina Oklahoma stale. But until we play Oklahoma in i kind of a
