European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 21, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday december 21,1988 the stars and stripes Page 21 Vikings open playoffs at Home Tymi Venadel Minneapolis a that it was the biggest moment of Walker Lee Ash Ley s career should t be too surprising. Because it also was just about the Only moment of the fifth year line Backer s career. Ashley intercepted Mike Tomczak s Foolhardy pass near the goal line with 2 37 to play and rumbled 94 Yards for a touchdown monday night As Minnesota held off the Chicago bears 28-27 to give the Vikings the Home Field advantage in the pfc wild card game. This is the biggest play i have Ever made Ashley used mostly in Short yardage situations said of his first career interception. They Don t think i can cover. They think i m a Little slow that some backs can outrun  nobody outran Ashley on his important play though. I got tired but i saw the end zone and went Tor it he said. The bears trailing 21-20, drove to Minnesota s 8-Yard line seemingly perfect position for Kevin Butler to kick a game winning Field goal. But on third-and-2, Tomczak dropped Back to pass was rushed by Stafford Mays and threw the Ball right into Ashley s arms. Ashley sprinted to the left sideline and went untouched for the longest interception return in Vikings history and a 28-20 Lead. Bears coach Mike Ditka defended the decision to go for the touchdown and blamed Rookie fullback Brad Muster for making the wrong move on the play. "1 made the Call at the goal line Ditka said. Muster ran the wrong route. It was a Good Call but it was just inexperience showing for  Tomczak came Back with a i Yard touchdown pass to Dennis Gentry with 1 15 remaining but the bears on Side kick was smothered by Minnesota. Minnesota 11-5, will Host the los an Geles rams monday afternoon in the first nil playoff game at the met Rodoc since 1982. That was t As big a motivator As just beating he  Minnesota s Keith Millard said. They be kicked our rear for so Many years. It s about Lime we do some  although the bears 12-4, lost twice to Minnesota s Jeo u w is 87 leaves bears sprawled behind him monday As he Breaks a 64-Yard punt return that set up a Viking ii. Minnesota they won their fifth straight n pc Central title. After falling behind 21-0, the bears responded with 20 unanswered Points including Tomczak s 76-Yard touchdown pass to Dennis Mckinnon and Cal an Derson s 51-Yard scoring run to pull within a Point in the third period. Wade Wilson had a hot Start for the Vikings connecting on touchdown passes of 3 Yards to Steve Jordan and 18 Yards to Alfred Anderson. But the pro bowl quarterback began struggling in the second Quarter and was replaced by former starter Tommy Kra Mer with 1 02 left in the third. Wilson finished with 15 completions in 28 at tempts for 164 Yards. Kramer however was even worse hitting just one of seven for 13 Yards. Leo Lewis 64-Yard return of Bryan Wagner s Short punt set up Wilson s 3-Yard flip to Jordan. The bears responded with a Lon drive but Matt Suhey fumbled at Minnesota s 9-Yard line. Wilson then marched the Vikings 88 Yards in an i a play drive capped by an Derson s i Yard scoring run for a 14-0 Lead. Wilson completed four passes for 46 Yards and also ran 15 Yards on an option keeper. Maurice Douglass 18-Yard pass interference Penally on second and-15 greatly helped the drive. Another Chicago miscue put the Viking sin position for their third touchdown. Cal Anderson fumbled when hit by John Harris and on the next play Wilson hit a wide open Alfred Anderson for the score. Cal Anderson became the first Chi Cago runner other than Walter Paylon to have a 1,000-Yard season since Gale say cars in 1969. Anderson gained 122 Yards monday giving him 1, 106 for the year. Switzer denies knowledge of violations Bowen Canfisi of Norman okla. A Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer who sports three National championship rings said monday he won them fair and Square. "1 feel comfortable in saying and knowing that 1 have never asked any of my coaches to go out and offer any inducement to any athlete we have Ever recruited Switzer said in response to severe Mcaa sanctions levied against Hicso Oncas. Until this investigation came about 1 was not aware and did not know that these existed he said. The Mcaa placed Oklahoma on three years probation. The sanctions Call for no bowl games after the 1989 and 1990 seasons no live televised games next sea son and cuts the number of football scholarships from 25 to 18 in each of the next two years. The Mcaa found 20 separate recruiting violations during the past eight years and said the University has failed to exercise appropriate institutional control Over its intercollegiate football  the Mcaa said it found two instances where an assistant coach offered induce ments to recruits. I know and i believe that our Roaches do not violate Mcaa rules in regard to going to offer inducements to players said Switzer adding he was embarrassed bythe penalty. We do not have an illegal recruiting machine. We do not orchestrate illegal recruitment of athletes he said his voice rising at limes. This investigation .1 believe to be an isolated incident not a pattern. I support enforcement i believe in enforcement and not violating the Mcaa rules Switzer said. We will adhere to then Caa  athletic director Donnie Duncan said adherence is mandatory. If you break the rules you re fired said Duncan adding that while the penal ties were harsh he did not feel wronged bythe Mcaa. The fact we re Here today in t then Caa s problem. It s our problem our fault he said. I m not Hitler and upset about the Mcaa. They wanted us and the got  David Swank the University s interim president said the penalties Are More severe when one considers the financial aspect of the  Swank said the athletic department stood to lose Botwe can $750,000 and Simillion in each of the next two years. Those figures take into account television con tracts and the payout Given to bowl teams which the team splits with the conference. Duncan said the football program earns97 percent of the athletic department s Rev Enue. Asked How the school would offset the loss of television and bowl revenues Duncan Drew laughs from the packed news conference by saying raise ticket  the probation Oklahoma s fourth but its first in Saiwer s 16 years As head coach conies at the height of the recruiting period. Switzer said his coaches had been present ing recruits a worst Case scenario All along but said. I think obviously it la have a Impact on  Duncan said two assistant coaches and a former recruiting coordinator named in most of the recruiting violations will not be fired. We re not going to fire anyone because it does not warrant it he said. He said former recruiting coordinator Shirley Vaughan had been removed from her position and assistant coaches Scott Hill and Mike Jones were disciplined. Duncan said the coaches salaries were Frozen and they were placed on University probation. He also said Jones was taken of recruiting. Swank who would not name players an recruits mentioned in the sanctions said Oklahoma would consider appealing the penalty. However Duncan noted that in 41years, no team has made substantial Prog Ress in appealing sanctions. The report said Switzer wrote personal checks to pay for rental cars and to supple ment salaries of secretaries and unpaid graduate assistants and once lied to the Mcaa about what he told his  admitted writing the checks but said he did t realize it was an Mcaa Vio lation. He said the account consisted of Money he gets from radio and to fees