European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 4, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Friday May 4, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 23commentarybills�?T Davis lays it on the line of All the nil players touring Europe this Spring John Davis blinds you. With his anonymity. Ever hear of him offensive lineman with the Buffalo Bills. Played with the Houston oilers in 1987 and �?T88 before shuffling off to Buffalo. Played College Ball at George tech. Still does no to ring a Bell done to feel embarrassed. John Davis does no to exactly make weekly appearances on the cover of sports illustrated. Much less the cover of the Bills Media guide. He does no to even fill a half Page in that guide. His biography is dwarfed beside two other Buffalo Davies Kenneth and Wayne. So much for top Billing. Such in hype makes it Tough for John Davis to stand out on this Side of the Ocean. Cincinnati quarterback Boomer Esiason flew Over last month and he was swamped at Munich a Hof bauhaus. Minnesota safety Joey Browner was the Headliner of the first group of players visiting troops in Germany two weeks ago As part of the nil army tour. Atlanta Sall pro guard Bill Fralic led the latest touring foursome into German last Friday. John Davis is in this quartet. He a the one no starter alongside Fralic new York giants guard Eric Moore and Pittsburgh defensive end Keith Willis. And yet Davis does stand out whether its while firing artillery in Wil Flecken or playing Golf in Heidelberg. The Man is huge. Six feet four 304 pounds. You can to miss him. He a also insightful. You want to hear about life in the National football league talk with John Davis. He has played for Jerry Glanville and Marv Levy. Played with Jim Kelly and Ronnie Harmon. Played against Howie Long and Tim Krumrie. Davis tells you what its like. 0 on Harmon dropping the end zone pass that would have boosted Buffalo Over Cleveland in january Safe divisional playoff a basically what went through my mind the lost $ 18,000 i would be gotten in the next playoff game. I wont lie to you. You play for Money. No matter How much Money anyone is making that a still $ 18,000. I could be paid a lot of Bills with that. I guarantee 47 other Guys on the sideline had the same thing Flash in front of their a on Buffalo a a Kelly a seven year $20 million contract tops in the nil a a he a earned his Money. He was there when Buffalo was 4-12. Now we be been number one in the East 32 straight weeks. When his salary goes up mine goes Buck Fox John Davis a on Kelly a potential of leading the Bills to the super bowl after two straight acc East titles a a we be got to let Jim Kelly play his game and throw the Ball. And when we need to run let Thurman Thomas Loose. We be got to open it up. He just needs a Chance. Look what he did with Houston of the Usel where Kelly passed for 44 touchdowns in 1984. He can to keep handing off. He a got to throw 55-60 percent of the time if not More to be effective. Around 40 passes a game. That a Jim Kelly a on Kelly a leadership which nagged Buffalo through its 9-7 season of �?T89 a the leadership is there if he uses it the right Way. He a been known to dish out criticism at the wrong time. If i screw up i know it. I done to need it in the papers. He did no to criticize me personally but he ripped Howard Ballard the Bills right tackle. He said in effect that Howard Ballard be playing after Ballard a Man banged up Kelly a shoulder sidelining him three games. Then again Kelly said that in the heat of Battle after the game. You could say anything at that moment. And Jim a a competitor. He thrives to be number one. That a the Type of quarterback you want to a on Buffalo coach Levy a the pressures on to win. Whether hell be out if he does no to i done to know. What i like about him is he had a plan for everything. Maybe you did no to like that plan but he was thoroughly a on the infamous Buffalo Brawl Between offensive line coach Tom Bresnahan and receivers coach Nick Nicolau a we were downstairs and they were upstairs in a meeting. The next thing we know Tom appears with his head bandaged and he had a Nice Black Eye. From what i understand they Are very Good friends. But coaches Are like players they get fired up. We did no to say anything. Especially when your coach loses you keep a on the trenches a when two Guys done to like each other go at each other instead of playing like its the Bills against the giants. They have their own game a on team philosophy a the 49ers Are a finesse team because they done to like to run Over you. They run around you. When i was with Houston wed run Over a on Glanville a a lot of it is show. If the cameras Are around hell butter it up. But 1 think he a a Good coach. He did Good things with Houston but it was time to a on Glanville with the Falcons a a there a a lot of Talent there and hell put it a on holding a How do you think i make a living you could be called on holding every Davis 24 and living in Atlanta could have More chances to hold in 1990. After three pro years of playing every offensive line position he has a shot at the Bill a starting right guard spot. That a because they forced Joe Devlin into retirement. In the meantime Davis is meeting troops and planning to visit his Uncle retired Soldier Martin Davis in Landshut near Munich. At least hell be a household name there. The stars and stripes Erwin replaces Stanley As pm arid coach compiled by Bucky Fox staff writer football a Bobby Erwin is the new coach of the Rhein main rockets. The base chose Erwin last Friday. He held his first team meeting wednesday. A win immediately a Erwin said thursday. Erwin succeeds Warren Stanley who resigned for business reasons after coaching Rhein main to Safe titles in 1988 and �?T89. Erwin 56, is the billeting officer at Rhein main. He a from Benton ark., and received a degree in Fine arts at Arkansas state in 1962. He retired As Kirkendall an air Force Captain in 1977, capping a i a year military career that included stints in the army and Navy. He Quarter racked Burton Wood to the . Sports conference title in 1957. Erwin wont enjoy the quarterback luxury Rhein main enjoyed the last two ears. Tony Smith is gone and Tor Hill i local Roundup reportedly leaving the air Force soon As is Star comeback Butch Watkins. Erwin said his staff returns Fred Kirkendall on offence and Willie Evans As defensive backs assistant. Bill Carey is Back coaching the offensive line and special teams after a year off. Gerry Jenkins will handle the defense after a three year Layoff. And Jose Val Entin Munoz will handle the defensive line and linebackers. Erwin said Spring training starts monday. He a looking for exhibition opponents for july 14-15 and july 2122. The rockets open aug. 5 at Wei Brincken. Track and Field a the Wurzburg invitational held in conjunction with the Usa eur track and Field clinic will be run May 12 at Sicke Grund stadium in Kitzinger. Registration will be from 8 30-10 30 ., with Competition starting at 11 Participation fee is $2 per person which covers three individual events plus relays. Point of Contact is at 3506306 Warren Stanley gave thumbs ups football. A amps Ken George Rhein main distance running a the first bad Kruez Nach half Marathon and Nahe 10-Kilomter run will be held May 27 and will Cost $10. The half Marathon will cover 21 Kilometres and is scheduled for a noon Start at Mobus stadium followed by the 10-km run and a 3-km youth race. Entry fee is payable to pm wry and should be mailed to com . Tuemler at 8th inf div mechanized Apo 09111. Last Day for mail in entries is May 21. Late entries will be accepted All Day May 26 and until 10 May 27 at Mobus stadium for no additional charge. Contact Michael Bullock at 490-7207/7305/7376 for More information. Rugby a the 3rd army div Frankfurt americans will Host the British Royal staff College monday at 6 . At the sports club 1880, which is located behind an Headquarters in Frankfurt. Since 1974, these two Rugby teams have squared off during a British groups officer professional development trip to the Frankfurt area. Call 328-7236/8108 for More television baseball a new York acts at Houston 1 30 Saturday. Radio basketball a Aba playoffs teams to be announced 2 Saturday
