European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 7, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 26 the stars and stripes sports thursday january 7,1993 Kennedy earns Honor despite Seattle record by Jim Cour i. _ Seattle apr defensive Fankle Cortez Kennedy did it in spite of the Seattle sea Hawks. The sea Hawks after All had a 2-14 record this past season and scored the fewest Points for an nil team in a 16-game season. Still Kennedy was recognized As the associated press defensive player of the year. It s one of the most incredible accomplishments in pro football history. To la a monumental a Seahawk coach Tom Flores said. A Quot you done to get a lot of recognition on a team that wins Only two  Quot the award says it All a Seattle linebacker Rufus Porter said. Quot Tel had a helluva season. He made it look  Quot i never thought id get an award like this this year a an excited Kennedy said. Quot it Means the world to  Kennedy is Only the third player from a losing team to be recognized As the Teagues top defensive player since the a began tabulating votes from its member newspapers on nil awards in 1973. Bruce Smith won the award in 1987 after the Buffalo Bills finished 7-8, and Lawrence Taylor of the new York giants was picked for the Honor in 1982 after the new York giants went 4-5 in a season Cut Short by a labor dispute. Kennedy is the second Seahawk to be honoured. Safety Kenny Easley now retired was chosen the defensive player of the year in 1984, but Easley a 1984 sea Hawks posted a franchise Best 12-4 record. A a it a one thing to have a great season when your team is doing Well a Seattle defensive tackle Joe Nash said a but its another Story to have a great season when your team has a year like we  to just feels great to be considered in a class with Bruce Smith and Philadelphia a Reggie White a Kennedy said. Even Kennedy a outstanding season could not make up for the sea Hawks woeful offensive performance this Hearst Bettis join draft list by the associated press a Garrison Hearst of Georgia and Jerome Bettis of notre Dame considered two of the Best running backs in College football were among underclassmen who on tuesday declared eligibility for the nil draft. Among others declaring on tuesday were wide receivers Sean Dawkins of California and Phillip Bobo of Washington running Back natron Means of North Carolina defensive Back Patrick Bates of Texas a amp a Mike Reid of North Carolina state Roger Harper of Ohio state and Othello Henderson of Urcla and defensive tackle Leonard Renfro of Colorado on monday quarterback Drew Bledsoe of Washington state and linebacker Marvin Jones of Florida state each considered a possible no 1 draft pick said they would enter the draft. Also declaring were running Back Robert Smith of Ohio state and All purpose Back Curtis Conway of Southern california., the draft is scheduled april 25-26. Quot it has been a very difficult decision Quot Hearst said tuesday night. T have talked for several Days with my family and coaches and have Many mixed emotions about leaving Georgia. But in the end i believe it is the Best  Hearst rushed for 1,547 Yards this year As the bulldogs compiled a 9-2 regular season record then added 163 Yards and two touchdowns As Georgia beat Ohio state 21-14 in the Citrus bowl. He trailed Miami quarterback Gino Torretta and san Diego state Sophomore running Back Marshall Faulk in the Heisman balloting. Hearst won the Peak Walker award Given annually to the nations outstanding Junior or senior running Back. Bettis a 247-Pound fullback rushed for 900 Yards and 12 touchdowns this season capping his career by scoring three touchdowns m notre Dames 28-3 Cotton bowl Victory Over Texas a amp a. Defensive player of the year season. The sea Hawks scored Only 140 Points and their offence had just 13  losing a franchise Accord 14 games in their 17th season the sea Hawks were even worse than the 1976 expansion sea Hawks who were 212. A built close to the ground 6-foot-l, 300-Poundcr from the University of or Arris Kennedy became a dominant player in his third nil season after being the third player chosen in the 1990 draft with a 46-Inch Waist Kennedy May look fat and Sloppy but looks Are deceiving in his Case. Because of his outstanding strength and quickness he has a perfect football build. He has a leverage advantage Over the a Fly a offensive linemen. As Seattle a losses piled up this season so did Kennedy a statistics. He led the sea Hawks with 93 tackles 14 sacks 27 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. Quot it s very Tough to get that Many sacks when you re playing in the Middle a Kennedy said. For the first time Kennedy was voted into the pro bowl. He played in last year s pro bowl As an alternate when he replaced an injured player. His secret is determination. A a you be got to work hard and never give up Quot he said. Quot that a what i did the whole year. I Wasny to going to quit. I made big plays big tackles and put pressure on the quarterback. That just shows you that i was working hard every play of every  Nash says fans and the Media should appreciate what Kennedy did from his right defensive tackle position. Quot the tackles for loss the sacks. Those Are unbelievable a Nash said. A you have to go through so Many More people to make the play in the  even when the sea Hawks lost eight in a Row one shy of the single season club record set in 1980, Kennedy kept on bulldozing blockers aside and chasing Quad Seahawk tackle Cortez Kennedy shown against chiefs in �?T92, racked up 93 tackles and 14 sacks last season. To cracks. He did it with the memory of the late Jerome Brown in his heart. Brown one of his Best friends also played at Miami. Brown 27, was killed on june 25 when he lost control of his sports car in his Hometown of Brooksville Fla. Kennedy switched from no. 96, a number he wore at Miami to no. 99, Browne a number with the Philadelphia eagles. A. A a a Quot you done to see too Many Young players like Cortez do what he did this season a Flores said. Quot and hopefully he a still going to get  reaction by Mario Fox Chicago apr Chicago was Mike Ditka a Type of town and he came to symbolize the City with his no nonsense toughness. So when Ditka was fired As Chicago bears coach the action Drew a mixed reaction from the City. While some chicagoan had grown tired of Ditka a frequent temper tantrums and two losing seasons out of the past four years mayor Richard m. Daicy syndicated columnist Mike Royko and others came to the coaches defense tuesday. Royko said Ditka should have sent a Clear message at the news conference at which bears president Michael Mccaskey announced the coaches dismissal. A a in a disappointed with Ditka a speech. He should have punched Mccaskey and walked out a the columnist said. Quot this is the beginning of a Long tedious Dull and unsuccessful period for the bears because Mccasky is no football Guy. Quot Mccaskey is a wimp a said Royko. A this is a Victory for the bean counters. Mccaskey is a bean  at a hastily arranged news conference Daley noted that Ditka had endorsed his mayoral candidacy. Quot i was Good friends with Mike Ditka a said the mayor who has had a Tough 1992 himself what with downtown flooding Bridge reconstruction problems and the state legislature rejecting his third Airport and Casino gambling proposals. Reporters peppered Daley with questions As if the City was facing a crisis of leadership. Quot Mike Ditka has been a Good Symbol in this City he has the toughness the City needs a Daley said. A what 1 liked about him was that his players were Good Guys on and off the  but Daley  criticize Mccaskey for the firing or offer Ditka a City Job. Quot wherever he goes he will give 100 percent a he said. A Ditka inherited something and was Lucky to win a said Chicago bartender Bill Bear a there is a Man who is screwed up and needs psychiatric  Coughlin chooses to stay at by Boston apr armed with an improved contract and a commitment to make Boston College a National Power Tom Coughlin told the new York giants on tuesday he did no to want to become their coach. Quot once i removed my ego from this equation i asked myself a what is right at this time a and the answer was Boston College is right for me a he said at a news conference. After Ray Handley was fired last week As the giants coach Coughlin the teams former wide receivers coach and Dallas defensive coordinator Dave Wann Stedt were considered top candidates to succeed him. Coughlin 45, said Many factors went into his decision including his family a feelings the schools commitment to the football program and his desire to accomplish a what 1 set out to  he made his decision monday night after talking with giant general manager George Young. A i wanted to listen to what was said in order that i could make the right decision a Coughlin said. He refused to say if he were offered the Job and said he informed Young of his decision tuesday morning. Young took the news a professionally a Coughlin said. Asked if he still had a dream of becoming an nil coach Coughlin said a i just said All i m going to say about  in the second year of a five year contract Coughlin led the eagles to an 8-3-1 record in 1992 and their first bowl game in six seasons. But they were 1-3 in their last four games including a 38-23 loss to Tennessee in the Hall of Fame bowl on new years Day. A i ant not pleased with november and this bowl game a he said. A we have not accomplished what is to be