European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 05, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Orange officials not no. 7 in by . Schmidt Omaha neb. A forget the National foot Ball polls. In Nebraska the votes Are in. Fans Are upset with the officiating in the Corn huskers 18-16 Orange bowl loss to Florida state that Cost Nebraska a National championship. Florida state was ranked no. 1 in the final associated press poll of the season. On the radio in the newspaper and on the Street fans made it Clear they thought the officiating stunk. At the Airport in Lincoln where about 1,200 peo ple chanted we re no. 1" to Greet the University of Nebraska football team Early monday fans carried banners announcing their disapproval of the Calls the Way it should be no 16, flu 6refs 12," said one sign. Another depicted an official making a Call for illegal blocking and proclaimed him flu s most valuable player. The Man who chose the officials who worked the game Dennis Wooldridge commissioner of the old Dominion athletic conference said he s anxious to review films of both the Orange and peach bowls. At Issue in both games were goal line fumbles on plays that were ruled touchdowns. I Hope our officials were in the right position to make the Calls Wooldridge said in a Telephone interview monday from his office in Salem a. They were Veteran Crews at both games. Our Orange bowl Crew had a combined 140 years officiating expert  -. Wooldridge watched the Orange bowl on television and saw a Florida state player Fumble on what was flu s Only touchdown. Wooldridge said the referees made an excellent Call in putting a second Back on the clock at the end of Mie Orange bowl to let Nebraska attempt a Field goal even after Florida state began celebrating on the Field. They did the right thing. It did t look very pretty but the Ball ended up where it should he said. The kick went wide and Nebraska lost. Wooldridge said he reviews game film of every game for which he provides officials. If he sees a problem he said he can Issue a reprimand against the errant official. If i find the official was in error i will reprimand him. It will affect How and whether he works for the rest of the year he said. Wooldridge said he does t want to Candy coat the matter. We re human i Hope to have a final answer by the end of the week for All the people who have questions he said. Wooldridge also said he was concerned that Abc Orange bowl commentators Dick Enberg and Bob Trumpy were Overly critical of the officials. They had something to say about every Call that was made Wooldridge said. It s the perception. If there s a controversial Call they play it Over and Over. If it was a Good Call it s usually played Only once he said. The stars and stripes ports january 5,1994 Page 32 a Downer for 49ers Petibon fired by redskins Ashburn a. A Richie Petitbon was fired tuesday As coach of the Washington redskins two Days after the team s worst finish in three decades. Petitbon the team s defensive coach since 1978 who patiently waited for a Chance to run the redskins leaves after Only one sea son. The redskins finished last in the pfc East with a 4 12 record. With regret and after much thought i have decided to release Richie Petitbon As head coach Petibon of the Washington redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke said in a statement after meeting with the coach for More than an hour. Cooke called Petitbon a personal Friend of mine for  the owner said Petitbon was the Only assistant football coach i be Ever person ally signed to a contract we did it together. The second or third Day after 1 arrived from the West coast to take Over control of the club Cooke said of the contract signing. In his statement Petitbon said i have nothing but Praise for the redskins ownership assistant coaches players trainers every last one of them. They did their Best but it was not to be. By Dennis Georgatos san Francisco a right now even the san Francisco 49ers Don t think they look much like a playoff team. And it s More than the three losses in their last four games. It s How they be lost particularly Over the last two weeks. In monday night s regular season closer they gave Roger Ruzek a second Chance and the Philadelphia kicker connected on a 28-Yard Field with no time left in overtime As the eagles beat san Francisco 37-34 to Send the 49ers into the postseason on a two week Downer. Just moments earlier Ruzek missed a 38-Yard try but the eagles got another shot when the 49ers Merton Hanks was see Page 26 for final nil standings penalized for roughing the kicker after leaping in an Effort to Block the kick. A believe this team can win. We be just got to regroup san Francisco s Jerry Rice said after the 49ers fell to 10 6. Knowing that during the playoffs we have one shot maybe that might be the extra incentive to get  Philadelphia 8-8recovering from a mid season tailspin caused by a wave of injuries ended the year with three straight victories to avoid its first losing season since 1987. "1 Don t think i be Ever been involved in a football game like this before Phil Adelphia coach Rich Kotite said. We created our own rhythm. We just Felt it had to be a scoring thing right from the beginning because they can strike at any  lost in the wild finish was Steve Young of the 49ers winning a third straight nil passing title something no other quarterback has done and the Relief performance by Steve Bono who directed two scoring drives in the final 4 41 to Force overtime. But the 49ers allowed Philadelphia to get out to a 24-3 Lead surrendered a sea son High in Points and placekicker Mike Cofer had another demoralizing Outing. Cofer missed two Field goals including a 32-yarder that would have won it for the 49ers in of after Bono drove the team to the eagles 14 in the opening Possession of the extra period. Eagles linebacker Byron Evans scores after grabbing a 49er Fumble monday night. In a 10-7 Christmas Day loss to hous ton in which san Francisco s top ranked ranked offence was held to a season Low in scoring Cofer missed one kick and had another blocked. Anybody who s in this business knows that people step on you put. You Down Cofer said. The Only people who can pick you up Are your teammates. They did their part i just did t do  san Francisco s finish does not Bode Well for the 49ers in the postseason. Only one club the 1966 Green Bay team went on to win the super bowl after losing its last two regular. Season games. Despite the Way the season ended the 49ers remain the pfc s second seed. They will have a first round playoff Bye and play either Minnesota the new York giants or Detroit in a divisional playoff Jan. 15 at candlestick Park. We re a Good team and we re going to get better said san Francisco running Back Ricky Walters who ran for 54 Yards and a touchdown in his return from a three week absence caused by a right knee ligament Strain. A by a ,4% r re i a 01246850i100050411