Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 5, 1993 TAG: 9311050028
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: jack bogaczyk
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Don Shula could get his record 325th NFL career coaching victory Sunday when Miami visits the New York Jets. Shula's longevity in his business is nothing less than stunning, as are some of the names and numbers that accompany his career.
In the 24 seasons Shula has been the Dolphins' head coach, the other 27 NFL teams have employed 188 head coaches, led by 12 at Baltimore/Indianapolis. Shula is 23-16 against five Pro Football Hall of Fame coaches - Paul Brown, Weeb Ewbank, George Halas, Tom Landry and Vince Lombardi.
A dozen of his former players are in the Canton, Ohio, shrine. And his first starting lineup as Baltimore's coach, on Sept. 15, 1963, included Roanoke's George Preas at offensive tackle. Preas played 11 NFL seasons, his last three for Shula.
With both teams having 6-2 starts, the state's Division I-A football rivalry has warmed up. One of the recurring debates is who plays the toughest schedule, Virginia Tech or Virginia?
So far, it's not even close, although by the end of the season, it will be, says the NCAA's computer rankings on strength of schedule. Through eight games, UVa has played the 47th-toughest schedule in Division I-A, while the Hokies' schedule to date ranks 72nd.
The NCAA computer counts only games between I-A teams, and the opponents' wins or losses against UVa or Tech are subtracted. The Cavaliers' eight foes are 28-27 (.509) against I-A opposition. Tech's eight opponents are 23-27-1 (.461).
These numbers change weekly. Adding the final three games, including their Nov. 20 meeting, the Hokies' schedule moves ahead of Virginia's by .007. Tech's 11 opponents have a 38-34-2 record (.526), while Virginia's opponents are 40-37-1 (.519), making their cumulative schedule rankings Nos. 40 and 49, respectively.
His team has beaten his former employer twice - the first time that's happened in two decades - but that won't be enough to save Joe Bugel as the Phoenix Cardinals' coach.
Bugel's only two wins this season are over Washington. Joe Gibbs' former assistant and coach of the "Hogs" hasn't gotten much help from another ex-Redskin, either. Wide receiver Gary Clark missed the past two games and has caught only two passes in the past five games because of a pulled groin.
Those were only the third and fourth games the Pulaski County native has missed in 8 1/2 seasons. Clark is the only NFL wideout with at least 50 catches in eight consecutive years. He's expected to return Sunday against Philadelphia.
While the gutty-but-moody Clark wasn't always the easiest guy to deal with, the Redskins will tell you he's perhaps the most missed performer in this year's 1-6 disaster.
They're running like never before in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. When Tom Mason of Washington and Lee rushed for 230 yards in a victory over Bridgewater on Saturday, the Eagles' Ronnie Howard had 214, his third 200-yard ground game of the season.
The ODAC record for rushing yards is 298, by Randolph-Macon's Remon Smith against W&L in 1987. However, three of the top six, four of 11 and five of the best 15 rushing days in the 18-year ODAC history have occurred this season.
With the NBA season opening tonight, it might be a good time for Roanoke to think about a preseason game for next October, bringing George Lynch of the Los Angeles Lakers back to his hometown for a game against Charlotte, with the numerous regional faces on its roster and coach Allan Bristow.
Going shopping? If you buy Carolina Panthers' apparel, you won't be alone. In the first three days after Charlotte, N.C., was awarded the 29th NFL franchise, 1 million T-shirts and sweatshirts were sold. NFL Properties is estimating that about $30 million in Panthers' wear will be sold by Christmas.
by CNB