Make No Mistake, BYU Is Well-Armed

Washington Coach Don James, taking a swipe at the level of competition in the Western Athletic Conference, said: “I know what it is to go through the Pac-10 and Big Eight. And BYU would have had a tough time winning if it had a game after the Holiday Bowl since their quarterback was hurt.”

Let’s see, when Gifford Nielsen was the starter at BYU, he was backed up by Marc Wilson. Wilson, when he took over, was backed up by Jim McMahon. then, McMahon was backed up by Steve Young, and Young by Robbie Bosco.

When Boxco went out briefly with injuries in the Holiday Bowl, some kid named Blaine Fowler came in and completed five out of seven passes.

And if Fowler had gotten hurt--well, you get the idea.

Describing Joe Theismann after the Washington Redskins’ loss to the Chicago Bears, Ken Denlinger of the Washington Post wrote: “There was a welt the size of a baseball behind his left shoulder, and at least 11 smaller ones scattered about his back. Dirt was all but stitched to his arms; reddish-purple swelling testified how often his helmet had been driven against his forehead.”

Said Theismann: “I felt like it was rush hour on the freeway out there, with a convoy of trucks heading south to Richmond. There was little me, trying to get across the street. And I couldn’t.”

Note: Said Dan Hampton, explaining how Chicago’s defensive line ate up Washington’s vaunted Hogs to sack Theismann seven times: “We had a diet of fish, chicken and beef all week. We were hungry for pork.”

Add Bears: Coach Mike Ditka thought defensive back Todd Bell set the tone of the game when he put a monumental hit on Joe Washington that separated the Redskin receiver from the ball and his senses.

“That seemed to take the air of out them,” Ditka said.

Asked afterward about the hit, Washington smiled and said, “I think I made their 1984 highlight film.”

Last Add Bears: Said Dennis McKinnon, who came back from knee surgery this season and caught a touchdown pass Sunday: “Even on one leg I can beat anyone man-to-man. Fred Dean was a piece of cake for me.”

That’s Vernon, not Fred, Dennis. You’ll see Fred next Sunday at Candlestick Park.

From New York Giants running back Rob Carpenter after the 21-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers: “Bill Walsh is the best coach in football. Their offense is so finely tuned it’s a Jaguar. He makes sure they have no tendencies whatsoever. He’s the reason they’re 16-1.

Said wide receiver Eddie Brown of Miami when told that UCLA will start two freshmen in its defensive backfield today in the Fiesta Bowl: “Now that’s something to look forward to. I can get into that.”

Of Miami’s 47-45 loss to Doug Flutie and Boston College, he said: “That was a shootout against BC. It’ll be a shootout again against UCLA, but it’ll be mostly us doing the shooting. We’re going to put it to them.

Quotebook

Dallas Mavericks Coach Dick Motta, on one advantage of being a pro basketball coach: “I never get lost in airports. I just follow the tall guys.”