Crawford’s Career Tied to Bo : Former Moorpark Halfback Drafted by Same Team as Jackson

Yesterday was a real drag for Mike Crawford.

The hours dragged on. The rounds of the National Football League draft dragged on, and still no news.

Crawford, an Arizona State running back, had every right to expect a phone call from an NFL club. He had been contacted by about 15 of them this year, the Rams included, and had run 40-yard dashes for several professional scouts. He was even assured by Kansas City and Pittsburgh that they would sign him if he had not been chosen.

Crawford knew he wasn’t going to be a top pick. He had been told to expect to go somewhere between rounds seven and 12.

He flew home to Thousand Oaks and watched the draft on television Tuesday.

Darryl Clack, the Arizona State back who was injured early last season and replaced by Crawford, went to Dallas in the second round.

Round seven came and went. So did eight. And nine. Still no mention of Crawford.

He couldn’t wait any longer. He had a plane to catch to get back to Tempe, Ariz., in time for class Wednesday.

When Crawford landed in Tempe on Tuesday night, he phoned his mother, Elva, from the airport. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had called. He had gone in the 12th round, the 325th player selected out of 333.

“I’m disappointed,” he says, “but I’m going to get a shot. That’s all I can ask for. Some guys don’t even get that. I’ve never been a blue-chipper. But once I’ve gotten a chance to show my skills, I’ve done a good job.”

Most guys who get drafted 325th would be wise to look into another line of work. But for Mike Crawford, the prospects are not nearly so bleak. As a matter of fact, it would be a upset if he doesn’t make the Tampa Bay squad for three good reasons:

Crawford was picked by a team that is shifting from a one-back to a two-back offense. “Last year,” says Jim Gruden, the Buccaneers’ personnel director, “James Wilder was the only back who carried for us. We know he can’t do that forever. So we are going to go with a second back.”

Crawford was one of only two running backs selected by Tampa Bay. Last year, the Bucs carried three backs on their roster. Next season, they plan to go with five.

The only other running back selected by Tampa Bay might not even wind up there. His name is Bo Jackson, but football is not his only game. The Auburn star, No. 1 pick in Tuesday’s draft, is also a great baseball player. He says he won’t make any decisions until he talks to the major-league club that picks him in baseball’s June draft. Hugh Culverhouse, the Buccaneer owner, is prepared to wave $5 million in Jackson’s face to finalize the decision, but Jackson insists that won’t make up his mind.

If Jackson does turn his football in for a fielder’s glove, then perhaps the last pick shall be first.

“He’s a steady back,” says Gruden of the 5-11, 203-pound Crawford. “He has great vision, good balance and good strength in his lower body. He can catch the ball and he’s got quick moves. His overall speed is not the best in the world, but he does have quickness. And he was very productive in a good league.”

Crawford led the Pacific 10 in rushing touchdowns with 11. He was also fifth in rushing yards with 684.

All that in a year when it looked like his main job was going to be rushing over to block defenders before they could get to Clack, the starting tailback. But Clack suffered his injury early in the season, and Crawford was handed the ball.

His only problem came in Arizona State’s last game of the year, when he stretched knee ligaments. But he has fully recovered from that.

A quarterback at Thousand Oaks High, Crawford was switched to tailback at Moorpark College by Coach Jim Bittner.

In his first scrimmage, he gained a little more than 30 yards.

Crawford grew so upset at one point that he considered quitting college football altogether.

He didn’t feel that way for long. He gained more than 200 yards in his first game at Moorpark, and went on that season to lead the nation’s junior college players in scoring with 140 points. He also rushed for 1,329 yards and was named All-American.

“I’ve had some players who were more talented,” Bittner said, “but I’ve never had a better all-around athlete than Mike.”

After one year, he transferred to Arizona State, where Clack already had the job he wanted. So he waited. Just as he had to wait Tuesday.

But now, it seems, the waiting is about over.

“I’m not actually there yet,” said Crawford, cautiously. “There’s mini-camp. Then there’s summer camp. I just want to stay healthy and, hopefully, I can impress some people. You know, Bo will be there and he’s also a pretty impressive person.”