McCallum Is OKd for Raider Duty : But Time and Timing May Be Difficult Problems to Solve

a momentous decision Wednesday, the United States Navy freed one of its ensigns, Napoleon McCallum, for duty on weekday afternoons and weekends as a Raider.

Previous football-playing ensigns like Roger Staubach and Joe Bellino never got that much. If McCallum plays, it will be the equivalent of the Raiders getting a bonus No. 1 pick. McCallum would have been picked in the first round of last spring’s National Football League draft except for his five-year commitment to active duty. The Raiders got him with their third pick in the fourth round.

The question remains, will he play?

Al Davis, the Raider owner, said on national television last week that he didn’t want a “weekend warrior.” It now appears that McCallum could make the games and the practices but would miss the meetings.

The Raiders are trying to determine whether that’s enough.

“It would have to be a full-time commitment and for more than one year for it to be satisfactory for the Raiders,” Coach Tom Flores said.

“It would be very difficult (if McCallum has to miss the meetings). I’m not saying it would be impossible, but it would be very difficult.”

And if McCallum were only to return punts, which would mean fewer meetings?

“On a 45-man squad, whoever the specialist is, he has to be able to play another position,” Flores said. “Cle Montgomery was a wide receiver. Fulton Walker is a defensive back.

“Sure, they might be the last man in, but they can play, they can practice, they can contribute.

“The one thing we can’t do is change our structure. The Navy can’t change its structure. It has to be satisfactory to both.”

The Navy’s statement, released at the Pentagon, said: “The secretary of the Navy (John F. Lehman Jr.) has approved recommendations by the chief of Naval Operations and the commandant of the Marine Corps to allow Ensign Napoleon McCallum to participate in professional football games on a not-to-interfere basis with his military duties. . . .

“His responsibilities as a commissioned Naval officer are primary and his participation will not be allowed to conflict with assigned ship-board duties.”

McCallum is currently aboard the U.S.S. Peleliu, which is being overhauled in Long Beach.

Final interpretation of the Navy directive will be up to the Peleliu’s captain, Capt. K.R. Barry. Barry, however, was at sea Wednesday on a sister ship, the U.S.S. Belleau Wood. It is due back this afternoon.

“A food supply officer, which is what (McCallum) is normally works from 5 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon,” said Lt. Comm. Steve Honda, of the Navy’s public affairs office. “Plus he’ll be required to stand normal military watches. Every fifth day, he’ll stay aboard the entire 24 hours. Some of those fifth days may be on weekends.”

The Raiders have squad meetings on weekday mornings, except on the day off, Tuesday. On the above schedule, McCallum wouldn’t be able to attend those.

The Raiders then break for lunch and start practice at 2:30. McCallum presumably could make the practice sessions.

The Navy had first hoped to hold a press conference for McCallum aboard the Peleliu Wednesday. It was called off, however, when it was learned that McCallum had been assigned to stand watch from 4 to 8.

“As we said,” Honda said, “his military duties come first.”

The same privileges to play professionally that are being accorded to McCallum will also apply to Marine Lt. Eddie Meyers, a Naval Academy graduate who has just attended his fifth training camp with the Atlanta Falcons. David Robinson, the Academy’s basketball center who is entering his senior year, will also be accorded the privilege after next season.

However, Meyers is assigned to the Marine base at Camp Pendleton, Calif., too far to commute in the afternoons. And spending five days in an office anywhere would make it difficult for Robinson to keep up with a National Basketball Assn. schedule.

Raider Notes

Coach Tom Flores was still hoping that Napoleon McCallum could make it here for a practice this afternoon, although that seemed unlikely. McCallum was to hold a press conference aboard the Peleliu at noon. Flores says that if McCallum can’t practice, he will dress but probably won’t play Friday against the New England Patriots. . . . Marc Wilson’s sprained right wrist, which was very sore Tuesday, felt better and he practiced for the first time this week. He will probably start against the Patriots. . . . Lester Hayes returned to practice after sitting out with an abscessed tooth. He is expected to play Friday. Safety Mike Davis, however, has been unable to practice on his sore knee. He’s doubtful for Friday.