New Texas A&M; Coach Made a Brief Stop at USC

R.C. Slocum, named to succeed Jackie Sherrill as the head football coach at Texas A&M;, had been an assistant coach at the school since 1972 except for 2 years as an assistant to John Robinson at USC in 1980-81.

Said Robinson in 1980, when asked what Slocum had brought to the Trojan program: “A Southern accent and some great stories about Texas.”

Add Slocum: Said USC Athletic Director Dick Perry, bitter over Slocum’s return to Texas A&M; in 1982 after Sherrill had been named head coach: “They not only gave Sherrill the south side of the world, but they gave him the south side to find some coaches also.

“In college football, when you are talking with those numbers, you start destroying what a university is all about. Somewhere, there has to be a relationship of some kind between the university and the athletic department.

“If a guy got that kind of offer, we won’t counter it. We’ll just say, ‘It’s been nice knowing you.’ ”

Now that Barry Sanders has wrapped up the 1988 Heisman Trophy, when does the hype start for next year’s award?

It’s already started. Headline in the Daily Trojan this week: “Emanuel: Rushing for 1989 Heisman.”

Trivia Time: Who was the first Heisman Trophy winner to win a National Football League rushing title? (Answer below.)

Just Asking: Wonder if Elgin Baylor laughed when Channel 2’s Keith Olbermann said, “The University of Seattle hasn’t had a winning team since the O’Brien twins graduated in 1953.”

Baylor led Seattle to the 1957-58 National Collegiate Athletic Assn. final. Seattle also had a couple of good seasons under Bob Boyd. In 1963-64, the Chieftains went 22-6, losing to UCLA’s national champions, 95-90, in the Far West semifinals.

USC basketball Coach George Raveling, waiting for a table at a trendy Hollywood restaurant, figured nobody there knew who he was. That is, until he heard somebody shout, “Hey, George, do you need a little Oriental point guard?”

It was Noriyuki (Pat) Morita, the actor who played the Japanese handyman in the “Karate Kid.”

Eddie (The Eagle) Edwards, after managing to finish out of last place for the first time last weekend in the World Cup ski jump at Lake Placid, explained why he wasn’t at last year’s meet.

“This time last year I was in a mental hospital in Finland,” he said. “I didn’t tell them that I was certified weird or mad, but it was great. I stayed there because it was the cheapest place to stay. I couldn’t afford to stay anywhere else.

“It was great. I learned a lot from those guys.”

Add Edwards: In the 90-meter jump on Saturday, he avoided last place by beating Gerrit Konijnenberg of the Netherlands.

Said the Associated Press: “Actually, both men jumped 62 meters, but Edwards won--are you ready for this?--on style.”

Miami Heat Coach Ron Rothstein, claiming he’s not worried about job security, told Alan Goldstein of the Baltimore Sun: “I’m protected. I negotiated a contract that says I only have to win three games my first season. As for our losing streak, I just borrow a quote from one of our players who said, ‘I’m amphibious to the whole situation.’ ”

Add Goldstein: “If you’re wondering if Michael Jordan is worth $3.1 million per year to Chicago, check the following figures,” he said. “Before he joined the Bulls, tickets cost $4.50 to $15 and average attendance was 6,365 at Chicago Stadium. Now, tickets range from $10.50 to $135 for 200 courtside seats and average attendance is 18,060. The Bulls grossed $8.8 million at the gate last season.”

Trivia Answer: Alan Ameche of the Baltimore Colts in 1955, his rookie year.

Quotebook

Houston Coach Jerry Glanville, on the facilities at Cleveland Stadium where the Oilers face the Browns Sunday: “The first thing I do when I go in the locker room, I get a hammer and a nail and I drive a nail up so I’ve got some place to hang my clothes.”