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Chargers Need Quarterback in the Bullpen, Aztecs a Later Start

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Maybe the Chargers need Mark Davis.

What they have is a starting pitcher who cannot get it done in the late “innings.” Sunday’s 20-17 loss to Pittsburgh was the fifth in which they had a chance to win or tie on their last possession.

And this one seemed to be the most pathetic of all.

On their next-to-last possession, the starting pitcher, Jim McMahon, threw a pass that Pittsburgh linebacker David Little could not have missed had he been wearing boxing gloves. Waiters get tips for such convenient service.

And then came the last possession, starting from the San Diego 20.

False start on Joel Patten. Have you heard that before?

Back to the 15.

Now McMahon took a one-yard sack that would have made Greg Louganis proud, virtually diving to the turf at the 14. Why not throw the ball anywhere and get the clock stopped?

Then came an incompletion that appeared intended for Wayne Walker. That was the last pass McMahon threw to a discernable receiver who had a discernable chance.

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The third-down pass looked like the desperate throwaway he should have thrown instead of taking the sack on first down. And the fourth-down pass, with the Chargers needing 16 yards, was air-mailed deep down the field. A Hail Mary? Not exactly. This one would have taken an entire Rosary.

Just think what it might be like if the Chargers did not have a savvy veteran at quarterback.

Maybe it is time for Billy Joe Tolliver to get another look.

San Diego State’s football staff displayed remarkable cool at one point late in the first half of last Saturday’s game against Miami, and it had nothing to do with football.

After quarterback Dan McGwire was sacked by Miami near midfield, one of those seemingly harmless football tussles broke out. They are harmless if they do not spread, but both teams started to surge forward from their benches.

At this juncture, with the Aztecs down, 28-0, and undoubtedly extremely frustrated, the coaching staff turned its backs to the field and took control of the sidelines.

Al Luginbill has stressed discipline and control, and this was an occasion when Luginbill and his staff led by example.

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Before the PacTel Cellular exhibition tennis match between McMahon act-alikes Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe Tuesday night, reporters were advised that a press room would be available.

However, they were also advised that they would have to provide their own telephones.

PacTel doesn’t have any?

I know three fourth-place teams beat three league champions in the first round of the expanded San Diego Section football playoffs, but I still don’t like it.

With a total of 32 teams in Divisions 3-A and 2-A, it’s getting to be like not being listed in the telephone book. You have to ask to be left out.

This is like the National Basketball Assn., which seemingly plays the whole season for the sole purpose of eliminating the Clippers.

Why not just play six warmup games and let everyone into the playoffs?

There may be no heavyweights locally in collegiate basketball, but that hasn’t stopped them from stepping into the ring with a few Tysonesque opponents.

San Diego State, for example, opens Friday night against Villanova in a Maui tournament that includes Louisville, North Carolina, Missouri and Evansville. Look for the Aztecs to play James Madison and Chaminade after Villanova.

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USD goes to St. John’s for a tournament in early December . . . and visits UCLA a week later.

USIU is on the road against Oklahoma and Arkansas in the season’s first two weeks.

College basketball could get to be a lot of fun hereabouts if these teams’ skills someday catch up with their ambitions.

If San Diego State can upset Brigham Young Saturday night, it would position itself to make 1990 a turning point in the history of the football program.

A 7-4-1 season . . . with a victory over BYU . . . should get the attention of the community. Given Dan McGwire’s return for his senior year at quarterback and the presence of Miami on the home schedule, a 1990 season ticket may not be a hot item but it should be reasonably warm.

If season-ticket sales do not soar for 1990, give it up guys. That would be proof the community doesn’t care.

First of all, however, there is the matter of Saturday’s date with BYU in Mission Valley. All things considered, this might be as big a game as the program (program, not team) has encountered.

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One more thing about SDSU football, 1990 style . . .

You wanna be like Miami? Play the home games at 4 p.m.

Such a game would not blow either all day Saturday or all evening Saturday. Media coverage would be much more thorough, particularly in time zones where SDSU is now virtually anonymous. And ESPN would be much more interested in, say, SDSU-Miami at 7 p.m. in the east than at 10 p.m.

I think this is a great idea. Fred Miller can even say it was his, and I won’t say a word.

One more thing.

Does anyone care any more about this America’s Cup mess?

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