Advertisement

Coach Has a Lot on the Ball . . . and the Hoop, and the Pins

Share

John Teerlinck, the Rams’ new defensive line coach, has a reputation for being, how do you say, a bit unorthodox. He has used green footballs, bowling pins and hoops as coaching tools, writes Steve Schoenfeld of the Arizona Republic.

Green footballs? Teerlinck started the practice in 1979 while coaching at Eastern Illinois because he wanted linemen to get off the ball quickly.

“They concentrate more, work harder if the ball is green because it’s stimulus response,” Teerlinck told the Republic.

Advertisement

Add Teerlinck: The coach got the idea to use bowling pins from Junior Ah You, who played for him in the United States Football League.

“He could twirl swords and do flame dances,” Teerlinck said. “What the hell is pass rushing other than using your hands and running at the same time? So we have our linemen juggle pins for hand-eye coordination.”

Add two, Teerlinck: Teerlinck even has a logical explanation for his use of hoops: “Defensive linemen never run in a straight line,” he said. “So I wanted to get something we could run around. I made hoops the same size as a basketball key and placed them on the ground. Someday, we’re going to replace the 40-yard dash with the hoop. Scouts are going to ask, ‘What can you do the hoop in?’ ”

Trivia time: Who is the only West Coast player to win the Outland Trophy, awarded to college football’s best interior lineman?

Indian summer: “It’s September and we’re 300 games out,” Cleveland pitcher Doug Jones said of the American League East standings.

For what it’s worth: The Bishop Chamber of Commerce offers this fishing tip. “Have your wife or girlfriend donate a used pair of nylons for your fishing equipment; snip off just enough of the nylon to form a pouch large enough to put a worm or salmon eggs into, then attach to a single or treble hook. This way your worm or eggs will not be lost when casting; also keeps your bait from being eaten from the hook by fish.”

Advertisement

Where’s Voice of America? The U.S. Olympic Committee’s computer information service wire for media representatives has so far made no mention of the story and controversy surrounding the resignation last week of Robert Helmick, the group’s former president.

Trivia answer: Offensive tackle Ron Yary of USC in 1967.

Quotebook: Chris Mullin of the Golden State Warriors, on the 1992 U.S. basketball team selected Saturday: “People have said the 1984 Olympic team was the best team ever assembled. Not anymore.”

Advertisement