SAN DIEGO YEAR IN REVIEW : THE TOP 10 SPORTS STORIES : 5 : OWED TO BILLY JOE

After the 1990 season, Charger Coach Dan Henning startled owner Alex Spanos and General Manager Bobby Beathard with his announcement that he was at odds with his bosses on who should be the starting quarterback.

Henning made it clear that the team’s best chance for success in 1991 was Billy Joe Tolliver. He said Spanos and Beathard preferred to play on with John Friesz.

Initially, Henning prevailed. Tolliver was No. 1 on the depth chart through the preseason.

But Tolliver played poorly in the final exhibition game and was booed loudly as he walked from the field.

Friesz, who had done nothing to demand a change in the first three preseason games, stepped out of a telephone booth in the fourth quarter and posted Superman numbers (15-for-17).

Henning no longer had a choice. Although Friesz had not worked against a first-string defense in training camp and had played in only one NFL regular-season game, he was named the strater.

Two days later, Tolliver was shipped to Atlanta for a fifth-round draft pick.

“Give my boy a chance,” Tolliver said as he went on his way.

Henning designed an offensive game plan that allowed Friesz to play as he had in college. Henning put four wide receivers on the field and didn’t force Friesz to run play-action passes. The results were impressive.

Friesz finished the season with a poor performance against Denver, but by then he had captured the fancy of Charger fans. He threw 12 touchdown passes and had 15 interceptions, completing 53.8% of his passes. Said Beathard: “We have something to build on.”