SAN DIEGO YEAR IN REVIEW : THE TOP 10 SPORTS STORIES : 2 : 16-32, SKIDOO

After an 0-5 start to the 1991 season, Chargers owner Alex Spanos stopped talking to Coach Dan Henning.

“I knew what was going on,” Henning said, “but I was very, very determined to keep everything together and not crack.”

Henning kept the Chargers competitive, but as so often had been

the case in his three-year tenure here, his team lacked a finishing kick.

After the Chargers ended the season at 4-12 with a characteristic 17-14 loss to Denver, General Manager Bobby Beathard made it official that Henning and his entire staff, including popular and effective defensive coordinator Ron Lynn, had been fired.

“I think the bottom line is what has come down here,” Henning said, “and I have no argument with that--we haven’t won.”

Henning, a born-again loser in San Diego after compiling a 22-41-1 record in Atlanta, racked up a 16-32 mark with the Chargers, including a 6-22 performance in games decided by seven or fewer points.

Did Henning have a chance to win in San Diego? Henning said the Chargers lacked continuity when he was hired on as head coach, and nothing changed. During his time in command, Henning worked for two general managers, lost running back Gary Anderson and defensive end Lee Williams via trades and had to start three different quarterbacks.

“I don’t believe any organization can win consistently,” said Henning in his farewell press conference, “with the changes we’ve made over the last three years.”

Beathard quickly focused his attention on Georgia Tech Coach Bobby Ross, who immediately endeared himself to Charger fans with a close victory over Stanford in the Aloha Bowl.

The new year starts with the announcement that Ross will, in fact, be the new coach.