CHARGER UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / DAVE McKIBBEN : Stadium Manager Is Called on Carpet Because of Bad Field

Bill Wilson, director of stadium operations, was called into General Manager Bobby Beathard’s office Monday explaining why the playing field at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium looks like a sandbox.

“It looks terrible, but grass doesn’t grow on a busy street,” Wilson said.

Wilson was referring to the nine football games, one Guns N’ Roses concert and one Bud Bowl commercial that have ravaged the stadium grass.

“We’re getting all the games when Bermuda grass doesn’t grow, in October and November,” Wilson said.

Players, coaches and management have complained about the poor field condition, but Wilson said everyone should quit their whining.

“Aesthetically, it isn’t pretty, but it plays well,” Wilson said. “Nobody’s getting hurt and it’s a fast track. It must not be too bad, 96 points and over 1,000 yards were gained on it Saturday (in the San Diego State-Fresno State game).”

Charger officials are worried the field won’t look presentable for Sunday’s game against the Raiders. On Saturday, SDSU plays Miami on national television.

“It’s impossible to make it look any better than it does,” Wilson said. “It’ll look fine for the high school championships and Holiday Bowl because the grass will have time to grow.”

Sunday’s game on ESPN will be blacked out unless 59,500 tickets are sold by Thursday at 5 p.m. So far, 54,500 tickets have been issued. If the game is not blacked out, it will be shown locally on ESPN and Channel 10. The last time a home game was not blacked out in San Diego was last year’s Charger-Raider game.

The Chargers are tied for the AFC’s final wild card berth with Houston, although the Oilers own the first tiebreaker by virtue of beating the Chargers’ 27-0, but Coach Bobby Ross still paints his team as the underdog in the playoff race.

“We still are in the hunt,” Ross said. “We probably have a remote opportunity. Not a great chance, and as long as you keep winning, you have to believe you still have your chance.”

Said Beathard about the Charger playoff chances: “I can’t even comment on the playoffs right now . . . With our type of team, it’s difficult to look beyond the next game.”

Since starting 0-4, the Chargers have gone 6-1. How have they done it?

Ross says his players have become more familiar with his system, quarterback Stan Humphries has developed, the veterans have taken more of a leadership role and everyone has renewed confidence.

Linebacker Gary Plummer had the flu and spent the night at home instead of team hotel. Before the game, he was given a couple IV’s to keep his strength up.

Still, he made six tackles and played much of the game.

The Chargers have literally and figuratively come out of the dark recently. After a month of Monday practices in the dark, except for a few spotlights, they have moved their one-hour practice from 4:30 to 3 p.m.

Burt Grossman and Henry Rolling have sprained ankles and are doubtful for Sunday’s Raider game. But Ross is expecting both to play. Shawn Jefferson caught Delton Hall’s knee in the thigh during practice and could barely run. But Jefferson said he should be available for practice Monday.

Ross said the Chargers’ met 17 of their 19 goals on special teams. The special teams failed to block a punt and were six yards short of a 43-yard gross punting average.

The special teams helped give the Chargers an average starting field position of their 40-yard line. The Buccaneers’ average starting point was their 16.