Winning Isn’t Everything for Fellow Named Frosty

Frosty Westering limps along on artificial hips.

He’s had two cataract operations and hernia surgery. Days away from his 74th birthday and six victories shy of 300 wins, he has no plans to retire as football coach of Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, Wash., after 33 consecutive winning seasons.

It doesn’t matter that Westering’s Lutes lost a Division III playoff game Saturday to St. John’s (Minn.), which has a coach of its own, John Garliardi, who boasts a 49-year association with his school and 388 victories.

Westering, who finished his 30th season at Pacific Lutheran, isn’t in it for the wins.

“Years ago, I realized how important it is to encourage people when things aren’t going well,” Westering said.

It’s this approach that is the reason players keep coming to this private school of 3,500 students.

“Anyone who extends themselves to him, he’s so eager to help,” said wide receiver Todd McDevitt, who transferred from Western Washington in search of a school that stressed more than winning. “The key about Frosty is he’s so genuine.”

So what about his success?

“It’s so hard to explain,” Westering said. “Today in the pro world, winning is the only thing. ... The best thing to teach kids is it’s not about being No. 1 or no one.”

Woody’s Roundup

Woodrow Dantzler won’t change his attitude, no matter how great his accomplishment.

At least that’s what he said leading up to Clemson’s regular-season finale against Duke.

Clemson’s senior quarterback became the first NCAA player to pass for at least 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in the same season.

“Those things can fade away,” Dantzler said of records. “The things that set me apart, being a good person, is how I want people to remember me. Those numbers, records, whatever--who cares?”

He probably would have reached the 2,000-1,000 mark a year ago, but an ankle injury in the eighth game bothered him the rest of the season and left him 129 yards passing short.

“We’ve been through a lot of stuff,” Dantzler said of his teammates. “Guys coming from all parts of the country, working to one goal. You can see how football is the universal language.”

No Apologies

Utah State hadn’t given up 70 points since a 72-3 loss to Oklahoma in 1974.

But don’t expect Fresno State to apologize one bit for its 70-21 victory in a game that probably had more bitter emotions than points.

Fresno State accused the Aggies of everything from dirty hits to sneaky defensive signal-calling, and the Bulldogs responded by delivering personal fouls, taunts and a humiliating, one-sided defeat.

“I was not really happy with the way some of those people conducted themselves out there,” Fresno State Coach Pat Hill said of the Aggies. “I wasn’t pleased with their sportsmanship. We’ve got a very aggressive football team. They don’t do a good job of letting it go.”

Fresno State quarterback David Carr took glee in the outcome.

“They were just cheap-shotting guys,” Carr said of the Aggies. “It’s hard for me to have respect for that football team, and I’m glad we ran over them.”

Turning It Around

Before Saturday, North Texas had plenty in common with the Washington Redskins.

The Mean Green started the season with five consecutive losses and had since won five in a row.

Not only did North Texas right its season, it also won the Sun Belt Conference title and a spot in the inaugural New Orleans Bowl.

An 18-16 loss to Troy State on Saturday left the Mean Green with a 5-6 record, without the NCAA minimum of six wins for a bowl appearance. North Texas still goes because of its status as conference champion.

“Because we’re conference champions, these kids are very deserving,” said North Texas Coach Darrell Dickey.

A 50-27 victory at Idaho on Nov. 17 clinched the school’s first bowl berth in 42 years. North Texas and Middle Tennessee State (8-3) both have 5-1 conference records, but the Mean Green’s 24-21 win on Oct. 13 was the tiebreaker.

In 1983, the school dropped the football program to Division I-AA. It wasn’t until 1995 that the team returned to Division I-A.

The Mean Green is 24-54 since then, but the guaranteed $750,000 bowl payout figures to help reverse that trend.

Saved by Zero

Three Division I-A team finished the season with no victories, including Duke, which did it for the second consecutive season and has a 23-game losing streak.

The Blue Devils closed out another 0-11 campaign with a 59-31 loss to Clemson.

Navy’s 26-17 loss to Army gave the Midshipmen (0-10) their first winless season since 1948 when they were 0-8-1.

Houston (0-11) also is among the winless after a 35-7 loss to Georgia. It is the Cougars’ first winless season in school history and extended their losing streak to 15.

Tulsa is another team to consider. The Golden Hurricane (1-10) won only against Division I-AA Indiana State in its season opener.

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Compiled by Jim Barrero

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DOUBLE THREATS

Clemson’s Woodrow Dantzler became the first NCAA player to pass for 2,000 yards and run for 1,000 yards in a season. He finished the season with 2,360 yards passing and 1,004 yards rushing. Some other notable pass-run quarterbacks with at least 1,000 yards in each category, listed in order of total yards: