Oregon daily emerald., April 13, 1976, Page 5, Image 5

Bob Welch
Harter staqs I
Hour what about the Ducks in '77P
"Is he or isn't he?"
The frantic lady on the telephone pretty well summed up
what was on the minds of a lot of Eugeneans last week as Dick
Harter considered leaving for Colorado. A community that
goes bananas over anything that's green, yellow and can take
a charge does more than yawn when its basketball coach is
wooed by others.
But what if Harter had taken the job? Where would that
have left Oregon basketball?
For openers, the timing couldn't have been worse. Ever
try finding a basketball coach three days before !etters-of
intent can be signed? And ever try to sign a recruit without a
coach?
A guy like Greg Ballard would have to wonder if it might
not be better to take the NBA s hardship route rather than
spend his senior year under a new coach. And, who knows,
maybe there d be a few empty seats in Mac Court next year.
As it is, Harter s back in his office and all’s well in
Eugenes basketball world.
While Harter defined his reasons for staying as "obviously
the players and the fans, you've got to think there were
others The timing obviously was a factor; a coach who's had
four years of super support just doesn't bail out with a string of
recruits left up in the air
Also, Harter hinted, rather surprisingly, that the idea of
starting from scratch wasn't big with him. "As much fun as it's
been the last four or five years, there were some tough times
the first couple of years,” he said. "You don't look at a new
situation without looking back four or five years."
Harter's mind now, as you d expect, is on recruiting.
"A lot depends on this recruiting year, because if we re
successful we II have a good nucleus of veterans and an
excellent foundation of sophomores and freshmen."
Recruiting-wise, Oregon lost a valuable asset when Dick
Stewart took the Fordham job "Anytime you lose a good man
it's going to effect your recruiting," said Harter.
And Harter s trips to Colorado last week, although he says
they didn't hurt recruiting any, certainly didn t help
Still, Oregon has plenty of things going for it. The 65-45
win over UCLA, though somewhat diluted by the Ducks un
spectacular National Invitation Tournament performance, no
doubt enticed some prospects.
Any recruit in Eugene over the winter had to be impressed
with The Pit, the fans and the idea of having McDonald s sell
posters with his picture on them.
And for a mature guard, there’s a good shot at seeing
plenty of action next year.
Harter, obviously, is after guards. Players who can give
the Ducks the outside threat they've never really had. Players
who can score in the clutch And, above all, players who can
shut off the baseline.
Oregon will sign four or five players this spring. One the
Ducks are concentrated on is Stan Walker, the 6-5 Sunset
swingman. Walker, who visited Saturday along with another
recruit, averaged 20 1 per game last season and was the top
rebounder in the state AAA tournament.
‘ We re very interested in him," said Harter
After Walker, however, Harter isn't talking There s a fine
prospect — maybe two — in the Denver area he refers to and a
6-6 blue chipper from Long Beach, Calif. But if you want
names, no way.
Tomorrow is the first day letters-of-mtent can be signed
and Harter said he "anticipates one or two may sign" before
the week is over. "We anticipate fairly quick commitments,"
said Harter “It won't be at the end of May like in some past
years. ’
Whether or not the Ducks get their men, it should be an
interesting Pac-8 race next year. Can you picture UCLA with
out Richard Washington and Marques Johnson, both of whom
have filed as NBA hardship cases?
Or the thunderous boos when Washington enters the Pit?
Somehow, you know Harter wouldn t miss it.
PIZANS
1223 Aider
345-2628
Just off
) Campus
Live Music
Wednesday and Friday Nights
9-Midnight
All sandwiches are available
on your choice of bread.
Enjoy alt sorts of
sandwiches:
Salami
Capicoila
Prosciutto
Corned Beef
Pastrami
Picnic Ham
Provolcne Cheese
and other favorites
Happy Hour
Wed. & Fri.
50c Pitchers
Schhtr H»r nn drufl
M»c kIu** & 7uc pitchers
UO qualifies
in two-mile,
sets record
Oregon qualified its two-mile
relay team for the Association of
Intercollegiate Athletics for
Women (AIAW) meet and set a
new school record in the 880 med
ley relay at the University of
Washington relays Sunday in
Seattle.
The two-mile team of Kim Con
ner (2:19), Nancy Alleman
(2:25.2), Data Ramsey (2:18.4)
and Cheryl Bates (2:19) ran
9:21.6, well under the 9:45 qualify
ing standard and more than a mi
nute faster than the school record
of 10:25.3.
The Oregon quartet placed
second to a star-ladened team
from the Falcon Track Club which
ran 8:50.4, only four seconds off
the American record.
The Ducks bettered the school
record of 1:50.8 for the 880 med
ley relay as Mary Officer, Dawna
Rose, Carol Amaral and Janice
Vernon clocked 1:49.5 for second
place behind the Falcons.
Oregon captured the 880 relay
with 1:43.9 for Sandy Aikins, Carol
Amaral, Dawna Rose and Mary
Officer.
Karen Marshall of Oregon took
seconds in the shot (45-0) and
discus (137-0) while Officer was
fourth in the long jump with I8V2.
The 440 relay team of Kathi
Guiney, Amaral, Dawna Rose and
Officer placed second in 49.3,
one-tenth of a second behind the
winning team.
=5poftfolio=
Ducks rained out, face UP today
Oregon s scheduled baseball game with Pacific Monday
at Howe Field was cancelled because of rain. The Ducks
travel to Portland today, weather permitting, to play the Uni
versity of Portland.
Women kickers open with win
The Oregon women’s soccer team, coached by Derek
Wilkins, opened its season Saturday with a 5-2 win over
Oregon State.
Robin Lee scored three goals and Lisa Wilson and Faye
Sono each scored one for the Ducks.
Next action for Oregon is against the Thunderbirds of
Portland Sunday at Portland’s Delta Park at 1:3Q p.m.
Crew team debuts Saturday
The Oregon dub sports women s crew team will be com
peting in its first race this Saturday in Corvallis. The team will
have one shell entered in the regatta that will include Oregon
State, Seattle Pacific and the Oakland California Women’s
Rowing Club. Race time is 10:30 a.m.
Trampoline sessions underway
Open co-ed trampoline sessions are underway for spring
term for persons of all levels. No registration is necessary.
The sessions, sponsored by the Women's Recreation
Association, will be held Tuesday and Wednesday nights,
7:30 to 9 p.m. in B-50 Gerlinger Annex. P.E. clothes should be
worn at all sessions.
Sophomores,
Last summer I attended a six-week training program in Military Sci
ence at Fort Knox, Kentucky. While there I received a two-year Army
ROTC scholarship which pays my full tuition, all books and fees and
gives me $100 each academic month of the year.
If this opportunity sounds interesting to you,
MIKE WILLIAMS, JUNIOR, GENERAL SCIENCE
CALL 686-3102