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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (March 6, 1978)
sports ^-Commentary The Harter rumors — and some decisions v-—Mike Marine It’s funny how the tide of things changes. Gene Bartow — remember him? — left Los Angeles and UCLA, some say, because of Oregon. He was successful with the Bruins—his won-lost percentage was better than even John Wooden’s — but he didn’t beat everybody. Now we have Dick Harter. He may be leaving Oregon and Eugene because of UCLA. He’s been the winningest coach at Oregon since 1947, and he created such a stir around these parts that Oregon basketball has become more of a way of life than a sport. But because of the Bruins, and their 12-year stranglehold on the conference crown, Dick Harter may be leaving for Penn State, where he visited last weekend. No offense, mind you, but it’s still been pretty frustrating trying to be the “best of the rest’’ all these years in the Pac-8. As this season wore on, the Bruins' success became a thorn in the side of every coach but Gary Cunningham. You see, this past season was to have been the one when UCLA was dethroned, when someone else would get the title. We said the Bruins couldn’t go 14-0 in the Pac-8 and win the con ference. Boy, were we wrong. "I said at the beginning of the year that I’d have been the most surprised person in the world if UCLA won,” said Washington State Coach George Raveling a while back. “I honestly believed they wouldn’t be strong.” But then George probably didn’t expect the rest of the conference toplay so poorly. Especially Oregon. True, the Ducks didn’t have the big guy to lead them like they did in years gone by, but they had some good horses in the young freshmen and some veterans that might have been on the verge of making names for themselves. And if worse came to worse, you knew that Dick Harter would find a way to sneak past UCLA a time or two and surprise the league. But when it became apparent that the fairy tales wouldn’t come true — around January 14, after the Ducks had lost to both UCLA and a reborn USC — then there was grumbling and malcontent. Meanwhile, Penn State — that power on the gridiron — was in the midst of a 12-game losing streak under coach John Bach. Finally, Bach announced in mid-season that he wouldn’t be back next year, and immediately the Nittany Lion Athletic Department began looking for a successor that could bring the program back on to the winning track it hadn’t seen in four years. Dick Harter was a natural choice. After all, he had been a smash at Pennsylvania, where he won two-thirds of his games in five years and went undefeated in his last regular season, 1970-71. And his heart, it seems, is in the east. He speaks of his “Eastern style of basketball.” But that alone would probably not make Harter take the Penn State job. What he is striving for — what every coach in the country is striving for — is the national championship. And Harter will have to decide where that dream will best be afforded — Oregon or Penn State. It will doubtless take a lot to lure Harter away. He was nearly nabbed by Colorado two years back, but stayed. Stayed for the nice salary (reportedly $38,000), his TV show, and his basketball camp in the summer. But as nice as Eugene is, as wonderful the money may be, as long as there is a UCLA there is going to be headaches. Logically, if they’re this good when they’re supposed to be bad, how good will they be when they’re supposed to be good — like next year, with four starters returning? Penn State plays far away from Los Angeles. They play folks like George Washington U. and Massachusetts. They could assert domi nance in the Eastern Collegiate Basketball League, and could seem ingly find an easier road to the NCAAs — and if they were to face UCLA, it would be a one-shot deal. Penn State has the attraction. They have a nice place to play, and Athletic Director Ed Czekaj’s people are ready to make the move. “A guy like Dick Harter is someone who we feel could help us,” an assistant told me last week. “We’d really like to have him here. We’re looking to turn this program around." Whatever decision Harter makes, he’ll have to make it soon. The national recruiting date — so important these days — is in mid-April. And the longer that Harter waits, the lesser the chances of getting top recruits to commit themselves — at Oregon or Penn State. Much depends on what happened over the weekend in Pennsyl vania. Harter obviously has stipulations he wants met, and it'll have to be seen whether or not Penn State is willing to make the move. And more importantly, whether Dick Harter is. Dick Harter Moving on? ODE Jim Ketch set a University all-around record with a 109.65 Photo by Steve Schneider to pace the Duck win. Flying Ducks break two records while beating up Brigham Young Riding a couple of record breaking performances, Oregon's Flying Duck gymnasts easily brought their act together for two days this past weekend, as they defeated Brigham Young Univer sity 435.9-428.5. Meet action stretched over both Friday and Saturday nights, and the opening night competition saw the Ducks take a rather surprising 218.55-217.60 lead in the option al. It was in the optionals that the Ducks were to face their toughest test against the Cougars from Utah. The opening night point total, besides giving the Ducks the lead, also was good enough for a new school record. Duck freshman Jim Kelch became an early factor in the record as he took top Oregon honors in the opening night all around with a 54.65 score. The Ducks came back Saturday night with an even stronger show ing in the compulsory competition. The compulsories, which will play a major part later this month in the Pac-8 finals, provided little problem for the Duck gymnasts as head coach Bill Ballester testified. “This has been the third week in a row we’ve had both optional and compulsory competition in the same meet,” said Ballester, “and we seem to be getting stronger each weekend.” The final night saw Kelch set a new school record in the all around with a 109.65. The score broke the pevious mark that Kelch had set earlier in December. “Jim had a good meet,” said an injured Ballester who had his arm in a cast due to a freak accident at a previous meet. “He’s really com ing on now, and we sure need it now that we’re headed toward the league championships.” The Pac-8 championship which Ballester is concerned about is waiting in the wings for the Ducks, but they should be ready for ac tion, according to Ballester. “We look to be in good shape for the finals," commented Balles ter. "Because of the work we’ve put in over these past few meets, I think we are confident in both the optionals and compulsories. We were having trouble with the high bar in the compulsories, but I think we’ve corrected that now.” Besides Kelch’s outstanding performances in the all-around, the familiar faces that have carried the Ducks through the season to date were again apparent this weekend. Scott McEldowney and Tom Truedson, both number one ranked specialists, each took the ring competition and side horse. Truedson shared the top berth with his teammate Gordon Hock ing. Kelch also found the groove on his way to the all-around by grabbing first in vaulting during the optional portion of the meet. Oregon—435.9 Brigham Young—428.5 Floor Exorclao— 1. Isamu Maesato. MYU, 18 6 2. Jim Ketch. Oregon, 18.3. 3, Masahiko Kinjoh, 8YU, 18.25. 4, Mark Knupp, Oregon, 18.05. 5, Perry Johnson, BYU, 17.95 Pommel Horae—1, Tie, Tom Truedson ad Gor don Hocking. Oregon, 18.25. 2. Dan Drew. BYU 17.5. 4, Jim Ketch. Oregon. 17.35. 5, Masahiko Kinjoh, BYU, 17.1. Rings—1, Scott McEldowney, Oregon. 18.9 2, Isamu Maesato, BYU, 18.75. 3, Jerry Bush, Oregon. 18.55. 4. Gene Christensen, Oregon, 18.1. 5, Jm Kelch, Oregon. 18.05. Vault—1. Perry Johnson, BYU, 19.0. 2, Gene Christensen. Oregon. 18.85 3, Hirto Kurihars, BYU. 18.8. 4. Bernhard Hoeger. BYU, 18.6. 5. Masahiko Kinjoh. BYU. 18.55. Parallel Bara—1. Hiroto Kurihara, BYU. 18.95. 2, Tie, Jm Kelch. Oregon and Isamu Maesato. BYU, 18.75. 4. Dave ViHasenior. Oregon. 18.6. 5. Gene Christensen, Oregon 18.35. High Bar—1, ZMasahiko Kinjoh. BYU, 18.95. 2, Jim KELCH, Oregon, 18.75. 3, Tie, Mark Kmpp Oregon ad Isamu Maesato, BYU, 18.55. 5, Jm Hamilton, Oregon, 18.45. All-around—1, Jm Kelch. Oregon 109.65. 2, Isamu Maesato, BYU. 108.8. 3. Masahiko Kinjoh BYU, 108.55. COLOR XEROX POSTERS«HEAT TRANSFERS»GRAPHS CHARTS»TRANSPARENCIES MAKES COPIES FROM 35 MM SLIDES! 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