Brooks leaves after 18 years
li_J
Chris Metz
Life without
Rich Brooks
will be odd
It's hard to imagine the Uni
versity of Oregon without
Rich Brooks, but that’s exact
ly what it is three days after he
made the announcement that ho
would be leaving the s( hoot
after 18 years at the helm of the
Ducks.
It's kind of a strange fooling.
There's always boon talk of
Brooks leaving, or when ho
would leave. But now that that
time has come, it's difficult to
comprehend.
His critics, so many in the
past but reduced a groat deal by
a trip to the Rose Bowl in 1994.
can now celebrate their ultimate
wish come true.
His fans and supporters no
doubt wish him well as it
appears he will be fed to the
sharks with probably the worst
team in the NFL.
Most people are shocked by
the move. Some can't believe
that Brooks, who has become
such an institution in regards to
Oregon athletics, would leave
Eugene. Others can't believe
that the coach of the University
of Oregon, not exactly synony
mous with legendary football
greatness, would even he con
sidered for an NFL job. espe
cially when names like Mike
Ditka were being thrown
around.
The plain truth is that Brooks
is well respected as a coach.
Talk to any of the other head
coaches in the Pac-10 and
they'll tell you that the success
Turn to METZ. Page 8A
Possible replacements singled out
Trevor Kearney
Oregon <.Wy £rrmtaki
The departure of former Oregon football coach
Ricfi Brooks fins left athlete dirts tor Dan Williams
with a huge hole to fill, but several candidates got
the ball rolling early by expressing interest in the
position.
Offensive coordinator Mike Hellottl. defensive
coordinator Nick Aliotti and assistant bead coach
Neal /.oumboukos have expressed interest in the
job. Williams said, but no formal interviews or
decisions have been made
And. according to Williams, Denny Schuler, Bob
Toledo and Terry Shea are names that were sug
gested to him os possible candidates
“Those six people art* people that I have been
asked to consider." Williams said, adding that the
list was not an official list of candidalits, and that
hi> has rci civod several more suggestions "My
phono hasn't itapped ringing."
With spring practice nearing and unt ertninty
among mi ommg ItM riots and the ■ DM hing Staff,
the decision wilt btt made sometime in the near
future. Williams said, but no date has boon offi
cially set
"This is going to be an important decision,“
Williams s.uv! I in not anxious sot data
because if 1 miss it I will get bombarded."
Turn to COACH Pa-** 8A
Qmrf Gr*M»t r»Httm
After a successful Rose Bowl season with the Ducks, Rich Brooks
now takes over a Rams team that went 4-12 last season and will move
to St. Louis for the 1995 season
St. Louis
learning
about new
head coach
Chris Mett
As sports ( r.i/v St Louis
awaits final league approval that
would bring the Rams oast from
Los Angeles, news that the fran
chise hail deridtid on former ()rw
gon head coach Kic h Brooks as
the team’s new head coach
spread fast
The news has been met w ith
mixed emotions in St. Louis, as
a general lack of knowledge as to
who Rich Brooks is seems to pre
vail Oregon's Rose Bowl suit ess
shed some light on the veteran
coach's abilities, hut with NFL
names like Mike Dilka and Frnie
Xarnpese on the Kants’ list, the
appointment of Brooks as the
new head i oach has the town
talking
At Oz/ie’s a sports bar in St
I.outs. the news was the hot top
ic of conversation on Friday and
Saturday Patrick O’Keefe, a %erv
er at the bar owned by St Onus
(Cardinal Ozzie Smith, said the
news has been met with mixed
reviews by spirts fans in the area
O’Keefe said a lot of people were
hoping for a more high-profile
coach, hut most people under
stand that the Rams, already a
struggling franchise, had finan
! err 1 . RAMS. Pa , 1
Students have mixed emotions about departure
Rebecca Merritt
Oregon CSarfy CrrwfSkt
University students seem to understand
Rich Brooks' decision to leave the Ducks to
coach the l.A Rams.
But that doesn't mean he won’t in* missed
"I think it's good for him but unfortunate
for us," senior Spanish major |on Smith said.
“He left at the top. which is what! would have
done.”
Adrian Parker, a sophomore pre-business
major, agrees.
“I think it sucks for the school, but if he's
going on to bigger and better things then it's
good for him," Parker said.
Students at Saturday's basketball game were
pretty much unanimous in their decision that
a chance la lead an NFL team is a good
enough reason to ditch the Ducks.
Kevin Alien, a sophomore pm-journalism
major, has nothing but praise (or the coach.
"I'm definitely sorry to see him go because
of everything he did for us." Allen said.
Mike Kadie, a sophomore business major,
said he favors the move because the Kama are
in need of a good coach like Brooks
However, not every student is part of the
Kic.ii Brooks Fan Club, Some say they are sur
prised that the Rams picked Brooks for the
job.
"His record hasn't heen that great here."
said freshman Mark Pattalochi.
Other students question what effects the
change in head coach will have on the new
recruits.
"1 wonder what all thu recruits ore saying
about him now," freshman Dominic Cofresi
said.
Out with or without Brooks, students say
Oregon will still tx> a good team next year.
"We still have INickl Aiiotli and all the
other coat lies so we’ll Ihi all right,” said
Chris Fogarty, a freshman psychology major
Who do they want as Brooks' roplai «
inent?
Although Brooks has recommended offen
sive coordinator Mike Beilotti. defensive
coordinator Aliotti was the popular choice
among students.
"I'd be surprised if they didn't hire him,"
said Pattalochi, about Aliotti.
February 13, 1995
Volume 96. Issue lJ?
USA TODAY
CNN Top 25
Ihe / SA Today ■( '.NN bus
kethall coat firs' poll, with
first-plm «> votes in parentho
srs. rocorda through Fob. 12,
total points based on 25
points for n first plm :e vote
through one point for a 23th
plai r vote, and previous
ranking'
Record Pt»Pv»
• ■ ■ .*■ uii tt)t ao? 4
•" • ■ .. ' m !'); ' m i
3 Har-'Wt’H3) 1ft 3 759 2
'<* rxsyt.l)_17 3 750 3
‘j Mir.'sn.rsjaiffn 1) IS? 734 S
6 UClA_<62 6/4 6
v t»4 664 10
fMufsgr? ’
9$y» .so_Ui_531 9
rj_18-5 i ■
" V .. 18-3 461 t?
t? A,-».y«t-,_n> 5 449 H
13 */■rnre Sum 18 6 4(V H
t4 A i*,-' >t'.! 15 5 -'ll) n
15 V’aatiova_17 6 329 18
16 VWgssq_186 277 !7
17 Ueorya Tatf- _t68_233 15
18. Or*gofl <44 189 20
19 Stanford_IS ‘j 181 16
X !’»■/«»'".> ‘it >67 141
?i B>o>safn yo^ 7t)$ nts
7.’ >»•••*• _ _t44_ 110 19
71 .*mSr.i.. 186 __!•*, 71
74 Pudue_ 16 6 88 78
X Ukoneitfa_166 8/ 74
Others receiving votes
New Mtulm Si 84. Alabama
60. Mississippi St 51. Utah
47. Utah Si 45. Cincinnati
15, I’tmn 11. Texas 27. W
Kontin ky 20. Xavier. Ohio
24. Tulsa 2 1. Louisville ID.
Memphis 18. Miami. Ohio
18, Oklahoma 15. Florida 13,
Illinois 10, Temple 10,
Tulane 10. DuPanl D. Indiana
D, Manhattan D. Nebraska 0,
lown H. Michigan 8, Tnxas-Kl
Paso 8. Virginia Tech 8, Saint
Louis 7. NC-Croenboro 4.
California .1, New Orleans I.
Ark Little Kook 2. George
Washington 1. Idaho Si 1.
Long Beach St 1
STANDINGS
Men s basketball
CON OVERALL
UCLA 9-2 16?
Arizona 8-3 18-5
Arizona St 8-3 18-5
Oregon 8-4 14-5
Stanford 6-5 15-5 I
WSU 6-5 11 -8
California 4-7 12-8
Oregon St 3-7 6-13
USC 2 9 7-14
Washington 2-9 6-13
Sunday's game
California 14. Arizona 12
EMERAJ.0