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Steve Spurrier delighted the crowd Sunday afternoon when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lined up for their first offensive series. He stayed on the bench. But in the end Spurrier, who has been saddled with more than his share of the blame for the Bucs' first six losses, delighted them even more.
HE CAME OFF the bench an emergency and ignited Tampa Bay to a near upset of state rival Miami.
Even after the 23-20 loss hung on the Bay Bucs in the final minute of the game, the people wore cheering Spurrier, who often has plodded to the drc88ing room to the tune of taunts and jeers.
Sunday, in a perfect football getting and a regular-season high of 61,437 people in the stands at Tampa Stadium, Spurrier directed a suddenly-fancy Bay Bucs offense to two second half touchdowns. He played near-flawlessly, completing 13 of 21 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns to wide receiver Morris Owens. He was not sacked, and he didn't throw an interception until the final seconds when he was desperately trying to pass the Bucs into field-goal range.
"It makes a difference when you have time and can see what you are doing," said Spurrier, who had plenty of time to throw behind a weak Miami pass rush, "You don't have so many people around you."
Parnell Dickinson stood on crutches, unable to put pressure on his right foot and waiting to be transported to a hospital for X-rays. “I hate this happened," ho said. "But experience is a big thing in thig game, and to be playing on the same team with Steve and Terry is a learning experience. They have about 17 years of experience between them, and plan to learn what I can and be ready to play when I got another chance."
For Owens, whose TD receptions of 18, 20 and seven yards represented the first scoring passes thrown by Bay Bucs quarterbacks all year, it was a particularly satisfying day. Owens was picked up by Tampa Bay after being cut loose by the Dolphins early in the season, and he exploited Miami's shattered pass defense for six catches for 88 yards.
"THEIR RELEASING me might have been the greatest thing that could have happened to my career," said Owens, disappointed at the outcome despite his personal stardom. "I just didn't fit into their plans and today it was just like playing any other team to me. I don't hold any animosity toward
Coach (Don) Shula or anybody else. I feel like I'm very fortunate to be here and getting a chance to play."
SPURRIER WAS not supposed to play Sunday after sitting out the entire week of practice with a bruised and swollen knee. But he was called into emergency service at the start of the second half after starter Parnell Dickinson went out with a twisted foot and newcomer Terry Hanratty was unable to move the club.
"The knee was fine," said Spurrier. "In fact, I felt real good. It was a beautiful day for football, and I just wish we could play all our games at 4 0'clock."
Spurrier's future in the hearts of Bay Bucs fans looked glum indeed when Dickinson led a first-possession touchdown drive that ended with a perfectly-thrown pass to Owens who was running slightly ahead of two defenders in the end zone. But Dickinson was injured on the next series while trying to pick up a first down on a sprint-out option play. "I was just making another step when I got hit," said the exciting "There was a pileup and my foot got twisted. It felt like everybody on the field was lying on top it."
THE INJURY was a blow to Dickinson, who looked as if he might be on his way to fighting for a permanent starting shot despite the abnormal number of injuries suffered by the Dolphins' pass defense,
Owens seemed surprised that Tampa Bay was able to pass so effectively. The combination of Spurrier's newly found time to throw and the inability of the secondary to cover potential receivers gave the Bay Bucs the opportunity to show their fans a rare offensive display.
IT MAY NOT last through next week's game at Tampa Stadium against Kansas City but, finally, the fans had reason to stand up for something other than the defense. Spurrier claimed he didn't notice the sudden show of adulation. "The fans never have showered ugly words on me," he claimed. "Just you guys (the writers) have been doing that."
But there have been plenty of boos and in fact, there was a nice round of booing Sunday when Spurrier lined up to take his first snap in the third quarter. They didn't last long, because the fans were starved for a long-awaited good game and Spurrier gave it to them. As he said, it was a beautiful afternoon for football at Tampa Stadium. And it was, for him and for frustrated Bay Bucs fans.
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