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If John McKay were with n different organization, he might order a horse's head left on John Ralston's bed. Maybe they shouldn't have invited these guys to the same league. "I have been in the other position a lot more than that horse's ass," the Bucs' coach said of the Denver coach. "I don't like any part of him. His day is coming."
McKay feels Ralston's Broncos were still trying to put the blowtorch to the Bucs when the score reached 48-13 Sunday at Denver. McKay admitted his dislike was kindled when he was at Southern Cal and Ralston at rival Stanford,
"I think they just wanted to show me I'm just a college coach a losing college coach," McKay said Monday, "I shouldn't say anything, but when that guy runs around laughing and trying to call a timeout to get in another play in.”
McKay CHARGED Denver with using devices to further mount the score, mainly a reverse to tight end Riley Odoms and a Iast-moment punt return by Rick Upchurch. "My idea is that when you've got the game out of reach, you first try to protect your best players Odoms or Upchurch could be hurt and out for the season on plays like that," he said. "Secondly, I think you have to think about the guy on the other side of the field who is miserable. We had some high scores at S.C., but we were never plotting to pour it on."
McKay's fuse isn't as long as it might be in winning times. He's like a downtrodden soul sitting at a neighbor bar at the end of a day when his car has been wrecked, his taxes doubled and his pay cut. It's safest not to do anything to anger him further.
It's an ordeal for McKay, all this losing. He feels like Van Gogh trying to endure a year in which he can't get anything down on canvas. Like Robert Frost unable to come up with a rhyme. Like Van Cliburn sitting at his piano with a concerto in his heart but only Chopsticks in his fingers.
But I believe him when he says, "We'll be back."
Of course those aren't the correct words. "Back" from what? What McKay really means is, "We'll get there."
McKay's misery is obvious. After mountains of victories through most of his coaching tenure at Southern California, McKay has walked off the field a loser in 18 of his last 20 games. That includes 0-9 this season, 1-5 in the Bucs' preseason and 1-4 at USC after announcing his departure to the pros.
This is developing into one of those good news-bad news tales. The bad news is that Tampa Bay stares an 0-14 season in the eyes. The good news is that with an 0-14 record, they may get the No. 1 draft choice from college seniors.
"I will not concede unto the 14th game," McKay said. "But winning one or two won't make me that happy. A 2-12 record is repugnant. An 0-14 is equally repugnant. I don't want to be a Denver or any of those jerks who've been in the league 17 years and never won anything."
As sharp as his remarks were, McKay seemed remarkably relaxed as he talked Monday. He smiled a lot and exchanged humorous football stories with reporters.
REMINDED that the New York Giants are also 0-9 and contending for the top draft choice, McKay grinned and said, "I'm calling New York right now and telling those characters to get their act in order (and win one)."
If both the Bucs and Giants finish sans win, a coin toss will decide which gets the No. 1 draft selection. With these two teams, the coin may either stand on its side or roll down a drain.
If the Bucs get the choice, it is almost dead certain that McKay will reach back to his old campus and grab Ricky Bell, the Trojans' 6-2 228 running back. "If we had Bell this year, we would have a 5-4 or 4-5 record instead of 0-9," McKay said. "We need a catalyst. Any winning football team must have one. It must be either a running back or a quarterback.
"Ricky Bell can run through a wall. He is also a super young man. If he were on our special teams, he would be the first down under punts and would hit (Denver's) Upchurch in the throat and say, 'How'd you like that, pal?
McKay prefers Bell over Pittsburgh's Tony Dorsett, although he admits to knowing little about the Panther man "We played Pitta couple of years ago and Dorsett didn't do much," McKay said. "I understand he has put on a lot of weight and his yardage figures this year are most impressive, probably win the Heisman Trophy. But I still like Bell."
I WONDERED what McKay feels when he hears Buccaneer fans remarking that at this stage, it is best to go ahead and finish winless in order to get the prime chance in the draft. "It hurts me." McKay said of such words. "I don't want our guys to feel that way. I saw no dogs on the field Sunday, even if we did get badly beaten. I want them to try to win. I will try."
Tampa Bay, a team that could ill afford to lose anybody, has been smothered by injuries. Lee Roy Sermon and Cal Peterson now appear finished for 1976 with knee injuries. The Bucs' charter airliner should be carrying a red cross on its fuselage. If anything else happens to his secondary, McKay may have to suit up and play cornerback.
A few weeks ago, Tampa Bay appeared to have a reasonable shot at beating the New York Jets. Now that the time is almost here, the Jets appear even while wallowing in their own inefficiency — to be solid favorites.
TERRY HANRATTY may start Sunday at Shea Stadium. Not to bench Steve Spurrier, but to give McKay a look at the old Notre Damer and Pittsburgh Steeler. Spurrier played handsomely Sunday while the
Bucs were going ahead 13-10, although he was drowned in the tidal wave along with all the others when Denver began gobbling up points.
This seems a ridiculous time to be making positive predictions, but I’m going on record as saying that despite Tampa Bay's 0-9 record and fellow expansionist Seattle's 2-7, the Bucs are equal or in better long-run shape compared to the Seahawks. Clip this and save if you like, but I’m predicting Tampa Bay will have a record superior to Seattle's in 1978. And that is what it's all about, isn't it? The future?
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