Bucs reward McKay - give hope for future Tom McEwen The Tampa Tribune December 1984 The Buccaneers gave their departing head coach the grandest of finals Sunday, and two game balls as souvenirs. They also, by their balanced performance in the 41-21 rout of the New York Jets, and their two-in-a-row close to this oddball season, provided good evidence to expect championship consideration in 1985, under the right coaching leadership. Finally, they, and their ol' coach, John McKay, won it in such a manner that allows him to leave in new controversy. It just had to be that way, didn't it? In their all-out effort to help running back James Wilder set a NFL total yards record, the Bucs borrowed from the Florida Gators' playbook, allowing the Jets to score so Wilder would have more opportunity to gain yards. He gained some, but came up 16 yards short of his goal. The Gators back in 1971 flopped on the Orange Bowl turf so the Hurricanes could score to give Florida one more offensive possession and QB John Reaves the final chance to set a national collegiate passing record. It worked for the Gators and Reaves, but it infuriated then-Head Coach Fran Curci and the Hurricanes forever. The "Buc Flop'' infuriated the Jets Sunday … and the Jets let McKay and others know it. Obscenities were exchanged at midfield after the game because of it and promises of revenge were shouted. The Bucs play the Jets in New York next year. Jets coach Joe Walton said it was "an embarrassment to the NFL.'' McKay said he understood how Walton felt but he did what had to be done for his team, Wilder and his fans. "Oh, no,'' said quarterback Steve DeBerg, who had a great final day, until he was reminded the Bucs go to Jetsland in 1985. The Jets do not come to Tampa next season. "Who cares?'' exclaimed another player. "We won and won big but we missed getting the record for James. We sure tried.'' They did indeed, and more than that in the overall picture, they gave their head coach a memorable goodbye win, one that caused Tampa Stadium's 43,000-plus to sound like many more, enjoying themselves as they have not in a while. Wilder and Lee Roy Selmon gave McKay game balls in a post-game locker-room ceremony, one from the offense and one from the defense. McKay responded to his team, thusly, according to a Buc spokesman: ""I thought that was a great, great job of football. I'm sorry we didn't get the record for Jimmy but we tried, and the Jets almost attacked me. You just played great and if you play that great for the new coach, you'll win the division championship and I'll be glad to cheer you.'' Clearly, the ol' coach was touched. He was touched, for it showed in his post-game meeting with the media. He was a model of decorum after the game, as I listened to his questions and answers for this report. No, he said, he had "no second thoughts,'' about his decision to retire. He offered no apologies for doing what had to be done to give Wilder his record chance, one for which the crowd chanted. And he said he leaves ""with the thought we have a pretty good team,'' though things need to be done to improve it before next season. McKay becomes president and indications are he will be responsible for player personnel. Owner Hugh Culverhouse said after the game he would address McKay's specific responsibilities after Christmas, not now. He has said he will also then begin the search for the new head coach. There was one line of thinking Sunday that assistant head coach Wayne Fontes may have improved his chances for the McKay position with these last two solid performances of the Bucs. Fontes wants the job, but so do plenty more. McKay said he was happy for "the players and myself,'' for the solid victory. And he said he would have been "lynched'' had he not given Wilder every effort to set the yards record. He should have been pleased, should have smart-stepped out of Tampa Stadium. His team put on quite a show in the final performance. The anger of the Jets and the ugly scenes that followed did not detract. McKay needed that kind of a win. The players needed that kind of a win. And certainly the paying customers needed that. The 13,000-plus in no-shows told the story of the disenchantment. But this finish, the new coach and new beginning, should bring them back alive. "I hope so,'' said Culverhouse, "but we have a long way to go.'' To help acquire whatever else is needed to make this a championship club in 1985, the Bucs have their No. 1 draft pick still, this time, as well as Nos. 3 and 4. The No. 2 goes to Denver for DeBerg. No one will now question that. "I am happy for us,'' said DeBerg, after the high-scoring victory, after taking the Bucs to more points than any previous team in any previous game … 41. "But, I am happier for him (McKay). He brought me here, like he brought most of these players. I am just happy he can go out this way.'' It was also clear the Bucs, though weary, look forward to next season. Their place-kicker, Obed Ariri, who set a season field-goal record (19), said, "I will go work on my kicking and do what I have to do to improve.'' Linebacker Jeff Davis said the finish ""makes us confident. In these games, we laid our ears back and went. In the start, we were too passive and let other teams take us out of our game plan. We don't need much.'' Of the wins and the year ahead, DeBerg, so vital to what has happened with the Buc offense, said he and his team-mates, "really look forward to next season now. It gives us a lift. I am as anxious as the next person to know who the next coach will be.'' But little mention was made of the new coach. It was a time for the ol' coach, this Sunday was, and bet here is he revelled in it more than he allowed himself to show. The great regret is that this was not a win that would have sent the Bucs into the 1984 playoffs instead of into the 1985 season full of great expectations, and probably, increased season-ticket sales. It was about 4:26 p.m., that the ol' coach, warmed by the rewarding final triumph, and the questions answered, ended his last meeting with the media after a football game. He closed with a simple: "Adios, gentlemen. God bless you.''