A monday October 15, 1979 Arizona State University Voi. 62 No. 2 f <0 Copyright, Stato Proso, 1979 state press Tamp«, Arizona *4 A ttorney absent from test Examiner says Kush told truth By Mark Scarp Frank Kush's attorney aaid Sunday be was not in the m m room with the deponed ASU head loothail coach Hid an examiner when .a lie detector teat was con­ ducted Friday to determ ine if Kush hit a former Sun Devil player, aa Kush claimed he was. "I was in th e neat room. Frank and the examiner were alone in an examination room for about taro hours,'* Harding Cure said. Kush claimed in a statem ent Saturday th at Cure eras present. The examiner, Tom Basil of Tom EseD and Associates of Phoenix, whoao office waa the scene of the test, said he is “convinced” Kush waa tailing the truth vrhea the coach told him he did not punch Kevin Rutledge, a former ASU punter seeking a $1.1 million judgment against Kush and others. Rutledge alleges Kuril punched him in the face during a game Oct. $8, 1978 against the University of Washington in Seattle. Cure said he asked EseD to conduct the test, which was made up of 10 questions. The questions were devised after a “discussion” with Kush about his background and the issues at stake, Esell said. “After he told me as much as he could «bout the incident I formulated the questions,” he said. Tracings on an electrocardiograph machine followed Kush’s heartbeat and respiration. “We register these aa weD as measure emotions through reactions from the nervous system ,” Ezell said. Cure «sid he received a w ritten report summarizing the test's results. He added he and another attorney who represents Kush, Harry Cavanagh, have not decided yet whether the report will be made public. Cure said neither he nor Cavanagh had any prior indicate » that ASU Athletic Director Fred Miller would relieve Kush of his coaching duties. “Mr. Cavanagh last spoke with Miller about a week before the test, and he (Miller) said nothing that would give us any indication that he would take this course of action," Cure said. The last hurrah Former Head Coach Frank Kush is carried from Sun Devil Stadium after ASU’s 12-7 win over Washington by center Norris Williams. Reaching to congratulate Kush Is tight end Marshall Edwards. Fired Kush holds no grudge against M iller By Bah Petrie .............. D im ití bring relieved of his head coaching duties, Frank Kuril mys ho hm "aa animosity” toward ASU AtkieUe Director Fred MiBer. the man who let him go. “I*m not Irritated w th Fred or anybody else, Kush mid at s Sunday arem conforears. T d like to think Fred MMsrisst&l a friend. These things happen. They have ta take action, and of course this is their prorogati¡ve. sad I have to accept what their dedrioa However. Knob made It olear he went be spending much timé around ASU, even though Mller said he stll is oa the payroll as aa assistant professor of way. I cleared everything out of my office, as much sa I could handle ia about throe e t» , "I have aothiag planned for the immediate tataro, n i peohahly take a essala of days e&" the W-yoar-oM Kuril arid. “Them Bahhattor he Mtbg or rm going to hit them with a fishing pole." Kush was hit wttkfBlor sannouncement “sometime Friday afternoon.” and mid he did not try to change Miller's triad. The former coach, who waa replaced temporarily by defensive coordinator Bob Owens, made his own announcement of the thing Saturday afternoon. At that time, Kuril said, “rm told the raaaoa I am being fired was that Dr. Miller did not believe It whoa I denied punching Kevin Rutledge at the Washington game lari year in Seattle.” Rutledge, a fermar ASU puntar, Bled a $1.1 millón _R about the alleged iaddoat against Kush. Milar lawsuit others a low days before the Sun Devils' openor againri thè University et California. Bri oa 8uaday Kush weuld ari w ™ im ■ anythiag he aaid hi Saturday’s eaasnnmawat. in chidiag thè renosa he chosa thri tkae to aay tt In another prom reatáronos falbwb* ASU*a 1I-T wia over Washington 8riurday night, Milor asid, “The iatentfoa (to lire Kush) waa la watt uatfl after thè game. Frank brought thè thing ori ri kis dodrioe.” It s u abo Kush’s decisión to eoack thè Sua Devili melari thè Huakbe. “1 thougkt it waa haaertari ter thè rounariors to kaow my poetUon aad test I*d ha srtth them arem thè standprint thri l'd heip'om with thè ballgame.” Aitar Kush told thè D evi playera ho s u reheved. _____ he saidof the stayers, Mke__________ get eamtionsl „ broke _______ ________ and down, aad a iriof ofthem th were erybg." Kush added thri he didn't expect anyone to bave the team. “I bepe not. There's no reama to quit." . _ .. , Kush, who r h i s iansrsnro b the Rutledge affair, told hb players about the lb detector tori he took Friday h the promues of hb attorney, which he said “proved 1 rim wwplrtoly truthful." “I told them I badal lad to them - that I volun­ teered * take the Ifo detector tori ju r i* prevethat. H was Kush's own decision to taka the tost, he However, he hud ne my b the hiringof Owean. It was Must 's i n trisa ta pfek Owena m Kush a “He was picked oa hb peri record," said MiBar about Osano, who hm no head coaching expartauce. Theaaw ASU coach hm boon a 8en D evi aaririaat for I t years. Kush mid he b a t sure he w«l attend next Brier day's gnaw against Washington Strie* “T h a t! he very iatersting where I wfll ha next Saturday night.” Page 2 State Pifcss Monday, October 15, 1979 ___________________ _ _ ASU officialdom puzzled over suddenness of firing By Dan F a lse r ASU administrator« expressed shock Sunday over the firing of Sun Devil head football coach Frank Kush but indicated they have yet to be informed of the reasons behind the dismissal. “I think we need to know more about the things considered by Fred Miller (ASU athletic director) in making the decision," Troy Crowder, assistant to the University president, said. “It would be inappropriate to say anything about it until we find out more.” Provost Paige Mulhollan also said it would be improper for him to comment on the situation. “I'll just say Tm very sorry when anything like this happens to any human being,” he said. Dr. William Arnold, member of the University Intercollegiate Athletics Board, said he “had no idea it was coming.” “I’ll be anxious to see all of the details — good or bad — when they come out," Arnold said. “But it certainly doesn't look good if one is suspended." The athletics board serves in an advisory capacity to the University president and is responsible for formulating, reviewing and overseeing the administration of* policies governing ASU’s athletic program. I-ih> Arnold, other members of the board said they knew nothing about Kush's dismissal until they heard about it through the media. “Nothing was ever discussed on the board about it, Dr. Douglas A roer said. “I guess we’re aD going to have to wait until all the information is in from all parties until we can make any judgments." Another board member. Dr. John Edwards, said he was “shocked" when he heard the news. “I would certainly like to know more in­ formation," Edwards said. “But so would everybody else." Leaders of the ASU Alumni Association said being kept in the dark about the firing “has caused a lot of hard feelings.” “It's a slap in the face not to have been told,” said Karl Wochner, president of the group. "There’s a lot of questions th at are going to have to be asked.” Wochner said the organization is considering what action it is going to take in response to Kush's firing. “We’re not going to sit back and do nothing," he said. “We will take some sort of stance. Too many people feel too strongly to take a passive stance.” As far as what specific actions the group wül take, Wochner said that wifl not be determined until the reasons behind the firing are made dear. S tad p a ste by Tom Tingi» Frank Kush explained Ms fssUngs about Ms termination, his philosophy on football and Ms relationship with players at a press conference Sunday afternoon. K ush's leg en d 'm ountainous'after 25 seasons By Perry SasM Some pre born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them. With the legend th at has grown around ASU’s 22-year head football coach, Frank Kush, all three might apply. The myth has become intertwined with the man to the point where separating them is difficult, if not impossible. Born one of 15 children to a coal miner in Windber, Pennsylvania, he should have ended up singing “16 tons” instead of the ASU victory march. Instead, he was thrice elected student body president of his high school and was selected an all-state gridder. P la y in g under the immortal Clarence “Biggie" Munn at Michigan State University, Kush earned a starting guard spot in spite of his 175-pound size. While working construction, a scrap of steel struck him in the eye before his senior season, but he turned the tables on doctors who said he would never play football again by helping the Spartans to a 9-0 national championship season. He earned almost every AllAmerica honor that year. He served three years as assistant coach a t ASU before taking the head coaching job in 1968. Frank Kush would turn the former teacher's college into a Rose Bowl contender, piling up 176 wins along the way. ASU dominated the W estern Athletic Conference in the 1900’s but received little national recognition. Kush's reputation grew as former Sun Devils turned professional. Kush resisted efforts to meet ranked teams in post-season bowls. He may be best remembered for the 1975 season. Kush took a young and scrappy 11-0 Sun Devil squad into the Christmas Day game against highly-rated Nebraska. _ „ „ _ Their 12-0 season earned the Sun Devils a No. s national ranking, highest in the school’s history. Perhaps ASU’s August training camp. Camp Tontoaona. is the best example of the Kush mystique. Set in the pines 20 miles from Payson, Saddleback Mountain overlooks the practice field and military style barracks carved out of the woods. It was labeled “Kush’s Mountain" as the head coach sent players Opinion scrambling up its granite slope. This season, Kush seems to have come to for more criticism n»*« usual. Even though he may have toned down Tontoaona, giving out no “mountains" this year, i if ff l television channel showed footage of him striking a player on the helm et. The player, Mfl» Lee, walked out of camp, prompting an Arizona Republic editorial questioning his rigid discipline. The week before the season opener. Kush was named in a $1.1 million complaint by former ASU punter Kevin Rutledge. Shutout wins over Toledo and Oregon State seemed to turn the season around for A8U, but during this time articles appeared in the S tate Press reporting that Kush had erkietoed an ASU bootoer who toM players to "tell the truth" in the Rutledge m as, and th at an ASU player had seen hhn strike Rutledge dining the Washington game. During th e week before hie firing, he answered questions about the team , though refusing to comment about the Rutledge case. \ I haven't done anything I'll ever regret. — Frank Kuah press W ho's really giving the orders? chef barfield It ta k e / a powerful force to topple a granite mountain. And when a 25-year dynasty like that of Frank Kush crumbles as suddenly as it did, you can be sure there'«* been some mighty Mg heads pulling the strtags. As yet. Athletic Director Fred Miller has not stated why Kuah was fired, other thaa making some vague alhmona to “information" he received last week. He claims the reaeons for Kush's dismissal are “separate" from the $1.1 million lawsuit of Kevin Rutledge, yet somehow are “intertw ined.” This kind of doubletalk is having the intended effect — serving to muddle w hat's going on behind d osed doors. In between the tears during Saturday’s press conference, Kush said he was dumped because Miller didn't believe him when be denied punching Rutledge in the tare last year. Although that could be a factor, it's certainly not the real reason. Kush told a Phoenix reporter last week that he thought influential people in the Valley were seeking to oust him and discredit the ASU athletic program in a plot to bring professional football to the Phoenix area. With Kush out of the way. ASU’s domination over football fans here would be eroded. But anyone who's been following the Rutledge suit since It wee filed last month should notice some in­ teresting developments. Kush’s financial records, as w el as those of the 8un Angel Foundation, have been ordered scruttoiaed by Rutledge's attorney, Robert 0 . King. Also, many prominent people have been ordered to testify under oath. A glance at the Sun Angel m eter reveals a tot of very, very big names. That'a because it takas Mg bucks to buy thoee Winnebago*, and even bigger bucks to keep the athletic departm ent of the country's slxtk largest university to any organization’s Mp pocket. It's been hinted - but as yet stands uneamfirmed by Hing — th at some of the beat would be taken off the Rutledge invest igation if the University m et three conditions: make a public apology to Rutledge, pay all attorneys’ foes — and fire Frank Kuah. That last variable is a pretty tall order, yet it’s been done. Miller has denied th at Kush’s dethroning had anything to do with a "deal." But if this is true, why would he stab his No. 1 breadwinner to the back untom he was pressured into it? As mighty as Kush Is - or was - it appears even be could be looked upon as an expendable pawn if the stakes ware Ugh enough. ___ It stands to reason th at if enough powerful figures to this area bad to choose between Kush and matatsintag the secrecy of their University contributions and financial m elto n , the decision would be simple: dump the coach. Granted, th at doesn’t seem fair. But when money tak e, fairness often font p art ef the vocabulary. Monday, Oc lo b r 15,1979 State Prata Page 3 Private fund collected for Kush By Brow Kapha A retirem ent h a d of aa undetermined amouat was atarted for suapeaded ASU football coach Prank Kuah aavoa to eight years ago by a private corporation, aceordiag to the president of the Sun Angel Foundation. Harry Roeenzweig, president of the aoa-profit booster organisation for the pest 16 years, told the State Proas th at neither he aor the Sun Angels have any connection with the fund. The name of the corporation is LEGnA, angel spelled backwards, aceordiag to Rosea«weig. Information on a supposed inner group of the Sun Angels, known as the NUS 8LEGNA, has been requested by Kevin Rutledge’s attorney in U.S. D istrict Court. Robert O. Hing, Rutledge’s attorney, also had the court order Roeenzweig and 57 other people to appear for the purpose of giving a deposition on the case in Hing’s office later this month. T e n to one I won't be subpoenaed,’’ Roeenzweig said. “I don’t know anything. “I have no involvement whatsoever,” he added. The corporation eras formed separately from the Sub Angal Foundation seven to eight years ago. about tne time the Pittsburgh Steelere offered Kush a coaching Job, Roeenzweig said. ”1 don’t know what the stipulation is for collec­ tion,” he said. However, according to a Los Angeles Times reporter, Rosenzweig said earlier Sunday that Kuah could collect on the fund when he turns 57. He is now 50-years-old. If fired, he can collect on the fond accumulation to that date. If Kush dies, his family could collect what haa been accumulated in the fund to that date. Rosenzweig said he does not know of any fund­ raising activities by the Sun Angels for Kuril, but acknowledged individuals within the organization hold such fund-raising activities for the coach. Rosenzweig once contributed to one such fund­ raiser, he said. Several sources have told the State Press th at there have been several fund-raising banquets in the past several years where large amounts of money were collected for Kush. Rosenzweig denied any knowledge of the banquets. The Sun Angela have no connection with the Rutledge case, Rosenzweig said. T h e Sun Angela were not involved in the decision (to suspend Kush),” he said. Rosenzweig said he could not aay why Sun Angel Executive Director Gene Feiker has refused to talk to the State Press about any connection with the ease. Numerous attem pts have been made by the State Press to contact Feiker in the past two weeks. One item on the request for documents filed by Hing, was for records pertaining to gifts made by th e Sun Angels to Kush and coaching staff members. Susan Ish, Feiker's secretary, said in an in­ terview two weeks ago that the foundation receives gifts from members and distributes them to the players requested by the donor. After consulting with Feiker, Ish would not comment further on the donations. When contacted for further information on the gifts, the Sun Angel office declined comment. ”We’ve been advised by our attorneys not to speak with anyone from the press. In other words, we are not available for comment,” a secretary said. T h a t haa been the general decision by our at­ torneys,” she added. “We were spoke to and told we were not available for comment.” Fans display loyalty to Kush with hero's welcome at game anele Sy DnM By Perry 1-----Fans trickling into Sun Devil Stadium Saturday were strangely serious and silent. There were few “tailgate parties.” At one, almost hidden by taro recreational vehicles, two long candles illuminated a table set with silver and china. The trickle turned into a stream , and they noticed th at the “A" had been turned into a “K" on Tempe Butte. You began to hear the name. Tones ranged bom funereal to astonished. “Kush. Kush! Kush?" Faces wore masks of shock or patina of pain. Some walked with eyes scanning the ground. Few laughed. Two hours earlier, ASU head football coach Frank Kush tearfully announced be had been relieved of h it coaching duties — fired. He h at been caked the “Punishing Polack” — the "Mountain M aster” — and other unprintable names. Now he is being called on the carpet. As fans formed lines and milled, around the gates, the question on the crowd's collective Mps was “Why?" “Ry who?” was the second question. Dr. Fred Miller. ASU athletic director, was the answer end he is mum about why. Sitting behind glass in his section of the pressbox. Miller found himself staring down at upthrust middle fingers and the iqr glares. Spontaneous cheering sections started. “We want Kush, we want Kuah!” They yelled. with all eyes on the diminutive figure on the sidelines. Sheets were turned into improvised signs. "Bring back Frank," "Keep Kush!" they read. On the field, the irony was tremendous. Players obviously psyched up by the situation held the strong Washington Husky team to seven points. The deposed coach still paced the sidelines. Kush was hoisted on players' shoulders as the gun sounded and carried off the field. But he was a marked man. In the midst of the ASU win, confusion reigned. Fans milled around the gates after the game, and w riters slipped to a hastily called press conference. A mimeographed statem ent announcing the press conference with Miller was passed around before the game's end. It stated that, for obvious reasons, the public shouldn't be told of its location or time. A final irony. In a game last year, an ASU punt went up — and came back down at the line of scrimmage. ASU would be trounced, 41-7. A coach allegekly struck the punter after the punt, and reportedly said after the game, “He’D never punt for ASU again.” The player — Kevin Rutledge. The coach — Frank Kush. The opponent — the Washington Huskies. Reasons hidden in 1apology # Miller's action is.unexplained By Dave Wrifaar The prepared statement meant to explain the end of Frank Kusk’s 22 years as ASU’s head football coach turned out to be mere of an apology T h is la without mention the mori, painful doefoion that 1 have ever made in my nrafueioaal career." the statement bagas. ASU Athfotfe Director Fred MUfer spoke before a roomful of hastily ■sssmhlsd newsmen Saturday night after A8U*a vietare mec Washington. His hand coach had jumped the gun on him that afternoon by innemting his own firing. Miller elaborated that Kuah had Miller explained that he had met with Kush Friday afternoon, in­ been suspended, remaining on tho ASU payroll as aa assistant professor forming the coach of his decision. The decision would be mode public of physical education. on Sunday, Miller had dadded, after The key statement was * . . . in­ the footbafi game. formation received this peri week But Kuah Md wept hie words m his . . . ” and the writers in attendance players prepared for the contori and would not let the statement stand. Miller was forced to explain Ms Litigation in the Rutledge motivation after the gaaae. "Bawd upon information received would not allow Idm to answer aay tide pari week. I have relieved Frank questions concerning the datais ef Kuah from loapoBribiMtim aa ASU three events. Miller explained. The conference ended without aay head football caaeh pending further further explanation from Miller review ef the matter, the statement concerning Iris rend. Despite ASU Athfotfe Director Prod Milor's contention that Iris firing ef head footbel coach Frank Kuah was far re arena "asperate and apart" tram tho l l . l miUoo Kevin Rutledge harassment suit, the Rutledge Itigetioa remains the primary focuo of Kush's abrupt dfamfami After discussing tho dedaion with Miter on Friday evening, Kuah said Saturday afternoon he "fait obligated to trice a He-detector tori in the presence of my attorney, and it provea I have been completely truthful" regarding hit statement insisting he never hit Kevin Rutledge, a former ASU punter, despite contrary eyewitness testimony. A current ASU football player, who was granted anonymity because he said he feared ‘ reprimís, teM the State From Oct. 8 he n w Kuah "take his palm to Kevin's mask and above Rutledge litigation loom s as a factor in Kush dism issal Fred M ille r it up m high m ho could. Then he gave him an uppercut under the mask witk Ma opposite hand.” But Kuah was quoted in the Sept. 7 edition of The Armens R tp iM k aa saying “that statement is absolutely, totaly untrue." Miller repeatedly refused to give the reasons for Kush’s firing because he said It fa "s subject ef Ktigrifaa.” He repeated, however, that the litigation had nothing to do with the Rutledge Fifty-eight persons have been ordered to give depositions to Rutledge's attorney. Robert 0 . Hing, in connection with the suit (Bed fast month in U.S. District Court. Both Hing and Miller have said that for more important issues are involved than whether Kush slugged Rutledge. Pag« 4 S t a f Pr«»« Monday. October 15,1979 By the way, ASU won the game i — .. r. > By Jba EMagw The ASU Washington football game Saturday night probably will go down as a trivia question. The query probably will go something like, what was the score in the final game that Frank Kush was head coach of? The answer is profound, and maybe lost ««mag the potpourri of the fall of Kush. For the record, it was 12-7, ASU won. Washington, the No. 7 ranked team in the country, was swept away in the path of ASU football player and fan emotion, aqusfeed be­ tween the a rt of how it is to win with a 12th player. H i game was in tb s middle of Sun Devil Stadium, but the attention centered on the 70,000 fins th at engulfed it, and the variety of reaction from them to the day’s events. Regardless, there was the game. The ASU defense stopped one of the country a most formidable rushing attacks, holding H to 161 yards on 46 carries, and just about eclipsing the ideas that have been tossed around th at the nation's No. 1 defense against the rush was a Hon feeding on squirrels. P P P M H ■! 1 Washington quarterback Tom Ponas [7] has ptwnty °* .in the backfietd as he attempts a pass against ASU. Attempting to knock down the pass is Sun Devil defensiv« end Bob Kohrs [95]. U aebacker Gary Padjen turned in a p e t' formance th at could arguably be called brilliant, with four unassisted and eight assisted tackles, recovering a fumble and causing another. The complexion of the game eras established early, when Washington tailback Joe Steele tried a straight-ahead run and was stopped by defensive end Bob Kohrs on the game s initial play. Fullback Touissant Tyler then went to the same spot on the next play, and linebacker Joey f flimpkis did the honors. Total on the carries was six yards. Steele was not the rushing giant he has been this year, getting 72 yards on 22 carries. The middle was dosed early, when middle was closed early, andand when I Husky coach Dòn Jam es decided to take things outside, pursuit was-stamped on the backs of Steele and Tyler. , •It was a very smattonai time for all of us, Padjen said. “I was ready to pl*y- We all were. K was the best game yet from a coaching standpoint.'' Padjen’s fumble recovery with 4:62 left in the game dosed out the Huskies final f**P d wmning and brought mayhem to the ValleyW ith the s«we 12-7, Washington recovered a funible-tar ASU quarterback Mark Malone on the Sun Devil 29 yard line, and it looked H keK ushs supposedly ffafel hurrah would not b© print for memorabilia. But two plays later. Steels went over the right side, and a defense that w ss not going to break didn’t, tearing the ball loose for Pidjen’s heroics. While Washington was letting the game go by the boards with poorly-executed offensive plays and a defense th at broke but wouldn’t bend, the ASU offense, and in particular the Hne, gave the couches a good dean shot of smelling salts. * CenttowaBy, and daggoffy, th e offensive -Hne “fifed" off the ball with every snap like Mr. &jnètch and h it pitchlork wwe right behind. .•"The difference (from laot year's 41-7 loss to Washington) was our minds- were there in this game,” offensive tackle Kani Kauahi said. T h e difference was we got the shit kicked out of us year, and w© couldn't l©t th©® do it again. We did some things different, and this tim e we kicked the shit out of them .” The 8 m Devito p a t a 70-yard, 12-play scoring drive together in the first quarter, culminated by a three-yard run by Malone. . Eight minutes later, Kphrs recovered a Washington fuaM e in the end aone and the A8U balance waa born. Players shoulder shock w hile rising to occasion By Murray Freehlich Sun Devil Stadium never has been filled with as much emotion as it was Saturday night when ASU defeated No. 7 Washington. The Sun Devils, obviously motivated by Coach Frank Kush's announcement of his firing just three hours before kickoff, were jubilant with the victory over the Huskies but the feeling was bittersw eet because of the loss of their coach. Inspired by the sudden decision, ASU s players had nothing but praise for Kush. Some, overcome with emotion, broke down and wept openly as Kush was carried off the field on his players’ shoulders after the victory. “I was emotionally impressed (with being carried off the field)." Kush said. “One of the problems you have as a head coach is th at you like to be intimate and dose to each and every player, but this isn't always possible. “There’s a lot of youngsters somewhere along the line that you don’t think you’re really close to and they come and put their arms around you and they’re crying. This is what it’s all about. Sooner or later you find out that all of the things you’re doing pay off.” ASU quarterback Mark Malone said after the game, “the firing gave us an emotional lift. We wanted to win. The game was for Kush." Most of the Sun Devils reacted to the decision with an expression of shock and dismay. ^ “It's a sad moment, he’s a great man, WlUie Gittens said. “He’s the main reason I’m doing so well. He had confidence in me and that’s why I have confidence in myself.” Curtis Aaron, starting a t left guard for the first tim e, said. “I love the man. He meant a great deal to me. I'm deeply sorry he w ont be here." • _ ., , Offensive left tackle Kani Kauahi also ex­ pressed displeasure about the incident. „ “Personally I think it’s a bunch of bullshit, Kauahi said after the game. “I have so much respect for the man. This whole thing leaves a funny feeling in my stomach." Reserve quarterback Steve Brstkowski said, “the guy dedicates 26 years to A8U, he deserves to be treated a little better." Even though Kush questioned the way in which the firing waa handled, he did not leave Sun Devil Stadium in the usual manner. Kush was given a thunderous ovation for the last t in»* by a capacity crowd of 70,912 as he was carried off the field t a his players. * It seems Sun Devil Stadium will never be the same. F ire d up from the emotion, the Sun Devile eecort Frank Kueh einer defeating the Weehlngton Hueklee 12-7. Owens ready to p ick up ball as head coach Bob Owens said Sunday he received word that he had been named as interim head coach of the ASU football team while getting in hto ear to drive to a pre-game meeting with the players Saturday afternoon. “John Wadaa (assistant athletic director) me to get the team through the night," Owens said. “He talked to me in the perhtag lot and told me about the decision (about 3:84 p.m.)." . Owens, a defensive coach at ASU for 12 years before replacing Frank Kush aa the head coach, said the announcement that Kush had been fired was “tragic, a shock and gave me a deep sense of torn." “I spent most of today (Sunday) getting my own thoughts together,” Owens said. -W e’re going to try and keep the same routine, not break out of it, A lot of the kids (ASU players) and coaches felt a gut feeling yesterday, but they seem to be taking it better now." ^ _ Owens said he will coach the Devils i t least until the and of the season, and will re­ evaluate the program and his position at that tim e. He anticipates no big changes in the ASU football program because of the coaching switch, and added the effects of the move are hard to determine, “There’s no one that can Judge how much effect this will have on the team," he said. T m looking few a positive response from the fans about this, because you need the fans to win. I don't think the people in the Valley know who I am. either by deafen or per­ sonality. b 's hard to say. I just hope they accept me far the players." Owens replaced Larry R enters aa defensive coordinator this season, and is one of the few coaches on the team that has a doctorate (education). Owens and his wife Judy have two children. Kerry 18 and Robyn 14. and iv e to Tempo. He is a native of Lubbock, Tax. and graduated from Fresno State. “Kush and I have similar football philosophies." Owens said. "WeVa worked together for a fang tim e and are dose te to our ( ¥ A