The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 13

Thursday, Dec. 19, 1991 The Pantagraph Mid-County stays unbeaten, B3 DePaul dumps Northern, B3 l-AA All-America team, B4 New Unco wants SPORTSWATCH of one year before leaving. pLBLD The Big 12 currently consists of Lincoln, Bloomington, Normal Community, Stephen Decatur, Decatur MacArthur, Decatur Eisenhower, Champaign Central, Champaign Centennial, Urbana, Rantoul, Danville and Mattoon. Overby said several factors point to Lincoln leaving the Big 12 including school enrollment, geography and Board favors leaving Big 12 By RANDY REINHARDT Pantagraph staff A new eight-school conference which would include Lincoln High School moved a step closer to reality yesterday. An announcement from Robert Hill, superintendent of Springfield Public Schools, confirmed the three Springfield public high schools (Springfield High, Lanphier and Southeast) plan to pursue a new conference along with Lincoln, Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin, Jacksonville, Taylorville and Chatham Glen-wood.

Lincoln superintendent Jerry Overby has recommended the Lincoln school board vote in favor of leaving the Big 12 Conference for the new league. A straw poll taken at Monday's board meeting was 5-1 in favor of Overby's recommendation with one board member absent "At this point everybody is aiming in the same direction," Overby said yesterday of the proposed new conference members. "The time is right and the opportunity is there to do something beneficial for our students and programs." A deadline of Jan. 30 has been set for the respective school boards to take action on the proposal. If Lincoln decides to make the change, the Railsplitters would compete in the Big 12 during the 1992-93 school year and begin competition in the new league in 1993-94.

Big 12 by-laws require schools to give a notice Please see LINCOLN, B4 VandeGarde's role uplifting for ISU Northwestern names Colorado aide CHICAGO University of Colorado offensive coordinator Gary Barnett is the new Northwestern University head football coach, authorities at the Evanston campus announced yesterday. "We feel he (Barnett) understands what it takes to move our program in a positive, winning direction," Northwestern athletic director Bruce Corrie said. Details of the contract were not announced. Before becoming offensive coordinator at Colorado earlier this year, Barnett, 45, spent six years as coach of the Buffaloes' quarterbacks and fullbacks. As Northwestern's 27th head coach, Barnett replaces Francis Peay, who was fired at the end of the season after posting a six-year record of 13-51-2.

Robinson resigning as Rams' coach ANAHEIM, Calif. John Robinson, who took the Los Angeles Rams within one win of the Super Bowl two years ago, announced his resignation yesterday as the team's head coach. Robinson's future seemed bleak for some time, as the Rams have lost nine straight games to match a team record that has lasted 50 years. Robinson, 56, said his decision to quit was a mutual one with Rams management The Rams (3-12) finish the season at Seattle on Sunday night Robinson will make that game his final one with the team he joined in 1983. Parcells released from hospital RIDGEWOOD, N.J.

Former Giants coach Bill Parcells was released from The Valley Hospital yesterday after having one of the arteries of his heart cleared of blockage, the hospital said. The non-surgical procedure was performed Monday after an angiogram showed last week that Parcells' had a 95-to-99 percent blockage of his left anterior descending artery. 2 By BRYAN BLOODWORTH Pantagraph sports editor In this the season of giving and receiving, Mike VandeGarde has been filling those roles for Illinois State University's basketball team. The 6-foot-7 VandeGarde has been giving the Redbirds a productive effort off the bench. Thus, the sophomore forward has been receiving more play ing and an added role.

"We've found something in Mike that's not always easy for a team to find and that's a true sixth man," said ISU coach Bob Bender, whose 2-4 team opens Missouri Valley Conference play Saturday at 7:05 p.m. against Southwest Missouri State in Springfield, Mo. "Every team searches for a guy to fill the role Mike has been filling for us," Bender continued. "He's giving us a talent that often goes unnoticed. He's really given the team a lift coming off the bench.

There aren't any statistics to measure the effort he has given us lately." VandeGarde does rank pretty high on the list of statistics that can be measured, though. In the last four games, the Blooming-ton, native has averaged 11.2 points and 6.7 rebounds in 21Vi minutes per game. That's a far cry from the numbers (four points and no rebounds) he put up in the first two games. "I had a bad game against Virginia Commonwealth and didn't play much against Illinois-Chicago," said VandeGarde. "Then, the team wasn't playing very well against Loyola and Coach gave me an opportunity to see what I could do.

"I just tried to go into the game and make the most of the opportunity. I tried to give the team an emotional boost by playing hard. I hit my first couple of shots and got a few rebounds and things just sort of fell into place." VandeGarde, who finished with a career-high 17 points, a team-high seven rebounds and a bloodied knee against Loyola, admitted playing only three minutes in the previous game against Illinois-Chicago stung his pride. "Coach said before the UIC game he was only going to play certain people and I could understand why I wasn't one of them," said VandeGarde. "I had been struggling and didn't deserve to play.

ISU not only Valley team with a key player sidelined Page B3 But it still hurt a little not to play much and that made me work a little extra harder in practice." Not since Sonny Roberts helped the Redbirds gain a berth in the NCAA Tournament two years ago has ISU had a player fit the sixth-man role as well as VandeGarde has recently. "Mike's been a battler and a warrior for us. He's filling a role that maybe is more important to the team than what your starters do," said Bender. "Because you're not always going to have all five guys have a great game, you need someone who can come off the bench and give you a consistent effort. Mike has been doing that" VandeGarde, who is averaging 16 minutes, 7.5 points and 4.5 rebounds through the first six games, said he wasn't sure what his role would be when the season started.

However, the sixth-man role was definitely not in his plans. He had hopes of competing for a starting position, but a back injury shelved him for the first 2Vi weeks of practice. "That slowed me down conditioning-wise. I had to work hard to work my way back in practice because by the time I returned, the coaches pretty much had their minds set ofi what players were going to play," said VandeGarde. "At first I wasn't crazy about the (sixth man) role, but I like it now that Coach has explained to me what he expects from me.

He made me realize not everybody's going to have a great game every time out "Hopefully I can come in, give a consistent effort and give the team a boost five minutes into the game. If I do that, then that's when my playing time will go up." VandeGarde, a general studies student who received the top student athlete award last year after capturing all-conference academic honors with a 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) grade-point average, is also one of the team's top defenders in the post area. "I've really been trying to concentrate i. JT "Wife The PantagraphLORI ANN COOK Jays land Morris for $10.85 million TORONTO Jack Morris, who came home last winter and led Minnesota to the World Series title, left the Twins yesterday and agreed to a $10.85 million, two-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. Morris, 18-12 last season with 3.43 ERA, led pitchers with a $3.7 million salary in 1991 and declined to exercise a $3.65 million option with Minnesota.

The Twins offered a slight salary increase, but it wasn't enough to re-sign the 36-year-old right-hander. Instead, Morris agreed to a contract with Toronto for a $1.85 million signing bonus, $3.5 million in 1992 and $4.5 million in 1993. Williams to give Phillies more relief PHILADELPHIA Mitch Williams returned to Philadelphia yesterday, agreeing to a $9.2 million, three-year contract that makes the reliever the Phillies' highest-paid player. Williams, 27, was 12-5 with a 2.34 ERA in 69 games last season. He saved 30 games, the second-highest total in Phillies history and the most ever by a left-hander.

Williams became a free agent after the World Series and asked for a four-year deal, but found no one wanted to guarantee a contract that long for a reliever with a history of wildness. Cubs make front-office promotions CHICAGO Mark McGuire, the Chicago Cubs' vice president for business operations, has been named executive vice president, the club announced yesterday. McGuire, 39, has been with the Cubs since 1981. In other management moves, the Cubs named two new vice presidents Keith Bode, 34, the director of finance and information systems, and John McDonough, 38, director of marketing. Mike VandeGarde, shown getting set for a shot in Saturday's victory over Idaho State, has given Illinois State's basketball team a lift off the bench as the Redbirds' sixth man.

my game." added VandeGarde. "I realized last year that I might not be as talented as some of the other guys I'm playing with or against. "That's made me work harder to be consistent in all areas. I realize if I'm going to help the team, I have to play to my strengths and not try to do things I can't do." The last four games he's being doing just that. on defense more this year and I think it's helped," said VandeGarde, who set a school record for a freshman last year when he blocked a team-high 36 shots.

VandeGarde has blocked five shots and stolen the ball from opponents seven times this season. He is also shooting 47 percent from the field, compared to 30.5 percent last year. "I've just tried to become a more complete, solid player in all phases of Lions-Bills outcome no worry for Chicago Dahlquist leaving lllini, joins Mackovic in Texas LAKE FOREST (AP) The Chicago Bears will not let the outcome of the Buffalo-Detroit game decide how they will play when they battle the San Francisco 49ers 1 By Pantagraph staff CHAMPAIGN John Mackovic has taken a second University of Illinois assistant football coach with him to Texas. Monday night, RpAD Vifcttu mine lyima Ob said yesterday. FACTS If the Lions lose to the Bills on "You're trying to get me to say that I don't agree with what he's doing.

I think the one thing you've got to realize, you've got to take care of what's important," Ditka said. "They will take care of what they think is important. I never, ever, question any other coach's decision. It's their prerogative." Because the 49ers' season will- end with Monday's game, Coach George Se-ifert said his team will approach the matchup like a playoff game. Seifert also had good things to say about the talent of the team the 49ers will be facing Monday.

He indicated the Bears are capable of reaching the Super Bowl. "It's not the most talented club in the league," says Seifert, "But, they play with a great sense of urgency, the same way we have played over the last few years." Illini offensive coordinator Gene Dahlquist announced yesterday he will join former Illinois head coach Mackovic in the same capacity with Texas. Receivers coach Cleve Bryant also is going to Texas. However, Dahlquist will Sunday, the Bears automatically will win the NFL's Central Division, gaining an automatic first-round playoff bye regardless of the outcome of Chicago-San Francisco game. Ditka said defensive standout Mike Singletary was right in saying he could care less about who wins in Buffalo.

"He's right," he said. "Our guys will go out and do the best they can." Ditka refused to criticize Buffalo coach Marv Levy, who said he is considering resting some players Sunday. Valvano talking with Nets EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. The principal owner of the New Jersey Nets said yesterday that the part owner who supposedly has talked with Jim Valvano about the club's coaching position isn't empowered to make hiring decisions. Part-owner Joe Taub "is basically an advisor," principal owner and board chairman Alan Aufzien said.

"Whether he has had any conversations with Jim Valvano and what was discussed, I don't know. But he does not make offers or conduct negotiations." Valvano's lawyer, Arthur Kaminsky, issued a statement confirming talks with the Nets. Magic's wife tests negative again LOS ANGELES The wife of former Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson has tested negative for the AIDS virus a second time, Johnson's agent said. Earletha "Cookie" Johnson took the test about two weeks ago and the results showed no sign of the virus, Lon Rosen said yesterday. She is about three months pregnant Johnson announced his retirement from basketball Nov.

7, saying he had contracted HIV, the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome. NBA union arranges AIDS program NEW YORK Reacting to Magic Johnson's disclosure that he tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS, the NBA Players Association has arranged an intensive education program on the disease for NBA teams. The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health will send physicians into the locker rooms of the 27 clubs to educate players on AIDS. The players will be informed of available AIDS tests but will not be required to be examined. From Pantagraph wire services 24-hour sports information on CITYLINE Call 829-9000, enter 6000 Many of the factors which lured Mackovic to Texas last week were as enticing to Dahlquist.

"For us to receive more national exposure for doing that (winning) than we did at Illinois is attractive," said Dahlquist. "It is potentially a situation where you can win a national championship, and that is very attractive." After becoming head coach last week, Tepper said he wanted a stronger running game, although the Illini will still be a pass-oriented team. "I think Lou was genuinely sincere when he said he wanted me to stay, but I'm also genuinely sincere when I say that in the long run it will be best for the University of Illinois program if I move on," said Dahlquist. "That way, Lou can have the freedom to pick and choose people he wants and do the things he wants to do without a holdover or me balking or things like that." Four Mackovic assistants are staying with Tepper offensive line coach Mike Deal, special teams coach Greg Colby, outside linebackers coach Bob Gambold and defensive line coach Denny Marcin, who will replace Tepper as defensive coordinator. The only assistant undecided is defensive back coach Steve Gene Dahlquist Illini coach Lou stay with new John Tepper through the Dec.

31 Four Bears make Pro Bowl team HEME 3 Oilers, Bills, Redskins, Raiders head Pro Bowl teams Page B4 Hancock Bowl against UCLA. "When Coach Mackovic left, he said that after he got there and checked the situation out there could be an opportunity for me to go down there and join him," said Dahlquist "I've had the offer, and I've spent the last few days thinking about it. "I now think it's the best situation for me and the Illinois football program to move on. I think the opportunity to win at Texas is NEW YORK (AP) Four Chicago Bears were named yesterday to the National Football Conference Pro Bowl team. Center Jay Hilgenberg and safety Mark Carrier will start in the game in Honolulu on Feb.

2. Running back Neal Anderson and linebacker Mike Singletary also were named to the squad. Singletary will be making his ninth straight Pro Bowl appearance, and it's Hilgenberg's seventh in a row. This will also mark the fourth straight year for Anderson. Carrier was named to the team last year as a rookie..