1994_11 The Daily Collegian November 1994

              N.
Tuesday, November 1, 1994
Page 7
Bulldogs' Papazian tackling
more than just opponents
Ron Papazian
leads Bulldogs foot¬
ball team in tack¬
les for second
straight season
By Geopge Smith
Another long day Of football
practice is over for Ron
A»-iiEapazian. Coaches Jim
Sweeney, Leon Burtnett, and
Brian Williams aren't yelling in
his ear anymore about defen¬
sive alignments and forma¬
tions. The second team's offen¬
sive unit doesn't have to get hit
by big No. 95 again Until to¬
morrow. He's through barking
out plays to his teammates and
telling diem where they should
be lined up. The day appears to
be over for the senior linebacker
transfer from Pacific.
But wait, there's more.
There's game iilm to be
watched, and conditioning to
do. There's- formations and
backsets to look out for, and
tests to take for media classes.
It's all in a day's work for
Papazian, who is starting to see
his hard work pay off.
"The closer it (school) gets to
the end, the harder it will be,"
said Papazian. "It'll be hard to
walk away from here and not
miss it"
What Papazian isn't missing
at the moment are his tackles.
Through Saturday's game
against New Mexico, Papazian
has 84 total tackles through eight
games-which is almost 11 stops
per game. He leads the team in
both categories, as well as being
at the top in unassisted tackles
wifcq43. Credit his quickness for
these impressive stats.
"I haven't coached a faster
linebacker than Ron," said line¬
backers coach Brian Williams,
who has seen his share of good
ones, coming here from the Big
East's University of Pittsburgh
Panthers'program. "He's defi¬
nitely a force out there."
'Tm not big and physical, so
I use my quickness and speed to
do die job," Papazian replied.
'Tm not a hole-plugger, but I'm
more versatile from the inside
linebacker position because of
^y^auickness?'
Another responsibility of
P a p az i an' s is that of being one of
the team leaders. Although he's
looked up to as one of the guys
his fellow teammates respect,
Papazian has a different philo¬
sophical view of a "leader."
"I feel that I am a leader, and
. I'll say what I have to say if the
situation calls for it," Papazian
replied. "But 111 leave it to die
guys to get motivated by them¬
selves. I am a total believer in
self-motivation, because if
you're not already mentally into
the game, you shouldn't be out
on the field.
'I'm pumped for every game
naturally, and everyone else
should be as well."
Papazian spent part of his
collegiate career at Pacific, but
came to FSU because of the dial-
COLLEGIAN AD LINE:
278-5731
STUDENT AND FACULTY DISCOUNTS
lenge of playing in die WAC, a
much more competitive confer-
'ence than the Big West
"I wasn't getting better at
UOP," Papazian said. "There
wasn't anyone there to help me
improve my game, so I decided
to transfer, and Fresno State was
the most interested in me."
Papazian was also looked at by
San Diego State and Washing¬
ton State.
'Tm happy about die com¬
petition," continued Papaiian.
"Everything^ about it is better-
die conference and die athletes.
But because I came from the Big
West, I had to prove myself."
He asserted and proved him¬
self to die team's biggest critic-
head coach Jim Sweeney.
"Ron is the type of guy who
gives more than 100 percent
every time out," reported the
coach.. "He's not satisfied until
he feels he has done everything
it takes for this football team
both mentally and physically.
He is a very important part of
our defense."
"TTiis game is 90 percent
mental," said Papazian. "You
can have all the physical ability
in the world, but if you don't
have the talent mentallv, you'11
sit the bench."
Thafs where the films come
in. Papazian watches films ev¬
ery day, checking scouting re¬
ports and always keeping a close
eye for different offensive align¬
ments. He already has what it
takes upstairs to make it in the
pros. But what about physi¬
cally?
"I don't want to jinx myself
Casteio, from Page 6
to Hansen's 212, and
Bettencourt, with a strong come¬
back finished at 217.
"I am really proud of those
guys," said head coach Mike
Watney about Casteio and
Bettencourt. "With 113 players
in this tournament, there is no
Youth, from Page 6
and 200 free. But the story of the
day were the young guns.
"I was sitting back waiting to
see how the frosh of a year ago
would do," said coach Irle. "We
had to have a "room check," to
see if they were here, and they
are. We need them to dominate
Cliches, from Page 6
of how broadcasters take sports
a bit too seriously. Critical? I
don't think so. What would hap¬
pen if the team didn't score on
this possession, or any posses¬
sion for that matter? Would die
world go hungry ? Would World
War III break out? Would Velcro
become obsolete? Doubtful.
• Crunch Time: Historians
have racked their brains trying to
figure out where this term origi¬
nated. It's used for those points in
the game where every posses¬
sion is critical (see above). But
Sports Information - File Phot^
Senior Ron Papazian continues to be a stable
link to the Fresno State defense.
about going pro," he said.. "If
the CFL (Canadian Football
League) or NFL pans out, fine.
If not, then 111 rely on my com¬
munications degree. My uncle
is an executive producer in the
film industry, so I could go into
that if I choose to." s   .
Among Papazian's current
goals for the team are to win die
rest of their games and make it
to a bowl game. And rest as¬
sured, hell be ready for the chal-
disgrace with finishing in sec-
raid and third."
Fresno State almost had their
lead slip from under them" as
the "Red Team" shot a 296 in
the firjal round but what clearly
helped was their low round of
28J (the second lowest team
round in the tourney behind
lenge.
"My dad said there are three
key essentials in life," he told
me. "Dedication, determina¬
tion, and desire. If you have all
three, you'll succeed if you keep
diem in your mind and heart
always"
Keep in mind that Ron
Papazian is ready for every
game.   And be on die lookout
for more speedy tackling at Bull-
> dog Stadium.
OU's285).
"Everyone played good, and
had one or two good rounds to
help the-team. It was a good
team effort," said Watney. "Eric
Mayer had a final round of 71,
and that helped us a lot"
On Thursday, John Barss won
the Classic long-drive contest
this year, and they all stepped up
and asserted themselves today."
The freshmen of a year ago
were called the "Fab Freshmen."
Now a second group of fresh¬
men have arrived on die scene
and have passed their initiation
meets with flying colors.
^"4'm very pleased," said
where did die "crunch" come
from? Nesde Crunch? Cap'n
Crunch? Anyone have a due on
this one? If so, please write.
• Hard-nosed: As in, "he's a
real hard-nosed football
player." What does having a
hard nose have to do with any¬
thing? Since when is having a
solid snout consistent with be¬
ing a tough person? Just once
I'd like to hear the Other an¬
nouncer reply, "Well, he may
have a l>ard nose but the rest of
his body is soft as hell."
• He's got heart : Who
doesn't? If ycu told me he didn't
coach Irle. "The frosh this year
have asserted themselves as
well. Mali (Valdez) was the
strongest backstroker we had
today. Linsay Schauer looked
great, too. It looks like we have
the Fab Frosh again."
And just like last year, looks
aren't deceiving.
have heart, now that would be
something.
•For (name of other an¬
nouncer), I'm (guy talking)...:
This is the most universally used
way of ending a telecast, as in, /
'Tor Bob Smith I'm Joe Jones, '
saying goodnight" Where did
this come from? You never see a
couple leaving a party with the
husband announcing, "For my
wife, I'm Jim, saying see you all
later. Thanks for a great time." It
just sounds strange, but it is ac-
cepted in "TV talk" so people
hardly think twice about it
Exoeptawoyingpeoplelifaeme.