1980_01 The Daily Collegian January 1980

              -i
Pat* KMhe Baity <_lt«ian-January 25, t*a**»
Pros give Sweeney an education
-,
fcy Bill Ery»lan
J im Sweeney is once again at the helm
of the Bulldog football team and there's
no doubt in his mind that he's happy
to be home.
*ln some ways I feel like I never left
because a lot of the time I was gone, I
was wishing I was here,' Sweeney
said in a recent interview.
After a two-year stint in the NFL
coaching arena, Sweeney admitted pro¬
fessional football didn't fit in well with
his own coaching savvy. He served a
year with the Oakland Raiders as a
specialty teams coach and another sea¬
son with the St. Louis Cardinals as the
offensive line coordinator.
The new Jim Sweeney is much like
that silver-haired leader we remember
except now Sweeney said he hopes the
"personal growth" he experienced in
the NFL will help boost the football
program here.
Sweeney was quick to explain how his
term in the pro ranks will be an asset
He said his two-year absence was like a
"graduate school" atmosphere because
it developed his overall football knowl¬
edge in certain areas.
"I wish I hadn't (eft, but in some ways
I served myself and the program here
better by being gone,' he said.
Sweeney was named to succeed Bob
Padilla last Dec. 19 as head football
coach at CSUF. Two years earlier,
Sweeney left a championship PCAA
football team here to try his coaching
hand at the NFL level.
Although Sweeney's return hasn't
been met with total approval, nor has it
been immune to criticism, the coach is
determined to pick up where he left off.
Sweeney freely discussed some of his
current endeavors.
With the growth oi Fresno County, the
building of a-new 30,000-seat stadium
and the emergence of the "California
Bowl," Sweeney said he recognizes
that the potential for Bulldog sports in
the Valley is strong.
'If you put-forth a product that people
are proud of, they will adopt that product
4%s their own," he said. "We'll try again
to turn the Fresno community on to be¬
ing Bulldog oriented because it was
growing, particularly the appeal to stu¬
dent involvement."
It's clear that Sweeney's Bulldog
spirit is still vibrant as ever.
"We have to give the students a pro¬
duct they can be proud of because
then they (the students) will be sensi¬
tized that being a Bulldog means some¬
thing—and it did mean something,"
he said.
The coach feels nothing much has
changed with the football program here
except "projected growth," i.e., the pro¬
gress of the new stadium.
"I don't think the program has come
up in the last two years, from the level
where we left it," he said. "So we have to
figure every day, a way to get better in
all areas '
Some of the coach's new strategy
represents a sharp contrast from the
championship Bulldog offense of three
years ago That squad was more de¬
fense-oriented and focused on running
the veer offense. Sweeney explained
this year's team will be a pro-type of¬
fense,   concentrating   much   more   on
throwing the football. The new offensive
package will incorporate some of last
year's ideas, but Sweeney added that
the changes he introduces will force
opponents to defend "against a new
type of offense."
'The successful football coach runs
this year what everybody else runs next
year," he said-
Sweeney has also wasted little time in
employing his recruiting prowess.
Defensive tackle Jeff Dockweiler, from
Fresno City College, is one of 11 junior
college talents the Bulldogs have already
signed. He called Dockweiler the "num¬
ber one man they wanted in their de¬
fensive lineup." Other recruits Sweeney
cited were defensive backs Anthony
and Tim Washington, a pair of agile
University of California transfers ■
Sweeney placed the whole recruiting
drive in perspective by pointing to
CSUF's successful acquisition of play¬
ers needed for specific positions on the
new squad
"Offensive linemen, wide receivers
and running backs are all crucial po¬
sitions for the pro-type offense to work
effectively, "he said.
Sweeney also commented briefly on
ex-coach Bob Padilla, who was fired
Nov. 15 after serving only two years as
head coach of the Bulldogs. He left
behind a 3-8 and 4-7 record But Swee¬
ney sympathized a bit with Padilla's
untimely departure.
"It's very difficult to say what Padilla
could have done," he said. "Two years
is not time to judge a coach " But Swee¬
ney added, "As far as I'm concerned,
the decision to fire Padilla was made,
JIM SWEENEY
and whether I agree with or disagree
with it isn't going to stop me from com¬
ing back where I want to be. *
According to that rationale, Sweeney
is certainly back where he wants to be
and he's obviously satisfied with his
decision *■
The recruiting hasn't been limited
continued on page 11
Congratulations to the
Dr. Pepper Players of the Week-
Rod Higgins
High point man in the game vs. Boise
with 16 points and 5 rebounds.
Dan Pagliotti
High point man in the game vs. Fort
Lewis with 14 points and 1 rebound.
Pete Verhoeven
High point man in the game vs   Ari¬
zona with 12 points and 9 rebounds
Dr. Pepper Bottling Co. Fresno
..?;