1990_04 The Daily Collegian April 1990

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BtTLLDOG Sports
Monday. April 23, 1990
efansive duo selected in NFL draft
i dx, Williams picked highest in Fresno State history
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i    ik>rinChieJ
during a busy Sunday of questions
1 suprises at the National Football
1 ague Draft in New York, a pair of
former Fresno Slate standouts cashed*
hi for themselves while making
1   Udog history In the process.
tames Williams. a        senior
r rnerback widely regarded as the best
athlete in the draft this vear. was
& lected by the Buffalo Bills with (he
i ithpickofthe first round.
Linebacker Ron Cox. one of a record
: juniors who opted for lhe draft, was
l t\en by the Chicago Bears early in
the second rodnd, wilh the 33rd pick.
Williams is lhe first first-round
selection ever from FSU. Cox is the
third second-rounder. Wide receiver
Henry Ellard was taken by the Los
Angeles Rams tn 1982 and comerback
Anthony Washington was drafted by
Pittsburgh In 1981.
Only Ellard. who was picked 32nd
overall, was picked higher lhan Cox in
FSU history. FSU has never had a
tandem drafted this highly in the
same season; in 1987. Stephen Baker
was drafted by the Giants In the third
round and Gene Taylor was picked by
New England in the sixth round.
Williams was in Phoenix. Ariz, with
his agent during the draft while Cox
was at his grandmother's home in
northwest Fresno. Neither could be
reached for comment.
Williams' 'NFL stock rose sleadily
throughout Ihe season. Coming to
FSU in 1985 from Coalinga as a wide
receiver, he concluded his collegiate
career as a finalist for Ihe Jim Thorpe
East Wesl Shnric Defensive Player of
the Came. Williams impressed at
scouting combines. running
consistently under 4.3 seconds in the
40-yard dash and recording a vertical
leap of nearly 40 inches. He and
Auburn wide receiver Alexander
Wright, selected by the Dallas Cowboys
Ron Cox
Award, which recognizes the top
defensive back in the country. He
earned second-team fThe Sporting
News) and third-team (Associated
Press) All-America honors and was
named to the All-Big West Conference
first team.
FSU's honorary defensive captain
had a big postseason as well, playing
in the  Hula Bowl and being named
James Williams
to open the second round (26th). are
the two fastest players in the entire
draft.
Williams (5-11, 175) is the FSU
season (6) and career (11) record holder
in blocked kicks. He was chosen in the
draft between Houston linebackei*
Lamar Lathon (Houston Oilers) and
Florida running back Emmltt Smith
(Dallas).   Noted for his bump-and-run
coverage specials teams skills, he is
expected to step in and replace the
retired Derrick Burroughs at one
corner, opposite Nate Odomes. for lhe
Bills.
Cox (6-2. 240). after redshlrting his
freshman campaign in '86. has spent
the past three seasons rewriting lhe
FSU defensive record book and
establishing himself as the finest
defensive player in Bulldog history.
The Fresno native from Washington
Union High garnered seconfl-team All-
America honors from both TSN and
Football News while taking third-
team mention from AP.' Cox earned
honorable mention All-American
honors from United Press
ntemational. He was also named the
Big West Defensive Player of the Year
en route to first-team all-conference
honors. X
Cox is the third consecutive Bulldog
to be named Big West Defensive Player
of the Year, following linebacker
Tracy Rogers ('88) and defensive
lineman Jethro Franklin ('87).
He holds FSU's game (7), season (28)
and career (50) sack records and is the
school's season record holder for
defensive points (570). In addition to
his numerous national arid conference
Player of the Week honors throughout
the season. Cox was named FSU's Most
Outstanding Player and the California
Raisin Bowl MVP.
Bulldogs sweep
San Jose State
By Chris Branam
i fx>r(s Writer
The Fresno State baseball team.
wept last week by streaking Fullerton
■late, turned the trick on the
liunderstruck I4th-ranked San Jose
late Spartans 12-2 Sunday at Beiden
ield.
FSU (31-14. 9-3) stayed in the Big
West   Conference   Chapionship   hunt
with its three victories, one half game
• hind    Fullerton.    who    were    6-1
inners     over     JNevada-Las     Vegas
Sunday. San Jose Stale dropped to 35-
1.5-7 in league play.
Fresno Slate baiters ripped Spartan
.iching for 46 hits and 25 runs in the
ireegam.es, including 15 hits Sunday.
?ie Dogs won the first two contests 8-7
nd 5-3, respectively.
We looked like a different ball club
its    weekend    than    we    did    last
■.'i'kend."    FSU    head    coach    Bob
Bennett sakl.     We hit  ihe ball well.
pitching  was   good,   and   we   played
excellent defense.''
FSU starter Ranbir Grewral (8-3)
went all lhe way for the Bulldogs,
giving"up six hits while striking out
: iur. Grewal only threw 108 pitches in
i lie game, which was a good six-inning »
- :,;ure for him early in Ihe season.     ,       ™
"[Orewal) is getting the ball over the
,'late more and getting the guys on the
tirst two pitches.'' Bennett said.
Grewal made use of his early
cushion, as Fresno State jumped all
over SJSU starter Rob Andrakin for
six runs in the first three innings.
Andrakin came into the contest 5-0
and 15th in the nation in ERA. at 1.54.
but he was pounded for six hits and
struck out none.
FSU    left    fielder   Chris   Gonzalez
collected  one  of those  hits,   a  run-
scoring double to the gap in left center^
to give Fresno State a4-0 lead.
"Their    pitching    was    overrated,"
Gonzalez    said.        "[Andrakin]    was    *
terrible.    His fastball was stralghL.-I
don't know how he got his five wins."
__ _.   .   ,   JUut,   — ,  , 4 David TellezJDaily Co'Jeqian
the seventh toning Sunday. TheBuUdogsswepttheseriesfromtheSpartanswllha 12-2 victory.