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ASU's Redmond doubtful for opener
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J.R. Redmond, the Heisman hopeful from Arizona State, suffered a minor setback this past week as he missed half of last Wednesday's practice and all of Thursday's with tendinitis in his knee. Head coach Bruce Snyder said the problem was a minor one and Redmond is now at full strength and practicing again. Redmond, who was in ASU's plans to play defense in obvious passing situations as well as his running back slot, may see limited to no playing time as a defensive back in the Sun Devils' season opener against Washington. That concerns Snyder because another Heisman hopeful, the Huskies' Brock Huard, will be doing a lot of passing against ASU's young defensive backfield where Redmond could be able to help. Redmond has been begging coaches to play defense ever since he saw what playing both ways did for last year's Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson of Michigan, who is now a starting cornerback for the Oakland Raiders. The Washington State Cougars are going to begin their season on a sad note this year with the knowledge that former player Leon Bender has passed on. Bender died May 30 from natural causes related to "seizure disorder." He had been preparing for the upcoming NFL season with the Oakland Raiders, who drafted him 31st overall and first in the second round. Bender, who took daily medication for this disorder, died in Marietta, Ga. The Cougars are dedicating their 1998 season to Bender with stickers bearing the letters LB on their helmets. They have also retired his jersey number 91 and introduced a yearly football award that will be given to the player with Bender's spark. Bender suffered only one seizure in his years at Pullman which occurred the day before the Alamo Bowl in 1994. His widow Liza, though, says he suffered three in April of 1995. The athletic directors of the Pacific 10 Conference tentatively agreed to send their second place finisher to the Holiday Bowl for the next four years. Under an old agreement the Cotton Bowl got the first pick between the Pac-10 runner up and the WAC champion. The team left over then faced the third choice from the Big 12 in the Holiday Bowl. The Holiday Bowl will change from its normal New Year's Day slot to a prime time position on Dec. 30. It will be alone in that prime time position and televised by ESPN. The bowl game has not been a favorite for Pac-10 teams as three have gone and all have lost in the game played in sunny San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium. Dan Rosen can be reached via e-mail at Dan.Rosen@wildcat.arizona.edu. |
