University of Virginia Library

Ward's Feud, Alarms
Liven Hopeless Terps

We reprint the following excerpts
from The Diamondback, the
student newspaper at the University
of Maryland, concerning the latest
rage at College Park. It seems that
football Coach Bob Ward, in his
attempt to build spirit behind the
hapless Terps, has alienated the
Diamondback Sports Editor, but at
the same time, thinks nothing of a
"3-Alarm Pep Rally."

It was amazing.

The head coach of the nation's
losingest major college football
team danced the "temptation
walk" last night (Oct. 3) with one
of the more than 1,000 fans at the
University's three-alarm pep rally.

The fire alarms in all three high
rise dorms in the Ellicot complex
were set off to get the 1,500
residents out onto the concrete
apron behind Ellicot Hall for the
first spontaneous pep rally in recent
years.

"We're going down to Norfolk
to win," Ward yelled over the still-clattering
fire alarms. He also expressed
pleasure at the turnout,
even if it was aided by the alarms.

Alan Pastrana, the Terp quarterback,
then pulled junior premed
student Wayne Stovall out of the
crowd to dance with Ward:

"He really put down some mean
steps," Stovall grinned afterward
from under his turned down sailor
hat.

The players then carried Ward
away on their shoulders.

Life is not all grins with Ward,
however; as David Bourdon,
Diamondback Sports Editor, has
found out. We quote again.

A long simmering feud between
football coach Bob Ward and the
Diamondback boiled over at Ward's
weekly press conference yesterday
(Oct. 7).

"I don't want you around
here," said Ward before the conference
(to Bourdon). The former
All-America guard said he felt
Bourdon was "trying to take the
bread" from his mouth. "You don't
know anything about football," declared
the second year coach.

According to Bourdon, a 20
year old junior, "He was upset
because I had the audacity to suggest
that his blockbuster offense
use a screen pass."

During the Sunday morning
confrontation, related Bourdon,
Ward took exception to the manner
in which the sports editor took
notes, and to his handwriting.

"You're a little sneak," Ward is
said to have told Bourdon.

Early Sunday, while Bourdon
was walking on campus, Ward
pulled up to him in his car and
growled a common vulgarity to
describe what he could do to the
5-foot-6, 160 pound sports editor.
He also exiled Bourdon from the
practice field.

"I think it's a crime that student
newspapers can write the kind of
stuff they write, not only about me
but about the president of the
University, too. Our society is
really going down the drain," observed
the head coach.