Sports Briefs: Temple football coach to return

Monday, Oct. 7, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

On second thought, Temple coach Ron Dickerson isn't ready to give up.

The fourth-year coach said Sunday he had let his emotions get the best of him a day earlier when a 53-52 loss to Pittsburgh drove him to announce his resignation.

"After giving further and careful consideration to the situation, I know that I am as committed as ever to the success of our players, and to a winning Temple University football program," Dickerson said in a statement.

"I want to make it perfectly clear that I have never been a quitter, and I'm not going to start now."

In a telephone interview later, Dickerson said, "I am human and I made a mistake -- we've come too far to take a step backwards. I don't want to do anything to disrupt the progress we've made here."

Athletic Director Dave O'Brien said that after speaking with Dickerson, he believed that the coach was experiencing an "emotional and human reaction to a very tough and disappointing loss."

At Saturday's press conference, Dickerson tearfully faulted himself for the loss, referring to a fourth-and-1 fake punt on the Owls' final drive that failed. Pitt (2-4) then scored the winning touchdown with 58 seconds left in the game. Temple dropped to 1-4 with the loss.

Flyers' Lindros out

Philadelphia Flyers star Eric Lindros will not play tonight against the New Jersey Devils because of a lingering right groin injury and and might be sidelined until next week. Flyers coach Terry Murray said Sunday he hopes Lindros, injured playing for Canada in the World Cup, will be ready for a road trip starting Oct. 15 in Los Angeles. Lindros, sixth in the NHL in scoring last season with 47 goals and 68, said doctors gave him the impression that he "won't be skating for another day or two, and after that I'll be starting slowly."

Lasorda out of hospital

Former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda was released from Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood, Calif., on Sunday, two days after undergoing angioplasty to clear a blocked artery. Lasorda, 69, was admitted Friday with chest pain and underwent a second balloon angioplasty to reopen an artery first unblocked June 26. Soon after the first surgery, Lasorda quit as the team's manager.

UNLV golfers in Illinois

The third-ranked UNLV golf team heads into its second tournament of the fall season today in the Ping/Golfweek Preview Invitational at Lake Forest, Ill. The Rebels, who finished second in this tournament last year, take a veteran lineup into the event. Seniors Mike Ruiz, Gilberto Morales and Mike Vance will be joined by junior Bill Lunde and sophomore Ted Oh. Defending champion Arizona State heads the 15-team field.

Chang loses to No. 101

Jonathan Stark won his second career ATP Tour title Sunday, beating top-seeded Michael Chang of Henderson 6-4, 6-4 in the Singapore Open. Stark is ranked 101st in the world.

In other tennis tournaments:

* French Open champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov beat France's Arnaud Boetsch 7-5, 6-3 on Sunday in the final of the Lyon Grand Prix for the Russian star's tour-best 67th match victory of the year. Kafelnikov, ranked fifth in the world, has won four tournaments this year and 11 overall.

* Germany's Anke Huber of Germany successfully defended her title in the Leipzig Open on Sunday, beating Croatia's Iva Majoli 5-7, 6-3, 6-1. Huber, seeded fourth, reached the final when top-ranked Steffi Graf withdrew from their semifinal match because of a knee injury.

* Chris Evert made an impressive return to the Virginia Slims Legends Tour, winning all four of her weekend matches in her team's 55-43 victory over Martina Navratilova's squad at Oklahoma City. Evert's team dominated play throughout the two-day event, winning six of the nine matches. Navratilova defeated Tracy Austin 6-4 in Sunday's only singles match. Evert closed out the victory by teaming with Pam Shriver to beat Navratilova and Zina Garrison Jackson 6-4.

Celtics' Williams OK

Three days after a scare that brought back memories of Reggie Lewis, Boston Celtics forward Eric Williams rejoined the team Sunday after tests revealed no problems with his heart. A routine physical Thursday showed a cardiac abnormality, and Williams stayed behind for more tests while his teammates left Friday for North Carolina. Lewis died in 1993 after collapsing while shooting baskets.