File #2874: "MFM_UA_The-Reflector_1971-11-12_Phares-and-Dowsing.pdf"
PDF Text
Text
Inside Looking Out
Friday, November 12, 1971, REFLECTOR, Pagel
------------------
Phares And Dowsing: Super Athletes, Super Guys
By DAVID VOSS
According to an old adage, F rank Dowsing and
,, Phares are as different as black and white,
Ki
r ..gnht?. Wt'll ' maybe so. But if it wasn't for skin
10 r these two super athletes could pass for iden1 twins when it comes to such facets of life
tc?
ica
i
s athletic prowess, charac t er, mo d es.y
an d aca:emic ability. Even the one noticeable distinction
eems so irrelevant considering McArthur residents
~ ve long since abandoned making such distinctions.
A~d the extent of these other characteristics propted
their defensive backfield coach Dave Nunz to reveal
what he termed the "supreme compliment" when he
said "I'<i like my young boy to grow uo to be the same
calibre that these two are."
This likeable pair of defensive backs certainly
'retms as the hright~~st spot for Mississippi State
football laurels this season, and it's ~~__!mall
wancler considering their statistical accomnlishments as well as those "unrecordable" contrib~tions.
For instance, Phares and Dowsing rank one-two
respPctively in the Southeastern Ccnfernce for average punt return yardage, and one-three nationally.
Ken has averaged an unbelievable 28.1 yards per
return in nine tries this season, including a 90
yard TD scamper, while Frank has averaged an
awc~ome 19 5 tn 13 attempts mcluding- two to11chd 1..'Wn jaunts. Dowsing's figures could be even more
iP1prcssive had ~- 5~-yard return not been called
b::irk bec:w.se of a penalty against Tenne~~~e.
Furthermore, this dynamic duo combines with
Emile Petro in the seco11dary and a hustling corp
of linebackers to rate as one of the SEC 'sleading
teams in pass defense, surrendering only 108 yards
per game in a schedule which includes such airconscious clubs as Florida, Florida State and Auburn.
But enough statistics. What makes these two
tick? What makes them so al ke?
Coach Nunz, considered to be one of the top
ten pass defensive coaches in the country, places
emphasis on four necessary tools for a good defensive
back, and numbers 36 and 40 fill the bill each time.
"You must have good size and speed to be a
defensive back, but along with these come two more
qualities," the well-respected mentor explained.
"One of the biggest things these two have is that
.they're smart and have good football sense. And
(CONT 1 NUED ON PAGE 8)
SLAUGHTER
rolet Com
Friday, November 12, 1~71, REFLECTOR, Page 8
e Voss
(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7)
along with size, speed and intelligence they must
have courage to make . it anywhere in football,
and this is what makes both of them complete football play~rs."
Intelligence
In football ( especially defensive backs) intelligence
plays a larger role than the av.erage fan may
"Their ability to think results in less
think.
repetition in practice," Nunz observes. "They're
both very coachable. The coach -player relationship here makes you like to coach the game ... and
that's a good thing because today's pass defense is
one of the hardest things to teach."
But these two also carry their intelligence and diligent application to the classroom, where Phares
carries a 3.6 grade point average in his agriculture
economics major while Frank holds a 3.1 QPA in
tough pre-med.
"If I think there's going to be enough money
in pro football I might consider an offer and play
a few years if I can. But mostly I want to go into
medical school."
Phares relates the same feelings about pro football, but also adds, "I'd like to go into some sort
of production agriculture."
"They're willing, they sacrifice, and the
the game," assured Coach Nunz. "Both are :t;ove
tacklers versus the run, which takes courage ong
both have very quick reaction to the football ' and
the pass."
versus
The two juniors also gave praise for thei
tion coach, and displayed a tremend,,us r POSirespect in doing so.
amou~
"Pride in us"
"He takes a lot of pride in us," revealed Ph
" an d I'he kn owsbmore a bout pass defense thanares
an;
man ve ever een around. When we come against
a Beasley or an Alverez we know he's going t0
come up with something to stop them."
When it comes to potential, Coach Nunz sim 1
states "Because they have all four qualities,
can go as far as they want to go." It's nice to kn Y
Mississippi State will have these two at least 0: :
mo:-e ear.
t:/
Friday, November 12, 1971, REFLECTOR, Pagel
------------------
Phares And Dowsing: Super Athletes, Super Guys
By DAVID VOSS
According to an old adage, F rank Dowsing and
,, Phares are as different as black and white,
Ki
r ..gnht?. Wt'll ' maybe so. But if it wasn't for skin
10 r these two super athletes could pass for iden1 twins when it comes to such facets of life
tc?
ica
i
s athletic prowess, charac t er, mo d es.y
an d aca:emic ability. Even the one noticeable distinction
eems so irrelevant considering McArthur residents
~ ve long since abandoned making such distinctions.
A~d the extent of these other characteristics propted
their defensive backfield coach Dave Nunz to reveal
what he termed the "supreme compliment" when he
said "I'<i like my young boy to grow uo to be the same
calibre that these two are."
This likeable pair of defensive backs certainly
'retms as the hright~~st spot for Mississippi State
football laurels this season, and it's ~~__!mall
wancler considering their statistical accomnlishments as well as those "unrecordable" contrib~tions.
For instance, Phares and Dowsing rank one-two
respPctively in the Southeastern Ccnfernce for average punt return yardage, and one-three nationally.
Ken has averaged an unbelievable 28.1 yards per
return in nine tries this season, including a 90
yard TD scamper, while Frank has averaged an
awc~ome 19 5 tn 13 attempts mcluding- two to11chd 1..'Wn jaunts. Dowsing's figures could be even more
iP1prcssive had ~- 5~-yard return not been called
b::irk bec:w.se of a penalty against Tenne~~~e.
Furthermore, this dynamic duo combines with
Emile Petro in the seco11dary and a hustling corp
of linebackers to rate as one of the SEC 'sleading
teams in pass defense, surrendering only 108 yards
per game in a schedule which includes such airconscious clubs as Florida, Florida State and Auburn.
But enough statistics. What makes these two
tick? What makes them so al ke?
Coach Nunz, considered to be one of the top
ten pass defensive coaches in the country, places
emphasis on four necessary tools for a good defensive
back, and numbers 36 and 40 fill the bill each time.
"You must have good size and speed to be a
defensive back, but along with these come two more
qualities," the well-respected mentor explained.
"One of the biggest things these two have is that
.they're smart and have good football sense. And
(CONT 1 NUED ON PAGE 8)
SLAUGHTER
rolet Com
Friday, November 12, 1~71, REFLECTOR, Page 8
e Voss
(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7)
along with size, speed and intelligence they must
have courage to make . it anywhere in football,
and this is what makes both of them complete football play~rs."
Intelligence
In football ( especially defensive backs) intelligence
plays a larger role than the av.erage fan may
"Their ability to think results in less
think.
repetition in practice," Nunz observes. "They're
both very coachable. The coach -player relationship here makes you like to coach the game ... and
that's a good thing because today's pass defense is
one of the hardest things to teach."
But these two also carry their intelligence and diligent application to the classroom, where Phares
carries a 3.6 grade point average in his agriculture
economics major while Frank holds a 3.1 QPA in
tough pre-med.
"If I think there's going to be enough money
in pro football I might consider an offer and play
a few years if I can. But mostly I want to go into
medical school."
Phares relates the same feelings about pro football, but also adds, "I'd like to go into some sort
of production agriculture."
"They're willing, they sacrifice, and the
the game," assured Coach Nunz. "Both are :t;ove
tacklers versus the run, which takes courage ong
both have very quick reaction to the football ' and
the pass."
versus
The two juniors also gave praise for thei
tion coach, and displayed a tremend,,us r POSirespect in doing so.
amou~
"Pride in us"
"He takes a lot of pride in us," revealed Ph
" an d I'he kn owsbmore a bout pass defense thanares
an;
man ve ever een around. When we come against
a Beasley or an Alverez we know he's going t0
come up with something to stop them."
When it comes to potential, Coach Nunz sim 1
states "Because they have all four qualities,
can go as far as they want to go." It's nice to kn Y
Mississippi State will have these two at least 0: :
mo:-e ear.
t:/