General manager Chet Soda announced the resignation,
“for personal reasons,” of public relations director Gene Perry
today. No further explanation was given. Taking his place was sportswriter Jack
Gallagher, who had been a columnist for the Oakland Tribune for better than a decade. The change would happen in a week
or so.
The team also provided additional news about Riley Morris.
He was reportedly recuperating nicely after a scare aboard the team’s plane on
the return from Dallas. He had to be given oxygen when he reacted badly to
shots given to him following a back injury suffered during the game and was
taken to Merritt Hospital upon touchdown. His status for the Patriots game was
still unknown.
Having been relatively quiet on the topic of the Raider
quarterback controversy up to now, Eddie Erdelatz decided to speak at greater
length today. He called Tom Flores and Babe Parilli “the best one-two
quarterback combination in football” and said he wouldn’t trade them for
anyone in any league.
“Singly, of course, there are quarterbacks just as
good,” he said, “but as a tandem, you can’t find a more effective
pair. In Houston, three weeks ago, we started Babe because Tommy had been
having trouble regaining his form after suffering a shoulder injury. Babe had
trouble making the club go, so we went with Tommy in the second half. Well, all
Tommy did was direct a terrific touchdown march that gave us a 14-13 victory.
“Against Denver, the quarterbacks worked on a par. Last
Sunday, in Dallas, it was Flores having first half troubles so Babe got the
call in the final two periods. We scored three times, once on a well-directed
drive, and pulled it out. That’s how it’s been all season. One week one guy
looks great and the next week the other one comes through. I honestly can’t
choose between them and I’m glad I don’t have to.
“As far as I’m concerned, they’re both great and I’m
real glad they’re on our side. As a pair, they give a team a great advantage
when it comes to moving that ball.”
Hayward Daily Review
Oakland Tribune