Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 5, 1991                   TAG: 9102050100
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

NFL BUCS RETAINING WILLIAMSON

Bucs owner Hugh Culverhouse named Williamson to coach Tampa Bay, ending a two-month search for Ray Perkins' successor.

When Perkins was fired on Dec. 3, Williamson was named interim coach for the Bucs' final three games.

"You'll ask me why, and it's because I think he's the best man for the job at this time," Culverhouse said. "I would rather not go into discussing all the merits. I'm not sure I have a good answer."

In choosing the 49-year-old Williamson, the Bucs passed over former Eagles' coach Ryan, New York Giants defensive coordinator Bill Belichick and Miami Dolphins assistant Gary Stevens. Walsh, the former San Francisco 49ers coach, chose to remain with NBC as a broadcaster.

Perkins, who handled all personnel decisions, was fired with a year left on a contract that will pay him $800,000 in 1991. Phil Krueger, a Culverhouse assistant, was named the team's general manager, and Williamson was given a two-year deal loaded with incentives.

\ In other football:

New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor faces a misdemeanor charge of criminal property damage for allegedly damaging a taxi during an altercation a few hours after Sunday's Pro Bowl, Honolulu police said.

Taylor, 31, posted $50 bail and was ordered to appear in Honolulu District Court on Thursday, police spokeswoman Jean Motoyama said.

Taylor's rental car collided with the cab near Honolulu Airport at 9:45 p.m. Sunday and the taxi driver got out of his car, kicked Taylor's car, climbed onto the hood of Taylor's car and threatened him with a metal pipe, Motoyama said.

Taylor got out of his car, wrested the pipe from the man and hit the rear end of the cab, Motoyama said. Taylor then threw the pipe into nearby bushes, she said.

The cab driver, Hoa Van Nguyen, 35, was charged with misdemeanor terroristic threatening and criminal property damage.

\ Sunkist Growers Inc. bowed out as title sponsor of the Fiesta Bowl, but organizers of the New Year's Day game said they were in no hurry to find a replacement.

"We plan to take the next six months and review an array of options," said bowl president Chuck Johnson.

Sunkist had backed Fiesta Bowl events since the first game in 1971 and became sponsor of the game in 1985.