Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, September 12, 1994 TAG: 9409140005
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JACK BOGACZYK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NEW ORLEANS LENGTH: Medium
Then, it poured on Norv Turner, who before he was doused by ice water already had been hit by the notion that he was enjoying his first victory as an NFL head coach.
``Imagine, getting wet in the dome,'' a soaked Turner said a few minutes after the Redskins' 38-24 victory over the Saints. ``That's strange. But it was worth a shower. It was a lot of fun.''
With about one minute to go and the Redskins trying to run out the clock, defensive tackle Bobby Wilson and offensive guard Ray Brown double-teamed the bucket of ice water. Defensive lineman Tony Woods stood between Turner and the bucket brigade.
``I had no idea it was coming,'' said Turner, whose team surprised many more people Sunday.
BACKS BACK: When fullback Cedric Smith caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from John Friesz in the third quarter, it was Washington's first scoring pass to a running back since Week 2 of the 1992 season.
That was 32 games ago, when Earnest Byner caught one against Atlanta at RFK Stadium. For Smith, the No.3 fullback on the Redskins' depth chart, the catch was the first touchdown of his NFL career.
Smith is back in the league after a two-year absence. A fifth-round draft pick by Minnesota in 1990, he is best-known as the primary blocker for Dallas star Emmitt Smith during their college days at Florida.
He played 15 games for the Vikings in '90, then was waived in training camp in '91 and picked up by New Orleans, for whom he played six games on special teams.
In '92 he was among the Saints' last camp cuts and last year, Miami cut Smith in late August. He was signed by Washington to be primarily a blocker in Turner's two-back set, and is the Redskins' fullback in its goal-line sets.
INSIDE JOB: After hitting 74 percent of his field-goal attempts in his first five NFL seasons, Redskins kicker Chip Lohmiller missed a 34-yarder in the season-opening loss and was 16-for-28 last season.
Indoors, he's still very successful. Lohmiller's 31-yard field goal in the fourth quarter made him 26-for-30 indoors on three-point attempts in his NFL career.
Lohmiller - who booted inside the Metrodome at home games during his college career at Minnesota - has hit his past 14 indoor attempts during the regular season.
GROUNDERS: After Kansas City opened the NFL season with a 152-yard rushing day in ripping the Saints at the Superdome, the Redskins picked up 153 yards on the turfed floor, including 92 yards on Reggie Brooks' 32 carries.
Washington rushed for 34 yards in its opening loss to Seattle, a figure that was 42 yards until the club persuaded the NFL to change a pair of would-be sacks of Heath Shuler to rushing losses.
That gave the Redskins' offensive line a sackless opener. The ground gain was the lowest for the 'Skins since they had 21 in a1989 loss to the LA Raiders.
by CNB