Ray Willsey

The new Los Angeles team in the Arena Football League got a coach and a nickname Wednesday. Ray Willsey, former Raider assistant, was named head coach and director of football operations of the team that was dubbed the Cobras at a Sports Arena press conference. The league is putting new teams in Detroit, Providence, R.I., and New York, as well as Los Angeles as it expands from four to six teams. Chicago and Pittsburgh are holdover teams from last season. Denver and Washington have dropped out.

"I never had a job; all I did was play." Hal Sherbeck said it with the straightest of faces Sunday, but the standing-room-only crowd witnessing the 13th Orange County Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony Sunday outside the Hall's new museum at Anaheim Stadium knew exactly what the retired Fullerton College football coach was all about. Sherbeck had made it a habit of beginning his "play days" at Fullerton at 5:30 a.m.

Ray Willsey, former Cal coach and Raider assistant, has been hired as the head coach of the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football. He was the club's defensive coordinator last season.

Cal Coach Pappy Waldorf used to call him "my defensive brain on the field," one of those slightly back-handed compliments coaches reserve for over-achievers who usually aren't the fastest or strongest. But on this day, defensive back Ray Willsey turned into an offensive whiz kid. It was the 1952 Big Game, Cal vs. Stanford, and for senior Willsey, it became the biggest game. With Billy Mais sidelined because of a dislocated thumb, Waldorf named Willsey the starting quarterback.

Cal Coach Pappy Waldorf used to call him "my defensive brain on the field," one of those slightly back-handed compliments coaches reserve for over-achievers who usually aren't the fastest or strongest. But on this day, defensive back Ray Willsey turned into an offensive whiz kid. It was the 1952 Big Game, Cal vs. Stanford, and for senior Willsey, it became the biggest game. With Billy Mais sidelined because of a dislocated thumb, Waldorf named Willsey the starting quarterback.

"I never had a job; all I did was play." Hal Sherbeck said it with the straightest of faces Sunday, but the standing-room-only crowd witnessing the 13th Orange County Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony Sunday outside the Hall's new museum at Anaheim Stadium knew exactly what the retired Fullerton College football coach was all about. Sherbeck had made it a habit of beginning his "play days" at Fullerton at 5:30 a.m.

How would you like to have a pro football team that scored 52 points and couldn't even beat the spread? How about couldn't even win the game? How would you like to have a quarterback who can complete a touchdown pass from his own end zone to the other end zone--on the fly? How would you like to have a quarterback who throws 10 touchdown passes in a game--and still needs a last-minute rally to win?

Quarterback Matt Stevens threw three touchdown passes to Wade Lockett in the second half of an Arena Football League game Friday night at Joe Louis Arena, but the Cobras' comeback effort fell short in a 39-26 loss to the Detroit Drive. The Cobras (3-4) will play Detroit (4-3) again Thursday night at the Sports Arena. Los Angeles fell behind, 27-0, midway through the second quarter.

The Raiders, who are searching for a replacement for retired Coach Tom Flores, have fired five of Flores' assistants, a source said Thursday. Reportedly released were quarterback coach Larry Kennan, offensive line coach Sam Boghosian, tight end coach Bob Mischak, special teams coach Ray Willsey and conditioning coach Jim Bush. Raider management refused to confirm or deny the report.

Ray Willsey, former Cal coach and Raider assistant, has been hired as the head coach of the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football. He was the club's defensive coordinator last season.

How would you like to have a pro football team that scored 52 points and couldn't even beat the spread? How about couldn't even win the game? How would you like to have a quarterback who can complete a touchdown pass from his own end zone to the other end zone--on the fly? How would you like to have a quarterback who throws 10 touchdown passes in a game--and still needs a last-minute rally to win?

The new Los Angeles team in the Arena Football League got a coach and a nickname Wednesday. Ray Willsey, former Raider assistant, was named head coach and director of football operations of the team that was dubbed the Cobras at a Sports Arena press conference. The league is putting new teams in Detroit, Providence, R.I., and New York, as well as Los Angeles as it expands from four to six teams. Chicago and Pittsburgh are holdover teams from last season. Denver and Washington have dropped out.

Membership in the Orange County Sports Hall of Fame will grow to 67 today when six men are inducted in a ceremony beginning at 11 a.m. outside of the new Hall of Fame museum adjacent to Gate 6 at Anaheim Stadium. Major League Baseball's Bert Blyleven and Gary Carter, community college football coaching legend Hal Sherbeck, former football stars Ray Willsey and Jerry Shipkey and former standout track athlete and coach Maurice (Red) Guyer compose the Hall's 13th class.

The Cobras are still seeking their first Arena Football League victory after losing, 61-43, to the Pittsburgh Gladiators Saturday night before 10,137 fans at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. The Gladiators were led by backup quarterback Brendan Folmar, who threw for 4 touchdowns while completing 14 of 23 passes for 159 yards. Folmar entered the game early in the second quarter after Mike Hohensee, a former Rowland High School star, went down with a bruised shoulder.