Rick Gibson

Woodbridge High School has used an offensive wrinkle to win five of its first six games, the school's best start since fielding its first varsity football team in 1981. The Warriors aren't wasting any time. They use a no-huddle offense that Coach Gene Noji first experimented with in the Central Conference playoffs last season. "We didn't originate it by any means," Noji said.

OK, now Rick Gibson can laugh about it. But heading into the 1997 season, the 25 games his team went without a victory--including one tie and 15 consecutive losses--had taken its toll. He told himself, and admitted to his coaches, that if the Woodbridge program didn't get better, he was going to resign. Well, he won't be quitting any time soon. Instead, he will be accepting an award as The Times Orange County Coach of the Year.

OK, now Rick Gibson can laugh about it. But heading into the 1997 season, the 25 games his team went without a victory--including one tie and 15 consecutive losses--had taken its toll. He told himself, and admitted to his coaches, that if the Woodbridge program didn't get better, he was going to resign. Well, he won't be quitting any time soon. Instead, he will be accepting an award as The Times Orange County Coach of the Year.

I see there are now "sign cops" added to the list of enforcers who control our lives. These include smog cops, street-cleaner cops, dirt cops, water cops and sky cops. Will this ever stop? Add the usual assortment of delighted finks and witness new horizons of "save us from ourselves" regulation. DON REED Santa Maria

I see there are now "sign cops" added to the list of enforcers who control our lives. These include smog cops, street-cleaner cops, dirt cops, water cops and sky cops. Will this ever stop? Add the usual assortment of delighted finks and witness new horizons of "save us from ourselves" regulation. DON REED Santa Maria

Regarding "Plan to Crush a Rat in Performance Art Show Stirs Debate" (Jan Breslauer, Jan. 11): As an artist and a person with compassion for all feeling creatures, I was both angered and repulsed by the proposal (of performance artist Rick Gibson) to use a sentient animal in such a cruel manner. An artist's "rights" end where another's life (person or animal) begins! ELAINE LIVESEY-FASSEL, Los Angeles

Gene Noji, who established Woodbridge High School's football program in 1980 and led the Warriors to a Southern Section championship in 1987, resigned Wednesday to spend more time with his family. Noji, 43, became Woodbridge's first coach and led a group of freshmen and sophomores to a 7-1-1 record in on the sophomore level in 1980. Noji then was 48-39-1 in eight varsity seasons, guiding Woodbridge to the Desert-Mountain Conference title with a 13-1 record in 1987.

Ronan Rafferty of Northern Ireland fired a 2-under-par 69 today to take the second-round lead in the Johnnie Walker Golf Classic with a 136 total. Ian Woosnam of Wales moved into second place, one stroke back, after a 68 in the second round. Tied for third at 138 were American Todd Hamilton, Richard Zokol and Rick Gibson of Canada, Colin Montgomerie of Scotland and Italian Alberto Binaghi.

Rick Gibson of Canada and Lin Chie-hsiang of Taiwan shot 5-under-par 67s to take the first-round lead today in the $633,000 Dunlop Open Golf Championship, the last leg of the 10-tournament Asian Golf Circuit. Gibson carded seven birdies and two bogeys and Lin had six birdies and one bogey on the Ibaraki Golf Club's 7,163-yard, par-72 East Course.

A bank was robbed Wednesday by a teenager who used a stretch limousine as a getaway car, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department said. Alexander Michael Jenkins III, 18, of Orangevale arrived at the Bank of America in the limousine and spoke to a manager about retrieving money from a dead relative's account. After the manager explained the procedure, Jenkins indicated he wanted to rob the bank, said Sgt. Rick Gibson, a department spokesman.

Woodbridge High School has used an offensive wrinkle to win five of its first six games, the school's best start since fielding its first varsity football team in 1981. The Warriors aren't wasting any time. They use a no-huddle offense that Coach Gene Noji first experimented with in the Central Conference playoffs last season. "We didn't originate it by any means," Noji said.

Lu Hsi-chuen fired a one-under-par 71 in intermittent rain Sunday and edged fellow Taiwanese pro Chen Liang-hsi by one stroke in the $160,000 Korea Maekyung Open golf championship. Chen, who shared the lead with Lu going into the final round, shot a 72 Sunday for a total of 278. Lu's 11-under-par 277 total won him first prize money of $26,656. He led or shared the lead throughout the championship, the next-to-last leg of the 11-tournament 1989 Asia Circuit. Rick Gibson of Canada was third with a 280 total on the 6,274-yard, par 72 Nam Seoul Country Club course.

Baldwin Park Councilman Robert McNeill has been installed as chairman of the executive board of the Mid-Valley Manpower Consortium, a 9-year-old county-sponsored employment service for several San Gabriel Valley cities. County Supervisor Pete Schabarum welcomed the new officers who include Paul Simon, Montebello Unified School District education coordinator, who is vice chairman; Baldwin Park Councilman Rick Gibson, secretary, and South El Monte Councilman Ignacio Gracias, treasurer.