Rams News

Rams goal vs. Chiefs is end zone
08/27 11:34 PM

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

KANSAS CITY -- A show of power and muscle will unfold tonight shortly after 7. A packed stadium will look for the long ball, with the eager anticipation that comes from witnessing a slice of history.
McGwire-mania?
Please. Try the Governor's Cup, the chalice without malice in this friendly preseason rivalry between the Show-Me State's NFL franchises.
You don't think Tony Banks is dying to bring the Gov Cup back to St. Louis for a third consecutive season?
``I got a chance to touch it, so I felt all the power coming through it,'' Banks said earlier in the week.
Rams teammate Greg Hill went one better the other day in the Rams' locker room. He actually kissed the cup, which for all the world looks like a $12 bowling trophy, circa 1955. (Rumor has it a new, improved cup has been commissioned and will be presented to tonight's winner at Arrowhead Stadium.)
And you just know that Chiefs fans are whipped into a frenzy for tonight's clash.
``I think they are, yes,'' Kansas City coach Marty Schottenheimer said, feebly trying to play along.
Preseason or not, Vermeil knows Kansas Citians love their football and love their Chiefs. In his previous life as a television announcer, Vermeil broadcast many a Chiefs preseason game, including the 1996 Governor's Cup, won by Rich Brooks' Rams 34-30 at Arrowhead.
``They've built a great esprit de corps between the football team, the organization, and the city,'' Vermeil said. ``I think that will spread to St. Louis as a state against state thing.''
Pssst. Coach. St. Louis and Kansas City are in the same state.
Well, what to you expect from a guy from California who once coached in Philadelphia. The only geography Vermeil is worried about tonight is finding the location of the Chiefs' end zone.
The Rams haven't scored in the first quarter of any preseason game since Vermeil took over in 1997. This is the preseason finale for both teams, so tonight's their last chance to do it in '98.
``A lot of people say that the Kansas City Chiefs are the most talented team in football,'' Vermeil said. ``They do have some dominating players both offensively and defensively.''
But much of that talent will be watching tonight. No fewer than seven Chiefs starters will sit out because of injuries, a list that includes wide receivers Andre Rison and Derrick Alexander, cornerback James Hasty, and defensive lineman Chester McGlockton.
Schottenheimer canceled Wednesday's practice, in part because of all the injuries. The Rams aren't as banged up as Kansas City, but Vermeil says, ``The No. 1 goal is to get through the game healthy.''
Since Vermeil came to St. Louis, the Rams have become Kansas City East. Assistant coaches John Bunting, Carl Hairston, Frank Gansz and Lynn Stiles (who doubles as a team vice president) once worked for the Chiefs. Vermeil and Chiefs president Carl Peterson have a friendship dating back to the mid '70s, when they coached at UCLA.
Schottenheimer's son Brian assisted the Rams' coaching staff last year in an entry-level position. Brian now works for his dad.
Adding to the intermingling is the fact that former Chiefs starters Steve Bono, Greg Hill and Joe Phillips now play for the Rams. Former Rams starter Leslie O'Neal plays for Kansas City. Hill even has his old Chiefs jersey number -- 27 -- back just in time to play his old team.
Hill offered rookie Raymond Priester $3,000 for the jersey number, which Priester was wearing when Hill signed with the Rams on Aug. 4. Priester declined the offer. But Hill got the number for free on Monday, when Priester was released.

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