One fan Garcia will always have

SportsLine.com Report
Sept. 7, 2000

When KGO radio's post game talk show host Rich Walcoff heard, "It's Bob from Gilroy,'' he didn't think much of it.

But when Bob vehemently supported quarterback Jeff Garcia, Walcoff knew this was no ordinary Bob, Dick or Harry.

It was Bob Garcia, the father of Jeff. Bob Garcia grew weary of callers picking on his son following Sunday's 36-28 loss in Atlanta.

"I don't recall a father calling and bally-hooing his son,'' said Walcoff, who's hosted the 49ers post-game program for 14 years.

"He's a huge supporter of me,'' Garcia said sheepishly. "He's a coach and he knows football. I think he needs to be more limited. I appreciate the support, but it needs to be more one on one.''

Bob Garcia coached the Gavilan junior college football team in Gilroy, and coached Jeff for a season there.

RING CEREMONY:Recent Hall of Fame inductees Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott and Dave Wilcox will receive their Hall of Fame rings during Sunday's halftime ceremonies.

The trio was inducted in August into the Hall. Former 49ers head coach and current general manager Bill Walsh will present the rings along with director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, John Bankert.

Healing words

Sept. 4, 2000

Coach Steve Mariucci spotted safety Lance Schulters hobbling down the hallway on crutches.

"Hey," Mariucci yelled. "Come over here, and don't limp."

Mariucci was commanding his Pro Bowl safety to be healthy, and Schulters nearly complied. Schulters exited the 49ers 36-28 loss to the Falcons Sunday in the third quarter with an ankle sprain. But the news was good a day later, an MRI showed Schulters' ankle sprain was lower towards foot, meaning Schulters might be back within a week.

High ankle sprains can linger for weeks. Former 49ers cornerback Marquez Pope's high ankle problem kept him out for 11 games in 1997. With Schulters' sprain in a less vulnerable area, he's hoping to return for the Sept. 17 game against the Rams in St. Louis.

Schulters is listed as "doubtful" for this week's home opener Sunday against Carolina. Zack Bronson is penciled in to take Schulters spot in the line up this week.

The news was also good on linebacker Ken Norton, whose back felt fine after Sunday's game. The team wasn't sure Norton's back would even hold up through the contest, but it did. The next test was how Norton felt the next day, and he felt fine. He was the first to sprint off the practice field in his luminous blue boxer trunks.

STAY THE COURSE: Mariucci said the team would keep the shotgun formation and the 3-4 defense the team put on display in the opener.

The shotgun is in place on obvious passing downs and is a formation quarterback Jeff Garcia is comfortable with. The formation was detested by Steve Young and Joe Montana, and hasn't been a part of the team's offense for 20 years.

The 3-4 defensive alignment was used sparingly Sunday. The 49ers take out a lineman and insert an extra linebacker, which happens to be rookie Julian Peterson. How much the team will use this formation will depend on its success the next couple of weeks.