Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.sports From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: New England coach ill, to miss at least 2 weeks Date: Thu, 5 Nov 92 17:01:12 EST Message-ID: \SE D;SPORTS;PRO FOOTBALL \SS (WS) \HD New England coach ill, to miss at least 2 weeks \BY ASSOCIATED PRESS \DT FOXBORO, Mass. FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) - The reeling New England Patriots got another jolt yesterday when coach Dick MacPherson was hospitalized on his 62nd birthday with a serious intestinal disorder. He was expected to be away from the team for at least two weeks while receiving treatment for acute diverticulitis. Assistant coach Dante Scarnecchia was named to fill in. The ailment is the latest blow in a stressful season in which the Patriots (0-8) have the NFL's worst record and must face the strong New Orleans Saints (6-2) at home Sunday. "I don't think that this is only stress," Patriots chief executive officer Sam Jankovich said of MacPherson's condition. "There's a lot to be said about diet . . . and then the nerves definitely play a big role in it." There was no definite word on how long MacPherson would be out, but Jankovich said he expected the second-year coach to return this season. "It is extremely important that Mac divorce himself from the team for a while, that he watch his diet, that he stay away from stress," Jankovich said. "I don't think there's any way in the world he should rush this." Jankovich said surgery was a possibility. MacPherson has been treated for the ailment since June but showed no signs it had worsened before he told Scarnecchia Tuesday night and the team yesterday. Then he left for Massachusetts General Hospital before practice. Scarnecchia said "everything should function as normal" on game day with defensive coordinator Joe Collier calling the defensive plays and offensive coordinator Dick Coury calling the offensive plays. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM