"I had my choice before the game and I wouldn't have changed my mind if he was the King of England asking." Munro said last night.

"After the game, a big game like that, he didn't say a word to the team. He never even said. Poor game' or 'well-played,' " Gomez said.

Finally, Gomez questioned Munro's ability to teach the team. "He hasn't taught us a thing in three years," Gomez said. "He has been here 20 years but the game is too sophisticated for him today. In practice, he'd yell 'bad kick' but he never came out there and showed a guy how to use his foot. He's quick to blame but he never instructs."

Watson defended his tentative decision, saying "The coach has never been warned before. He's been here 23 years and has an extraordinary record on paper. He can't be removed by the whim of a few students in one season."

But Watson agreed-that his interviews with players indicated it would be extremely difficult to keep Munro. "Once you've lost respect and confidence in a coach. it's extraordinarily difficult to restore it," he said.

Asked if he could reach a compromise with the critical players next fall, Munro stated that they would have to "come out and play under my orders or leave the team."