ALLIE SHERMAN FEELS KOTITE'S PAIN.

Byline: Filip Bondy New York Daily News 

Allie Sherman doesn't want to talk about the Giants' 1966 season anymore. It serves no purpose for him to recall the ``Goodbye, Allie,'' chants, or the 1-12-1 record of three decades ago that still stands as the very worst in the history of New York pro football - unless the Jets lose their last three games.

``We won three championships,'' said Sherman, now head of Off-Track Betting in New York, referring to NFL Eastern Conference titles from 1961-63. ``Let people remember about that.''

But Sherman will talk about Rich Kotite, the man who is going through some of the same, vicious personal abuse that Sherman suffered 30 years ago in a different era, with a different cast. Sherman's bond with Kotite extends beyond one miserable season, beyond the persecution and psychic damage, onto the same playing field.

Kotite, a Brooklynite out of Wagner College, played for Sherman, out of Brooklyn College. Kotite was a tight end and a specialty-team player on Sherman's Giants in 1967, after Sherman had survived the disintegration of a great team and somehow held on to his job.

``You're talking about a really nice man,'' Sherman said of Kotite. ``There should be more people with his character and heart. He made my team even though he wasn't the biggest, he wasn't the fastest.

``You can never get 45 All-Pros out there,'' Sherman said. ``Pat Summerall used to look at the grades the coaching staff would post, after he watched drills at practice. He'd say, `Yeah, but they can't grade what's under that hairy left chest.'

``There was an honesty to Rich,'' Sherman said. ``A commitment.''

Now, Kotite is still honest and committed. Like Sherman in 1966, however, he is suffering through the taunts and humiliation, the unkind spectacle of piling on by those who believe they are the first ones to announce the obvious: The Jets stink.

There is this terrible anger and outrage at Kotite and the Jets, when there should be disappointment or bemusement. One wonders how Casey Stengel was ever granted immunity from prosecution with those lovable, laughable Mets.

Kotite's name is rarely mentioned anymore on television or radio, without an accompanying tag, like ``incompetent'' or ``clueless.'' This makes it all the easier for a righteous fan to dump a beer on his head, or to scream ugly profanities at a coach toiling at his job.

``He's out there and it's tough times,'' Sherman said. ``He's got a lot of partners in that. It's part of any business. There's no difference that way than in the corporate world, or if you go into a law office. People have tough times.

``The difference is you're not exposed in those other businesses, not exposed to the public every day,'' Sherman said. ``The ones in the exposed businesses have to love it more than anything.''

Sherman remembers that Kotite always had an interest in coaching, even way back in 1967. Kotite's father, a big fan at those games, once approached Sherman and told the coach he was glad his son was learning the game from such a man.

``A lot of guys were interested in coaching, but only a few followed up on it,'' Sherman said. ``He wanted to. He had come from Wagner College all the way to the NFL. That says something about the innards of a man.''

Sherman had innards, too. He just didn't have a team in 1966. That Giant season was doomed from the start, a transition year. Y.A. Tittle was retired, Earl Morrall was old and Fran Tarkenton was still in Minnesota. Gary Wood was the primary quarterback, throwing for six touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

The old links to the contending years, guys such as Jim Katcavage and Jim Patton, were aging fast. Hopes were pinned on the likes of Tucker Frederickson and Chuck Mercein, instead of Frank Gifford and Alex Webster.

Those Giants started the season with a tie, and had a couple of close losses. Teams like that can only stay competitive for so long. On Nov. 27, the Giants suffered a complete defensive collapse - sound familiar? - losing 72-41 at Washington.

Sherman dug deep within himself for survival then, tapping into a professional ethic, the way that Kotite must do now.

``My last coach ever, Greasy Neale with the Eagles, told me, and I'll never forget this,'' Sherman said, ``he said, `You start working on Monday. You work through the week. You cover every detail with the men that you can have, to make each player his best on Sunday.

```Then on Saturday night, you put your head down on the pillow and know you've done your job,''' Sherman said.