The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 11

4C THE TENNESSEAN TUESDAYNOVEMBER 6. 1984 Big Teoms Mcsjor Bowls Scouting College Football Auto Racing LARRY WOODY Two other teams to mention Ohio State and whoever the SEC runnerup is. SUGAR: "We have a situation we haven't had before, where we have so many SEC teams who have been involved with bther ranking teams during the season," Holmes said. Bowl games rarely will take a rematch from the regular season. So if the SEC Sugar Bowl team is Georgia, it probably can't take South Carolina because they met during the year.

If it's Florida, they can't take Miami or Florida State for the same reason. So what's a good guess? Well, take away South Carolina and the Miami-BC winner and you end up with Ohio State. Oklahoma, the Washington-USC loser, and Oklahoma State are in the major bowl picture, too. What the Sugar Bowl must first be concerned with is how Florida does in its eligibility case. The Gators may win the SEC and not get to be in the Sugar BowL By MKE LOPRESTI Gannett Mewa Service It's getting to be backroom deal-cutting time for college football's post-season games, but it's clear about the only thing you can find in the bowls right now is mush.

Saturdays are becoming difficult for the power pushers from Dallas, New Orleans and Miami. As the top-ranked teams keep barely winning and sometimes badly losing, the bowl scouts keep finding Friday's game plans turned into Sunday's scratch pads. As the Sugar Bowl's Mickey Holmes said, "It seems like we go back to square one every week." Lot of bushes remain to be shaken out there before invitations are handed out Nov. 21 But here's a thought or two: COTTON: If Texas remains No. 2, the Cotton Bowl probably will get its choice of at-large teams, since the Longhorns would be the highest rated opponent available to play (No.

1 Washington is tied up in the Rose Bowl). At this point that would be South Carolina or the winner of the Nov. 24 game between Boston College and Miami. The Gamecocks may not be the most familiar bunch of people ever to play football, but they do have that big in their loss column. As one bowl scout said, "They're the only one (unbeaten) anybody can get their hands on." But the Cotton may opt for the EC-Miami winner even if rated lower than South Carolina.

It would give the game a big-name quarterback, be it either Doug Flu-tie or Bernie Kosar. And the Cotton Bowl could use that given Texas' defensive, low-scoring souls. ORANGE: Nebraska is closing on Texas in the polls and could hop over the Longhorns, giving the Orange Bowl the Inside lane. The same option South Carolina or the RG-Miami winner pops up here, but would the Orange want ln-town school Miami a second straight year? Raceway Called Sound NASVILLE RACEWAY General Manager Joe Carver says the track is on sound financial footing and that reports of problems within owner Warner Hodgdon's business and racing empire are unfounded. "The track is not for sale, I'm not leaving to work for Darrell Waltrip and Warner Hodgdon is not bankrupt or under indictment," said Carver yestereday.

"But I know these reports are being circulated, and yes, it's been disruptive to our operation. I think there are some forces I- ft 1 7 'v? LJ-'- Franklin County Earns Bowl Berth Rebels Set for Nurseryman's Bowl By LARRY AFT head the Termessearis Action Rat-Franklin County's Rebels, who ings. Following Lincoln County in fought back from an 0-2 start to Class AAA is Gallatin. Dickson Coun-stand 6-3 with one game left in the ty jumped from 10th to fifth with a season, yesterday agreed to play in win over McGavock last week. Over-the Nov.

17 Nurseryman's Bowl at ton is rated sixth and McGavock McMinnville. ninth. No opponent for the Rebels has In Class AA, Memphis Kirby has been picked, but it will not be Spring- moved to No.2 behind Brentwood field, a school many area bowl of fi- Academy. Maryville is third with cials had wanted as an opponent for Marshall County slipping to fourth, the Rebels. Defending Class A state champion Springfield's Yellow Jackets, also Evangelical Christian School of Cor-6-3, are expected to sign this week to dova has moved into the runner-up play in the Chestnut Bowl at White spot in Class A right behind Gordons-House.

The Springfield opponent will ville, the team it defeated to win the likely be Haywood County High of state championship a year ago. 1 Brownsville, which is coached by Other Middle Tennessee schools Gallatin native Rufus Lassiter. The ranked in the top 10 are No.8 Ezell-Tomcats could concelveably make Harding and No. 10 Moore County, the playoffs as the District 13-AAA Lincoln County heads the Class representative, although their chanc- AAA portion of the United Press In-es are very slim. temational high school poll, with Meanwhile at Winchester, Frank- Gallatin ranked second and Dickson lin County coach Harold "Red" Rob- County seventh.

Brentwood Academy erts said he was very pleased to is No. 3 in the UPI Class AA poll, behave the Nurseryman's Bowl bid for hind Memphis Kirby and Milan, his team. Marshall County is fourth in that "This group has not given up like poll. Evangelical Christian School is a lot of teams would have. I'm proud first in the Class A listing, just ahead of the way we've worked after losing of Gordonsville, while Ezell-Hardlng the first two," said the Rebel coach.

Academy is eighth and Columbia "The Nurseryman's Bowl is the Academy 10th. first to contact us, though not the only one. It is one of the closest ones TOD lO to us, and it has the reputation as being one of the finest around. The cuuaaa boys are really excited about us i. tincom co.

n-m OAino" J. Gsllalin (9-0) 1 Oak Ridge (-0) 98.S With the bowl bid safely in hand, "JS k2j S. Dickson County (-0) W.5 Roberts said he has other worries. Cleveland 7-i thing we don't want to do is -o: celebrate going to a bowl too much tJf a 10. Mempnit Christian Brothers (6-1) W.4 and forget about this week.

We will be playing one of the best teams in BrenKw)0d Acaae Middle Tennessee when Columbia I YltiW i9'0) ft! 3. Maryville I-D comes over here Friday night Rob- 4. Marsha county 9-o) i ortccaM i Mem. University School (6-2) 83 2 ens saia. 4 mm "We can't let them get pass happy I Unicoi County (9-0) It 0 with us.

They've got a very fine pass- 9. Marion county (9-o 77.1 ing game. We're going to have to "0- work all week just to get ready to 0) o. StOP it 2. Evangelical Christian (9-0) 73 3 3.

Lake County (9-0) 7) 8 4. KnoKville Webb (8-1) 7) 3 tJ i Gallinburg (8-)) 70.7 Three Middle Tennessee teams Lincoln County, Brentwood Academy ISm" Is" and Gordonsville continue to (i-i): xo Tennessean Action Ratings in Nashville who don want us to succeed who are behind most of it" Carver said the track is currently in the process of expanding pit road, a $100,000 improvement "You don't make a $100,000 investment in something that is about to go under," said Carver. "Maybe this will relieve people's minds a little." A lot of minds evidently needed relieving, reflected by recent inquiries into the state of the track by (1) the State Fair Board, which owns the Raceway property, (2) NASCAR, which sanctions the races, (3) Coors Brewing Company, sponsor of one of the two Winston Cup races, (4) drivers who are building expensive race cars for next season, and (5) local fans who are concerned about the future of the sport. Reports of financial problems in Hodgdon's $500 million National Engineering Co. have circulated nationwide from company headquarters in San Bernardino, to NASCAR headquarters in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The reports were rampant in Atlanta over the weekend among NASCAR officials, corporate sponsors, fans and drivers who converged for the rain-delayed Atlanta Journal 500. None of the reports have been substantiated. In addition to real estate and construction interests, Hodgdon is also deeply involved in auto racing. He is owner of Nashville Raceway and Bristol Raceway and half owner of Richmond (Va.) Speedway and North Wilkesboro (N.C) Raceway. He also owns half interest in the International Hot Rod Association and half inter-' est in the Junior Johnson-Warner Hodgdon Racing Team, for which Darrell Waltrip and Neil Bonnett drive.

He sponsors Waltrip's Sportsman race car and provides sponsorship for Winston Cup races at Rockingham and Riverside. "Obviously, a lot of people have a vested interest in the state of Warner's business affairs, including me," said Carver, one of the more than 1,000 employees in the Hodgdon empire. "If there was something going on, I'd know about it And I can tell you for a fact that none of the stories being circulated is true." Carver said the turmoil Js being caused by rumor fueling rumor, and said he welcomed the chance to clarify some of the reports. 0 Bid-rigging. "People are saying that Warner has been indicted for bid-rigging in California.

That's not true. One of his employees was charged in 1978. The employee was fired, but three competing companies filed a $3 million suit against Warner's company, Na- tional Engineering. That suit is still pending." 0 Bankruptcy. "The company, to the best of my knowledge, is on sound ground financially.

Warner has a habit of waiting until the last minute to make some of his payments, which gives rise to a lot of speculation about a lack of operating capital. Some of that got started at Rockingham when his share of the purse didn't arrive until the morning of the race. But the bottom line is, he has never missed a payment" 0 Nashville Raceway's failure. "The track lost $217,000 last year but made money this season. I think the 1983 loss was due partly to the ownership transition, the fact that the previous owners had eliminated the weekly racing schedule, and that the on-track competi-.

tion frankly was not that good. We got it built back up this season, made some money, revived fan interest, and I think we'll keep going strong." 0 Carver leaving to work for Waltrip. "Darrell like everybody else in the country had heard all the rumors. He and I go back a long way and he said that if anything happened to the track I always had a job with him. I appreciate the offer but right now I've got a job I'm happy with." 0 Employee terminations.

"We let two employees go for personal reasons but had already planned a cutback. We simply don't need a full staff during the off-season." Complicating the situation was the fact that Carver was out of the country on vacation last week as the reports circulated. "When I couldn't be contacted some people jumped to the conclusion that I was ducking the issue," said Carver. "That's the last thing I'd do. It's to the track's advantage to clear this mess up as quickly as possible and get on with our work." Attempts to contact Hodgdon at his California home or of ftce have been unsuccessful.

"He maintains a very busy schedule and sometimes even I have trouble locating him," said Carver. "Again, this can give rise to false speculation when he's not available to answer every charge somebody makes." APLaserphoto Detroit Pistons' Earl Cureton is sandwiched between Geveland's Jeff Cook, right, and Melvin Turpin, during their game at the Gevetand Coliseum. Limping Pistons Win 107-98 Loudon Polk Co Lenoir City Meigs McMinn Central 69.0 Class A District 1 Gatlinburg-Piltman 70.7 Cloudland 53.2 4-' Uneka 269 RICHFIELD, Ohio (AP) Isiah Thomas scored 33 points as the injury-riddled Detroit Pistons defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 107-98 in a National Basketball Association game last night Terry Tyler added 25 points while Bill Laimbeer got 20 points and 22 rebounds for the Pistons, who upped their record to 3-3 despite the absence of Dan Roundfield and Kelly Tripucka. Roundfield has a bruised left calf and Tripucka is suffering from a sprained right ankle. Cleveland fell to 0-6 with the loss.

Detroit led 81-69 early in the final quarter before the Cavaliers chopped the lead to 85-82 with 8:06 remaining after Johnny Davis scored a jump shot and four consecutive free throws. Detroit pushed the lead back out to 97-87, but Cleveland, featuring two baskets by World B. Free, pulled within 97-93 with 2:40 to go. The Pistons then put the game away when Laimbeer made a dunk off a pass from Thomas and aded a free throw for a three-point play, Kent Benson made a driving layup and Thomas canned an 18-footer for an U-point Detroit margin. Cleveland was led by Davis with 21 points, Roy Hinson with 20 and Free with 16.

The season is still very young, but Reggie Theus and World Free already are at odds with their new coaches at Kansas City and Cleveland. "I want to feel like you can make a mistake without it being a cardinal sin," Theus says of Kings Coach Jack McKinneys style, which he regards as too conservative. "If that's the way it is, you may as well sit me down." Replies McKlnney: "No one's playing style is being restrained more, than Theus. But you can't have one guy out of control in a team concept Sometimes you have to harness his enthusiasm If you don't he'll make silly passes, unnecessary plays." Free is averaging just 11 shots and 14 points per game for the Cavaliers this season, far under his gunner norms of 19 shots and 22 points last year, before George Karl replaced Tom Nissakle as the Cleveland coach. "I will not become just a passer and cutter," Free fumed.

"This franchise was nothing and I made it something." Plenty of off-season trades and a balanced group of rookies figures to give a new look to starting lineups around the league in 1984-85, but one of the most intriguing changes to watch is Detroit's experiment with Kelly Tripucka at guard. District 6 Chalt. Howard. 80.0 Ooltawah. 71.6 Chatt.

City 65.6 Chalt. Central 50.1 Chatt. Notre Dame 39.9 District 7 Class AAA Father Ryan .810 Hillsboro 73.6 District 1 GlencliH 70.1 Bristol 16.8 Hillwood 69.4 Sullivan South 821 Pearl-Cohn .56.5 Klngsport O-B. 79.6 District 12 Johnson City 77.8 McGavock 91.2 Eliiabethon Stratlord 83 5 Sullivan North 59.1 Mamewood' 87.0 Sullivan Central 57.6 Whiles Creek 81.0 Sullivan East 51.1 East 74.1 Volunteer. .51.0 Dupont 55.2 District 2 District 13 Jefferson Co.

92.1 Covington 87 2 Newport 7S.9 Ripley 81.2 Greenville 72.7 Jackson 81.0 Morristown West. 72.6 Dversburg 76.5 Cherokee 70.1 Brownsville 74.0 Morristown East 69.0 Bolivar 738 Daniel Boone 63.4 Jackson North 68 8 Daw Crockett. 59J Lexington 66.8 District Savannah 66.5 Oak Ridge 98.5 District 14 Clinton 80.9 CBHS 89.6 771 49.8 41.7 41.3 41.0 Marion Co. Bledsoe Co Sequatchie WhilweH Grundy Co District I District I Knox. Webb.

71.3 Knox. Catholic .61.8 Sunbright 469 Wartburg. 46.3 Oneida 350 Coalfield 29.5 Tenn. Deaf 16 8 Oakdale 0.0 Districts Midway 47.0 Tellico Plains 4S.7 Greenback 38.5 Charleston 35 5 Vonore 16.7 Harrison-Chllhowee. 14.2 District 4 Copper Basin 62.4 South Pittsburg 55.3 Lookout Valley 40.4 Boyd-Buchanan 37.7 York .54.3 Smith Co 53.4 Livingston 52.3 42.8 40.1 32.4 77.0 Germantown 82.7 Knox.

Fulton 71.9 Bartlell 765 67.0 Briarcrest 74.8 60.2 Millington 53 5 57.0 Munford 36.9 Fayette-Ware 15.9 873 District IS 81.6 Mem. Hamilton 88.7 Knox. Halls Knox. Central Knox. Karns.

Campbell Co District 4 Knox. Doyle. Knox. Farragut Jackson Co DeKalbCo Cannon Co. District 9 Marshall Co.

BGA Hickman Co. Lewis Co Ml. Pleasant. Brentwood High Page Loretto District 10 White House Portland Goodleltsvine Macon County Greenbrier District 11 Brentwood Goodpasture William Blount 65.9 Mem. White Station.

87.7 tS3 67.9 59.5 59.4 57.5 542 46.8 32.1 60.8 57.4 526 40.1 39.4 895 753 Carter 63.2 Mem. Central 71.0 District Celina 44.7 Monterey 31.9 Upperman 31.5 Red Boiling Springs 13.0 District 4 Gordonsville. 81.7 Trousdale Co 55.3 Westmoreland. 54.1 Walerlown 54.0 Friendship Christian 42.4 Castle Heights 27.4 District; Eielt-Harding 59.3 Franklin Road Acad. 53.0 Nashville Christian 50 0 Mary.

Heritage 62.1 Mem. Melrose 64.0 63.9 62.9 Sevier Co. 54.5 Raitegh-Egvpt Knox Bearden 51.7 Mem. Craigmont uskies Still Atop UPI, Fa ns Pol Is UPl'sTop 20 Your Top 20 64.1 David Lipscomb Donelson christian 40.9 Madison 63.0 Tenn. Prep 241 47.1 46J 81.5 792 779 75 5 709 70.6 62.6 62.6 56.8 Districts District 12 District Mem.

Tre2evant54.8 Chatt. Red Bank 97.5 Mem. Kingsbury Cleveland 93.4 Mem. Wooddale Bradley Central 88.4 District 14 Cumberland County. 71.5 Mem.

South Side Rhea County 71.1 Mem. Mitchell McMinn County 68.6 Mem Hillcresl Chalt. East Ridge 65.1 Mem. Weslwood District 6 Mem. Whitehaven Chatt.

Tvner 88 0 Mem. Northside Hlxson Kl Mem. Washington Chatt. Baylor 80.1 Mem. Fairley Chatt.

McCallie 67.2 Mem. Carver Soddy-Daisy 60.5 Chalt. Brainerd .52.1 Class AA Chalt. Klrkman 49.9 District 7 District 1 Murf. Oakland 868 Unicoi Co.

Murt. Riverdalt 62.8 Happy Valley Warren Co 73.5 South Greene CookevWe. 67.4 West Greene Lebanon 64.4 Chuckev-Doak. Results of The Tennessevfl Reader pott of fans for college football with voles In parentheses (points assigned NEW YORK (UPI) The United Press International Board of Coaches Top 20 col-, lege football ratings, with first place votes and records in parentheses: Waverty 59.1 Montgomery Central 51.1 Fairview 41.1 Stewart Co. 35.1 Houston Co 27 District 13 Milan 82.9 Union City 72.2 Humboldt 67.0 Obion Co 64.1 Weslview 54.6 TotPh East Robertson 449 Jo Byrns 39 5 Clarksville Acad25.7r McEwen 24.8 District 9 Moore Co 580 Chapel Hill 39.1 Cornersville 35.7 Cascade 79.9 Hunlland 28.4 SI.

Andrews 27.1 District 10 Columbia Academy 49.6 Spring Hill 47.7 Collinwood 37.5 Richland 33.5 Wayne Co 19.2 District II Bruceton 43.3 780 66.9 65.0 546 Trenton 54. 36.1 While Co. 59.4 Hampton 33.1 District I North Greene 16J Lincoln Co. .101.5 District 2 445 34.5 17.9 666 61.9 Over Co Gibson Co Crockett District 14 McNairy Central Chester Co. Columbia 65.6 Seymour 66.6 TuKahoma on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis): Team 1.

Washington (29) 2. Nebraska (14) 3. Brigham Young (7) 4. Texas (2) i South Carolina 6. Miami (Fla.) (2) 7.

Georgia Florida 9. Oklahoma Slate 11 Oklahoma (1) 11. Texas Christian (3) 12. Florida State (2) 13. Virginia 14.

Southern California (1) 15. Clemson (1) 16. Vanderbill (2) 17. Clemson 18. LSU (1) 19.

Memphis Slate (1) District 12 (From First Sports Page) The Reader Ratings take fans' top-10 votes each Monday at between p.m. and 8 p.m. Results are published each Tuesday throughout the season in The Tennessean. Only NCAA Division I-A teams are eligible, and votes for teams which are not in Division I-A are not counted. Reader Ratings points are assigned as 10 points for a first-place vote, nine points for a second, eight for a third, etc.

Total points in the UPI poll are based on 15 for a first-place vote, 14 for second, etc No. 5 South Carolina and No. 6 Miami held their positions in UPI this week. Oklahoma State moved into seventh with Georgia eighth, Oklahoma ninth and Florida State 10th. Rounding out the UPI Top 20 are No.

11 Florida, USQ No. 13 Ohio State, No. 14 Texas Christian, No. 15 Louisiana State, No. 16 Boston College, No.

17 Iowa, No. 18 West Vir- 59.2 Huntingdon ginia, No. 19 Virginia and No. 20 Southern Methodist Auburn, ranked first in pre-season, fell from the ratings for the first time this year after losing 24-3 to Florida. The Tigers were 11th last week.

Texas, Nebraska and Miami have also been ranked No. 1 this season by UPI. Nebraska was the only team to hold the top spot for three weeks before Washington. All fans are invited to participate in the Reader Ratings poll. Additionally, a special Reader Ratings poll will be conducted tomorrow night concerning the NASCAR point standings.

The Wednesday night question: Do you agree with the structure of the NASCAR points system used to determine the stock car racing national champion? Fans should call the Reader Ratings line, 259-8011, between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. with their response. 1. Washington (30) (9-0) 615 2.

Texas (6) (6-9-1) 560 3. Nebraska (2) (1-1) 524 4. Brlgham Young (4) (9-0) 512 5. South Carolina (8-0) 461 6. Miami (6-2) 351 7.

Oklahoma Stale (7-1) 325 t. Georgia (7-1) 322 9. Oklahoma (6-1-1) 227 10. Florida Stale (6-1-1) 215 11. Florida (6-1-1) 192 12.

Southern Cal (7-1) 143 13. Ohio State (7-2) 121 14. Texas Christian (7-1) 100 15. Louisiana Slate (6-1-1) 98 16. Boston College (5-2) 65 17.

Iowa (6-2-1) S7 II. West Virginia (7-2) 46 19. Virginia (6-1-1) 26 20. Southern Methodist (5-2) 21 Jack Old Hickory. .53.1 82.5 Gibbs 53 5 79.6 Rulledoe 47.2 70.6 Taiewel! 46.2 62.8 Mavnardvllle 45.5 58.4 Powell Valley 43.8 54.1 Jellico 16.9 582 566 461 472 395 285 225 203 199 130 101 II 65 64 62 59 56 S3 ...40 37 (In alphabetical or Franklin Manchester Stwlbyville Lawrence Co Giles Co Camden 44 0 Adamsvllle 46.4 Denmark West 24.9 Jackson South Side 42.9 District 9 District 1 Gallatin 9) 9 Maryville 495 413 14.2 Middleton 25.1 McKeniie.

24.9 District IS Mem. Kirby. 069 MUS 83.2 Springfield 81.1 Knox. Austin-East District 13 Halls Greenfield Sharon District 14 Lake Co South Fulton Dresdon Gleason District IS 711 43.2 38.2 31.1 73.3 20. Maryland (1) Mem.

ECS Oltwrs rcctMnfl Mount Juliet. Hendersonville Beech Smyrna Franklin District 10 Dickson Co. Cheatham Co. Henry Co7l.5r Northeast. Clarksville High Clark.

Norlhwesl District 11 Overton 864 748 745 709 655 64.6 63.4 53.4 715 686 67.0 54 6 54.5 46.7 751 69.2 80.6 Alcoa 74.4 Powell 71.6 South-Young 68 2 Rule 62.2 Knox. Holslon Knox. West 93.5 District 4 78.9 Rockwood Clark. Scott Co. 65.2 Harriman.

63.1 Anderson Co 63.0 Kingston Oliver Springs 92 5 Dlslrlct 5 Bolton 64.1 Mem. Skyview. 516 71.6 57.1 57.0 55.1 63.7 62.8 61.7 548 51.0 48.0 46.6 46.0 36.6 Mem Catholic Harding Coliierville Bishop Byrne District 14 ShcHield. Mem. Overton Mem.

Fravser Mem. Ridgeway Mem. East Mem. Treadway Mem. Manassas Mem.

Tech Mem. Oakhaven Notts By agreement with the American Football Coaches Association, teams on NCAA or conference probation art Ineligible for the Top 20 and national championship consideration bv the UPI Board of Coaches. The teams currently onprobation art Ari-iona, Clemson, Illinois and Kanvav der) Arkansas (3), Auburn, Boston College (1). Central Michigan, Duke, Futktrlon State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas Stale, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Nevada-Las Vegas, North Carolina, Ohio Stale (2), Pem Slate, Purdue, Southern Methodist, Tennessee (1), 4 First Assembly Auburndale District 14 MemWestsida Prep SBEC Mem. Eniston 47.6 27.2 43.1 40 0 ,32.4 i MBA 86.0 Sweetwater Anikxh 84 MadlsonviHe.

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