Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 17

Football RENO FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2002 5B 1 BowlsBreakdown of WAC chances Carter, Parker questionable By Chad Hartley UTEP-CEVADAATAGLACCE is favored by 44 cm What: Texas-El Paso (2-7. 1-4 Western Athletic Conference) at aVaathar- Thara I Nevada (4-5. 3-2 is a 40 percent chance of ram with highs In the upper WAC) Where: Mackay Stadium (31 .545. FieldTurf) WhtK Saturday, 12:05 p.m. kickorf.

Crow 1 7,000, according to Nevada officials. TVRadio: noneKPTT AM 630. Dan Gustin (play-by-play), Billy Danial (color) and Don Marchand (sidelines) will do the broadcast with a pre-game show beginning at 11 am. leltlm line (openlmcorrtit): Nevada 40S. Sarin: The all-time series stands tied at 1 -1 Nevada won last year's meeting, 35-1 4 in Reno.

Last week: Nevada beat SMU 24-6 while UTEP fell to Boise State 58-3. Coaches: Nevada's Chris Tormey is 42-46 overall (8th year) and 9-23 at Nevada (3rd year). UTEP's Gary Nord is 12-20 overall in his third year at the school. lot of help to move into the bowl slot likewinningatleastthree of four (including those over Fresno State and San lose State), having Fresno State lose another game and having Nevada falter twice. Rice (4-5, 3-3): The Owls need wins over Boise State and Hawaii, their only games remaining, just to be eligible.

A tough road indeed, but Rice knocked off both of those squads last season. What might help simplify matters is the situation in the eight-team Mountain West Conference. The MWC has four bowl tie-ins, but has just two eligible teams at this point. Two teams, Utah and Wyoming are out of contention while four others still have a chance to become eligible. New Mexico State needs to win three of its last four, while San Diego State needs to win its last four games.

UNLV and BYU both need to win two of their last three contests. If the Mountain West were to only have three bowl eligible teams, that might free up a spot in the Seattle Bowl and that bowl game might come to the WAC looking tor a team to fill the spot. FromlB bowl eligible, although upsets by lowly UTEP and Tulsa would be needed. A team that plays an 1 1-or a 12-game schedule must win at least six games against I-A opponents. A team that plays a li-game schedule must win at least seven.

"It's one of those things where you get real nervous now," Chuck Shelton, the executive director of the SVFC told the San Jose Mercury News. "But there is not much you can do about it. After two or three more games, it really starts shaping up." Here is a breakdown of the five teams that are seemingly vying for the bowl game in San Jose, assuming of course, that Boise State doesn't stumble too much the rest of the way: Fresno State (4-5, 2-2): If there is one of the five teams that controls its own destiny, it is probably the Bulldogs. Fresno State needs three wins in its final four games against Tulsa, Nevada, San lose State and Louisiana Tech. Considering Fresno State fans are known to travel well, and the fact that the Bulldogs have played in the SVFC the last two years, this team is a proven commodity for television viewers and those who will attend the game.

And those two factors are the biggest thing that bowl organizers care about. San Jose State (4-6, 2-3): The Spartans need to win their last three games, period. The SVFB would seemingly jump at the chance to get the hometown team, even though the Spartans don't draw a lot of big crowds to home games. But if San Jose State falters against Louisiana Tech, Tulsa or Fresno State, there will be no postseason. Nevada (4-5, 3-2): The Pack needs two wins to be bowl eligible or three to go to a bowl outside of the WAC's tie-ins.

A 6-6 team can only go to a bowl affiliated with its conference. Even if the Pack wins out, it will need Fresno State to lose two games and San Jose State to lose one. After those two schools, Nevada would presumably be more attractive than Rice or Louisiana Tech. Louisiana Tech (3-5. 2-2): These Bulldogs only need three wins to be eligible, but they face a tough schedule.

They must travel to San Jose State and Boise State before home games against UTEP and Fresno State. Louisiana Tech likely needs a RENO GAZETTE -JOURNAL Logan Carter and Alan Parker have Decn rocks for the Nevada football team this year. Both have been hampered by injuries but each has been a steady force for the 4-5 Wolf Pack Carter at linebacker and Parker at tackle. Neither is expected to start, however, when 2-7 Texas-El Paso comes to Mackay Stadium Saturday, according to Nevada coach Chris Tormey. "They will be available to play but probably won't start, Tormey said.

Carter and Parker both have ankle injuries. Carter played sparingly against Southern Methodist last week but Parker did not suit up for the game. With tough games coming up against Fresno State and Boise State and considering Nevada is a 27.5-point favorite over the Miners, there might be a thought that it makes no sense risking further injury to either player. But Tormey said that isn't the case. "That's not the idea at all," Tormey said.

"They haven't practiced all week and other players have. We ha ve to go with the guys that are healthy." Redshirt freshman Adam imrara Kiefer, who started in place of Parker at SMU, will likely start again this week. Jamaal Jackson, another redshirt freshman, could get the start in place of Carter. Also, true freshman defensive end J.J. Milan, a Wooster High product, might not play due to a shoulder injury.

Junior Keenan Curtis would likely start if Milan can't go. SHUTOUT STREAK: Nevada has not been shut out in 265 straight games, the longest such streak among WAC schools. The last time Nevada was blanked was 10-0 by Weber State on Sept. 27, 1980. BYU holds the nation's longest streak at 347, an ongoing NCAA record.

Nevada would be second to the Cougars except for many of Nevada's wins came while the team was in Division l-AA before the team went to l-A in 1992. Texas is next on the list at 262, followed by Washington (250), Michigan (212) and Washington State (211). MILTON'S STRING: Running back Matt Milton has four straight 100-yard rushing games, but he has no chance to break the record of consecutive 100-yard games in a year. Frank Hawkins holds the single-season mark of 1 1 straight during the 1 980 season. TIME CHANGE: Saturday's game with UTEP will begin at 1 2:05 p.m., an hour earlier than the previous games at Mackay Stadium this year.

The reason for the change is the recent change from daylight savings timeto standard time so that game wont run into problems with darkness. The Nov. 23 game against Boise State will also kick-off at 12:05 p.m. Thinking of Selling Your Home? Boston could be lost for season with knee injury Call for a free market analysis! As a full time Realtor since 1984, I've helped hundreds of families buy or sell their homes. RON BROWN, ABR "Where Service Counts" I V' 8 NFL ratings up this season I 11 TVT Club miQNTQ Reno'sBestBet PARLAY SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2002 COLLEGE FOOTBALL 3-NOTRE DAME 4-NAVY (ess) 6 Baltimore.

MD. 27V4 3V4 5-WEST VIRGINIA (H) 9 OOa 6 BOSTON in NEW YORK (AP) The highest scoring in 35 years. More overtime games. A new team in a big market. Whatever the reason, the NFL is a TV hit halfway through the season.

The league's games are drawing an average of 14.1 million people per telecast, 9 percent higher than in 2001 and 2 percent higher than two years ago. And the networks with NFL deals are sharing the rewards. ABC, Fox, CBS and ESPN all have increases in viewership, which eventually should translate into more advertising dollars. "The final chapter hasn't been written, and we're not celebrating yet," Fox Sports president Ed Goren said Thursday. "Still, it's been a great nine weeks so far." The jump for the NFL comes in a year that major league baseball had its lowest-rated World Series, following regular-season numbers even with last year's.

Nielsen Media Research only measures what people watch, not why, so it's tough to know the causes of ups and downs. But John Madden, the announcer whose move from Fox to "Monday Night Football" gets some credit for ABC's ratings rise, offers a simple take: unpredictable outcomes on the field. "NFL sometimes stands for 'Never Figure League, Madden said. "What you think will happen doesn't." Now perhaps more than ever, there is a sense that any team can win any game. That gives fans and bettors nope week after week, and draws them to watch games.

That's what the networks were hoping for when they agreed to pay a total of $17.6 billion from 1998-05. Fox and CBS get regular-season games primarily on Sunday afternoons, ESPN has Sunday night games, and ABC has "Monday Night Football." and could not participate in drills Thursday. "I think he'll play each week," Fassel said of Shockey's status for Sunday's game in Minnesota. "We'll just have to rest him, which makes me concerned about a lack of practice time and game-planning to get him the ball." Shockey, the Giants' first-round draft pick, hurt his toe against Dallas on Oct. 6, and missed most of that game and sat out the following game against Atlanta.

He has played in pain the past two weeks. NFL RESCINDS VICK'S $5,000 FINE: The NFL has rescinded the $5,000 fine on Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick for violating its uniform dress code last month. Vick was fined because his white over-socks were rolled down, exposing red undercooks from ankle to knee against New Orleans on Oct. 27. NFL guidelines say the exterior sock must be white at least to the mid-lower leg.

The league gave Vick a warning Wednesday. Such fines are common for uniform violations, ranging from untucked jerseys to unlicensed apparel. The league also decided to return its $2,500 fine of Vick for throwing a ball into the stands against New Orleans after he scored a touchdown and reduced that to a warning. Vick had appealed both fines after the league disciplined him last week. LUCAS LIKELY TO START AGAINST JETS: Miami Dolphins quarterback Ray Lucas, nursing a bruised throwing shoulder, took half the snaps in practice Thursday and probably will start Sunday night against the New York Jets.

"He's still not 100 percent, but he worked," coach Dave Wannstedt said. "Unless something would happen (today), I think he'll be fine to start." Lucas, who didn't talk to reporters, took part in all drills wearing pads. He remained listed as questionable on the injury report. Lucas has struggled in two starts both losses filling in for Jay Fiedler, who is expected to miss at least two more games with a broken right thumb. Third-string quarterback Sage Rosenfels, who has taken five NFL snaps, would be the next option.

VIKINGS' H0VAN QUESTIONABLE: Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Chris Ho-van left practice Thursday with back spasms, and he was listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the New York Giants. Hovan hurt his back in one-on-one drills, and even though he was walking normally in the locker room afterward, coach Mike Tice said his status would be questionable. 7-PITTSBUROH (H) 9 OOa 9-CLEMSON 11-PENN 8T. (H) 12 30p 13-MARVLAND (H) 9 00a 15-VIRGINIA TECH 17-KWA(H) 9 05a 19-WISCONSIN (H) 9 05a 21-OHIOST. 23-INDIANA (H) 25-GEORGIA (H) 4 OOp 27-ARKANSAS 29-LSU 31-NEBRASKA (H) 33-COLORADO 35-TEXAS TECH (H) 37-TEXAS(H) 39-FLORIDA 41-BOWLINO GREEN 43-KANSAS 8T.

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Pro Bowl wide receiver David Boston of the Arizona Cardinals has a partially torn tendon in his right knee and probably will undergo season-ending knee surgery. Boston is traveling to Dallas this week for a second opinion from specialist Dr. James Montgomery. "If there's a tear there, I've got to have surgery, and probably my season is going to be over with," Boston said Thursday. "I've just got to go confirm that in Dallas." An MRI on Wednesday showed two partial tears of the patella.

One was an older tear that apparently was the cause of problems Boston had this summer and in training camp. The second tear apparently occurred in the Cardinals' loss at San Francisco on Oct. 27. "It's disappointing," Boston said. "It's unfortunate that this injury would happen now.

We had eight games left and I wanted to go out there and make enough plays to get this team to the playoffs." If Boston can't come back this year, the Cardinals will have lost three of their top four wide receivers in the past two weeks. Bryan Gilmore broke his right leg when he fell on camera equipment in San Francisco, and Mar-Tay Jenkins fractured his right shoulder blade in last Sunday's loss to St. Louis. That leaves Frank Sanders as the only experienced wideout. Rookie Jason McAddley, a fifth-round draft pick out of Alabama, becomes the No.

2 receiver, and Jake Soliday, an undrafted rookie from Northern Iowa, becomes No. 3. BRYANT'S SEASON MIGHT BE OVER AFTER NECK INJURY: Oakland Raiders defensive end Tony Bryant will undergo a third MRI exam that will help determine whether he will play again this season. Bryant was carted off the field after injuring his neck during overtime in last Sunday's loss to San Francisco. Bryant didn't practice this week, and has been declared out for Monday night's game in Denver.

Bryant's agent, Peter Shaffer, denied reports that a decision has already been made SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2002 NFL PRO FOOTBALL 83-EAGLES (H) 84-COLTS seven drill as trainers cut the toe out of a shoe for the quarterback. That didn't ease the soreness, so he did nothing else in practice. "I didn't want to do too much on it," McNair said. "Hopefully things will be a lot better (today), and I can do a lot more reps." McNair is questionable on the injury report, but he has played games with turf toe on his left foot so painful in 1999 that he needed surgery after the season to remove a bone spur. He said this is very different.

Kearse was upgraded from out to questionable this week, and he ran outside Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. But his left foot was sore Thursday, so he did nothing on the practice field. INJURED SH0CKEY MISSES PRACTICE: New York Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey aggravated his turf toe injury and missed practice Thursday. Giants coach Jim Fassel said Shockey "tweaked" the toe at practice Wednesday 85-PHIINO OV 87-RAVENS (H) 89-BALCIN OV 91 -PACKERS (H) 93-QBDET OV 95-GIANTS 88-PMiiNo un 88 BENGALS 90-BALCIN Un 92-LIONS 94-GBDET un 96-VIKINGS (H) to keep the player off the field for the rest of the season. Bryant met with a doctor in North Carolina earlier in the week, and he's expected to meet with team doctors this weekend to determine his future.

H0UI0AY UNDERGOES SURGERY: Von-nie Holliday underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair damaged cartilage in his right knee Thursday. He's expected to miss between two and five weeks. The Packers feel Holliday can return well before the playoffs begin and make a significant impact during the stretch run. "This is not a major knee surgery," coach Mike Sherman said. "It's just a scope.

Von-nie's a fast healer and has proved to be that and he promised me he'll be back." Holliday had just returned from a six-week absence because of a torn chest muscle when he got hurt Monday night against Miami. MCNAIR TAKES PART IN DRILL, KEARSE NEEDS TO PRACTICE TO PLAY: Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair practiced Thursday, then eased back because of soreness in his right big toe. But a sore left foot kept defensive end Jevon Kearse from participating McNair tossed passes in a seven-on- 97-NYGMIN OV 98-nygmin un 99-STEELERS (H) 100-FALCONS 101-PtTATl OV 102-P1TATL Un 103-RAMS(H) 104-CHARGERS (cm) 1 05-stiVso ov 1 06-stlso un 107-TITANS (H) 108-TEXANS 9 42V4 5Vi 37V4 10V4 41V4 1V4 43'. 5V4 42V4 6V4 44 Vi 9V4 40 Vi 5 40Vi 2V4 39V4 3V4 37V4 3V4 40Vi 8V4 507. 2 39V4 109-TENHOU OV 110-tenhou un 111-SAINTS 112-PANTHERS 113-NOCAR 114-NOCAR un 11 5-JAGUARS (H) 116 REDSKINS 117-JACWA3 OV 118-JACWAS UH 1 1 9-CARDIN ALS (H) 120-SEAHAWKS 121-ARZSEA OV 122-ARZ8EA un 123-PATRIOT3 124-BEARS (H) 125-nwechi ov 126-nwechi un 127-4ERS(H) 128-CHIEFS c.

1 29-SFKC OV 1 30-SFKC un 131-JETS(H) 132-DOLPHINS (Mm). 1 33-NYJMIA OV 1 34-NYJMIA un MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2002 NFL PRO FOOTBALL 6V4 46 Vi Vi 135-BRONCOa H) Ubp 13B-KAIDEKS uc 1 37-OENOAK OV 1 38-DENOAK 139-MORC PTB. SCORED IN 1ST HALP 140-MORE PTfl. SCORED IN 2ND HALF 10TH WEEK FOOTBALL PARLAY CARD USED CARS TRUCKS CADILLAC-BUI CK-LAND ROVER- Superior workmanship and FOOTBALL PARLAY PRICES jHMcvwnra COTT QiYOTOR COMPANY -Strvmj NtvxkS.nc.tW 2401 S. Virginia Reno twirw.Konniotors.com 332-4000 iii 1 i for for for for for for for Teams Pays 6.75 for 1 Tsams Pays 13 for 1 Teams Pays 26 for 1 Teams Pays 52 for 1 Teams Pays 104 fori Teams Pays 208 for 1 Teams Pays 420 for 1 Teams 850 fori Teams Pays 1 ,600 for 1 Teams Pays 3,000 for 1 Teams Pays 6,000 for 1 Teams Pays 12,000 fori Teams Pays 25,000 for 1 LOGGER BOOTS This Chippewa style is a one of a kind product for steel toe loggers.

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