The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 49

2002:10:19:23:07:49 D6 COLLEGEFOOTBALL LOSANGELESTIMES HOW THE AP TOP 25 FARED Key: Gray background; White; Black 1 MIAMI6-0 Did not play Bad boy mascot Sebastian the Ibis, which drew an unsports- manlike penalty in the 2001 Sugar Bowl, is named a finalist for mascot of the year. Next: at West Virginia, Saturday 2 OKLAHOMA7-0 Defeated No. 9 Iowa State, 49-3 Old-timers around greater Norman say they seen a blitz like this since the Oklahoma land rush of 1889. Next: at No. 23 Colorado, Nov.

2 3 VIRGINIA TECH7-0 Defeated Rutgers, 35-14 Old-timers in New Brunswick, N.J., are still talking about 6-4 victory over Princeton on Nov. 6, 1869, the last time the Scarlet Knights won. Next: Temple, Saturday 4 OHIO STATE8-0 Won at Wisconsin, 19-14 Vlade Janakievski, who runs the Easy Living Deli in Columbus, has his consecutive field-goal record broken by Mike Nugent, no relation to Ted Nugent. Next: No. 20 Penn State, Saturday 5 GEORGIA7-0 Defeated Vanderbilt, 48-17 no truth to the rumor that Herschel Walker was driving the tractor-trailer cab that collided with a Vanderbilt team bus before the game.

Next: at Kentucky, Saturday 6 OREGON6-1 Lost to Arizona State, 45-42 BCS fraud investigators were headed to Eugene before this loss. A year ago, Stanford ended 23-game home win streak. Next: No. 19 USC, Saturday 7 NOTRE DAME7-0 Won at No. 18 Air Force, 21-14 The honeymoon continues, as Tyrone Willingham remains the perfect coach.

But dad-gum it, Bobby Bowden wants to have a say in this matter. Next: at No. 12 Florida State, Saturday 8 TEXAS6-1 Won at No. 17 Kansas State, 17-14 Longhorns and the student body, which includes Jenna Bush, recover from the Oklahoma hangover and win a key road game. Next: No.

9 Iowa State, Saturday 9 IOWA STATE6-2 Lost at No. 2 Oklahoma, 49-3 The only poll that matters is the last one, and if the Cyclones continue to play like this, they have to worry about being in it. Next: at No. 8 Texas, Saturday 10 WASHINGTON STATE6-1 Did not play The big news out of Pullman this week was never any big news out of Pullman, is there? Next: at Arizona, Saturday 11 MICHIGAN6-1 Won at Purdue, 23-21 Wolverine boots are known for durability. The Wolverine kickers at least this season are known for their inability.

Next: No. 15 Iowa, Saturday 12 FLORIDA STATE5-2 Did not play After miss against Miami, kicker Xavier Beitia takes comfort in call from Matt Munyon, the kicker in Wide Right III. Munyon now attends Troy State. Next: No. 20 Notre Dame, Saturday 13 NORTH CAROLINA STATE8-0 Defeated Duke, 24-22 Initial thought: A victory over the Blue Devils might help the Wolfpack in the RPI, but it do a thing for them in the BCS.

Next: at Clemson, Thursday 14 LOUISIANA STATE6-1 Defeated South Carolina, 38-14 Tiger Coach Nick Saban, after needlessly playing QB Matt Mauck late against Florida and seeing him get injured, survives test from Gamecocks. Next: at Auburn, Saturday 15 IOWA7-1 Won at Indiana, 24-8 take them for granted as Indiana did, which saw linebacker Grant Steen snare three interceptions. Next: at No. 11 Michigan, Saturday 16 TENNESSEE4-2 Did not play First came electricity, then the corn cob pipe, which grandmammy uses. Now this: www.firecoachfulmer.com/ Next: No.

24 Alabama, Saturday 17 KANSAS STATE5-2 Lost to No. 8 Texas, 17-14 This just in: Jared Brite, the Wildcat kicker who missed a 27-yarder that would have tied the score, is spotted after the game at Subway. Next: at Baylor, Saturday 18 AIR FORCE6-1 Lost to No. 7 Notre Dame, 21-14 That breeze you feel is the sigh of relief from BCS officials, who entertained by the idea of the Falcons crashing the party. Next: at Wyoming, Saturday 19 USC5-2 Defeated No.

22 Washington, 41-21 Unlike Kareem Kelly or Erik Affholter, we about to drop the ball on praising the strong play this week. Next: at No. 6 Oregon, Saturday 20 PENN STATE5-2 Defeated Northwestern, 49-0 Forty-nine-zip, and a kinder, gentler Joe Paterno. Reporters can interview his players and he complaining about the officiating. Next: at No.

4 Ohio State, Saturday 21 MISSISSIPPI5-2 Lost at No. 24 Alabama, 42-7 The appearance in top 25 will be brief after they played like Ole Miss, suffering their worse loss since a 45-7 setback in 2000 at Alabama. Next: at Arkansas, Saturday 22 WASHINGTON4-3 Lost at No. 19 USC, 41-21 After spending last off-season in front of NCAA officials, Rick Neuheisel will spend this one putting a spin on the unexpected decline. Next: at Arizona State Saturday 23 COLORADO5-2 Defeated Baylor, 34-0 After junior Chris Brown upped his per-game rushing average to 164.9 yards, no surprise that heralded Marcus Houston is hinting at a transfer.

Next: Texas Tech, Saturday 24 ALABAMA5-2 Defeated No. 21 Mississippi, 42-7 The clever Crimson Tide. The NCAA told the rules breakers no bowl for two years, so they schedule games at Hawaii. Next: at No. 16 Tennessee, Saturday 25 BOWLING GREEN6-0 Defeated Western Michigan, 48-45 Unlike the Air Force, these Falcons win when they make an appearance in the top 25, although they needed overtime to do so.

Next: Ball State, Saturday College Football What should the name Bill Jennings mean to Frank Solich Jennings was the last Nebraska coach to lose to Oklahoma State. In 1961. The next year, Bob Devaney replaced Jennings as coach, and Nebraska had a losing season since. Solich is almost a part of the landscape in Lincoln after 19 years as an assistant coach and the last five as head coach following Tom retirement. Solich played for the Cornhuskers from 1963-65, and was the first Nebraska back to rush for 200 yards in a game.

He has never been in a spot like this one. Already unranked for the first time since 1981, Nebraska is 5-3 after a24-21 loss to Oklahoma State with Texas Texas, Kansas, Kansas State and Colorado left to play. Only Kansas looks like a sure victory. These are dark days in Lincoln, as people wonder if Solich can survive, only one season removed from playing for the national title. even harder to find anyone who thinks defensive coordinator Craig Bohl can.

In a side story, Solich also came under scrutiny last week for allowing quarterback Jammal Lord to start despite being ticketed for disturbing the peace at a party, a misdemeanor charge. The truth is, fans are probably more upset that Lord, the replacement for Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch is a run-oriented quarterback who proven an effective passing threat, running for 73 yardsand passing for 110 in the loss to Oklahoma State. In another distraction, disgruntled backup running back Thunder Collins left the team. The famous Blackshirt defense is a big problem too, after allowing Tatum Bell to rush for 182 yards Saturday. And this is a 3-4 Oklahoma State team that wascoming off a 44-9 loss to Kansas State.

victory was a goalpost- toppler for the Cowboys. As Oklahoma State Coach Les Miles told reporters last week, 1961 was a long time ago. me think said Miles, who was 8 in 1961, told The Oklahoman. probably had a flat-top haircut and wore jeans and a corduroy shirt. In the fall of the year, I was probably in ditch playing On Saturday, it was Nebraska that had to surrender.

Attention: Ignore This Team Yes, North Carolina State is one of eight remaining unbeaten teams. No, you do not have to take the 14th-ranked Wolfpack seriously. Not after 24-22 victory over Duke. The Blue Devils, winless the last two seasons, are 2-6. But with 16 seconds left, they scored on a 40-yard touchdown pass by quarterback Adam Smith then recovered an onside kick.

After three incomplete passes, Duke tried a 65-yard field goal that would have won the game. Kicker Brent career- best was 56 yards, and he missed. It as much of a longshot as it sounds. Garber reportedly has made kicks of 71 yards in practice, and he made a 52-yarder by more than 10 yards earlier in the game. went out there and the wind started blowing in my Garber said.

a tough one. not sure with that kind of wind I could hit more than one out of 10 He was a good 10 yards short. But Duke made its point N.C. State, which still might go undefeated into its final game at Florida State, is no contender. What a Rush John Cappelletti Curt Warner D.J.

Dozier Ki-Jana Carter Curtis Enis None of those big-name Penn State running backs did what Larry Johnson did Saturday against Northwestern. His 257 yards in a 49-0 victory set the school rushing record. was a heck of a day and he deserves quarterback Zack Mills said. been a long time coming. been waiting around for four years and he deserves every bit of Johnson is a home-grown product.

The son of Penn State defensive line coach Larry JohnsonSr. he played at State College Area High and has waited for his turn to be the featured back. Now featured in the record book. means a Johnson said. means a lot that all the guys who have come before me, guys been able to meet with, like Curt Warner, D.J.

Dozier, Curtis Enis, Ki-Jana Carter and Kenny Watson all those guys have always encouraged me in my college career. This kind of seems that it is dedicated to them, even though they make the record. just, what you saw out there is a part of Coach Joe Paterno expressed his teasing appreciation for Johnson, too. a very aggressive kind, very Paterno said. I have any problem with Larry.

He works like a dog on the practice field. a little moody sometimes, but so is my Quarterback Anonymous Quick, who is Andrew Walter Time to get it fixed in your mind: the Arizona State quarterback who set the school passing record with 536 yards in the Sun 45-42 upset over No. 6 Oregon at the Autzen Stadium. Walter took over the starting job from Chad Christenson in the fourth game of the season, and already has three 400-plus passing yardage in five starts this season. The sophomore is starting to stir memories of another No.

16 who played for the Sun Devils: Jake Plummer not to say Walter is widely recognized on campus yet. not much of a buzz," Walter told the Arizona Republic. not as big a deal as I thought it would Put Him In, Coach Backups know they have to stay ready. Quarterback Kyle Keating of Lehigh did his job even though the fourth-stringer. Starter Chad Schwenk has a sprained knee.

Backup Matt Shiels has a broken toe. Another backup, Kevin Weschler already was out with an injury to his throwing hand. So what do you know, Keating got the start. The sophomore did fine, throwing touchdown passes of 36 and 15 yards as Div. I-AA Lehigh defeated Yale, 14-7.

Technical Difficulties Kickoff before 16-14 victory over Brown was delayed 23 minutes. What gave? Problems with the netting behind the goal posts at the east end of Princeton Stadium. Norwood SPOTLIGHT WEEK 8 No Solace for Solich Associated Press NO MERCY FOR LORD: Oklahoma State defensive tackle Kevin Williams puts the pressure on Nebraska quarterback Jammal Lord. THE BIG PICTURE SOUTHEASTERN TEAM Conf.Overall EAST WL WLPFPA GEORGIA40 70223107 FLORIDA32 53223173 SOUTH CAROLINA32 53188166 KENTUCKY12 52245147 TENNESSEE12 42175110 VANDERBILT04 16147228 WEST WL WLPFPA LSU30 6122977 ALABAMA21 52216131 MISSISSIPPI21 52218172 AUBURN22 43223146 ARKANSAS13 33188134 MISSISSIPPI ST.03 34131181 ResultsSaturday, Oct. 26 Georgia 48, Vanderbilt 17LSU at Auburn Kentucky 29, Arkansas 17Georgia at Kentucky Alabama 42, Mississippi 7Alabama at Tennessee Florida 30, Auburn 23, OTConnecticut at Vanderbilt LSU 38, South Carolina 14Mississippi at Arkansas Mississippi St.

29, Memphis 17 ATLANTIC COAST Conf.Overall TEAMWL WLPFPA FLORIDA ST.40 52258162 N. CAROLINA ST.30 80330157 VIRGINIA41 62254225 CLEMSON22 43194163 MARYLAND11 52218111 WAKE FOREST23 44222217 GEORGIA TECH13 43175131 NORTH CAROLINA03 25167228 DUKE04 26161234 ResultsThursday, Oct. 24 N.C. State 24, Duke 22N.C. State at Clemson Virginia 37, North Carolina 27 Saturday, Oct.

26 Clemson 31, Wake Forest 23Maryland at Duke Result Notre Dame at Florida St. Maryland 34, Georgia Tech 10North Carolina at Wake Forest Virginia at Georgia Tech BIG 12 TEAM Conf.Overall NORTH WL WLPFPA COLORADO30 52204150 IOWA ST.31 62282170 KANSAS ST.12 5229597 NEBRASKA12 53227166 MISSOURI03 34221191 KANSAS04 26209307 SOUTH WL WLPFPA OKLAHOMA30 7028892 TEXAS21 6122796 TEXAS 52214105 TEXAS TECH21 53301254 BAYLOR12 34144237 OKLAHOMA ST.1234205185 ResultsSaturday, Oct. 26 Oklahoma St. 24, Nebraska 21Texas Tech at Colorado Texas 47, Kansas 22Kansas at Missouri Colorado 34, Baylor 0Kansas St. at Baylor Oklahoma 49, Iowa St.

3Iowa St. at Texas Texas 17, Kansas St. 14Nebraska at Texas Texas Tech 52, Missouri 38 BIG EAST Conf.Overall TEAMWL WLPFPA VIRGINIA TECH20 7024276 MIAMI20 60262101 PITTSBURGH20 52179108 WEST VIRGINIA20 52236145 TEMPLE11 34156203 BOSTON COLLEGE02 42176130 RUTGERS03 16105204 SYRACUSE03 16187225 ResultsSaturday, Oct. 26 Temple 38, Connecticut 24Miami at West Virginia Boston College 46, Navy 21Boston College at Pittsburgh West Virginia 34, Syracuse 7Temple at Virginia Tech Virginia Tech 35, Rutgers 14Rutgers at Syracuse BESTS OF THE DAY PASSING School Att Cmp Yds TD ANDREW WALTERArizona St.53315364 KLIFF KINGSBURYTexas Tech70495105 DUSTIN LONGTexas PHILIP RIVERSNorth Carolina St.37263642 ZAC DAHMANArmy33173534 ADAM SMITHDuke41283531 CODY PICKETTWashington61343503 CARSON PALMERUSC34213484 ADAM HALL San Diego St.32223351 GIBRAN HAMDANIndiana48213350 RUSHING School Att Yards Avg TD LARRY JOHNSONPenn St.2325711.22 TANARDOSHARPSTemple352436.91 TERRY JACKSONMinnesota292388.20 MATT MILTONNevada1922411.82 LEE SUGGSVirginia Tech211979.42 JOFFREYREYNOLDSHouston291976.82 TATUM BELLOklahoma St. 331825.50 RECEIVING School No Yards Avg TD BRAXTON CLEMANWashington15694.60 SHAUN McDONALDArizona St.

1220417.01 COURTNEY ROBYIndiana1119818.00 TAYLOR STUBBLEFIELDPurdue111049.50 MIKE WILLIAMSUSC915917.73 Associated Press SCHOOL RECORD: Penn Larry Johnson gained 257 yards. Avon Calling West Avon Cobourne joined four other Division I-A running backs with four seasons. The list: TONY DORSETT Pittsburgh AMOS LAWRENCE North Carolina DENVIS MANNS New Mexico St. RON DAYNE Wisconsin AVON COBOURNE West Virginia 1973 1,686 1977 1,211 1995 1,120 1996 2,109 1999 1,139 1974 1,004 1978 1,043 1996 1,086 1997 1,457 2000 1,018 1975 1,686 1979 1,019 1997 1,017 1998 1,525 2001 1,298 1976 2,150 1980 1,118 1998 1,469 1999 2,034 1,002 Total 6,526 Total 4,391 Total 4,692 Total 7,125 Total 4,457 games West Virginia running back Avon Cobourne joined some distinguished company Saturday, becoming the fifth player to run for 1,000 yards in all four seasons of a Div. I-A career.

He joins Tony Dorsett, Ron Dayne, North Amos Lawrence and New Mexico Denvis Manns. Cobourne needed 106 yards against Syracuse to reach 1,000, and he finished with 108 in West 34-7 victory, picking up the record on a12-yard run in the fourth quarter. really know what to think, and I know how to Cobourne said. know anyone that this ever happened He had to be good and he had to be lucky. Cobourne became the starter his freshman season after Amos Zereoue left school after his junior season to enter the NFL draft in 1999.

Then the heir-apparent, Alvin Swoope left the team during the summer for personal reasons. That left a freshman to carry the load and he has carried it for four years. By the way, better to pick up the record this week than try next week: West Virginia will play host to No. 1 Miami. Norwood Another Grand Season for Cobourne.