The Honolulu Advertiser from Honolulu, Hawaii • 28

Saturday, September 16, 2000 The Honolulu Advertiser 1 i I i i -1 I t'lf I 1 MM 0 a "fi YTHTT i ika ranes NFL CONFIDENCE Em 6ualo Jets Miami England Centra Baltimore Cleveland Jiicksonviile Tennessee Cincinnati Pittsburgh Oakland Dernw Kansas City San Diego Seattle Uwtsxaic Ea NY. Giants Arizona Priiiaoeiphia Washington Dallas Central Detroit Minnesota- Tampa Bay Chicago Green Bay St. Louis Atlanta Carolina New Orleans San Francisco WIT 2 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 WIT 2 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 WIT 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 WBU-NCE 2 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 Pet PP PA 1.000 43 3t 1.000 40 35 .500 58 52 .500 30 13 .000 35 41 Pet PF PA 1.000 55 36 .500 31 34 .500 63 46 .500 30 30 .000 7 24 .000 0 16 Pot PF PA 1.000 47 37 .500 78 55 .000 28 44 .000 33 37 .000 34 60 Pot PF PA 1.000 54 34 .500 48 52 .500 59 47 .500 30 32 .000 45 73 Pot PF PA 1.000 29 20 1.000 43 34 1.000 62 18 .000 27 71 .000 34 47 Pot PF PA 1.000 78 70 .500 50 70 .500 55 42 .500 38 41 .000 50 74 Cowboys! will rest Aikman QB hasn't recovered from concussion Associated Press Deion Sanders will have to wait until December for his chance to intercept a pass by Troy Aikman. The Dallas Cowboys will rest their stalling quarterback for the second straight game. While not elaborating on the decision yesterday to keep Aikman on the bench, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones called the move a precautionary one.

Aikman hasn't played since he received his ninth concussion in the first half of the season opener Sept. 3. Randall Cunningham will start Monday night at Washington, marking the first time Sanders will face his former team. The All-Pro cornerback left the Cowboys in the offseasoa Cunningham was. 24-f6r-34 for 243 yards and three touchdowns in a 32-31 loss at Arizona on Sunday night, -TTiisdecilipn i -y was reached af- i ter a thorough I review of his daily progress throughout the week," Jones said.

"Troy is feeling better, but he understands the precautionary nature of our decision. This decision has been made for this week's game only. We will proceed accordingly with further evaluation next week." Aikman wasn't available in the Cowboys' locker room yesterday, and didn't attend practice. His agent, Leigh Steinberg, said Aikman wanted to play but understood the medical decision. "There needs to be some period of time after cessation of symptoms to avoid the concept of second concussion syndrome," Steinberg said.

"We haven't entered that window evidently from the doctor's standpoint." Without being specific, Steinberg indicated that Aikman was still experiencing some symptoms related to the concussion. Any sympjprns would have made Aikman susceptible to additional concussions had he played. 7 Giants' fourth-year running back leads league in rushing Associated Press EASTRUIHERFORD, NJ. Tiki Barber has a funny feeling people are starting to recognize him. The eye contact, the raised eyebrows, the smile, the turn to a friend and quick whispers, and the compliments all have increased since the NFL season began two weeks ago.

And why not? The New York Giants' halfback has come a long way from two years ago, when he primarily played on third downs and had trouble catching the ball Now he's a budding early morning TV sportscaster and, he also leads the league in rushing. With all his sudden success, Barber is getting BARBER: Has 240 yards on 24 carries more attennoa "Half the time they don't even think it's me," Barber says almost laughing. "Nah too little." Barber, who isn't particularly big at 5 feet 10 and 200 pounds, has helped the Giants to their first 2-0 start since 1994. The four-year veteran, who was expected to back up Heisman Trophy winner and first-round draft pick Ron Dayne, has rushed for 240 yards on 24 carries. "Call it pride.

Call it determination not to fail," Barber said "I love playing this game. There is nothing I want to do more than be out here. On the path I was on, I wasn't going to be there. I wasn't going to be able to do that I met a crossroads, and I made the right turn." For Barber that meant working harder, joining in extra workouts and film study. Last season, his rushing improved from 166 yards to 258, and receptions jumped from 42 for 348 yards, to 66 for 609 yards.

Still, Barber wasn't happy. He didn't feel he had the speed he had in college at Virginia, and memories of some poor plays up-sethim. Already serving as the morning sports anchor at the New York City affiliate of CBS-TV, a job that had him getting up at 3:30 a.m., and then working out for five hours daily at Giants Stadium, Barber also reserved Fridays for "The HilL" Greg Cornelia, the Gi- s- i I 1. Associated Press New York Giants a running start It's doubtful that Barber can keep averaging 10 yards per carry (the single-season record is 8.44, set by Chicago's Beartie Feathers in 1934), but coach Jim Fassel said opponents haven't been able to key on Barber because the rest of the offense is clicking. Quarterback Kerry Collins has hit 70 percent of his passes.

Ike Hilliard and Amani Toomer have 1 1 receptions apiece, and Dayne is doing the grunt work inside, carrying 44 times for 128 yards. All that sets up Barber's counters and misdirections that seem to surprise defenses and get him into the open field. That's when the fun begins. "I'm not thinking I'm just running," Barber said. "When that happens and you have a little bit of speed, and I think I do, you can make some big plays happen.

That's what I want to do. I just want to help this team win, and make big plays. That's me." Tomorrows Games (Hswsl'l times) eurraio at N.y. Jets, 7 a.m. Atlanta at Carolina, 7 a.m.

San Francisco at St. Louis. 7 a.m. Pnnaaeiphia at Green Bay, 7 a.m. tampa Bay at Detroit, 7 a.m.

Cincinnati at Jacksonville. 7 a.m. Pittsburgh at Cleveland. 7 a.m. Denver at Oakland, 10:05 a.m.

San Diego at Kansas City, 10:05 a.m. M.Y. Giants at Chicago, 10:15 a.m. Now Orleans at Seattle. 10:15 a m.

Minnesota at New England. 10:15 a m. Baltimore at Miami, 2:20 p.m. Open: Indianapolis, An zona, Tennessee Mondays Games Dallas at Washington. 3 p.m.

Sunday. Sept 24 Cincinnati at Baltimore, 7 a.m. Detroit at Chicago, 7 a.m, New England at Miami, 7 a.m. Philadelphia at New Orleans, 7 a.m. St.

Louis at Atlanta, 7 a.m. San Francisco at Dallas, 7 a.m. Tennessee at Pittsburgh, 7 a.m. Green Bay at Arizona, 10:05 a.m. Cleveland at Oakland, 10:15 a.m.

Kansas City at Denver, 10:15 a.m. New York Jets at Tampa Bay, 10:15 a.m. Seattle at San Diego, 10:15 a.m. Washington at New York Giants, 2:20 p.m. Open Date: Buffalo.

Carolina, Minnesota Monday. Sept 25 Jacksonville at Indianapolis, 3 p.m. TODAY'S GAMES Times Hawari EAST Norfolk St. (01) at ViHanova (1-1). 6 a.m.

Maiyiand(l-0)atWest San Diogo (1-1) at Brown (0-0). 7 a.m. Cornell (00) at Bucknell (Ol), 7 a.m. Cdgate (01) at Dartmouth (00). 7 a.m.

Holy Cross (1-0) at Harvard (00)7 a.m. Penn (00) at Lehigh (1-0). 7 a.m. Dayton (2-01 at Yale (00). 7 a.m.

St. Peter's (Ol) at Carasius (01), 7:30 a.m. Frmcelon (00) at Lafayette (Ol), 7:30 a.m. Penn St. (1-2) at Pittsburgh (2-0), 9:30 a.m.

Connecticut (1-1) at Buffalo (02), lp.m. ordham (1-1) at Columbia (0-0), 1 p.m.. Delaware (2-0) at Hofstra (2-0), lp.m. Howard (02) at Maine (1-1), 1 p.m. Bowling Green (02) at Temple (1-1).

1 p.m. SOUTH Rutgers (20) at Virginia Tech (2-0). 6 a.m. Mississippi (11) at Vanderbilt (02), 6:30 a.m. Wake Forest (02) at Clemson (2-0), 7 a.m.

Wottord (Ol) at Georgia Southern (1-1), 7 a.m. Tusculum (0-0) at Jacksonville (02), 7 a.m. Massachusetts (1-0) at Richmond (1-1), 7 a.m. W. Virginia St (00) at Charleston Southern (1-1), 7:30 a.m.

MVSU (03) at Chattanooga (1-1), 7:30 a.m. Davidson (1-0) at Sewanee (00), 7:30 a.m. W. Kentucky (1-0) at Eton (1-1), 8 a.m. Tulane (Ol) at East Carolina (11).

9:30 a.m. nuun voTuiina t-vj di nunuo 31. t-uj, a.m. Navy (0-1) at Georgia Tech (1-1). 9:30 a.m.

Florida (2-0) at Tennessee fl-0). 9:30 a.m. VMI (02) at ETSU (1-1), 10 a.m. Virginia 1-1) at Duke (02). Noon Winston Salem (10) at Hampton (1-1), Noon Indiana (01) at Kentucky (1-1), Noon Fort Valley St.

(00) at Alcorn St. (02), 1 a.m. William Mary (11) at Furman (20), 1 a.m. uaraner-weDO (ixj at uoerty (OZ), 1 am, SMU (1 1) at N.C. State (20), 1 a.m.

E. Michigan (1-1) at South Carolina (20), 1 a.m. James Madison (20) at South Florida (1-1), 1 s.m. Jackson St. (1-1) vs.

Tennessee St (11) at Memphis. 1 a.m. W. Carolina (1-1) at The Citadel (02), 1 a.m. Alabama St (1-1) at Troy St.

(20). 1 a.m. Camming St (1-1) at Alabama ASM (1-1). 1:30 a.m. ISU (20) at Auburn (20).

1:30 a.m. Stephen F. Austin (2-0) Bt Louisiana Tech (1-2), 2 p.m. SvV Missouri St. (11) at McNeese St.

(1-1), 2 p.m. Southern Miss. (01) at Alabama (1-1), 3 p.m. MIDWEST California (10) at Illinois (20). 6 a.m.

Iowa St. (2-0) at Iowa (02), 6 a.m. Miami (Ohio) (20) at Ohio St. (20), 6 a.m. Purdue (2-0) at Notre Dame (1-1).

7 a.m. N. Iowa (1-1) at S. Illinois (0-2), 7:30 a.m. St Francis, Pa.

(02) at Butler (02). 8 a.m. Valparaiso 2-0) at St. Francis, Ind. (10), 8 p.m.

6am Houston St. (20) at W. Illinois (11). 8 a.m. Drake (2-0) at Ft.

(00) 8 am. Cincinnati (20) at Wisconsin (20). 8 a.m, Youngstown St. (20) at Kent St. (02).

Noon Indiana St. (02) at W. Michigan UCF (1-1) at Akron (02), 1 p.m. UA8 (lOt at Kansas 101), 1 p.m. Bail St.

(02) at Kansas St (20), 1 p.m. Michigan St. (101 at Missouri (1-1), 1 p.m. Tennessee Tech (10) at Ohw(l-i), 1 p.m. Illinois St.

(11) at SE Missoun (11), 1 p.m. E. Illmois (20) at Toledo (20), 1 p.m. SOUTHWEST Northwestern (20) at TCU (10). 6 a.m.

Minnesota (1 1) at Baylor (1-0). 6.30 a.m. Boise St (20) at Arkansas (10), 1 p.m. Memphis (11) at Arkansas St. (02).

1p m. louisianatatavette (02) at Texas Tech (30), 1 p.m. Army (02) at Houston p.m. SW Teias (11) at Oklahoma St (10), 2 p.m. Tulsa (02) at Rice (11).

2 p.m. Prairie View (02) vs. Southern U. (02) at Houston, 2 p.m. LtTEP (11) at Texas ASM (11), 2 p.m.

Lane (00) at Texas Southern (20), 2 p.m. FAR WEST Cal PoVSLO (01) at Montana (1 1). 9 a.m. Washington (20) at Colorado (02). 9:30 a.m.

Migan (20) at UCLA (2-0). 9 30 a.m. Weber St. (11) at Montana St. (Oil.

9:30 a.m. Cent Michigan (11) at Wyoming (02). 10 a.m. N. Arjona (10) at CS Northndge (1 1).

Noon klano 102) at Oregon (11). 12:30 p.m.. Washington St. (Oil at Utah (02), 2 p.m. Innno St.

(10) at E. Washington (1-1). 3 p.m. St. Mary's, Cal.

(02) at Humooldt St. (10), 3 pm. New Meiieo (03) at New Mevco St. (01), 3 p.m. PoTland St (2 0) at Sacramento St.

(2-0), 3 p.m. Leah (1-1) at San Jose St. (11). 3 p.m. San Oego St (02) at Aruwia (1 1).

4 p.m. Colorado St. (20) at Anions St. (10), 4 p.m. North Texas (02) at UNLV (0-1).

4 pjti Texts (1-0) at Stanton) (1-1), 14:15 p.m. down back, Tiki Barber has given the for the first time since 1994. open late in the second quarter with a 31-yard touchdown run. The play was a draw to the right. The Eagles blitzed and stuffed the hole.

Barber improvised and cut back left, just as he had done the week before on his 10-yard score against the Cardinals. "This game is about confidence, about believing in what you can do, about going out there executing and knowing that you are going to make a play," Barber said. "I am playing that way now." Barber, whose twin brother Ronde is a starting cornerback for Tampa Bay, also has benefited from a revamped offensive line, which has played well so far with the additions of free agents Lamas Brown, Glenn Parker and Dusty Zeigler. "Not only does he have ability, instincts and quickness, Tiki does a wonderful job of setting up blocks and reading blocks," Brown said. "There is a lot more to come." FLORIDA STATE Home win streak at 29: Florida State has not looked like a national champion yet.

Then again, the Seminoles haven't played at home. Trying to find a rhythm in the new season, the second-ranked Seminoles play their home opener today at Tallahassee, against North Carolina. Florida State has been practically unbeatable at home in the last decade, going 55-1-1 in the 1990s without a loss since 1991. The Serninoles are unbeaten in 46 straight games at home, including 29 straight victories. "That doesn't leave much room for improvement," Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said.

"But there is room. I guess well just try to play better." Florida State is almost perfect against North Carolina, winning 10 of 11 games in addition to a 10-10 tie in 1986. Both schools are off to 2-0 starts that include one victory apiece in theACC. MICHIGAN QB Henson wont play: Quarterback Drew Henson, out with an injured right foot will be sidelined again today when No. 3 Michigan playsatNo.l8UCIA Once nothing more than a third to the season.

New York is 2-0 ants fullback, found it near Ramapo College, about 35 minutes north of the stadium. The run is only about two or so miles, but most of it is at a 45-de-gree incline or worse. "After about 20 steps you're gasping," Barber said. "You're jogging the whole way but it just kills you because it's always constant and there are rocks and you have to watch your footing. At the very end, it's a straight incline, and you almost have to use your hands to reach the top." Not only is the run exhausting, Cornelia acts like a Marine drill instructor the entire way.

The results have been magical for Barber, who opened the season with a career-best 144 yards against Arizona. His day included a 78-yard TO run that was the fourth-longest in Giants history and a 10-yarder that went sideline to sideline. Last weekend against Philadelphia, Barber broke the game 3h i i 1 Said tight end John Sigmund: "Ever since the Rose Bowl, I've been looking forward to this game." With good reason: His illegal procedure penalty wiped out an apparent touchdown in the closing seconds of the game. Badgers coach Barry Alvarez has used that defeat as an admonition for his team, which owns the nation's second-longest winning streak at 10 games. "We were rated in the top 10 and were heavy favorites and were defeated," Alvarez said.

"So, our guys have been through that It wasn't that we went up there overconfident or anything else. We didn't play well" One of the costly mistakes was an illegal block by Bennett that wiped out an early 74-yard touchdown return by Nick Davis. Fletcher is out but Mike Echols, the starter at the other corner, will be back after serving a one-game suspension last week. Alvarez has to sit out several other players but he doesn't have to name them before kickoff. That angered Oregon coach Mike Bellotti last week.

Short-handed Badgers go for third in row- EXTRA POINTS Broncos: Running back Terrell Davis, who hurt his ankle in the season opener, practiced for the third straight day yesterday anils expected to start against Oakland tomorrow. Ravens: Backup quarterback Trent Dilfer injured his knee at practice yesterday and is listed as questionable for tomorrow's game against Miami yesterday of charges he raped a woman while she slept in his home in May. The jury deliberated for about three hours, ending the four-day trial. "I just want to be with my farnjly right now," Vedral said aifyej-he verdict was announced. 10 Nebraska coach Frank Splich immediately reinstated Vea-to the team, but said he was ungyre how long it would take himito get back into playing shape.

Vedral, of Gregory, S.D., played as a backup and on special teams in all 13 games as a sophomore last season. He was listed as a starter before his suspensioa SAN DIEGO STATE QB out for season: Starting quarterback Jack Hawley has been lost for the season with a fractured vertebra and will be replaced by sophomore Lon Sheriff, who will make his first career start today when the Aztecs play at Arizona Hawley, a senior, suffered the injury in last Saturday's game against Illinois after colliding with Illinois safety Marc Jackson. The injury was discovered Thursday after Hawley underwent a CAT scan. He is expected to be fully recovered in about four months. Associated Press All-American Jamar Fletcher intercepted three passes last week and Michael Bennett rushed for 290 yards.

Those efforts earned the two Wisconsin stars "Big Ten Player of the Week" certificates. Don't worry, though, Cincinnati fans. Fletcher will be on the sidelines when the Badgers play the Bearcats today, and Bennett might bejoinmghira They're among 26 Wisconsin players suspended for receiving unadvertised discounts at a shoe store. Fletcher is required to sit out this week and next to complete his three-game suspension, and Bennett still has to miss one game, either against the Bearcats (2-0) or against Northwestern next week. The Badgers (2-0) are halfway through their four-week timetable to serve the suspensions and their national title hopes remain intact despite close calls against Western Michigan and Oregoa Cincinnati ruined Wisconsin's shot at a championship a year ago, beatingthe Badgers, 17-12.

"I'm looking for revenge," Bennett said. "I don't know about everybody else. But I know the guys have had this game in the back of their minds for a long time." Coach Lloyd Carr said he will keep Henson out at least one more game. Carr made the comment in a radio interview taped Thursday for broadcast yesterday on WTKA-AM. "Drew practiced some this week," Carr said "He's really on a day-to-day basis, and he is making improvement He will not play in this game.

Based on the doctor's report and from what I see, it's not worth the risk. He will be ready to resume practice regularly on Monday." Redshirt freshman John Navarre will make his third consecutive start and first on the road for the Wolverines. He has completed 25 of 34 passes for 394 yards and seven touchdowns in victories over Bowling Green and Rice. Henson is still looking to make his first career start for the Wolverines. As a backup the past two seasons, he played in 18 games.

A minor-league baseball prospect, Henson was sent in July from the New York Yankees to the Cincinnati Reds as part of a trade that brought pitcher Denny Neagle to New York. KECHASKA Player cleared of rape: Linebacker Mark Vedral was acquitted A..