Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 36

NATIONAL INSIDER 4C TIMES SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, '2000 VA WEEKLY SPECIAL REPORT; mourn tragedy BOB HARIG COLLEGE FOOTBALL unjwmwmi. jm uuiw i. i.i, i. mm L-J Tlmewirt PLAYER SPOTLIGHT DAVE RAGONE DRIVING FOR A BOWL Five maior conference teams carry a Husoes 4 COLLEGE STATIQNi Texas A 150-foot circle, cordoned off in a field at Texas was a place no one wanted to enter, This is a most NATION horrible thing to remember," Nan' cy Braus said. Braus' son, Dominic, had his right arm crushed exactly one year ago as he1 worked on the Dave Ragone has weathered the rush to lead Louisville to a successful season, t- JC3 quiet on title hopes ith all the posturing and 5-5 record into their final ganie today, and with such a huge bowl lineup, each might still have a chance at post-; i season play with a victory.

Maryland: The Terps need a victory at home over Georgia Tech, no easy task. North Carolina: The Tar Heels need only a victory at winless Duke. Minijesota: The Gophers at one time were thinking Rose Boi Now they're just hoping for any bowLThey need a win at home against Iowa. Illinois: The Dlini saw quarterback 1 Kurt Kttner injured last week, making 1 a victory at Northwestern more diffi-v -cult -'V Michigan State: The Spartans have defeated Notre Dame and Northwestern, but a win at Perm State isno gimme. The Louisville Cardinals didn't figure to have much of a chance this season in Conference USA.

Not with record-setting quarterback Chris Redman gone along with a couple of other key contributors. But me Cardinals are doing just fine, thank you. They can clinch their first C-USA title today with a win at Houston. And much of the credit goes to Redman's replacement Dave Ragone. Ragone has been voted the league's player of the week three times.

He has thrown 25 touch- down passes, third in the nation, and is 11th in passing efficiency and 14th in total offense with 264 yards per game. I--'. "Everybody kind of thought this would be a down year, a rebuilding year," said Ragone, whose team is 8-2 overall and 5-1 in the league. "It would mean a lot for the 60 players in that locker room to. come out and get a league championship i something that's never been done here.

No one ed that from us, except the coaching staff and the politicking that has oc curred as part of the Bowl ap players." The Cardinals lead Conference USA in scoring offense, averaging better man 35 points per game. And the defense has been a big help, improving from second-to-last in the league in total defense to fourth, allowing 317 yards per game. v'? "If I make a mistake, I have complete confidence that our defense can go out there and make a play," Ragone said. "We lacked that the first few years I was here." 7 Extra Points compiled by Bob Harig v. iL -l AP GAMES THAT MATTER 1 With strength of schedule such a key factor in the Bowl Championship Series standings, teams are keeping a keen eye on their former opponents.

Here's a look at the key games for foes on the schedules of Miami, Florida State and Florida. fThe team each school played is listed first) MIAMI FLORIDA STATE Wash, at Wash. St BYU vs. New Mexico W. Va.

vs. E. Carolina Louisville at Houston Rutgers vs. Notre Dame Clemson vs. S.

Carolina La. Tech at Hawaii Wake Forest at Navy 1 1 FLORIDA Ball State vs. Connecticut Middle Tennessee vs. Louisiana Lafayette Mississippi State vs. Arkansas Auburn at Alabama Georgia vs.

Mississippi South Carolina at Clemson GAMES OF THE WEEK -v 10. FLORIDA AT 10. 3 fr FLORIDA STATE: For the fifth straight year, the game has a direct bearing on tiie national championship race. no. miami at Syracuse: The Carrier Dome is no easy place for the Hurricanes, who could be just two victories away from playing for the national tide.

1:30 i.n, ESPN. Want a piece of Ohio State history? Better be ready to cough up $20. TRASH OR TREASURE i Ohio State will sell items torn from Ohio Stadium in an effort to offset some of the $189-million renovation of the old Horseshoe. A brochure went out this week to OSU season ticket-holders and athletic boosters offering them a spot for $20 apiece at a sale of "many historic items, of which there are only one or limited quantities." Twenty dollars just to show up? Thaf right The April 28 sale will include "lockers, signs, coaches' chalkboards, urinals, tables and benches." Thaf not all Souvenirs made from discarded stadium concrete, wooden bleachers and folding chairs also are for sale.A piece of concrete encased by a 2-by-3-inch lucite case sells for $52. A 46-inch wooden bench goes for $390.

A chair formerly used as a box seat goes for $115. For info, check out www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com. NOT LOUD ENOUGH Texas not only lost to No. 1 Oklahoma last Saturday, the Aggies failed in a bid to set a world record for crowd noise. A sound meter was set up in an attempt to break the Guinness record for crowrfnoisfe at an outdoor sports stadium The record, 128.7 dBA, was set at Mile High Stadium on Oct 1.

meter peaked in the second quarter when Robert Ferguson caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Mark Farris. The reading of 113.6 dBA fell well below the Guinness record. NO. OREGON AT NO. I OREGON STATE: The Ducks and Beavers with the Rose Bowl on the line.

Unbelievable. NO. 25 SOUTH CAROLINA AT NO. IS CLEMSON: Each team is trying to avoid Aggies' bonfirev The; 59-foot 'stack of logs, weighing more' than two jumbo jets ana being assembled for the school's annual pep rally on the eye of its' football game against archrival Texas, col- lapsed Nov. 18, 1999, killing .12 -and injuring 27 With thousands of Aggies as sembling at the bonfire site to participate in a candlelight me-.

morial at 3:42 this morning, the i special circle was reserved, fof families of those who. killed. An adjacent area was set aside for those who were Jiurt and survived. "Some parents will not be there because they feel this is an affront by people in leader- 'ship and feel this is a media event," Braus said. At a place' where tradition and precision go arm in.

arm, the ceremony was scripted for 30 minutes: A memorial flame at the circle center. An unseen speaker making brief remarks. Then the calling of individual names, the lighting of a candle, a blast from an off-site cannon. Twelve SYRACUSE: Dwight Freeney, Syracuse's standout right de- fensive end, won't play in the final two regular-season games because of a viral syndrome. According to the school's De- partment of Sports Medicine, Freeney has been fighting the condition since the last week of October.

He will miss tonight's game against Miami and the season finale against Rutgers. Blood tests and X-rays revealed a viral illness and a contusion to Freeney's spleen. Further evaluation by medical specialists determined that it is not advisable for him to play until his spleen heals. I WEST VIRGINIA: ABC's college football studio analyst Terry Bowden said he's turned down an offer to become coach at West Virginia. Bowden said Mountaineers athletic director Ed Pastilong had asked the former Auburn coach last week if he'd replace Don Nehlen, who's retiring at the end of this season.

"I'm not interested in coaching right now. I'm very happy doing my job in television," Bowden appreciate die interest from the school where I played football." INFLUENCING THE BCS: Remember the Virginia Tech-Georgia Tech game? The one that was postponed because of lightning and not rescheduled because officials believed it wouldn't affect the national title picture? Think again. It could cost No. 2 Miami a spot in the national title game after the final Bowl Championship Series standings are released Dec. 3.

A factor in the strength of schedule formula one of four, components used to determine the BCS standings is the record of your opponents' opponent Miami, which still needed to beat Syracuse today and Boston College next week to stay in the title chase, has beaten Virginia Tech, and Georgia Tech is 7-2. For every spot a team rises or falls in the strength of sched- ule rankings, there is a .04 point difference. TOP PLAYER FINALISTS: Two finalists from last season and six newcomers are candidates for the Harlon Hill Trophy, presented to the Division II player of the year. The repeat finalists i are Virginia State receiver Damon Thompson and quarterback Justin Coleman of Nebraska-Kearney. Joining them are quarterbacks Drew Folmar of Millersville (Pa.) University, Randy McKavish of Slippery Rock (Pa.) and Dusty Bonner of Valdosta (Ga.) State; running back Lamar Gordon of North Dakota State; and receivers Tony Miles of Northwest Mis- souri State and J.T.

O'Sullivan of Californja-Davis. -vJJ a three-crame losinc streak 3:31 p.a,Ch.2S. Championship Series standings, one party has been relatively quiet There's been nary a whimper out of the Washington Huskies. True, they need a lot of things to happen to have a shot at playing for the national championship, despite the fact they have just one loss and defeated the current No. 2 team in the country.

Back in September, Washington beat Miami. Since then, the Huskies' only loss came at Oregon, which can clinch a Rose Bowl berth today with a victory over Oregon State. If the Ducks lose, the Huskies could be headed to Pasadena with a win over Washington State. But why not Miami? Why not the Orange Bowl for the national championship? Coach Rick Neuheisel isn't making a big deal out of it, but he does believe the Huskies have a chance. "Shodt we are still in the national, title hunt," he said.

"That's not out of reach." The Huskies are fifth in the BCS standings behind Oklahoma, Miami, Florida State and Florida. With losses by three of those four teams, why couldn't the Huskies' slide into one of the top two spots. "This is never over until it's over," Neuheisel said. But he is not lobbying. "Unfortunately, campaigning usu- ally gets characterized as whining," Neuheisel said.

"I would think the proper thing to do is (to let) every-; body go ahead and vote. And I promise not to ask for a recount" RISING UTEP: Put UTEP among the surprising turnarounds of this season. A 38-21 victory last week over Rice guaranteed the Miners (8-2, 7-0) at least a tie for the WAC title, the school's first in 33 years in the conference, The Miners, who had never finished as high as second, can win the WAC with a victory at Texas Christian (8-1, 5-1) today. Gary Nord is the first-year coach at UTEP. He spent a year at Oklahoma in 1995 as offensive coordinator in Howard Schnellenberger's only season.

The Sooners went 5-5-1. "I don't hold any. grudges and I have no hard feelings," Nord said of his time at OU. "I'm really happy it happened that way it did because I learned so much from it It made me a better man. It made me stronger and a lot smarter.

It prepared me to handle the different obstacles that have come across my desk as a head coach. You have adversity in your life to prepare you for other things that are to come." COACHING CAROUSEL: Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer has been "unofficially" contacted by Alabama about its coaching vacancy, and Beamer has not put an end to the speculation. Already, it is apparent the Tide will have difficulty getting a "name" coach to replace Mike DuBose, if Beamer elects to stay at Tech. Virginia coach George Welsh is mulling retirement Not only is Arizona State looking for a new coach after firing Bruce Snyder, but Arizona could be as well. There is disappointment with DickTomey, who is 5-5 TCU's Denni9 Franchione undoubtedly will be mentioned as a replacement at several locations, in-; eluding Arizona State, although prominent TCU boosters are doing their best to keep him at the school.

And the heat on Southern Cal coach Paul Hackett figures to get hotter. A win over crosstown rival UCLA probably won't save his job. AROUND THE NATION: For just the fifth time in Big Ten history, the league champion will have at least two conference defeats. No. 1 Oklahoma, fresh off an escape at Texas gets no breather against Texas Tech today.

The Red Raiders defense has posted a nation's best three shutouts. And Tech is coached by Mike Leach, who was Bob Stoops' offensive coordinator and helped recruit quarterback Josh Heupel. With a victory over Kansas, Iowa State would have eight victories for the first time since 1978. Information from other nw organizations was used in this report regonfs Civil ltfar draws atteDitiom If a rarity for Rose Bowl ambitions to hinge on Corvallis, Ore. By BOB HARIG Timi Stiff Writer AP Beaver fever is raging in Corvallis, thanks to today's game.

two Big Ten losses into the game, a rarity, but the Buckeyes would head to Pasadena with a victory over the Wolverines and a Purdue loss. For Michigan to make it the Wolverines need to defeat Ohio State coupled with Purdue and Northwestern losses. Meanwhile, the Auburn-Alabama game is being played in Tuscaloosa for the first time since 1901. For years, the game was played in Birmingham. The Crimson Tide will be playing its final game under coach Mike DuBose.

The Tigers are 8-2 and still have a shot at claiming the SEC West and appearing in the SEC tide game. "It's the difference between a winning season and a losing season," Auburn linebacker Alex Lincoln said. "I don't think anybody in this building will consider this a successful season if we lose to Alabama." Rivalry games often are viewed in that manner. Among the others being played today: Stanford at California, South Carolina at Clemson, North Carolina at Duke and Yale at Harvard. But just try telling Oregon and Oregon State fans that any of those games are bigger.

Two years ago in Corvallis, Oregon State pulled off an upset, a 44-41 double-overtime thriller against Oregon. Fans stormed the field. And the Ducks have not forgotten. Their fans and little kids were rude, and the old people were rude," Oregon defensive end Saul Patu said. That's what a rivalry is all about a The schools are located just a few hours apart, and feelings get hurt among families when the football teams play.

High school friends and teammates become adversaries; work colleagues, don't speak. The Florida-Florida State rivalry fits the description, and tonight's game in Tallahassee certainly has plenty riding on the outcome. But who would have dreamed they would be dealing with the same emotions in Corvallis, where the college football world rarely has looked for such a compelling matchup? The annual Civil War between Oregon and Oregon State has a Rose Bowl berth at stake. "It used to be you could leave two season tickets on the dashboard of your unlocked car and when you came back there'd be two more," said Floyd Woody, a longtime Oregon State fan. Now, you can't get a ticket at least not for less than the scalper's fee of $250.

That's because the Beavers have nine wins for the first time since 1939. And their six wins in the Pac-10 are the most in league play since 1957. And for the first time in 104 years of football, the Beavers will play in consecutive bowl games. Who would have believed that the Alabama-Auburn game would mean less than Oregon-Oregon State? Or that Michigan-Ohio State has only a slim chance of having a bearing on the Big Ten race. Or that USC-UCLA would be just another game? Today is rivalry day, and outside of Florida-Florida State, there can't be a bigger one than the Civil War.

If No. 5 Oregon (9-1) defeats No. 8 Oregon State (9-1), the Ducks capture the Pac-10 and head to the Rose Bowl. To lose this game would be heartbreaking," Oregon State linebacker Richard Seigler said. They'll be able to celebrate the Rose Bowl on our field.

We can't let that happen. That would be too much to take." An Oregon State victory coupled with a Washington State win over Washington would mean the Beavers go to Pasadena for the first time since 1964. That means the Apple Cup game between Washington and Washington Stae also has plenty riding on it For the 9-1 Huskies, who still cling to slim national championship hopes, the game is huge. Ranked sixth, the Huskies could be denied the Rose Bowl but still be in the national tide picture if the right combination of things happen to Oklahoma, Miami, Florida State and Florida. The Cougars are just 4-6, so this is their bowl game.

And it's in Pullman. The other side of the Rose Bowl can be determined in West Lafayette, Ind. If Purdue defeats Indiana in the annual Old Oaken Bucket game, the Boilermakers (7-3) will make their first Rose Bowl appearance since Bob Griese was quarterback in 1967. It won't be easy, even against a 3-7 team. The Hoosiers' Antwaan Randle El is one of the country's most exciting players.

If Randle El somehow orchestrates an upset, the Michigan-Ohio State game suddenly takes on new meaning. Both teams take I.