The Missoulian from Missoula, Montana • 23

MlSSOULIAN Sl.CTlON Heisman race Florida Qli Rex Grossman die leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy? -Page 06 Monday, Novlmulr 12, 2001 mat for aim Sports changes for OS WCilA Who's closer? Teams will paired together based on location, not seed "They're just been tired of seeing teams travel back an forth and the amount of money it costs," Hogan said. "It also had to do with Sept. 1 1 and the heightened security issue. Really, football just got eaten up in it. There was no lobbying, it had nothing to do with that.

I guarantee you that most ADs and presidents of I-AA universities didn't know this was coming." One goal is to cut down on travel expenses by having more teams be able to bus rather than fly to games. Many NCAA championship tournaments lose money, Hogan said. The I-AA plavoffs have lost between in each of the last two years, Hogan said. Under the new plan, the top two seeds will be guaranteed of hosting playoff games through See PLAYOFFS, Page D6 members of the Division I-AA football committee, said the change is in part because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

He also said the I-AA committee had no say in the change and that the initiative is in effect for all NCAA championship tournaments. The NCAA has not indicated if the change is permanent. a NFL Week 9 Broncos' defense stymies Chargers TOB By JOHN MOSSMAN Associated Press DENVER -With the head coach peering over their shoulders, Denver defenders responded with their best game of the season. Mike Shanahan vowed to take a more active role in the defense after a one-sided loss in Oakland last week, and his hands-on approach helped produce a 26-16 win over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday. "I'm only here to help," Shanahan insisted.

"We've got a guy as our defensive coordinator (Ray Rhodes) that I have the utmost respect for. Just because we were down last week, I felt I could give the defense some attention and a fresh look. Our defensive coaches did a great job with the game plan." The Broncos yielded just 243 total yards and nine first downs both season lows. On the other side of the ball, I 7 By JON KASPER of the Missoulian If top-ranked Montana earns No. 1 seed when the Division I-AA playoff field is announced on Nov.

25, the Grizzlies won't play the No. 16 seed. That's because there won't be a No. 16 seed. Under a directive passed recently by the NCAA Hoist happy with WMs offense in preseason tuneup By BOB MESEROLL Missoulian sports editor The eight Grizzlies in double figures in scoring pleased Montana men's basketball coach Don Hoist.

The five Delta Jammers in double digits did not. Still, the Griz played well enough on offense to offset defensive lapses in a 117-94 win over the Delta Jammers Sunday evening at Dahlberg Arena. It was the final exhibition game for the Griz, who open the regular season Friday at home against Evergreen State College of Olympia, Wash. Things get tougher Sunday when the Griz Big Sky men's hoops capsules Page D3 travel to Spokane to face Gonzaga, ranked 27th in the first Associated Press poll. Gonzaga downed the Delta Jammers 97-54 last week.

There were many bright spots on offense for the Griz. Senior power forward Dan Trammel led the team with 19 points on 8-for-11 shooting, including three authoritative dunks. Senior Ryan Slider came off the bench to score 16 points, breaking down the Jammers' late-game pressure with good open-floor play. And junior transfer David Bell scored 13 first-half points on the strength of four 3-pointers. "I got some more touches," said Trammel, who took just six in Montana's exhibition win over Son's Blue Angels.

"When they came to me I was ready to finish." The Griz jumped out of the -chute fast, taking a 20-7 lead when Bell hit his second 3-pointer with 14:40 to play until the half. All five starters scored in the opening burst. But Jammers center Sam Allen got loose underneath for several easy baskets and Cory Powell had five of his 10 first-half points just before intermission to cut Montana's lead to 50-41 at intermission. See JAM, Page D3 Montana's Dan Trammel dunks over Sam Allen of the Delta Jammers Sunday afternoon in Missoula. The Griz beat the Delta Jammers 1 17-94.

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1 .523 Wtstom Kentucky Swung Green, Ky 1 ,562 Slate Nashville, Tenn 1 ,5 79 McNeese State LakeChaftes La 1.600 Eastern Kentucky Richmond. Ky 1 bXi Youngstown Youngtown. Qruo 1 ,695 Brian Griese eyed a wounded San Diego defense and showed no mercy. Griese threw two touchdown passes just 39 seconds apart late in the first half, and the Broncos later overcame moments of generosity. Denver (5-4), moving into a second-place tie with San Diego (5-4) in the afc west, inside capitalized ona BfMiners win sprained left NFC West battle knee witn Saints sustained by Page D4 San Diego's leading tackier, safety Rodney Harrison, and injuries to linebacker Orlando Ruff (stinger) and cornerback Alex Molden (left ankle).

The Broncos built a 26-3 lead midway through the third quarter. San Diego rallied with a long touchdown pass and a See BRONCOS, Page D6 Corey Dillon's 278 yards, Walter Payton's 275 and O.J. Simpson's 273. The Raiders (6-2) had a five-game winning streak broken, and lost after their Monday night victory over Denver at home. They beat the Seahawks 38-14 in Week 3 in Oakland.

Alexander has had three 100-yard games rushing since Watters was lost 6-to-8 weeks with a shoulder injury Sept. 30 in Oakland. He had 176 yards on 31 carries against Jacksonville on Oct. 7. After Alexander's third TD run gave Seattle a 34-20 lead with 7:03 remaining, Oakland cut the deficit to a touchdown on Rich Gannon's 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Roland Williams with 3:40 left.

The Raiders got the ball back on their 23 with 67 seconds left after a Seahawks punt. The Raiders took a 20-13 lead when Terry Kirby ran back the opening second-half kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, and Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 37-yard field goal midway in the See SEAHAWKS, Page D3 Lady Griz Alexander, Seahawks run all over Raiders ChampionshipsCompetition cabinet, only the top four teams in the 16-team field will be seeded. Team pairings will be determined by geographic proximity. Teams from the same conference, however, will not be allowed to play each other in the first round. Montana athletic director Wayne Hogan, one of eight JOHN LOCHER Missoulwi 1 Montana Robin over was battle comprised Griz conflicted, "At hope in my Lady for the left, Gnz Gnz ft- A ill AA 1 if 'i-i-i, Tl, -mi n-iM-n mi-iiiiiiiriinilr By JIM COUR Associated Press SEATTLE -Shaun Alexander ran himself into the Seattle Seahawks' record book, and almost into the NFL record book.

Alexander set franchise marks with 266 yards rushing and an 88-yard touchdown run as the Seahawks beat the AFC West-leading Oakland Raiders 34-27 on Sunday night. The second-year running back from Alabama, starting his fifth straight game in place of the injured Ricky Watters, also had TD runs of 6 and 10 yards for the Seahawks (4-4). The 266 yards on 35 carries broke the team single-game record of 207 yards set by Curt Warner at Kansas City in overtime Nov. 27, 1983. His 88-yard TD run that broke a 20-20 tie late in the third quarter was the longest in team history, breaking the mark of 86 yards on a reverse for a touchdown by receiver Joey Galloway on Nov.

12, 1995, against Jacksonville. It was the fourth-best rushing game in NFL history behind JOHN LOCHER Missoulian Current squad gets the best of former to i -i A i 4.J i By BOB MESEROLL Missoulian sports editor Tight games are tough on women's basketball coach Selvig under the best of circumstances. Sunday's 73-67 exhibition win Dcja Vu at Dahlberg Arena especially difficult. Watching his current Lady Griz for the win against a team solely of former Lady left the 24th-year coach to say the least. the end I'm thinking.

'God. I they Selvig said. "But mind I see them taking a shot and I'm thinking, 'It's going in. That's down for Marti I've got that in the back of my mind, but at the same time I'm praying. 'Don't make This game is just kind of fun that way." The win gave the Lady Griz a 2-1 series edge over their predecessors.

Deja Vu won the first encounter two years ago, but the youngsters have now won two straight. The Lady Griz. who open the regular season Friday against Southeast Missouri at the Texas-Pan Am tournament, got their second straight impressiv performance from 6-foot-3 freshman center Hollie Tyler of Leadore, Idaho. Tyler scored 14 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Senior Laura Vallev came off the bench to lead the team with 16 points and grabbed six rebounds. Tyler started in place of redshirt freshman Crystal Baird while senior Simarron Schildt started in place of Valley. "I told the ladies that before the first game," Selvig said of the rotation. "Laura and Sim, and Crystal and Hollie. they've just been battling and playing ell.

"I don't know what I'll do there. Obviously Laura had a real good game. Crystal and Hollie have been battling even, and so have Sim and Laura. I may alternate starting." Deja Vu showed the youngsters they can still play a lick, or two. Marti Leibenguth, now the girls basketball coach at Missoula Big Sky.

led the alums for the third straight year with 17 points, showing a soft touch on her jumpers. Krista Redpath made several of her trademark hooks and added 11, while Ann Lake-Rausch used her bread-and-butter scoop shot from close range and added 10. Jeanne McNulty-King had most of her 10 points on short jumpers. Skyla Sisco, who played professionally in Belgium last year, had a couple of nice feeds, particularly a behind-the-back number to Cheri (Bratt) Roberts for an easy deuce. "I think the fans really like it." Sisco said of the annual game.

"It gives the fans a chance to see how old we're getting and how good these young kids are." And Sisco thinks this Lady Griz team has a chance to be very good. "They're bigger than they ever have been and 1 think that's hat See LADY GRIZ, Page D3 Griz center Laura Valley tatties ba'l between Knsta Redpath. and Marti Le benguth. They Lady beat Deja Vu. a team of ex-Lady players.

73-67 Sunday afternoon..