Friday, November 8,1968
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
7
Jayhawk Jottings
By BOB KEARNEY Assistant Sports Editor
Ever care to tinker with such geometric hogwash as comparative scores in rating college football teams?
For all it lacks in logic, such lunacy has more than its share of grins. Imagine someone trying to tell you that New Mexico—which has now lost 17 straight games—is actually 6 points better than Purdue and 21 points better than Notre Dame.
As the mathematician, would tell you, if A is greater than B, and B is greater than C, then A is greater than C. Right?
Wrong-at least when one is dealing with football scores.
But it's fun 'n' games to juggle scores, thereby matching common foes and comparing point spreads. Wouldn't be too surprising if such a process might establish Slinperry Rock among the national newcomers.
Here's how New Mexico rates an "edge" over Purdue and Notre Dame:
Arizona 11 points better than New Mexico (19-8).
Indiana 3 points better than Arizona (16-13).
Hence, Indiana 14 points better than New Mexico.
Indiana 14 points better than Illinois (28-14)
Hence, New Mexico and Illinois equal.
Ohio State 7 points better than Illinois (31-24).
- Ohio State 13 points better than Purdue (13-0)
- Henry, New Mexico & 6 points better than Purdue
Hence, New Mexico 6 points better than Purdue.
Purdue 15 points better than Notre Dame (37-22).
Henry, New Mexico 21 points better than North Carolina.
Complicated and crazy, perhaps, but mathematically correct.
This foolish process also establishes Kansas State an 8-point edge over Alabama and a 7-point edge over Tennessee. It's also possible to compute a 35-point K-State margin over Southern Cal.
So where is all this aimed, hogwash or no? At USC's Trojans, currently ranked No.1 in both the Associated Press and United Press International polls.
Without a doubt, O. J. and Company is a sound football teambut not the nation's best. The following teams are only a handful with "geometric" advantages over USC: Arizona State (24), Wyoming (38), Air Force (45), and Colorado State (14).
Of course, that means next to nothing. But consider Southern Cal's struggle over the past three weeks. In every case, the Trojans barely escaped with their lives.
It was 27-24 over Stanford (3-3-1), 14-7 over Washington (2-3-2), and 20-13 over Oregon (3-4-0). USC has been unimpressive against mediore football clubs.
Two of the most highly-respected rating systems-the Dunkel Index and the Football News-rate KU's Jayhawks the country's best. But by going the route of comparative scores, even the Jayhawks can be made to look bad.
Both KU and Missouri beat Oklahoma State by 35 points. By proceeding from Missouri to Kentucky, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina State, Oklahoma, Colorado, California, and Army—whew—the Cadets from West Point rate 100 points better than KU.
The cycle returns, however, to Missouri. And by its 7-3 win over Army, the Tigers become 104 better than KU instead of even money.
Granted, this system of comparing point margins is ridiculous. Nevertheless, Southern Cal hasn't played the brand of football befitting the top-ranked collegiate power.
There's a handful of major college teams still among the unbeaten ranks. Each school would probably tell you that it's No. 1
But until the New Year's Day bowl games do some of the sorting, the polls are almost meaningless.
O.J., Southern Cal test Bear defense
LOS ANGELES (UPI) — It's been 10 years since California last defeated Southern California on the football field, claimed a conference championship, compiled a winning record, and visited the Rose Bowl.
Cal's last link with football respectability was in 1958 when the Golden Bears compiled a 7-3 record to win the Pacific Coast conference championship, beat USC, 14-12, then lost to Iowa in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day, 1959.
USC Unbeaten
But the intervening years haven't been so kind to the Bears.
California attempts to wipe out that decade of frustration Saturday when it collides with topranked USC in one of the top games on the collegiate football slate.
USC, unbeaten in six starts, is favored by seven points, but the Berkeley Bears will visit Los Angeles poised to spring an upset.
Cal, a surprising 5-1-1 this season, figures it has the defense to stop O. J. Simpson, and the club exudes confidence from head coach Ray Willsey down through the ranks of the sophomores on the squad.
"If we play our very best game, we can win," is the way Willsey sums up his team's chances.
California carries impressive credentials into the game. The Bears rank third in the nation in total defense, yielding an average of 206 yards a game. They've given up an average of 90 yards rushing, which would indicate Simpson, who has averaged 174 yards per game, will find it rough going.
The Cal defense, which hasn't given up a touchdown in the last two games, is led by guard Ed White, a 250-pound senior. The Golden Bears have yielded only 39 points in seven games.
PHILADELPHIA (UPI) — The Philadelphia Eagles acquired defensive tackle Ron Norton from the Atlanta Falcons Tuesday.
NORTON MOVES
If The Shoe Fits REPAIR IT
Pepper with top candidates for national coaching honor
NEW YORK (UPI)—Every college football sector has one or more candidates for Coach-of-the-Year honors.
The Midwest leads in numbers with four prime prospects, but this is every bit as much of a week-to-week thing as are the national rankings of the top teams. Things happen fast.
8th ST. SHOE REPAIR
105 E. 8th
7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Closed Sat. at Noon
At this point, all coaches are concerned with the next game—not personal glory. Yet, this award is prized highly by all of them since it is bestowed by their fellow coaches for a job well done.
Frequently, the honor goes to the man whose team winds up No. 1. But, once in awhile some other noteworthy achievement is recognized and an "outsider" wins the election. The next winner may be here:
East—Joe Paterno, Penn State; Carmen Cozza, Yale; John Yovicsin, Harvard.
Midwest—Woody Hayes, Ohio State; Pepper Rodgers, Kansas; Bump Elliott, Michigan; Dan Devine, Missouri.
South—Doug Dickey, Tennessee; Ralph "Shug" Jordan, Auburn.
Southwest—Frank Broyles,
Arkansas; Darrell Royal, Texas.
Far West—John McKay, Southern California; Ray Willsey, California.
This is a key weekend in the South and Far West for candidates who'll be squaring off against each other.
It's McKay vs. Willsey at Los Angeles and Dickey vs. Jordan at Birmingham, Ala.
The stakes are highest for McKay, whose Southern California Trojans must defend their No. 1
See "Pepper," page 16
"Saturday afternoon isn't nearly as tough as Saturday night."
Allow 6 weeks for delivery. Offer expires April 1, 1969. If your favorite store is temporarily out of Hai Karate, keep asking.
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SPANISH DEPARTMENT AND THE UNIVERSITY THEATRE
present
ESTA NOCHE TEATRO
An Evening of Spanish Theatre
Direct From Madrid
Performing the Great Spanish Authors
Lope de Vega
Calderon de la Barca
Jacinto Benavente
Tirso de Molina
Ramon de Valle Inclan
Frederico Garcia Lorca
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10 ONLY!!
University Theatre Main Stage Murphy Hall
Curtain Time 8:20
For Reservations and Information: UN 4-3982
Tickets: $2.40 / $1.80 / $1.20
(with KU Registration Card $1.20 .60, free