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Wednesday, November 5, 1986 / University Daily Kansan
Postseason bowl games hard to call
United Press International
Here is what we know about this postseason bowl picture — zero.
The two people who control the fine-tune knob are Joe Paterno of Penn State and Jimmy Johnson of the University of Miami.
Analysis
These two coaches have more control over how the bowl picture will look than anyone. Will they play each other? Will they avoid each other? Will they take the best money and run?
Answering any or all of those questions will help bring into focus a bowl season clouded by among other factors: 18 postseason contests, increased minimum payouts and alumni who will swear their four-loss team is the best four-loss team in the nation.
To pose any type of bowl forecast before the Nov. 22 announcement date, one must decide where Miami and Penn State, currently undefeated and ranked Nos. 1 and 2, respectively will go.
In most seasons, a No. 1ranked Hurricane team would go to the Orange Bowl. But not this year. The biggest obstacle here is Oklahoma. The Orange Bowl must invite the Big Eight champion, likely to be the Sooners. Johnson's team has beaten Oklahoma two years straight in the
regular season. He may see no reason why he should give them another shot.
for the purpose of this exercise, we will say that Penn State and Miami will remain undefeated, want to satiate fans who hunger for the "undisputed national champion" and will play each other.
Next question: Where?
Good question. Every bowl wants them, three sites are the leading contenders: the Gator in Jacksonville, Fla., the Florida Citrus in Orlando, Fla., and the Sunkist Fiesta in Tempe, Ariz. The latter two already have a corporate sponsor that would help them finance a game of this magnitude and the Gator is reportedly negotiating with Mazda to improve its product.
is probable. Regardless of the added money, the Gator will still have a problem — it is played Dec. 27. A game of this size will be played Jan. 1. Goodbye Gator Bowl, which will probably end up with a matchup like North Carolina State-Iowa.
That leaves the Citrus and Fiesta. The Fiesta looks to have the inside track for at least two reasons: it can probably make the greater payout, and Miami will look to reward its players with a trip out of state where it could also get some recruiting done.
The Citrus likely will have to settle for a matchup of conference runner-
ups, UCLA of the Pacific-10 and Auburn of the Southeastern Conference would make a nice cross-country contest.
When was the last time New Year's Day bowl games were discussed, and the Big Four were left for last? That is the case this year. Michigan, 8-0, and Arizona State, 7-0-1, can provide an interesting Big Ten showdown of undefeated in the Rose Bowl. But the rest of the Jan. 1 bowls will fight it out for teams who have lost one game or two games.
The Orange is tied into the Big Eight winner and that, most likely, is Oklahoma. The Sooners need to win their last three games, including the Nov. 22 contest at Lincoln against Nebraska. The Orange would probably want the Pac-10 runnerup. But it cannot take UCLA because the Bruns opened the season by getting routed by Oklahoma. That may mean a repeat of the Orange Bowl of two seasons ago with Washington playing the Sooners.
Alabama plays Louisiana State Saturday in a game that should refine the Sugar Bowl outlook. For the sake of argument, we'll move the championship Sugar as the SEC champion against perennial bridalennessee.
The Texas A&M-Akansas game Saturday should clarify the Cotton Bowl picture. We'll move the Aggies, as the South West Conference
representative, into the Cotton against the loser of the Nov. 22 Michigan-Ohio State game.
The winner of Michigan-Ohio State goes to the Rose Bowl as the Big Ten representative likely to play Arizona State.
Now that we've figured out New Year's Day, there are only 12 more games to muddle through. Money will have a great deal to do with who goes where. With the increase in bowl payouts to a minimum of $500,000 a team, most bowls will attempt to lure a school from nearby to guarantee strong local interest.
"It (bringing a nearby team) is a lot more important than two, three years ago with the increase in payouts," said Tad Nance, executive director of the Bluebonnet Bowel. "It is important that a team bring some fans and sell tickets."
To that end, the bluebonnet, played in Houston Dec. 31, could settle for a Baylor-Louisiana State game. The same desire to draw from the general area should pave the other two New Year's Eve games as the All American Bowl in Birmingham, Ala., goes for a North Carolina-Michigan State showdown and the Peach Bowl in Atlanta draws Virginia Tech-Southern Cal.
Criner, Widenhofer patch up differences
United Press International
AMES, Iowa — Football activities in the Big Eight Conference apparently are back to normal after Iowa State head coach Jim Crimer and Missouri head coach Woody Widenhofer settled their differences Monday, Criner said at his weekly news conference yesterday.
"We talked yesterday (Monday) and we've put things behind us." Criner told members of the news media. "There was a lot of emotion involved and I'm glad we talked. I'm glad we were able to put it behind us."
The Criner-Widenhofer feud came about during Saturday's game with the Tigers. Criner ordered his team to call timeout with five seconds remaining in the game so placekicker Rick Frank could boot a 25-yard field goal Iowa State led at the time, 34-14, and Frank's kick enabled the
Cyclones to win 37-14. The Cyclones now have 5-4 overall and the Big Bighorn, the Big Bighorn.
The controversy apparently stems from an incident a year ago when Widenhofer accused Iowa State of spying on Missouri practice sessions. The Tigers recorded their only victory of the 1985 season with a 28-27 win over Iowa State in Ames.
Criner countered with accusations that Missouri was guilty of late hits and slugging Iowa State players during Saturday's game.
"That happens when you get into an emotional situation," Criner said. "Woody and I have been good friends and I hope we are now. I don't want to talk about it anymore. I wish Woody the best of luck in the rest of his games."
That aside, Criner turned his thoughts to Nebraska, Iowa State's next opponent. The Cornhuskers, who hold a wide, 64-14-2 advantage in
the series, won last year's game 49-0.
The Cornhuskers have not lost to the Cyclones since 1977 when Iowa State won 24-21.
"Anytime you get a chance to prepare for a time like Nebraska, it's an exciting weekend." Criner said. "It's one of those games where we're going to have to earn every yard that we get."
"Defensively, we have to get great pursuit and reaction to the football," he said. "We have to play smart. Each guy has to take care of his responsibility and once he's clear, he has to run to the ball and make the tackle."
Creran said the key to an Iowa State victory was execution.
"On offense we have to run the football to keep the offense balan-
Ten Iowa State players have been awarded red helmets by Criner but won't be wearing them Saturday.
The awards are given to those who Criner believes are of all-Big Eight Conference caliber.
Offensive players who earned the helmets were quarterback Alex Espinoza, center Channon Mawdsley, split end Robbie Minor, tackle Brett Lawrence and punterplacekicker Rick Frank. Defensive players who earned the helmets were tackle Greg Liter, cornerback Manning and linebackers Dennis Gibson, Chris Moore and Darin Trieb. Trieb, a freshman, also earned the Outstanding Newcomer Nominee.
Sports Briefs
Knee sprain shouldn't keep Snell from playing Saturday
Snail should be ready to play this Saturday against Colorado in Boulder, Director of Sports Medicine Lynn Bott said.
Snell, who suffered a knee sprain during Saturday's 64-3 loss to Oklahoma, spent most of the 2-1 hour practice running on the sidelines.
Kansas starting fullback Arnold Snell practiced on a limited basis yesterday.
Linebacker Mike Long suffered a knee sprain Tuesday and is doubtful for Saturday's game. Bott said yesterday.
The Jayhawks held a situation scrimpage for about an hour.
Gag order issued to lawyers
"We're just trying to create a game-like atmosphere," he couch Bob Valesente said.
HOUSTON — Attorneys handling the assault charges against two New York Mets players have been ordered not to discuss the case.
State District Court Judge Joe Kegans issued the gag order Monday to prosecutor Mike Anderson and the Mets' attorney Dick DeGuerin.
I felt the time had come for me to in
tervee," Kegans said. Anderson and DeGuerin disagreed in comments they made to reporters last week about whether a plea-bargain proposal had been offered to the players.
posas may be in use. A Jan. 26 trial is scheduled for pitcher Ron Darling and second baseman Tim Teufel. They are charged with assaulting two off-duty Houston police officers working as security guards outside Cooter's, a bar, on July 19.
Akers wants confidence vote
AUSTIN, Texas — Despite rumors that his days as Texas head coach are numbered, Fred Akers said he expected to keep his job and would appreciate a vote of confidence from UT Athletic Director DeLoss Dodds.
“Yes, I would prefer one, but that’s not my
话,” Akers said Monday following Saturday's
party.
But Dodds declined to come forward with a vote of confidence, maintaining his position that all UT coaches are evaluated at the end of the season.
"I respond to that the way I respond to the whole thing." Dodds said, "I'm not going to be put in a situation where we evaluate during the season."
Akers, who has five years left on his contract,
has been criticized by some Texas fans and
alumni during the course of the Longhorns' 3-4
season, the team's worst seventh game record in 20 years.
Some automobiles in Austin are sporting bumpers that say "Fire Fred."
Akers is 84-29-2 overall in his 10 years as head coach but faces his first losing season.
He reportedly was seeking a one-year contract at $600,000,but said he didn't have a figure in mind.
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati shortstop Dave Concepcion said yesterday he would file for agency, but is not ruling out the possibility of returning to the Reds next season.
Concepcion to be free agent
"I like Cincinnati," he said. "I've been there my whole career. I think the Reds have a chance to win the Western Division, but they have to get another starting pitcher."
"Any team that offers me a job and offers to pay me better than Cincinnati pays me, I may sign with them," said Concepcion, contacted at his winter home in his native Venezuela by the Cincinnati Enquirer. "But it would have to be quite a bit more money than the Reds offer."
Concepcion, whose five-year contract at about $900,000 a year expired this past season, has until Nov. 11 to file for free agency.
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