Undefeated competitors hold breaths for Bowl bid

Friday, December 4, 1998

Undefeated competitors hold breaths for Bowl bid

FOOTBALL: Bruins at ease despite debate on which teams will go
to Tempe

By Jeff Kmiotek

Daily Bruin Staff

The speculations, assumptions and theories will finally end this
weekend when the final Bowl Championship Series (BCS) poll is
announced Sunday at 11:30 a.m. on ABC. The numerous "ifs" could
even drift away earlier, if one of the three teams competing for
the two Fiesta Bowl slots loses its game tomorrow.

But if UCLA, Tennessee and Kansas State each remain undefeated,
all the pressure will be on the BCS computer.

Currently, Tennessee has a very slight edge over UCLA for the
top spot in the BCS, and Kansas State is third with a lot of ground
to make up. But in this poll, being No. 1 or No. 2 doesn’t matter
because the top two teams play for the national championship on
Jan. 4 in Tempe, Ariz.

"Championship Saturday" begins with No. 3 UCLA visiting Miami at
11:00 a.m. in the "Hurricane Bowl." The next game pits No. 2 Kansas
State against No. 10 Texas A&M at 1:30 p.m. in the Big 12 title
game. No. 1 Tennessee and No. 23 Mississippi State cap off the wild
day at 5:00 p.m. in the SEC Championship game.

So what happens if all three undefeated teams win?
Unfortunately, nobody knows for sure. Just when most "experts" were
agreeing that UCLA and Tennessee would be celebrating Fiesta Bowl
berths with wins, Jeff Sagarin, the computer genius responsible for
one of the three computer polls, spoke up and changed everybody’s
tune.

Sagarin said that beating Texas A&M , the No. 8 BCS team,
would improve Kansas State’s strength of schedule drastically,
putting them in a good position to pass Tennessee. The Wildcats
would also need to move up in any of the computer polls.

But Bruin fans can breathe easy, because Sagarin believes if
Kansas State does make it, they’ll play UCLA. Still, conventional
thinking has UCLA facing Tennessee if all three teams win.

The only way UCLA could have a reason to worry is if it barely
beats Miami, and Tennessee and Kansas State win big. Otherwise,
UCLA is in the best position to make it to Tempe.

Most of the Bruins are expressing the same sentiments about the
other two games on Saturday.

"We don’t care what they do, we only care about what we do.
We’re just focused on Miami," said UCLA senior offensive lineman
Andy Meyers.

"I’m too concerned right now," said freshman running back
DeShaun Foster. "I’ll be more concerned after our game."

UCLA football coach Bob Toledo added, "Don’t worry about those
things, I just worry about us."

But offensive lineman Kris Farris did admit his concerns. "If
one of those two teams loses, we’re in a deadlock for the Fiesta
Bowl, so we won’t have to sweat it our for 24 hours. If both teams
blow out their opponents, we’ll be sweating a bit. You just never
know."

UCLA fans will have to keep their eyes on two other games.

Tennessee, the last team to defeat UCLA, beat Vanderbilt 41-0
last week to finish 11-0 in the regular season for the first time
ever. The Volunteers lost quarterback Peyton Manning to the NFL
this year, but they haven’t missed him much.

Tee Martin has stepped in and done a tremendous job as QB,
throwing to his main target, Peerless Price. Martin’s solid play
has been the reason Tennessee has won its close games.

Their main tailback, Jamal Lewis, was lost earlier this year to
an injury, but the Vols backups have also been impressive.

Linebacker Al Wilson leads the defense, which will need to
contain Mississippi State tailback James Johnson, who leads the SEC
in rushing, if they want to beat the two-TD spread. A Mississippi
State win would send them to a BCS game, probably the Sugar
Bowl.

Kansas State, led by Heisman finalist Michael Bishop, puts up
49.4 points a game, but they’ve had a cream puff schedule.

Texas A&M has one of the top defenses in the nation, led by
LB Dat Nguyen, although Ricky Williams of Texas made them look
silly last week. Kansas State’s top two tailbacks are injured, but
they rely on Bishop anyway.

The Wildcats defense is also ranked at the top nationally, but
their easy schedule may have a part in that. Against Missouri and
Nebraska, K-State allowed over 800 yards. Texas A&M, needing a
win to make the BCS, is a 16-point underdog. The Wildcats need at
least that big of a win and a prayer to make the Fiesta Bowl.

UCLA will be wrapping up its game against Miami when the Kansas
State game begins, and they’ll be on the plane coming home during
the Tennessee contest.

But, as always, they will be getting continual updates from the
pilot over the loudspeaker. UCLA may learn its fate while above the
clouds, and it is just fitting for a season where the sky has been
its only limit.

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