INSIDE COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Top 10 Early Season Disappointments
by Ivan Maisel
Posted: Wed September 23, 1998
Arizona State
The Sun Devils talked of playing in their home stadium when the
Bowl Championship Series matches No. 1 versus No. 2 in the
Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 4. After a 1-2 start, the only way they'll
get in is with tickets.
Auburn
These paper Tigers have lost their first two home games for the
first time since 1978. With a rushing attack that is averaging
only 48.3 yards per game, Auburn is in danger of enduring its
first losing season in seven years.
Cecil (the Diesel) Collins
In four games for Louisiana State last season, Collins rushed
for 600 yards before breaking his right leg. He was kicked off
the LSU team in June after an arrest for battery. He transferred
to McNeese State, where last week his tank hit empty after the
Cowboys booted him for failing a drug test.
Colorado State
The Rams followed an impressive comeback win over Michigan State
in their season opener with two losses in their next three
games, proving they don't know how to handle a little success.
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UNC fullback Deon Dyer and the rest of the Tar Heels have been stuffed in '98.
(Peter Read Miller)
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Harvard
A consensus pick to win the Ivy League, the Crimson was shut out
by Columbia for the first time since 1953, 24-0.
Michigan
The defending national champions began the season 0-2 for the
first time since 1988. Beating up 59-20 on lowly Eastern
Michigan didn't repair the Wolverines' image.
North Carolina
On the heels of the Tar Heels' losses to Miami of Ohio and
Stanford (above), fans in Chapel Hill are asking when basketball
starts.
Southern Miss
It's no disgrace that the two-time defending Conference USA
champs lost to Penn State and Texas A&M, but the Golden Eagles
were outscored by a combined 58-12 and didn't get a point
against the Aggies until the final minute.
Vanderbilt
Last season the Commodores finished first in the SEC and sixth
in the nation in total defense. This fall, with six starters
back, they've surrendered 1,207 yards and 104 points in three
losses.
Wake Forest
A preseason dark horse to win the ACC, the Demon Deacons had
many flaws exposed in a 42-0 loss to Air Force and could be
headed to 5-6 again.
Issue date: September 28, 1998
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