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Weinke has legit Heisman beef
Updated: Friday October 27, 2000 8:17 AM
Chris Weinke, call your civil rights lawyer. You may have a case of ageism. In the last week, writers with and without Heisman Trophy votes have asked me whether or not the 28-year-old Florida State quarterback has an unfair advantage in the race because of his advancing years. The questions are coming up for two reasons: one, Michael Vick of Virginia Tech has not run away with the Heisman after all; and two, Weinke's maturity is obviously one of his greatest assets. Weinke's achievements, such as throwing for more than 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns in the last three games -- should be accepted at face value. Even if the face is a little wrinkled.
Too many overtimes can be too muchOvertime games are taxing physically and emotionally. Three-overtime games take three times the toll, as the Pac-10 Conference proved in the last two weeks.After California upset UCLA and Arizona beat Washington State in three-overtime games on Oct. 14, all four teams lost the following Saturday. In overtime, says Cal coach Tom Holmoe, "Every play is so important. By the time three overtimes are done, you're spent." Sure enough, last week, Cal led Washington by 11 points in the fourth quarter -- and folded. UCLA led Oregon State by 10 points -- and collapsed. Arizona and Washington State both lost, too. In the five seasons since the NCAA introduced the overtime rule, I-A teams that played three- or four-overtime games went 5-16 the following week.
Clemson best keep up guardThe Clemson-Florida State winner a week from Saturday remains in the race for No. 1.But before talk of how Bowden Bowl II will mean more than just bragging rights at the family beach condo, the Tigers must first beat a dangerous Georgia Tech team Saturday. Dangerous? The Yellow Jackets pass defense is giving up 292 yards per game, which is third-from-the-bottom in the country. But take another look. Georgia Tech has also intercepted 10 passes and gotten 30 sacks, nearly double the 16 of a year ago. Yes, Clemson freshman Willie Simmons came in for the injured Woody Dantzler and threw four touchdowns in the comeback win over North Carolina. But the Yellow Jackets' ability to force mistakes will make Dantzler's experience especially important. Dantzler is practicing, although without contact, and his bruised left foot should be ready Saturday. The Tigers' season depends on it.
How the West will be wonLooking at the SEC West standings and trying to make sense of it will make your head hurt. All six teams are tied in the loss column at two.Don't even attempt to apply the tiebreakers. But here are a couple of clues as to who's ahead. Take the record within the division, which is the second tiebreaker. Ole Miss's two losses came to West opponents, so scratch the Rebels. Arkansas is unbeaten in the West, however, the Hogs are also the only team with four games remaining against West opponents. Scratch them. The favorite, if there is one, is Mississippi State. West foes Alabama and Arkansas must come to Starkville. The Bulldogs have beaten Auburn, while LSU, which beat Mississippi State in overtime last Saturday, has road games remaining at Ole Miss and Arkansas. Sports Illustrated senior writer Ivan Maisel covers the college football beat for the magazine and appears each Saturday on CNN's "College Football Preview." Click here to send a question to his mailbag.
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