The Class Of '98

1. Gerry DiNardo, LSU. With four-year starter Herb Tyler at quarterback and future NFL draft choice Kevin Faulk at tailback, the Tigers finished 4-7.

2. Nick Saban, Michigan State. How does a team that beat Notre Dame 45-23 and came back from 15 points down to win at Ohio State end up at 6-6?

3. Bruce Snyder, Arizona State. The Sun Devils, 5-6, never got over the fourth-down, last-minute, 63-yard game-winning touchdown pass they gave up to Washington in the season opener.

Quote of the year

"The only thing that can stop us is ourselves. It would be stupid for me to sit here and say other teams can stop us."

—Joe Montgomery, Ohio State tailback, after the Buckeyes beat Missouri 35-14 on Sept. 19. Seven weeks later Ohio State blew a 15-point lead and lost 28-24 to Michigan State.

Savoring Freshman Ryan
Memphis redshirt freshman Ryan White made all 16 of his field goal attempts this season. Dating back to his sophomore year at Shiloh High in Lilburn, Ga., he has hit 28 straight field goals from 40 yards or closer.

Savaging Freshman Ryan

On Oct. 24, with Utah and San Diego State tied 14-14 and 15 seconds left, Utes freshman walk-on Ryan Kaneshiro missed a 35-yard field goal. He then missed an extra point in overtime, and Utah lost 21-20. Against BYU four weeks later, the Utes trailed 26-24 when Kaneshiro's 32-yard field goal attempt with five seconds remaining hit the right upright and fell away.

If Kaneshiro had delivered in those two games, Utah would have played Air Force for the WAC championship on Dec. 5 and been virtually assured of a bowl bid. Instead, the Utes' season is over.