Short Yardage

YA GOTTA LOVE THIS GUY
Tulane sophomore tailback Mewelde Moore knows all about perseverance. Lightly recruited as a senior at Baton Rouge's Belaire High, he was offered a scholarship at Tulane only after another recruit reneged on an oral commitment and signed with Texas A&M. Two years later the 6'1", 198-pound Moore, who also played outfield and hit .236 last season for the San Diego Padres' Pioneer League team in Idaho Falls, leads the country in all-purpose yardage (1,504 yards) and is one of the few bright spots for the 2-5 Green Wave. In a 46-33 Conference USA loss to Cincinnati on Oct. 6, Moore broke Tulane's single-game rushing record with 249 yards on 28 carries and caught six passes for 87 yards. Last Saturday he ran for 88 yards in a 48-22 victory over TCU to become the first Green Wave player in 52 years to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. "He has great bursts of speed and great vision, and he runs hard," says Homed Frogs coach Gary Patterson. "He's probably the best back in the conference."

DRAFT BAROMETER

An NFL scout assesses 6'4", 293-pound Wisconsin defensive tackle Wendell Bryant, who had four tackles in last Saturday's 20-17 victory over Ohio State and leads the Big Ten in sacks with seven:

"He came in this season with a good reputation, and he has added to it. He's more active and playing a little more violently. He's good to very good at everything: playing the run, rushing the passer, key and diagnose, and pursuit. He's also real smart. He'll be in the top 15."

BULLETIN BOARD

" Memphis needs to borrow a page from other Conference USA schools and drop its football program because it—like [ Memphis's] favorite son, Elvis—is dead."

Excerpt from a column in the Houston Daily Cougar that was posted on the Tigers' bulletin board. Memphis responded last Saturday by stepping all over Houston's blue suede shoes 52-33.

HEAD TO HEAD

BYU coach Gary Crowton vs. Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry

When it comes to offensive philosophies, no two coaches are further apart than Crowton, 43, in his first season at the helm of the Cougars, and DeBerry, 63, in his 18th year with the Falcons. Crowton has taken the wide-open passing offense of mentor and predecessor LaVell Edwards and spread it even wider. Defenses have been stretched so thin that BYU has rushed for 228.7 yards a game. But don't misunderstand: The Cougars run so that they may pass. Quarterback Brandon Doman has 16 touchdown passes in an air game that averages 304.0 yards, 10th best in the nation. The Falcons' option offense runs so that it may run more. Air Force is fourth in rushing and 108th in passing. The winner in Provo on Saturday becomes the favorite for the league title