Inside Slant On The Colleges

IF YOU WANT YOUR OFFICIAL TIGER PAWS, AND TWO SEATS ON THE 45, GIVE US YOUR GOLD CARD

Wealthy and not so wealthy alums fuel college football programs through booster clubs. For their contributions, boosters can get such things as choice seats for home games, invites to the coach's weekly breakfast, trips to road games. Each club swears, of course, that it spends its money legally, but it's not so sure about the other guys. Because everybody counts differently, nobody really knows how much booster money is collected each year. Best guesses for the top three:

1) Clemson: $5 million-plus from 16,000 people. 2) North Carolina: $5 million from 7,000. 3) Texas A&M: $3.05 million from 3,250.

SORRY GUYS

Three players who deserve the Heisman at least as much as Bo Jackson but have no chance of get-ting it because they're not offensive backs: 1) Pitt tackle Bill Fralic. The best pure player in college this year; 2) Texas safety Jerry Gray. Puts on a clinic every Saturday afternoon; 3) Southern Cal linebacker Jack Del Rio. A big, big hitter with a big-city personality and an All-Pro by 1986.

TALKING ABOUT COACHES

Best coaches: 1) Don James, Washington. 2) Don James, Washington. 3) Don James, Washington.

Coaches who had better win now: 1) Gerry Faust, Notre Dame. He knows his time has come but believes he can see the light at the end of the tunnel. 2) Barry Switzer, Oklahoma. May be the winningest active coach in the nation (106-21-3), but he hasn't done anything for the Sooners lately except get his name in the papers for questionable business practices and being charged with DWI. 3) Earle Bruce, Ohio State. His cold personality ticks off Buckeye followers, but, luckily for him, he'll have big talent on the field this fall.

Most underrated coaches: 1) Jim Walden, Washington State. Somehow gets average players or worse to play far above their heads. 2) John Cooper, Tulsa. Works miracles (18-4 over the last two years) and nobody cares.

Coaches who'll be head coaches in the pros by 1990: USC's Ted Tollner, Illinois's Mike White, Pitt's Foge Fazio, Texas A&M's Jackie Sherrill, South Carolina's Joe Morrison.