College Football: The Bottom 10

Previously winless Tulane’s shocking 42-32 win over McNeese State prompted another leadership change in the Bottom Ten, with Maryland taking over No. 1 from the Green Ripple.

The plodding Terrapins have one victory this year -- over James Madison, most of whose players are built along the lines of the fourth President (he was 5 feet 4).

Of course, if the Twerps -- whoops! the Terps -- do capture the championship trophy, will they drop it? They rank 118th in the nation in the ability to hang on to the ball, having fumbled eight times.

Elsewhere, Purdon’t retained No. 2 with a clutch loss to Notre Dame, and Bowling Green staggered into the No. 4 spot. For Bowling Green, winning a game is about as easy as converting a 7-10 split.

*--* Rk. Wreck (Rec.) Last Loss Next Loss 1. Maryland (1-3) 13-34, Rutgers Clemson 2. Purdon’t (1-3) 21-24, Notre Dame Northwestern 3. Miami (Ohio) (0-4) 19-29, Kent State Cincinnati 4. Bowling Green (1-3) 14-49, Boise State Ohio (Ohio) 5. Ball State (0-4) 30-54, Auburn Toledo 6. Virginia (0-3) Idle N. Carolina 7. New Mexico (0-4) 17-20, New Mex. St. Texas Tech 8. Michigan State (1-3) 30-38, Wisconsin Michigan 9. Arkansas (1-2) 7-35, Alabama Texas A&M 10. Rice (0-4) 17-36, Vanderbilt Tulsa *--*

11. Texas at El Wobbly Paso (1-3); 12. Buffalo (1-3); 13. Memphis (1-3); 14. Alabama Birmingham (1-3); 15. Fresno State (1-3); 16. San Diego State (1-3); 17. Washington State (1-3); 18. Ill (1-2); 19. Censored; 20. Florida State (2-2).

Rout of the week: Cincinnati (4-0) at Miami (Ohio) (0-4).

Special citation: If the courts don’t overturn the NCAA’s ruling that Florida State must forfeit 14 victories for using an ineligible player, Coach Bobby Bowden will leap into third place as the third-losingest college football coach in history. His adjusted record would be 370-139-4, including this season’s 2-2 start. Still ahead of him: Amos Alonzo Stagg (190 losses), Eddie Robinson (168).

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