BOWLS ‘85-86 : COTTON

Auburn’s Bo Jackson sat out Sunday’s practice with strep throat and his backup, Brent Fullwood, missed the same practice with bronchitis. And fullback Tommie Agee disappeared with strep throat as well. But all three were back for Monday’s practice, thereby assuring the game’s attraction.

“I felt a little weak,” said Jackson, “but I think everything should be back to 100% by the game. I think the day in bed did a world of good.”

Bo Jackson’s inspiration, it turns out, is neither Herschel Walker nor Dale Murphy. When asked who were some of his favorite athletes growing up, Jackson said: “The only one I can remember was Carl Roaches, the kick return specialist for the Houston Oilers. The reason I say that is because he was a free agent and he made the team after driving a milk truck. He made good for himself.”

Jackson, you should know, is very much into self-improvement. Plagued in social situations by stuttering, he undertook his own program toward clearer speech, rejecting more formal therapy. It worked.