Florida’s Teams Basking in Sunshine

THE COLLEGES This is the year for Florida teams to dominate the polls, all right. Florida and Florida State, ranked Nos. 13 and 11 in the Associated Press’ preseason Top 10, have made smooth transitions into the cream of Bottom Ten society, as have Don Shula’s Miami Mice in the NFL.

Problem is, when you lead the Bottom Ten, there’s always someone else out there ready to lose to you. No. 1 Florida now has the formidable task of falling to No. 5 LSU, still riding the reverse momentum of a 21-12 loss to Miami (Ohio).

And don’t forget Syracuse (0-4) and Colorado (0-4), both very much in contention for worst-team honors--and the consolation of having the No. 1 pick in next year’s high school draft.

Meanwhile, coaches had a collision-free weekend, after the injuries of previous weeks to Akron’s Gerry Faust (broken leg) and North Carolina’s Dick Crum (torn ligaments). Obviously, officials have finally begun to enforce the roughing-the-coach prohibition.

The Rankings:

Team, Record Last Loss Next Loss 1. Florida (1-3) 10-16, Miss State LSU 2. Syracuse (0-4) 10-16, Rutgers Missouri 3. Colorado (0-4) 21-24, Arizona Idle 4. Fla. St. (1-2-1) 18-20, Michigan Idle 5. LSU (1-1) Idle Florida 6. Purdue (1-2) 9-41, N. Dame Minnehaha 7. Princeton (0-2) 0-37, N’western* Brown 8. Not. Dame (1-2) Def. Purdue, 41-9 Alabama 9. Minnehaha (1-2) 20-24, Pacific Purdue 10. Texas (1-1) Idle Rice

11. BYU (3-1); 12. Oregon State (0-3); 13. Boston College (1-2); 14. South Carolina (1-3); 15. Ohio State (2-2); 16. Pentagon (Army, Navy, Air Force, L.A. Raider running backs) (7-7); 17. (Tie) Cal State Disneyland (1-4) and Cal State Spruce Goose (1-2); 19. Cal (1-2); 20. Idle.

*First Northwestern shutout since 1975; Princeton is demanding scoreboard recount.

ROUT OF THE WEEK: Northwestern (2-1) over Indiana (2-1).

CRUMMY GAME OF THE WEEK: LSU (1-1) at Florida (1-3).

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: “Dear Mr. Harvey: Could you change the word ‘crummy’ to a word that is not the same or similar to a last name, perhaps ‘lousy,’ ‘junk,’ or ‘wimp’ . . . ?” writes Peter Crum of Honolulu, Hawaii.

WHERE WERE HIS BLOCKERS?: During a recent Oklahoma State loss to Houston, star running back Thurman Thomas was stung on the lip by a bee.

THE PROS

The magic number for the Miami Mice is 12--just 12 more games and the disastrous season will be over, unless it all turns out to be another one of Pam Ewing’s bad dreams.

Off to its worst start in 17 years, Miami (Fla.) made countless mental errors in a 31-16 loss to the 49ers. The performance seems sure to renew the debate over the relative intelligence of Dolphins.

Meanwhile, quarterback Warren Moon of No. 6 Houston was sacked six times in a 22-16 drubbing by the Pittsburgh Steelers. It could have been worse, though. Think what would have happened if Moon hadn’t been supported by those four No. 1 draft choices on the offensive line.

The Rankings:

Team, Record Last Loss Next Loss 1. Miami (Fla.) (1-3) 16-31, San Fr’isco New England 2. “Miami Vice” (0-1) 17-26, “Dallas”* “Jeopardy” 3. San Diego (1-3) 13-17, L. Raiders Seattle 4. Bay (Green) (0-4) 7-42, Minnehaha Cincinnati 5. Lost Raiders (1-3) d. S. Diego, 17-13 Kan. City

6. Houston (1-3); 7. Indy (0-4); 8. St. Louis (0-4); 9. L.A. Lambs (3-1); 10. Philadelphia (1-3).

*Gifford Nielsen ratings.

CRUMMY GAME OF THE WEEK: Houston (1-3) at Detroit (1-3).

QUOTEBOOK: Pitt’s Earnest Jackson, after throwing a key block, held up a soft drink can and in a reference to ex-coach Buddy Ryan, said: “This, Bud, is for you.”