Holtz, Irish Have Little to Smile About So Far

THE COLLEGES Has the Lou Holtz era at Notre Dame peaked? Since the win over Purdue--his biggest victory since coming to Notre Dame--the Irish (1-4) have dropped two straight and slid back into the No. 1 spot in the Bottom Ten. At least, in keeping with the school’s emphasis on studies, the players won’t have to worry about bowl distractions.

The Irish replaced Florida (2-4), which recently transferred from the Southeastern to the Mid-American Conference in a desperate effort to improve its record. (The Gators drubbed Kent State, 52-9.)

No. 4 Harvard, meanwhile, is celebrating the school’s 350th anniversary with a continuing goose-egg exhibit. The Crimson have been shut out three straight weeks. And look who’s back at No. 6? That’s right: the University of Texas at El Austin, routed, 12-47, by Oklahoma. Go Shoehorns!

The Rankings:

Team, Record Last Loss Next Loss 1. Notre Dame (1-4) 9-10, Pitt Pentagon 2. Florida (2-4) Def. Kent St., 52-9 Rutgers 3. Purdue (1-4) 27-34, Illinois Ohio State 4. Harvard (1-3) 0-3, Cornell D’mouth 5. Syracuse (1-4) Idle Penn State 6. Texas (2-2) 12-47, Oklahoma Arkansas 7. Cal (1-4) 12-14, Ore. State UCLA 8. Akron (3-2) 12-24, Mid.Tenn. Fedco 9. N’western (2-3) 23-44, Minnehaha Wisconsin 10. USC (4-1) Idle* Arizona State

11. Tennessee (2-3); 12. Miami (Fla.) (for its remaining schedule); 13. Michigan State (2-3); 14. BYU (3-2); 15. South Carolina (1-4-1); 16. Alabama (6-0) (based on Coach Ray Perkins comment that “I’d like for the offense to be in better shape.”); 17. Pentagon (Army, Navy, Air Force, Virginia Military, Citadel) (13-12); 18. Houston (1-4); 19. This week’s guest: Yacht crew French Challenge (1-7); 20. Arkansas (4-1).

*While idle, lost to Washington State, 14-34.

ROUT OF THE WEEK: Rutgers (3-1-1) over Florida (2-4).

CRUMMY GAME OF THE WEEK: Texas (2-2) vs. Arkansas (4-1).

WHERE-ARE-THEY-NOW DEPT.: Ex-Cal and San Francisco 49er halfback Pete Schabarum, 57, now a Los Angeles County supervisor, knocked down a 50-year-old, 135-pound grandmother in a home plate collision at a recent softball game. Grandma still tagged out the 190-pound Schabarum. Of course, Pete is used to following blockers.

THE PROS

It’s OK to start making fun of Buddy Ryan’s defense (2-4), again.

And to continue making fun of San Diego’s. The No. 1 Chargers, currently 30th in team defense (they also rank behind two as-yet-named NFL franchises), have lost five in a row since stomping Miami Mice, 50-28, in the opener.

Southern Californians have a reputation for leaving games early. In the Chargers’ case, it’s the offense that disappears. Since their first game, they’ve scored only one touchdown in the second half.

Meanwhile, No. 2 Green Bay, punched out by Detroit, kept new quarterback Chuck Fusina, the ex-USFL star, on the bench for most of the game again. The Packers have their record to think of, you know.

The Rankings:

Team, Record Next Loss Worst Loss 1. Err Coryell (1-5) 14-31, Denver Kansas City 2. Bay (Green) (0-6) 14-21, Detroit Cleveland 3. Pitt (1-5) 22-24, Cincinnati New England 4. Philadelphia (2-4) 3-35, N.J. Giants Dallas 5. Indy (0-6) 14-17, N.Orleans Buffalo

6. Houston (1-5); 7. Buffalo (1-5); 8. Miami (Fla.) (2-4); 9. L.A. Lambs (4-2); Nos. 10.-110. The live audience at NBC’s pregame Sunday football show.

CRUMMY GAME OF THE WEEK: Indianapolis (0-6) vs. Buffalo (1-5) (Kids, don’t try to duplicate any of the plays you see in this game.)

THIS IS NO JOKE: Ex-Minnesota quarterback Fran Tarkenton has a book out entitled, “Murder at the Super Bowl.” It’s a novel, not an autobiography, though Tarkenton himself was bumped off three times at the Super Bowl.