Big Win Nets Small Gain in Poll

Florida State players and fans couldn’t figure how the Seminoles slipped from No. 5 to No. 7 in the Associated Press college football poll after a 45-21 victory over East Carolina 2 weeks ago.

It turns out, sports writer Ronnie Christ of the Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot inadvertently left the Seminoles off his ballot.

All of Tallahassee was up in arms. Wayne Hogan, the university’s sports information director, sent a personal and confidential letter to all 60 voting members in The Associated Press poll.

The Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel ran a banner headline that read: “Seminole players, fans mad at poll’s forgetfulness.” The paper even printed the poll the way Florida State felt it should have been alongside the actual poll.

“I don’t think we’ve been this upset since we lost to Miami, 26-25, in 1987,” Seminole tackle Joey Ionata said. “I guess no one gives us any respect.”

Last Saturday, Florida State sent the voters another message by routing Louisiana Tech, 66-3.

“We had to beat somebody like Nebraska does,” All-American cornerback Deion Sanders said. “We had to get attention.”

The voters, including Christ this time, were so impressed they moved Florida State all the way up to No. 6.

Trivia Time: Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda had a major league pitching record of 0-4. Which team was he pitching for in those games, all in 1956? (Answer to follow.)

New York baseball fans were hoping the Mets and Yankees would meet in the World Series, but both teams got sidetracked along the way.

To make sure the fans don’t get cheated again, and possibly to make some money, too, the teams will play exhibition games next April 1 at Yankee Stadium and April 2 at Shea Stadium.

The teams haven’t met since 1985.

“There’s a much better spirit between the clubs than there ever has been,” said Yankee owner George Steinbrenner, who in the past wouldn’t have anything to do with the Mets.

Said Mets co-owner Nelson Doubleday: “We have a wonderful relationship with the Yankees. They like to beat our brains out and we want to beat their brains out.”

Vote of confidence: In light of the Dallas Cowboys’ worst start in 25 years, they’re saying all over Big D that the game has passed Coach Tom Landry by. But you won’t hear Alicia Landry say it.

Said Mrs. Landry: “Everyone who knows anything about the game still thinks he is doing a great job.”

Perhaps she just doesn’t want him hanging around the house.

Trivia Answer: The Athletics, then in Kansas City.

Quotebook

Soviet marathoner Nikolai Tabak, explaining why it isn’t dangerous training in Central Park for Sunday’s New York City Marathon: “Even if it’s dark, no one can catch up to us.”