Notes on a Scorecard - Sept. 13, 1990

The Dodgers’ magic number is 1991. . . .

That’s the year they could win the National League pennant, if Orel Hershiser and Tim Belcher return to form and they make a good deal or sign an important free agent. . . .

This weekend is a mixed travel bag for Los Angeles football fans--both college teams are at home, both pro teams are on the road. . . .

For what figures to be a warm Saturday in the Coliseum, Penn State will wear all white attire except for footwear. . . .

Ram running back Curt Warner has fond memories of the last time USC and Penn State played. He rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns in the Nittany Lions’ 26-10 victory in the Fiesta Bowl after the 1981 season. . . .

However, Raider running back Marcus Allen would just as soon forget it. Allen, who won the Heisman Trophy that year, was limited to a season-low 85 yards and fumbled on the first play from scrimmage. . . .

Warner and Leo Wisniewski, brother of Raider guard Steve, were chosen as Penn State’s players of the game. . . .

Hate to make O.J. Simpson feel old, but the grandmother of Penn State wide receiver-kick returner O.J. McDuffie named him in honor of her favorite football player. . . .

Penn State is known as Linebacker U., but the best man at that position on the field Saturday could be Scott Ross. Larry Smith says the 6-2, 235-pound senior is the finest inside linebacker he has coached at USC. Assistant coach Tom Roggeman says Ross is “an assassin to the ballcarrier’s statistics.” . . .

I wonder if Joe Paterno gets any heat on the air from the Penn State radio color commentator, who happens to be his brother, George. . . .

It’s safeties first at UCLA, whose Eric Turner and Matt Darby were instrumental in holding Oklahoma to four completions for 44 yards on opening day. However, a tougher test will come Saturday against Stanford, which has been known to throw better than Oklahoma. . . .

Look for the Bruins to open up their offense a little more each week, as they become more familiar with Homer Smith’s schemes. . . .

According to an NCAA survey, Stanford has the fourth-toughest schedule in the nation. USC’s is ninth toughest, UCLA’s 16th. Degree of difficulty is based on opponents’ records last year. . . .

Look-alikes: Buddy Ryan and Miller Barber. . . .

The Raiders are getting A results from Plan B free agents Bob Golic and Tom Benson. . . .

The Rams might find out that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ explosion against the Detroit Lions was no fluke now that Vinny Testaverde is working with Gary Anderson and Reggie Cobb. . . .

Eric Dickerson can call the Indianapolis Colts’ offensive line anything but small. It averages 307 pounds. . . .

Sounds as though Joe Walton is as popular in Pittsburgh as he was in New York. . . .

San Francisco’s Ronnie Lott may be the hardest-hitting defensive back in football, but Cincinnati’s David Fulcher isn’t far behind. . . .

The trade that would send Frank Minniefield from Cleveland to Atlanta for Bill Fralic is still a possibility. . . .

Future Hall of Famer Mike Haynes is working out and available at a moment’s notice to any team that wants him, including the Raiders. . . .

Maybe the Rams didn’t make such a mistake when they took Donald Evans of Winston-Salem State as their first pick in 1987. They tried him at fullback, but now he’s starting at his old college position, defensive end, for the Cleveland Browns. . . .

The Raiders chose a good year to announce that they’re staying in Los Angeles. Besides an improved product, they are offering fans an attractive non-division home schedule of Pittsburgh, Chicago, Green Bay and Cincinnati. . . .

Randy Shields, 34, will spar in front of a State Athletic Commission representative today at the Ten Goose Gym in Van Nuys. If he’s approved to be licensed, Shields will box on a Sept. 25 card at the Country Club in Reseda. The former welterweight contender hasn’t fought since 1983. . . .

The city of Sacramento has 12 licensed professional boxers. One-sixth of them, Tony Lopez and Loreto Garza, are world champions. . . .

Manager Emanuel Steward did a wonderful job with Thomas Hearns, who showed his gratitude by dumping him. . . .

Pete Sampras, U.S. Open tennis champion, will play a charity exhibition match against Brad Gilbert Sunday morning at North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village. . . .

If the Raiders and, or, Trojans move to Dodger Stadium for the 1992 season, they should be warned that it’s a place where the home team sometimes blows leads of a touchdown or more.