Notes on a Scorecard - Nov. 24, 1992

A UCLA-USC rematch might have put the Freedom Bowl on the map. . . .

Chances are that it would have sold out Anaheim Stadium Dec. 29--Trojan fans seeking revenge and Bruin fans hoping their team could repeat one of the most exciting victories ever in the series. . . .

But the Freedom Bowl never even considered the matchup that was suggested by UCLA Athletic Director Peter Dalis in the Rose Bowl press box Saturday not long after Nkosi Littleton knocked down Rob Johnson’s pass in the end zone to preserve a 38-37 victory. . . .

“Such a game didn’t come up in our discussions, and we didn’t have any conversations with either school,” Freedom Bowl director Don Andersen said. . . .

Apparently, the knock against the Bruins was that they finished eighth in their conference. Granted, but the Pacific 10 might be the toughest conference in the nation, and UCLA won its last three games. . . .

Instead, Andersen extended an invitation to Fresno State Coach Jim Sweeney to play USC and he responded on the telephone by singing “Fight On.” . . .

The Bulldogs are expected to bring 15,000-20,000 fans with them to what will be the biggest game in the history of the school. . . .

Whether the Freedom Bowl attendance record of 56,000 will be broken depends upon how many tickets USC can sell. A lot of Trojan alumni live in Orange County. However, it will be interesting to see how many of them will support their alma mater in a postseason game against an upstart opponent if the Trojans lose again to Notre Dame Saturday at the Coliseum. . . .

Sophomore Trent Dilfer, who led Fresno State to a 45-41 victory over San Diego State on Saturday, might be the next great collegiate quarterback. . . . I wonder if anyone ever has yelled “Dee-fense!” at a Western Athletic Conference game. . . .

Seven points have separated UCLA and USC during the last four games of their series, including a 10-10 tie in 1989. . . .

The Bruins committed only one turnover, a fumble against Oregon State, while winning their last three games. . . .

ABC commentator Lynn Swann was on the mark Saturday when he wondered why quarterback Mark Brunell was still playing during the fourth quarter of Washington’s lopsided loss to Washington State, risking injury in the terrible conditions at Pullman. . . .

Michigan will be the first unbeaten Big Ten team to play in the Rose Bowl since Ohio State after the 1979 season--and the first ever to have three ties. . . .

The San Diego Chargers are an improving team with a good chance to make the playoffs, since their remaining schedule includes no opponents with winning records. . . .

Five NFL backs--Kenneth Davis of Buffalo, Barry Foster of Pittsburgh, Ricky Watters of San Francisco, Chris Warren of Seattle, and Barry Sanders of Detroit--rushed for more than 150 yards on a Sunday when Eric Dickerson of the Raiders exceeded 100 for the first time this season. . . .

On the same day in Southern California, two of the most famous quarterbacks of their generation, Joe Montana and John Elway, could only watch from the sidelines. . . .

The crazy thing about the Buffalo Bills scoring 41 points against the Atlanta Falcons was that Jim Kelly threw for only 93 yards. . . .

Is there a tougher competitor than Monica Seles in any sport? . . .

Official attendance for the Riddick Bowe-Evander Holyfield fight at the 19,000-seat Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Nov. 13 was 16,851. The gate was $4,914,855. . . .

Rafael Ruelas will be presented his North American Boxing Federation lightweight title belt tonight when the Country Club in Reseda stages its final show of the year. . . .

UCLA will have to improve considerably upon its performances against St. Louis and Texas El Paso to stay with Seton Hall in the preseason NIT semifinals Wednesday at Madison Square Garden. . . .

The San Antonio Spurs went from 21 victories in 1988-89 to 56 in David Robinson’s rookie season of 1989-90. Now the Orlando Magic, after drafting Shaquille O’Neal, is off to a winning start after winning 21 last season. . . . Sunday was the 42nd anniversary of the lowest-scoring NBA game. The well-balanced Ft. Wayne Pistons, led by John Oldham with five points, defeated the Minneapolis Lakers, who got 15 from George Mikan, 19-18.