Hard Times Indeed for BYU

THE COLLEGES

BYU’s problems began last month when, due to budget constraints, it switched to six-man football. Unable to get out of its schedule obligations, the outnumbered team has since given up point totals of 68, 45, 48 and 58 during a four-game losing streak.

Obviously, if BYU was using an 11-man team, it couldn’t have allowed Utah State (3-5) to score 58 points. BYU’s turnaround merited a No. 7 position in this week’s special edition of Bottom Ten Losing Streaks.

Temple, its season only slightly marred by a 31-28 opening game victory over Eastern Michigan, has rebounded to put together the nation’s longest losing streak (seven). Next are Purdon’t and the University of Texas at El Headed-Off-at-the Paso, with six each.

Temple, which has been giving up a generous 49.9 points per game, has a tantalizing matchup Saturday with the inept offensive machine of No. 18 Syracuse, which puts a special streak of two consecutive shutout losses on the line.

The longest winless streaks:

Sad Sack, Streak Last Loss Next Loss 1. Temple (0-7) 7-42, Miami Syracuse 2. UTEP (0-6) 10-31, Air Force Fresno State 3. Purdue (0-6) 17-26, Iowa Michigan 4. Las Vegas (0-5) 40-52, New Mexico State La. Tech 5. Northwestern (0-5) 13-20, Illinois Michigan State 6. Columbia (0-5) 3-14, Princeton Dartmouth 7. BYU (0-4) 56-58, Utah State SD State 8. Okla State (0-4) 6-13, Kansas Colorado 9. Arkansas (0-3) 21-31, Auburn Miss State 10. Cal (0-3) 14-42, USC Ariz State

11. Army (0-3); 12. Hawaii (0-3); 13. Oregon State (0-3); 14. Tulane (0-3); 15. Arkansas State (0-3-1); 16. SMU (0-3-2); 17. Syracuse (0-2); 18. Idle 19. Penn State (0-2); 20. Michigan (0-2).

Rout of the Week: Temple (1-7) over Syracuse (4-3-1).

THE PROS

Suddenly, new fathers are bursting out all over the NFL, threatening the league with the worst disruption since the last players’ strike.

Only two weeks after Houston tackle David Williams was docked $111,000 for missing a game to witness the birth of his child, L.A. Lamb defensive end Fred Stokes was a no-show for the same reason Sunday. Stokes, however, received permission from the Lambs, who were obviously aware of the negative publicity the Oilers received. Plus, Stokes is no All-Pro in the manner of Big Daddy Lipscomb, onetime Lamb star.

Meanwhile, Bear tackle John Wojciechowski bade farewell to his teammates earlier in the week. But his child was thoughtful enough to arrive in time for Wojciechowski to suit up for Sunday’s game against the Packers.

Some NFL attorneys are reportedly investigating the constitutionality of contracts that would curtail players’ conjugal activities within nine months of any scheduled game. For now, coaches are waiting in fear. Who’ll wind up next in the maternity ward? Defensive back Anthony Newman revealed that his wife is expecting in late January. But he doesn’t expect to have a Super Bowl schedule conflict. He plays for the Lambs (2-6).

The rankings:

THE UNWON

Franchise, Record Last Loss Next Loss 1. Cincinnati (0-7) Idle Pitt 2. Carolina (0-0) Idle ’95 3. Baltimore (0-0 Idle Idle* 4. St. Louis (0-0) Idle Idle* 5. Memphis (0-0) Idle Idle* 6. Jacksonville (0-0) Idle Idle* *Could be idle for decades.

THOSE RAMPAGING BAYS

Body of water, record Last Victory Next Victory 1. Tampa (2-5) Def. Atlanta, 31-24 Detroit 2. San Diego (3-4) Def. Raiders, 30-23 Minnesota 3. Green (4-3) Def. Chicago, 17-3 Kansas City*

*A Monday night football game (this is not a typographical error).

Quotebook: Prior to the Kansas City-Miami game, NBC commentator Mike Ditka, asked by NFL Live host Jim Lampley how to stop Joe Montana, recommended double-covering Jerry Rice. Sidekick Will McDonough observed: “If Miami double-covers Jerry Rice today, they’re in trouble.”

Dishonorable mention: San Francisco running back Ricky Watters was penalized for a face-mask violation--while carrying the ball. (He face-masked a tackler, not himself.)

Luckily she wasn’t in a shotgun formation: Marlene Lenick of Sewall’s Point, Fla., wanted to watch the news but her husband Michael insisted on watching the Cowboys-Eagles game. So much so that when Lenick turned the channel, his wife fired two shots at him, police said.