Traditionally, They Win One for the Flipper

How much is Notre Dame tradition worth in today’s No. 1 vs. No. 2 game with Florida State? Not much, Tim Layden of Newsday concluded after talking with several Seminole players.

Linebacker Chris Cowart said he knew all about the Notre Dame tradition. And their legendary coach, too.

“Rock Knutne,” Cowart said. “Right? Rock Knut-ney?”

When defensive end Derrick Alexander tried to dredge up great names in Irish history, he could go back no further than Rocket Ismail and Chris Zorich, both of whom played in the 1990 season.

How about the Four Horsemen? “We haven’t watched any film on them yet,” sophomore center Clay Shiver said.

*

Trivia time: Who is the winningest football coach in community college history?

*

Priorities: The cross-town football battle in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., between Wilkes University and Kings College will begin at 1 p.m. today. The game, however, won’t be seen on local cable systems until tonight, when a tape will be broadcast.

Why the delay?

“I guess they didn’t want to hurt the Florida State-Notre Dame ratings,” Wilkes Coach Joe DeMelfi said.

*

Yes, it is: California freshman quarterback Pat Barnes, after a less-than-impressive start against Arizona State: “It’s different from high school.”

*

Cleanup campaign: Lenny Dykstra’s uniform is usually the dirtiest of any player’s in the big leagues, so it was mildly surprising Thursday to find the Phillie outfielder looking over a car wash facility he will open next month in Corona.

Wonder if it will clean tobacco juice stains?

*

Peaceful run: The first Arab to run in the Jerusalem Marathon won the race.

“I didn’t win for Morocco. . . . I won for peace,” said Hassan Sebtaoui, who entered Israel on a Moroccan passport with a group of Frenchmen. His wife, Catherine, cried when he led the pack into Teddy Stadium at the finish.

“I will tell our children that their father was the first Muslim to run the Jerusalem marathon and to win!” she said.

*

Half a loaf: From the Sporting News Caught On The Fly column: “For only $19.95, you can get “The Joe Montana Story.” The video runs 45 minutes. Of course, Joe is able to play in only 22 1/2 of them.”

*

Trivia answer: Ken Swearingen, formerly of El Camino and now of Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, with 246 victories.

*

Geography lesson: Lee Corso, former coach turned commentator, on the University of Hawaii’s poor record on the mainland:

“Hawaii doesn’t win many games in the United States.”

*

Quotebook: Former USC quarterback Sean Salisbury, now with the Minnesota Vikings, on getting to start in place of the injured Jim McMahon: “Every crumb you get, you try and turn it into a full meal.”