Finally, the Objective View of the National Championship

Hit the road, Florida State. One newspaper has declared Nebraska the new national football champion.

“Don’t take ‘Noles for an answer,” the Bellevue, Neb., Leader said in a front-page headline Wednesday. “Leader declares Cornhuskers No. 1.”

In an editorial, the weekly newspaper in an Omaha suburb said it made the declaration to preserve “a shred of dignity, an ounce of self-respect or a milligram of manhood.”

Nebraska lost the national championship to Florida State after losing to the Seminoles, 18-16, in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day. National polls put Florida State No. 1 and Nebraska No. 3.

Add Nebraska: The Bellevue Leader also criticized national sportswriters.

“For too long, we as a football-loving people have schmoozed the nation’s sportswriters, granting them the power to magically transform their subjective opinions into revealed truth. How they vote is how it has been. We declare our independence from hack writers, know-it-all sports pooh-bahs. . . . Don’t worry about the scoreboard. The national writers never do.”

Trivia time: John Elway is second in career passing yardage in the Pacific 10. Who is No. 1?

Confident leader: The Raiders’ Al Davis, in conversation with San Francisco Examiner columnist Art Spander, had this to say of the upcoming NFL playoff game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday in the Coliseum: “They’re scared to death of us.”

Sparring partners: New England Patriot Coach Bill Parcells chips in with his perspective on the Buddy Ryan incident. “I’ve had a few coaches I’d like to punch myself,” Parcells said. “And I’m certain there were a few that would have liked to punch me.”

Futility Bowl: UCLA, with six turnovers against Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl, didn’t come close to being football’s No. 1 bowl team in self-destruction.

Texas A&M; had seven interceptions and five lost fumbles in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1, 1942--a day the Aggies held Alabama to one first down and 75 total yards--and lost, 29-21.

Reward for failure: Bob Scott, who led Manchester, England’s failed bids to land the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games, was awarded knighthood in the Queen’s New Year’s Honors list for his efforts.

Changing times: When a group of potential Indianapolis 500 drivers showed up for a rookie test recently, their names were John Brooks, Andrea Chiesa, Bertrand Gachot, Stephan Gregoire, Olivier Grouillard, Mauricio Gugelmin, David Kudrave, Andrea Montermini, Scott Sharp and Johnny Unser. Racing historian Chris Economaki pointed out, rather wistfully, that there was “nary a sprint or midget (driver) and only four claim English as their native tongue.”

Trivia answer: Erik Wilhelm of Oregon State, with 9,393 yards to Elway’s 9,349 while at Stanford.

Quotebook: Boston Celtic Coach Chris Ford, discussing the psychological condition of his struggling team: “If we were any more passive, we’d be in a coffin.”