THE BOTTOM TEN / STEVE HARVEY : They Had Hoped for a Strike by Players

THE COLLEGES

Nearly everyone breathed a sigh of relief during the weekend when a strike by college football players was averted after they agreed to a cap on under-the-table payments from boosters. Houston might not have been so happy, however, because no strike means the Cougars will resume losing and probably repeat as Bottom Ten champs. Also vying are two unexpected entries--West Virginia (0-1) and Fresno State (0-1), currently two of the losingest teams in the nation.

Analysts have said that Fresno State, which lost starting quarterback Trent Dilfer to the semi-pros (Tampa Bay), will have to claw and scratch its way to victories this season. Perhaps that’s why one player was involved in a bar fight in which he allegedly bit off part of a man’s lip. He gave it back.

The rankings:

School, ’93 Record Worst ’93 Loss Next Loss 1. Houston (0-1) 13-35, Kansas* La. Tech 2. UTEP (1-11) 0-52, Colo. State Wyoming 3. (Tie) W. Va. (0-1) 0-31, Nebraska* Ball State 3. Fresno St. (0-1) 10-34, Ohio State* San Jose St. 5. Purdon’t (1-10) 24-45, Ohio State Toledo 6. San Jose State (2-9) 13-46, Cal Fresno State 7. Temple (1-10) 0-62, Rutgers Akron 8. Stanford (4-7) 17-46, Cal N’western 9. Chapman (0-0) Idle Whittier 10. East Carolina (2-9) 0-35, Washington Duke

11. Wide Awake Forest (2-9); 12. Arkansas State (2-8-1); 13. Ole Southern Miss (2-8-10); 14. Maryland (2-9); 15. Northwestern (2-9); 16. Vanderbilt (4-7); 17. Idle; 18-20. Pentagon (Army, Navy, Air Force) (14-20).

*

Others receiving votes (in alphabetical order): None.

*--Signifies 1994 result.

*

Rout of the Week: FSU (Free Shoes U.) Seminoles over Virginia.

Longest winless streak in NCAA: Chapman (Calif.) University hasn’t had a victory in 62years--the last time the school fielded a team. And the Panthers don’t open against just anyone, either--the dreaded Fighting Poets of Whittier College.

*

This guy’s in trouble: San Diego State Coach Ted Tollner on his opener: “We have to find a way to beat Navy. That’s the only way we’re going to get any credibility in town.”

THE PROS

Los Angeles Lamb players have apparently been on strike since the season began in support of their major league baseball brothers. Stuck with replacement players, the team compiled an 0-4 exhibition record, scoring a grand total of 42 points and establishing itself as the Bottom Ten favorite.

Team management has even criticized the stadium, insisting that--for reasons unknown to science--the Lambs always seem to be moving uphill when they have the ball there.

The early line on individual 1994 flops, meanwhile, favors such entries as ESPN’s Phil (I Used to Hate Interviews) Simms and Tampa Bay quarterback Trent Dilfer, who is a threat to line up behind anyone on the offensive line. But the most spectacular washout could be Indianapolis’ unproductive running back Marshall Faulk, who is starting ahead of promising Roosevelt Potts. Mark our words. It’s only a matter of time before Indianapolis goes to Potts.

BOTTOM TEN 6-PACK

Team, ’93 Record Worst ’93 Loss Next Loss 1. L.A. Rams (5-11) 3-15, Cincinnati Arizona 2. Cincinnati (3-13) 3-38, Houston Cleveland 3. Tampa-at-Bay (5-11) 0-23, Detroit Chicago 4. Indianapolis (4-12) 0-38, New England Houston 5. Cleveland (7-9) 10-23, Indianapolis Cincinnati 6. N.J. Jets (8-8) 0-24, Houston Buffalo

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FUNNIEST EXHIBITION RECORDS

Crummy Team, Record

1. Indianapolis (4-0)

2. Chicago (4-0)

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ROOKIE FLOPS OF ’94

Newcomer, Position Team Comment 1. Faulk, RB Indy Canada next? 2. Dilfer, QB Tampa QB or Wingback? 3. Switzer, Coach Dallas No recruiting violations 4. Simms, Broadcaster ESPN Pass 5. Johnson, Broadcaster Fox Bad-hair life

Crummy Opener: Cincinnati (3-13) vs. Cleveland (7-9).

For Your Clip ‘n Save File: Dallas rookie Coach Barry Switzer: “The collegiate level is certainly more demanding than this. That’s one of the things that coaches had always told me about the NFL, ‘Coach, you will like it--it’s easier to coach at this level.’ ”