Notes on a Scorecard - Sept. 21, 1994

The major college football championship should be decided by a playoff. . . .

This is a recording. . . .

But the need for such a tournament seldom has been as evident as this season. . . .

There are more than the usual number of legitimate national title candidates. I count seven. . . .

In alphabetical order, they are Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska and Penn State. . . .

While compiling an 18-0 record, the Splendid Seven has outscored opponents, 866-244. . . .

The good thing is that there will be five regular-season games between Splendid Seven members. . . .

On Saturday, it will be Colorado at Michigan. Oct. 8: Florida State at Miami. Oct. 15: Penn State at Michigan. Oct. 29: Colorado at Nebraska. Nov. 26: Florida at Florida State. . . .

That will help to untangle the situation, but won’t settle it. The bowls probably won’t either. . . .

I believe that Penn State, wearing its throwback uniforms, is the finest team in the land. . . .

However, it is a longshot that the Nittany Lions will be involved in a No. 1 vs. 2 showdown at the Rose Bowl, where the Big Ten champion plays. . . .

Arizona of the Pacific 10 Conference is unbeaten, but the Wildcats don’t have the firepower to stay that way the rest of the season. . . .

The alliance bowl system that will put the two highest ranked teams outside the Big Ten and Pac-10 in the Fiesta Bowl doesn’t begin until next season. . . .

I hope ABC feeds us some highlights from one of its regional telecasts, Alcorn vs. Sam Houston State. . . .

Alcorn quarterback Steve (Air) McNair is putting up remarkable numbers, has caught the eyes of NFL scouts and will get some Heisman Trophy votes. . . .

Those who don’t believe a Division I-AA performer should win the Heisman say that would be like giving the National League most valuable player award to Albuquerque Duke slugger Billy Ashley. . . .

However, McNair is more deserving of Heisman consideration than was the third-place finisher in 1987, Gordie Lockbaum of Holy Cross. . . .

The pros and cons of a bye week are debatable, but USC should benefit from getting an extra week’s rest between the beating it took at Penn State and the game against Baylor on Saturday night at the Coliseum. . . .

UCLA’s opponent Saturday at the Rose Bowl, Washington State, is one of only two unbeaten and untied teams in the Pac-10. . . .

Things have gone from mediocre to worse for former Notre Dame Coach Gerry Faust, whose Akron Zips have been outscored in three games, 109-23, and ended Kent’s 17-game losing streak last Saturday. . . .

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Look-alikes: Scott Mitchell and Phil Mickelson. . . .

“I know you’re very busy,” said ESPN reporter Pam Oliver, cutting off an interview with owner Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys an hour before kickoff against the Detroit Lions on Monday. Oliver should have known that Jones is never too busy to be interviewed on TV. . . .

The Lions deserved to win, but nearly were deprived of the upset because of poor clock management in the final minute of regulation. . . .

It is amazing how often pro and college coaches mishandle timeouts. . . .

The oldest living former NFL player is Arda Bowser, 93, who was a back for the Canton Bulldogs and Cleveland Indians in 1922-23. . . .

According to a Money magazine survey, a ticket to a Cowboy game at Texas Stadium is the best buy in the NFL, NBA or major league baseball and a ticket to a New York Knick game at Madison Square Garden the worst. . . .

If first-round draft choice Jamie Storr isn’t going to play goal for the Kings at least 20 times this season, they should send him to the minor leagues. . . .

Hollywood Park officials believe the track’s new casino helped to generate record handle and attendance figures for the track’s telecasts of the Del Mar races. . . .

Jaime Garza, the 34-year-old former World Boxing Council super-bantamweight champion from Tarzana, is scheduled to fight for the first time since 1989 Saturday night at the Grand Olympic when he faces Antonio Hernandez on a card featuring unbeaten Oxnard featherweight Roberto Garcia against Bobby Brewer. . . .

Newly crowned WBC junior-lightweight champion Gabriel Ruelas will conduct a question-and-answer session with fans and sign autographs before the show from 6 to 6:30 p.m. . . .

Great timing: Two days after the rest of the baseball schedule was canceled, the Colorado Rockies announced that they were raising ticket prices for next season.