Notes on a Scorecard - Jan. 3, 1995

Oh, that Texas hospitality. . . .

The football team from USC enjoyed its eight-day vacation here immensely. . . .

Barbecue. Sightseeing. Dominoes and card games in neat hotel rooms. No curfew. Non-contact practice sessions. And a 55-14 feast in the Cotton Bowl. . . .

“John McKay taught me to make sure that my teams in bowls and all-star games had so much fun that they got tired of fun and couldn’t wait to play,” John Robinson said after the Trojans made Texas Tech look like Carnegie Tech. . . .

The first quarter must have done wonders for the TV ratings of the Florida Citrus, Hall of Fame and Carquest bowls. . . .

It was 28-0, but the quarter wasn’t as close as the score indicated because Trojan wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson fumbled away a scoring opportunity. . . .

Thus Johnson was limited to three touchdown catches, two on passes from Rob Johnson and another from Brad Otton. . . .

No wonder the Southwest Conference is going to hang ‘em up after next season. . . .

SWC teams have lost seven consecutive Cotton Bowl games since Texas A&M;’s 35-10 victory over Notre Dame in 1988. . . .

Press box TV watchers noted this possible harbinger of things to come: The Raiderettes marched in front of the city of Inglewood float in the Rose Parade. . . .

*

USC and Texas Tech each received $3 million, which they must share with conference members. . . .

Texas Tech had a linebacker named John Robinson, but USC didn’t have anybody named Spike Dykes. . . .

Dykes, who plays golf left-handed, said giving up three touchdowns in 76 seconds in the first quarter was like bogeying the first three holes of the U.S. Open. . . .

USC didn’t punt until 2:48 remained in the second quarter. . . .

The Trojans also built a 28-0 lead in the Freedom Bowl last year before hanging on to beat Utah, 28-21. . . .

This time, they didn’t lose interest and weren’t playing a team that could throw the ball. . . .

The press box announcer was so busy updating bowl and school records that a Texas writer yelled, “Give it a rest” in the third quarter. . . .

Among the shortest-lived records was that for most points scored against Texas Tech in a bowl game: 41 by Oklahoma in last season’s John Hancock Bowl. . . .

What do 69 points, a full supply of TV commercials and a long halftime show add up to? Three hours and 42 minutes. . . .

“We wanted to be dominant defensively, and we were,” said Robinson. “That’s something that we’ll strive to be every week next season.” . . .

Robinson gave much of the credit to Rod Marinelli, the Trojans’ animated new defensive line coach from Arizona State. . . .

Among the busiest Red Raiders was Brad Cade, who punted 10 times. . . .

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Moments after the invocation, a plane flew over the stadium carrying a banner advertising a topless club. . . .

Keyshawn Johnson’s Heisman pose in the end zone was a bit much--and not very original. . . .

The capacity crowd of 70,218 was 7,000 less than the Bowl record because the playing area was widened and seats removed for the World Cup. . . .

A move of the game to Texas Stadium has been proposed, but it will stay at its present

site for at least three more

years. . . .

The Red Raiders’ sideline mascot, not to be confused with the quarter horse or the Masked Rider, was escorted by police to the dressing room in the second quarter to “cool off.” . . .

He got a standing ovation when he returned in the third quarter, twirling his oversized pistols. . . .

The Trojans had expected cold weather, but it was 52 degrees at kickoff and balmy compared to the Coliseum the night of the Notre Dame game. . . .

Wait until Cotton Bowl sponsors see the water and power bill. The lights were turned on at 11:15 a.m. in broad daylight. . . .

Fourteen of the 24 starters, including kickers, will return to USC next season. . . .

This might have been a preview of coming attractions for both teams--the Trojans open next season Sept. 9 against San Jose State at the Coliseum and the Red Raiders against Penn State on the road.