COLLEGE FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT : ON SECOND THOUGHT

Warren Sapp, Miami’s impressive defensive lineman, maligned the Big Ten when criticizing Penn State last week for its weak schedule.

But the Big Ten looked strong after this season’s edition of bowl games concluded Monday. With Penn State, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois winning, the Big Ten finished 4-1 in postseason play. And Ohio State barely lost to No. 6 Alabama.

The Western Athletic Conference was 2-1, the Southeast Conference 3-2. The Pacific 10 was 2-2 after victories by USC and Washington State and losses by Arizona and conference champion Oregon. Sapp’s Big East was 1-3.

How they finished:

Big West: 1-0

Big Ten: 4-1

WAC: 2-1

SEC: 3-2

ACC: 3-2

Pac 10: 2-2

Big Eight: 2-2

Big East: 1-3

Southwest: 1-3

Mid American: 0-1

Independents: 0-2

ON SECOND THOUGHT II

About the only ripple of controversy before the Cotton Bowl was Texas Tech defensive tackle Damon Wickware’s sneering comments directed at USC quarterback Rob Johnson. Wickware suggested Johnson was not one of the nation’s great quarterbacks although he was hyped as a Heisman Trophy candidate early in the season.

But Johnson completed 16 of 21 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns against Wickware and the Red Raider defense.

“I told him during the game he was doing real good,” Wickware said. “But what I said earlier in the week, I guess he proved he is great.”