Notes on a Scorecard - Jan. 16, 1995

That might have been the real Super Bowl game Sunday at San Francisco, but the real AFC championship game at Pittsburgh was more delicious. . . .

It is remarkable how quickly Terrible Towels can become crying towels. . . .

For once, a Super Bowl team, the Chargers, can say that nobody expected them to get far and be right. . . .

The Steelers must know how another prohibitive favorite, Michael Moorer, felt the night he fought George Foreman. . . .

Pittsburgh controlled most of the action, but couldn’t land the knockout punch, and wound up on the seat of its pants. . . .

Steeler Coach Bill Cowher, explaining why Neil O’Donnell threw so often, said, “We felt we had to mix it up.” . . .

Does Cowher think 54 passes and 26 runs is “mixing it up?”. . .

The next time the Steelers get to the AFC championship game, I doubt that they will plan a Super Bowl video for the following week. . . .

With their eight penalties for 111 yards, the Steelers sometimes resembled another AFC team that wears black jerseys. . . .

One of Charger General Manager Bobby Beathard’s best offseason moves was signing free-agent linebacker Dennis Gibson from the Detroit Lions. . . .

The eight-year veteran batted down two passes in the end zone, including one on fourth down, during the Steelers’ last series. . . .

Nobody demonstrates the spirit of the Chargers any better than middle linebacker Junior Seau. . . .

It has been painful merely to watch him play with one arm for weeks. . . .

He had to retreat to the sideline once at Three Rivers Stadium, the pain was so intense. But it was during a timeout called by Pittsburgh, and he returned to the field without missing a beat. . . .

In the end, the Steelers were the ones aching from the 12 unassisted tackles Seau made. . . .

My idea of imaginative play calling is the Chargers throwing a bomb on third and 15 from the Steeler 43 while trailing, 13-10, with five minutes left in the game. . . .

Stan Humphries’ decisive touchdown pass made the receiver, Tony Martin, more famous than the singer of the same name. . . .

How wide open was Alfred Pupunu, the tight end from Tonga, when he caught the Chargers’ other 43-yard touchdown pass? “He was on his own island,” NBC’s Dick Enberg said. . . .

The Chargers will be much bigger underdogs than they were Sunday on Jan. 29 in Miami when they participate in the first all-California Super Bowl against a team that beat them, 38-15, in San Diego last month. . . .

Dallas kept rallying to within reasonable striking distance of the 49ers on a gritty performance by Troy Aikman, but, for all intents and purposes, the outcome was decided when the Cowboys fell behind, 21-0, early in the first quarter after three turnovers. . . .

Dallas is a good catch-up team, but spotting Steve Young and San Francisco three touchdowns was a very foolish thing to do. . . .

So was calling a draw play on third and 10 from the 49er 12-yard line while trailing, 21-7. Barry Switzer’s predecessor, Jimmy Johnson, never would have allowed such a thing. . . .

The game probably would have been closer if Johnson had been on the Dallas sideline instead of on the Fox TV platform. . . .

Maybe 49er Coach George Seifert can keep his job now. . . .

Well, at least through the actual Super Bowl. . . .

*

Ray George, the former USC lineman and assistant coach who died Thursday at 78, was an immensely popular and loyal Trojan and a regular in the press box at Coliseum games as recently as last season. . . .

John McKay often praised George for his work with the 1962 national championship team. . . .

Dennis Erickson’s hiring by the Seattle Seahawks will make the AFC West a tougher division. . . .

What the Dodgers will miss most about Orel Hershiser, 1995 version, is his enthusiasm. Few ballplayers enjoy the game as much as Hershiser. Don’t be surprised if he eventually returns to the club as a coach or an administrator. . . .

Tyus Edney’s dunk Saturday was the highlight, but the most encouraging thing about UCLA’s victories over Washington and Washington State was the consistency of Charles O’Bannon. . . .

During its sweep of the Huskies and Cougars, USC appeared to be a well-coached team. I hope Charlie Parker is given a legitimate chance to earn a change in job title from interim coach to coach. . . .

Roberto Duran, 44, ought to hang up the gloves before he gets hurt badly by someone who is younger and more powerful than Vinny Pazienza. . . .

Super Bowl prediction: San Francisco 38, San Diego 17.