COLLEGE FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT

MAYBE COACH SHOULD USE THE PADDLE

Spotlight goes Greek this week, as in the system, and we fittingly begin with No. 13 Louisiana State, which is having a fine season led by running back Kevin Faulk.

However, a downer for the Tigers (6-1) this season has been their pass rush, which ranked last in the SEC with only 10 sacks before a 28-20 victory over Mississippi State on Saturday.

LSU’s inability to pressure opposing quarterbacks has earned its defense the nickname “Sorority Rush,” and according to LSU players, the name is warranted.

“That point is stressed every day in practice,” defensive end Mike Sutton said. “[Defensive end coach Jerry] Baldwin says the word ‘sack’ and everybody just puts their heads down.”

PEACE IS FLOWING LIKE A RIVER

James Jenkins rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns and the Ram defense blocked two punts and a field goal to lead Rhode Island to a 38-7 victory over Boston University.

Yeah, we know, not your normal headline material, but this game was significant because URI forfeited its game last week to Connecticut after an Oct. 7 attack on the Theta Delta Chi fraternity by football players.

In an organized attack, looking much lot like a battle scene from “Braveheart,” players rushed the house and fought with members of the fraternity.

As a result, two players were dismissed and four players suspended indefinitely (Mel Gibson not among them).

As a sign of peace, members of the football team and the URI fraternity council shook hands at midfield before the game.

“There has been a lot of pressure on them,” URI Coach Floyd Keith said. “This is exactly the way I wanted them to respond.”

BIGGER MOUTH THAN NEW BEER CANS

--North Carolina linebacker Keith Newman on being complacent: “It’s easy to go from the penthouse to the poophouse.”

--Virginia safety Anthony Poindexter on tackling: “Sometimes, when I get somebody just right, I’ll hear them whimpering a little bit.”

--Northwestern Coach Gary Barnett on the injury to defensive tackle Matt Rice: “If you saw X-rays of Matt’s ankle, you’d probably think we should cut his foot off.”

--Texas receiver Mike Adams on his speed: “Sometimes I feel fast, sometimes I don’t. But I’ve never known anyone to lose their speed unless they get fat.”

MAYBE THEY WERE BRUNO MAGLIS

Arizona State Coach Bruce Snyder has been saying all week that he saw this year’s breakthrough season coming, and it began when he recruited quarterback Jake Plummer out of Boise, Idaho.

But his house visit with the Plummers when Jake was a senior in high school didn’t exactly get off on the right foot.

“There were five or six inches of snow on the ground and he walked into my parents’ house and complained he had just ruined a $200 pair of shoes,” Plummer said.

Luckily for Sun Devil fans, the Plummers didn’t end the discussion there.

“Then he said I was the guy they wanted and I could play right away and turn Arizona State into a contender for the national title,” Plummer said. “Looking back, I didn’t think it could happen. But now, if it comes about, I guess you can say coach Snyder might have a little fortune-telling ability.”

THIS YEAR, OREGON GETS THE RED HOOK

Oregon and Washington met in Eugene, and fans were still brewing (no, not coffee or beer) over unsavory remarks and actions from last year, such as:

--After a 24-22 Oregon victory in Seattle, tailback Kevin Parker put a towel around his neck like a noose and made a face at the Huskies’ fans, as if to indicate Washington had choked.

--Huskies said Oregon players spat on Washington’s trophy case as they left the field.

--Near the end of the season Washington Coach Jim Lambright lobbied for his team to get a bid to the Cotton Bowl over Oregon because Seattle is a bigger city with more television potential, which the Ducks took as a put-down of Eugene.

Well, give round 1996 to the Huskies, 33-14. “What felt wonderful was when the crowd started leaving early,” Lambright said. “There were a lot of them who didn’t like me a whole lot when they came in.”

BARBERS OF SEVILLE, ER, CHARLOTTESVILLE

Everyone knows about Virginia’s brothers, Tiki and Ronde Barber, and we don’t mean fraternity brothers. The twins from Blacksburg, Va., aren’t the most famous brother tandem in college football history. That honor belongs to the trio of Lee Roy, Lucious and Dewey Selmon from Oklahoma defenses in the 1970s.

The Barbers are at least the most famous twins since USC’s Marlin and Mike McKeever were All-Americans nearly 40 years ago.

Tiki, whose real name is Atiim Kiambu, an African term meaning “fiery tempered king,” led the Atlantic Coast Conference in rushing, scoring and all-purpose yardage, with 126.5 yards per game and 5.7 per carry going into the Florida State game. He added 150 in 21 carries in the Seminoles’ 31-24 victory.

Ronde, whose given name, Jamael Oronde, means “first born” is a standout cornerback for the Cavaliers.

They room together, something they have done since birth.

“When they were babies, they wouldn’t go to sleep if they weren’t in the same crib or playpen. They had to be touching,” said their mother, Geraldine. “Even in their sleep they would find a way to gravitate to each other.”

NOTEWORTHY

--Florida State’s Thad Busby had his best game as a starter with 316 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Seminoles past Virginia, 31-24.

--Damian Poalucci threw seven touchdown passes for the second time this season as East Stroudsburg defeated Cheyney, 78-32. Poalucci was 23 for 39 for 494 yards.

--Army ran its record to 7-0, its best start in 46 years, with a 27-7 victory over Miami of Ohio.

--Byron Hanspard carried the ball a career-high 41 times, gaining 198 yards to lead Texas Tech over Texas A&M;, 13-10.

HE’LL BE A GROUCH IN THE MORNING

Miami linebackers coach Randy Shannon was injured when struck in the head Saturday by a trash can thrown from the second level of Mountaineer Field.

Yes, that’s right, a trash can. It landed on Shannon and he suffered a bruise to the head, according to Miami’s trainers, who treated the 30-year-old coach briefly, then helped him into the dressing room.

The incident occurred after Miami’s last-minute, 10-7 victory over No. 12 West Virginia. Miami’s coaches and players were almost in the locker room when the 55-gallon plastic can with trash in it came hurtling down.

After a victory in 1993, Miami players were pelted with cups of tobacco juice.

--Compiled by GEORGE DOHRMANN