Hall Makes Big Contribution

When Frank Murphy and David Allen come off Kansas State’s injured list, they’ll find 300 pounds of Joe Hall standing between them and the starting running back’s job.

The hulking junior from Lakewood Artesia High, a frustrated backup during Kansas State’s first five games, came off the bench Saturday and rumbled for 195 yards and two touchdowns, sparking the ninth-ranked Wildcats to a 40-0 victory over Utah State at Manhattan, Kan.

“Hall is a big boy and a very hard runner,” said Utah State linebacker Josh Manning.

Hall, who says he weighs 285, is listed at 300 on Kansas State’s official lineup card. But at any weight, he’s not planning on anybody else starting for the Wildcats (6-0) this season.

“It’s their turn to take it from me now,” said the 6-foot-2 California native, who tipped the scales at 330 pounds this year.

“I’m not going to just give it up ‘cause I like them. It’s my job now to give away. The shoe’s on the other foot. I’m not happy about David and Frank getting hurt. But I just wanted my turn, and now it’s here.”

Surprisingly quick for his size, Hall ran for 143 yards in the second half, including a 47-yard gallop after the Wildcats had taken a 26-0 lead. He scored on a six-yard run in the third quarter and a 10-yard run in the fourth.

IN GREAT CHASE, DAYNE MAY BE DONE

Ron Dayne returned to Wisconsin for a chance at a national championship and to take a shot at the NCAA major-college rushing record. Two losses have squashed any title hopes, and a string of good-but-not-great rushing performances have put Dayne’s quest for Ricky Williams’ record in jeopardy as well.

The senior rushed for 167 yards in 17 carries in the Badgers’ 59-0 rout of Indiana at Madison, Wis., but he was held out of the second half as a precautionary measure after aggravating a dislocated finger late in the first.

Dayne, who has rushed for 1,020 yards, joined Amos Lawrence of North Carolina, Tony Dorsett of Pittsburgh and Denvis Manns of New Mexico State as the only players with four 1,000-yard rushing seasons. But the blowout further hurt Dayne’s chances of catching Williams.

He needs 697 yards in the Badgers’ final four games. That’s an average of 174.3 yards per game, a number he has reached only once this season against defenses designed to stop him. The Badgers finish the season against Michigan State, Northwestern, Purdue and Iowa.

“If I get it, that would be great,” Dayne said of the record. “If not, it won’t be the end of the world. I still got a lot of great things out of coming back.”

NITTANY LIONS GIVE CLICHES A REST

Penn State Coach Joe Paterno, saying his players have been besieged by fans and reporters all season, cut off most interviews this week in a rare policy change.

Running back Eric McCoo, who ran for a career-best 211 yards in 22 carries in a 23-10 victory over Ohio State at State College, Pa., said reporters didn’t miss much.

“Everybody was going to say what they say every week, anyway,” he said. “We just didn’t have to practice our speech.”

SOME GUYS ARE NEVER SATISFIED

Chris Boden, a senior from San Clemente High, completed 43 of 69 passes for 444 yards and four touchdowns, with no interceptions, in Villanova’s 48-45 triple overtime victory over Connecticut at Storrs, Conn.

The 43 completions and 444 yards were school records and the 69 attempts equaled a school mark. The attempts and completions also broke Atlantic 10 Conference records.

“We’re kind of spoiled at Villanova watching [Boden] play,” Coach Andy Talley said. “We think he should complete every pass he throws.”

LET’S SEE Y’ALL TOP THIS

One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi. . . .

For the first time in the 63-year history of the Associated Press college football poll, the three major schools from the Hospitality State are simultaneously ranked in the top 25, though that might change after No. 22 Mississippi lost to 11th-ranked Alabama, 30-24, at Oxford, Miss.

Mississippi State, 6-0 for the first time in 55 years, checked in at No. 12 last week after its 18-16 victory over Auburn on Oct. 9. Mississippi, 5-2 after its loss to Alabama, and Southern Mississippi, 4-2 after a 24-0 victory over Army, are at No. 22 and No. 25, respectively.

Each of the three Mississippi schools was in the top 25 in 1997, but not all at the same time.

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR A VANDAL

Texas Tech is selling pieces of the mangled goal post toppled by fans after its 21-19 victory over Texas A&M; on Oct. 2. Commemorative pieces of the only goal post ever torn down at Jones Stadium in Lubbock can be ordered through the Double T Shoppe on campus for $25.

TALKING TRASH IN WISCONSIN

It takes longer to clean up the mess than it does to make it after Wisconsin football games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.

A crew of 50 hired workers needs about eight hours to tidy up the 76,129-seat stadium, along with locker rooms, concession areas, bathrooms and the surrounding neighborhood.

Perhaps surprisingly, though, it’s not the students who leave the most trash.

“The student section isn’t that bad,” said Kay Coleman, the stadium’s custodial operations manager. “Maybe they can’t afford to buy as much food.”

Kiko Ramirez, a 15-year-old high school student who is part of the cleanup crew, had a suggestion that might ease the workload.

“Maybe,” he said, “they should make the fans come back and clean up after themselves.”

MARSHALL SEEKS ITS OWN LEGACY

Small school. Undefeated season. Top-10 finish. Marshall is looking to steal Tulane’s act.

Tulane rose from the obscurity of Conference USA last season to go undefeated, win the Liberty Bowl and finish ranked seventh.

It has given Marshall hope that small can indeed make it big.

No. 15 Marshall, which hails from the little-recognized Mid-American Conference, is 6-0 after Thursday night’s 38-13 victory over Toledo. With four of its last five games against teams with losing records, the Thundering Herd also is looking for a perfect season.

But can the Tulane talk.

“We just want to be the ’99 version of Marshall,” said quarterback Chad Pennington. “We don’t want to be compared to anybody. We want to set our own standard.”

TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS IN THE MAKING

With No. 24 Miami (2-3) still in the top 25 after three consecutive losses--the Hurricanes’ game Saturday against Temple was postponed because of Hurricane Irene--the question was asked: When was the last time a team with a losing record was ranked so late in the season?

The answer: 1971, when USC was 3-4 and ranked No. 24 after a 28-14 victory over sixth-ranked Notre Dame.

END OF RHODE FOR RAMS?

Rhode Island’s 27-25 loss to Brown at Providence, R.I., dropped the Rams to 0-6 and capped a day of bad news for its 101-year-old football program.

The Providence Journal reported in its Saturday editions that university officials have begun discussions about dropping the program to save money. Rhode Island has lost its last nine games and has won only three of 22.

Top of the Charts

All-Time Division I-A coaching victories:

Coach Victories

1. Bear Bryant 323

2. Pop Warner 319

3. Amos Alonzo Stagg 314

3. x-Joe Paterno 314

5. x-Bobby Bowden 299

6. Tom Osborne 255

7. x-LaVell Edwards 248

x-Active

*

--Compiled by Jerry Crowe