They Could Have Been Contenders, but Not Here

Eighteen NCAA Division I-A teams began Saturday without a loss.

By the time the day was complete, the field of contenders--with many pretenders hanging on mind you--had been reduced by more than one-third, including No. 1 Florida after its shocking 23-20 loss to Auburn.

As it stands this week, Oklahoma, Nebraska, UCLA, Oregon, Virginia Tech and Miami seem to have the best chances to play for the national title on Jan. 3.

But what of the others?

Is it still possible for a school to win a national championship without the allure of being a big-time program, a la Brigham Young in 1984?

Not likely, what with the bowl championship series weeding out most of the lower-tier unbeatens.

Even in ‘84, Bryant Gumbel and then-Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer accused BYU of playing a “Bo Diddley Tech” schedule.

More recently, Tulane (12-0) in 1998 and Marshall (13-0) in 1999 tried to stake their claim to national supremacy, to no avail.

Fresno State and Toledo were trying to fill that role this season.

Of the remaining unbeatens, don’t count on BYU, Maryland or Washington State to sneak into the Rose Bowl.

Devil of a Time

It’s fair to say that Wake Forest has been a sharp thorn in Duke’s side recently.

More like an entire rose bush actually.

Duke, which owns the nation’s longest losing streak, saw it grow to 18 in a 42-35 loss to Wake Forest.

It was a game that arguably was one of the Blue Devils’ best chances to put an end to the streak this season.

During an 0-11 season in 2000, Duke nearly broke the streak against Wake Forest, but lost, 28-26.

The last Duke victory was Nov. 13, 1999, a 48-35 victory against--you guessed it--Wake Forest.

The Blue Devils are still a ways from Northwestern’s Division I-A record of 34 in a row but seem to have only one more legitimate chance this season--Oct. 27 against Vanderbilt--to end the streak or risk it reaching 22.

Fanning Major Flames

Because Chris Simms’ performance is likely to quiet Texas fans--at least for a week--chances are we won’t hear much from forgotten senior backup Major Applewhite.

Not that Applewhite says much anyway, preferring to keep mostly to himself when the subject of a quarterback controversy is discussed.

Applewhite may be the Longhorns’ career passing leader and holder of 40 school passing records, but if there’s any bitterness he never shows it.

“I just don’t think that’s everyone’s business to know how I feel about what’s going on,” Applewhite said.

“I’m sorry. I hope people respect that.”

By sitting on the bench, Applewhite has been elevated to near-legendary status by some fans.

But he says he doesn’t pay any attention to his fan support. Nor will he be goaded into criticizing Simms.

“It doesn’t mean anything,” Applewhite said. “I appreciate it. I thank them. Polls, call-in shows, things like that, if that’s what they need to get it off their chest, that’s fine, let them do that. It’s Coach [Mack] Brown’s decision.

“In the car on the way home, the last thing I want to listen to is people talking about sports.”

Cornhusker Connection

Eric Crouch’s three touchdown runs for Nebraska against Baylor moved him past Tommy Frazier for most offensive touchdowns in Nebraska history with 80.

Frazier, who quarterbacked Nebraska to national championships in 1994-95, is Baylor’s running backs coach.

Crouch and Frazier saw each other in Nebraska’s hotel Friday night.

“He’s a legend at Nebraska,” Crouch said. “There was no significance that he was on the opposing sideline today. I’m not aware of records until I break them.”

Century Marked Man

Adrian Peterson’s amazing NCAA-record streak of consecutive 100-yard rushing games during the regular season is over at 36.

Peterson, of Division I-AA Georgia Southern, was held to 71 yards in 19 carries in a 27-18 victory against Appalachian State.

Including playoff games, Peterson’s streak had reached 48.

“It’s a team game and I’m just happy we’re able to hang on for the win,” Peterson said. “All of the records and accomplishments are nice, but that’s not why I play.”

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Compiled by Jim Barrero