Utah Gets Boost From Avuncular Figure

Utah, which plays Brigham Young today, is in position to go to a BSC bowl, thanks to Michigan State’s victory over Wisconsin last weekend. That enabled Utah to move up to No. 6 in the BCS rankings.

Utah quarterback Alex Smith just happens to be the nephew of Michigan State Coach John L. Smith, and the two chatted on the phone before last weekend’s games.

“I told him we’d go out and try to get him some help,” John L. Smith said.

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Trivia time: Which player led the NFL in passing, punting and interceptions in 1943?

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Morality judge: Keyshawn Johnson, of all people, criticized the “Monday Night Football” skit involving Terrell Owens and Nicollette Sheridan.

“I have a 9-year-old daughter,” he said on Sirius satellite radio Thursday night. “Do you think I want my daughter to think it is OK to drop your towel in the boys’ locker room before they play?”

Imagine that, Johnson a spokesman for proper behavior.

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Timing is everything: The Dallas Cowboys gave up 28 points in the second quarter of their 49-21 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.

Wrote David Thomas of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: “Nicollette Sheridan threw in the towel before the game. At least the Cowboys’ defense waited until the second quarter.”

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He should know: Bo Jackson, profiled Friday night in Spike TV’s new documentary series, “Untold,” talked about his tumultuous youth. He said he was more than just a bully.

“I was the John Gotti of my neighborhood,” the former two-sport star said. “Meaning, if any kid got hit in the head with a rock, or if a car window got smashed, or a picture in somebody’s house got broken, or a neighbor’s cat or dog was missing, they came to my house and asked me first.

“Because usually, 95% of the time, I did it.”

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Pac-10 prowess: The Pacific 10 Conference now has the No. 1 and No. 4 college football teams. Also, as Commissioner Tom Hansen points out, Pac-10 schools won 11 national sports championships during the last school year, three more than the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference combined.

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Looking back: On this day in 1997, A.C. Green, who really could be a spokesman for proper behavior, broke the NBA record for consecutive games. He made his 907th consecutive appearance while playing for the Dallas Mavericks in a game against the Golden State Warriors. That surpassed Randy Smith’s mark of 906, set from 1972 to ’83.

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Trivia answer: Sammy Baugh of the Washington Redskins. He completed 133 of 239 passes for 1,754 yards and 23 touchdowns, averaged 45.9 yards in 50 punts and returned 11 interceptions for 112 yards.

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And finally: Speaking of loudmouth NFL wide receivers, FSN’s Tom Arnold directed this at the Cincinnati Bengals’ Chad Johnson: “Hey, Chad, it’s too bad you don’t get open as often as your mouth does.”

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Larry Stewart can be reached at larry.stewart@latimes.com.