More Than One Reason to Circle Dec. 3 Date

Record-wise, UCLA and USC are not as far apart in football as a lot of people thought they would be, and overall the two schools’ athletic programs appear to be evenly matched.

At least that’s what the 18-sport Lexus Gauntlet competition between the Bruins and Trojans indicates. Since its inception five years ago, the trophy has alternated between USC and UCLA. This year they are 1-1. USC won in women’s volleyball Sept. 30, and UCLA won in women’s soccer, 3-2, in double overtime Friday night.

Each win was worth five points toward the trophy. A win in football, on Dec. 3 at the Coliseum, is worth 10 points.

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Trivia time: Which former Bruin, who played 10 years in the NFL, split time with Karl Dorrell at flanker at UCLA in 1983?

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Football twinbills: Northwestern College, an NCAA Division III school in Roseville, Minn., routed Trinity Bible College of Ellendale, N.D., 59-0, Saturday, then traveled 6 1/2 miles to beat Macalester College of St. Paul, 47-14. Although it may be the first time a school played a home game and road game on the same day, Northwestern is not the first to play a doubleheader.

Several readers e-mailed to say California opened some seasons in the 1930s with doubleheaders at Memorial Stadium.

“The Bears would play a weak team, primarily using reserves, and a somewhat stronger one that brought out the starters,” reader Art Wild said.

According to Robert H. Eichorst, 93, of El Cajon, Calif., a 1933 Wisconsin graduate, the Badgers played doubleheaders from 1928 to ’31.

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Geography lesson: Terry Bradshaw, who taped an interview with Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher for Sunday’s NFL pregame on Fox, said: “When Brian told me he grew up in New Mexico, I told him I thought it is cool that people from other countries play football. He corrected me on my geography and agreed to sit down with me anyway.”

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Age is relative: Before Vinny Testaverde, who turns 42 on Nov. 13, helped the New York Jets defeat Tampa Bay, 14-12, Sunday, Fox’s Howie Long was skeptical.

“He’s 42 years old,” Long said. “I’m 45. When I fly back home I stretch for 10 minutes before I go in the house for fear that one of my kids is going to pop out of the closet and hit me. Are you kidding me? He’ll win three or four for them if he stays healthy, but that’s it.”

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Looking back: On this day in 1981, USC’s Marcus Allen ran for 211 yards, his fifth consecutive 200-plus yard rushing game, in a 13-10 loss to Arizona.

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Trivia answer: Michael Young, who went by Mike at UCLA. Young played for the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.

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And finally: Of Texas Tech quarterback Cody Hodges, TBS announcer Bob Neal said, “He is no Baryshnikov, but he can run when he needs to. Is he going to be mad at me for saying that?”

Commentator Tom Ramsey, toeing the line, so to speak, replied, “No, but his mother might.”

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