"We didn't match up physically with most of the other teams in this tourney, but we were the best balanced and most consistent team here" Perhaps not as talented as Garrido's first champion, his 1979 squad But, in the end, just as successful. Since the official hasn't stepped forward to identify himself, no one is sure whether he was talking about Houston's players, its fans or both. "Don, if you win, I'm voting for you" Switzer told Washington Coach Don James "I'll vote for you, too" James said. "I think there's no question that all the votes should go to the winner of our game and to BYU" James is a conservative fellow, not given to bold pronouncements And then there is Barry Switzer. They come into this bowl ranked 14th and 15th in the two polls and with eight wins Timing, you know. Now he trains 32, but the principle for Mel Stute is the same: He makes inexpensive thoroughbreds go a long way. .

We weren't going to get our $2 million that way" But the Stute (rhymes with duty) horses made their move after February, accounting for about $2 million in purses in the last 10 months alone. It is a vicious forearm uppercut to the head of an opponent, usually a wide receiver. The Cougars didn't take it as a compliment, although, in a backhanded way, it was intended as one. It should be a good one, although no match for Miami's dramatic, hometown upset of Nebraska in last year's game, one that did decide the national title. Many of the other trainers on that top-20 list deal in million-dollar yearlings and fancy foreign imports, flying them hither and yon for rich stakes races.

He spoke about how he'd never watched other teams in the playoffs on TV, always gone hunting, instead. The Miami Dolphins, who entered a protest against the brutality of Seattle safety Kenny Easley in the playoffs the other day, were making a legitimate complaint. "You generally say, 'You dance with who brung you' " Walden said. The Olympics dominated the sports news in 1984-in Orange County as well as the world But there were other moments, to be sure. "I got First Balcony for $20,000" Stute says the best horse he has ever trained was Double Discount, who if he hadn't been a colt would have been mistaken for a mare in foal But Double Discount seldom let his belly get in the way. Clayton pushed Seattle out of the playoffs and entrenched Miami as a Super Bowl favorite with five brilliant catches, including two that were almost unbelievable: -Closely double-covered in the first quarter, Clayton somehow pulled in the 26-yard pass that set up Miami's first (7-0) touchdown. The Cotton Bowl's executive vice president, Jim (Hoss) Brock, said that the remark, if indeed it was made, probably was meant as a joke.

Said wide receiver Eddie Brown of Miami when told that UCLA will start two freshmen in its defensive backfield today in the Fiesta Bowl: "Now that's something to look forward to. "Of course, it was still December today" said Riggins, who had rushed for more than 100 yards in a record six straight playoff games, most of them in January. BYU, the hidden opponent here, has already beaten Michigan in the Holiday Bowl and is now merely waiting for the final vote. When they perform at the Cotton Bowl today, members of the Houston band have promised to wear plastic cockroaches pinned to their uniforms and carry Slurpee cups from the nearest 7-Eleven. . I don't care how good your defense is, he'll wear you out, keep the pressure on you. Minnesota (12-19-6) broke the game open with three straight goals in the second period, getting even for a 6-1 loss to the Islanders in November. But University of Houston officials realize that the sentiment, although not usually expressed publicly, is very real.

Ditka reinstalled the iron-wrist game of the Nagurskis, Osmanskis, Casareses, Butkuses, the "knock somebody down, help them up and knock them down again" school of play You may have noticed. They may shrink from the Easley uppercut but not from clothesline hits and other mean plays. The starting center is Alton Lister, and he's backed up by Paul Mokeski. At halftime, Culver City Mayor Paul Jacobs will present a commendation to four players of the U. S. By retiring 27 straight batters, Witt recorded only the 13th perfect game in major-league history and the first in a nine-inning game since Cleveland's Len Barker stopped the Toronto Blue Jays on May 15, 1981. But the Bucks are leading the Central Division with a 22-11 record and have won eight straight games. We defeated Michigan in '75 in the Orange Bowl and we were No 1 in the polls the next day Arizona State was the only undefeated team They were 12-0 in the WAC conference and they were No 2 I think because of their conference schedule they were No 2.

The organization is too big, with too many interests groups to accommodate many larger institutions. Walker then blocked a shot, raced down to the other end and was fouled after he converted a slam-dunk. The Bruins are led by a healthy Steve Bono, which is nothing to sneeze at. Stute is considered an astute handicapper and says he and one of his owners have hit Pick Sixes that paid $300,000 and $180,000.

Since the official hasn't stepped forward to identify himself, no one is sure whether he was talking about Houston's players, its fans or both. We wish them success wherever they may play" Meeting the media afterward, Stern was asked to elaborate. Everett took Purdue to the Virginia 30, where Daly intercepted on the 15 with 4:56 left. We have a good standing rule (that requires all student-athletes to be enrolled in a program leading to a degree It took years to get that rule clarified It was vague. Accused one day of hitting some "lucky big plays" Bradshaw said: "You can't make big plays if you don't throw the ball" That is the Marino-Clayton approach precisely.

Commissioner David Stern recently spoke at a luncheon in Century City welcoming the Clippers to Los Angeles. Then again, Miami Coach Jimmy Johnson has never lost to Donahue They've never met So switch on the VCR and save it for parties later This is pure pizazz. "I don't think our team got complacent in the second half, but rather Wilson did a good job of trapping and switched to a 3-2 zone" Joining Hakeman on the all-tournament team were Hawks Jim Mansfield and Jim Sammon. "We came into the year shooting for $2 million in purses" Stute said. Esperanza, 1-19 last season, is off to a 5-5 start, including a 75-64 victory over Bolsa Grande in the championship game of the Canyon of Anaheim tournament. This from Boston's Larry Bird: "I don't understand how Bernard does it.

and the West Regional I championship, but in the College World Series at Omaha, more trouble cropped up for Fullerton. The Bruins are led by a healthy Steve Bono, which is nothing to sneeze at. But then the LSU job opened up, as might be expected after Jerry Stovall dropped the program to a 4-7 record, and the down-home Arnsparger went after it Why in the world?. Hodges, a reserve with the Clippers, starts in the backcourt.