THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 5, 1996 TAG: 9601050602
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Molinaro
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
Not bowled over: The Fiesta Bowl turned out to be every inch the college version of the Super Bowl - a lip-synched National Anthem was followed by a lopsided game.
Orange crush: Clemson, an identical 10-0 in both men's and women's basketball, is the only school in the country with two undefeated hoop teams.
Sizing up the game: Instead of enlarging the goals, international soccer should consider shrinking the goal keepers.
Double talk: Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer constantly speaks of his program moving up to ``another level,'' but agrees to open the '96 season against footwipe Akron when Tech can't arrange a game against Auburn. Very confusing.
ABCing you: Perhaps you noticed that ABC used its fourth-string team in the booth for the Sugar Bowl. The game originally was assigned to the Monday Night Football crew - Dierdorf, Michaels and Gifford. When the prime-time trio got wind of the Texas-Virginia Tech matchup, it pulled out faster than you can say Regis and Kathie Lee.
On second thought: Though Notre Dame football was roundly mocked for playing the three service academies, the Irish ended up playing the nation's toughest regular-season schedule. Their opponents had a combined record of 67-37-5.
Weighing in: Any day now, if it hasn't happened already, the boxing cognoscenti will announce that Oscar De La Hoya has overtaken Roy Jones and ``Our Own'' Sweetpea Whitaker as best pound-for-pound fighter.
Little big man: Speaking of best pound-for-pound, nobody in the NBA is doing a finer coaching job than bantamweight Mike Fratello of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Graffiti: By painting over the downtown mural of Alonzo Mourning with Hugo the Hornet, the city of Charlotte trusts that the mascot will not jump to another team.
Clank: Former North Carolina man-mountain Eric Montross suffers through a sophomore slump with the Celtics, especially at the free-throw line, where he is shooting 39.7 percent.
Idle thought: The upset of the season in college football is Gary Barnett remaining at Northwestern.
Streaking: Just as impressive as Nebraska's back-to-back national titles are Florida State's 11 consecutive bowl victories under Bobby Bowden.
NFL tidbit: A dome team has yet to reach the Super Bowl.
Moving on: By leaving Virginia for pro soccer, Bruce Arena created bigger headlines than he ever could for bringing five NCAA championships to Charlottesville.
All wet: Amazingly, coaches continue to be surprised and players greatly amused by the old Gatorade over the head routine that ends big games.
Say ``cheese'': Tom Osborne must think his smile is going to freeze. In Nebraska, it just might.
Quick kick: Nebraska's team picture is suitable for hanging on a post office wall.
Moving up: The Pack is not back simply because it beat the Atlanta Falcons. If Brett Favre and Co. get by the 49ers, that's a different story.
Give it a chance: One man's nomination for the new name of the Bullets - the Washington Peace. by CNB