Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Natioi ...Des By JAMES P. HERSH Asst. Sports Editor Alhost every national sports publication makes a pre-season prediction- of what college foot ball's top twenty will be at the end of the year. And, invariably, almost every one is'wrong. The Gamecock does With players like Archie Griffin and Cornelius Greene back, Woody Hayes .should be able to relax along the sidelines. the same thing, witi about the same result. Who knows, maybe this year the predictions wil be right. Ohio State is always a safe bet for the top five teams, and this year they have the potential to make it to number one, a spot they might have held last year had they escaped Michigan Stadium with just a one-point victory instead of a tie. Woody Hayes, the Buckeyes' temperamental and seemingly interminable coach, suffered a heart attack early in the summer but with players like running .back Archie Griffin, only a junior this year, and quarterback Cornelius Greene returning, Hayes should be able to. relax along the sidelines, even though once in a awhile he might do something like break a first down marker to let. people know he is still alive. Ohio State should make it to the Rose Bowl for the third straight year, but this time with a perfect record. Not even Michigan, who rates about sixth in the nation, should ruin the Buckeyes. Nevertheless, the nation Is filled with outstanding teams ready to step In as number one should Ohio State falter somewhere along the line. For instance, Oklahoma, still on probation for recruiting violations, Notre Dame and Southern California, the likely opponent for Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, will fight for top spots, probably finishing as they are listed above. Oklahoma has halfback Joe Washington, who gained 1,173 rushing last year, back to help terrorize the defenses in the Big Eight. And for variety Coach Barry Switzer~can ask quarterback Steve Davis and wide receiver Tinker Owens to keep the defenses edge with an occasional game breaking long pass. al Pr pite Woody On defense-two of the Selmon brothers return-tackles Dewey and LeRoy. All of which adds up to another big year for Oklahoma, which, unfortunately, is still ineligible for post-season play. Last year's national champions, Notre Dame , are strong again despite losing running back Eric Penick to an ankle injury until .midseason and six sophmores for the year for violating university regulations. But quarterbackTom Clements a Heisman- Trophy candidate and the Irish have their regular mammoth linemen to keep them near the nation's top. . Southern California, after being humiliated by Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, returns many of last year's superstars, particularly running back Anthony Davis and quarterback Pat Haden, the Pacific 8's total offense leader '. 1973. Throw in a defense led by two time All-America linebacker Richard (Batman) Wood and Coach John McKay is ready for another year on top of the Pacific 8 despite an opening loss to Arkansas. It almost seems a sin to rank Alabama as low as fifth, but with quarterback Gary Rutledge, who ran the wishbene like he invented it, out for half the season, the Tide has to feel some ill affects, which will keep them from the top. Graduation stripped Alabama of running back Wilbur Jackson and Red Courtney and receiver Wayne' Wheeler, and no matter how many players Bear Bryant has, none can fill the void they leave. eview s attack, 01 Gamecock's Top Twenty 1. Ohio State 2. Oklahoma 3. Notre Came 4. Southern California 5. Alabama 6. Michigan 7..Penn State 8. Nebraska - 9. Texas 10. LSU 11. Missouri 12. Pittsburgh 13. UCLA 14. Maryland 15.,Arizona State 16. Georgia 17. Houston 18. Tennessee 19. Carolina 20. Arizona Michigan has the poor luck of butting heads with Ohio State every year and not many teams got to the top that way. The Wolverines will probably go un defeated until the last regular season game, Ohio - Statew With All-America candidate Dennis Franklin at quarterback, they'll finish with one loss. At Penn State Coach Joe Paterno, who has the best winning percentage among active coaches, is singing the blues with 13 of last year's undefeated team's starters graduated. Nonetheless, what remains, especially quarterback Tom Shuman, is enough to get IhP Nittany Lions through tI&( regular season schedule, which io State is ri includes Pittsburgh and Maryland, undefeated. They might not be so lucky in their bowl game. Out in the Big Eight, Nebraska has the same trouble Michigan had in the Big Ten. Namely, the Cornhuskers run up against Oklahoma, which isn't the nicest assignment in the world. FuRback Tony Darrell who gained 1,134 yards rushing last season, is back, along with quarterback David Humm. Darrell Royal and Texas again have a lock on the southwest Conference, but they can't seem to threaten the top teams any more, especially with All-America running back Roosevelt Leaks out for most of the season with torn ligaments suffered in spring nractice. Completing the top ten is Louisiana .State- which faces the trauma of playing Alabama in Birmingham. Other than that it should be smooth sailing for Coach Charlie McClendon, who has running back Brad Davis retur ning. Missouri is the best of the second ten, even though Mississippi set them back 10-0-and the third best team in the Big Eight conference. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh, which came to lifeon the footballiield fori the first time in ages last year, has freshman sensation Tony Dorsett back runningi and hefty lineman Jimmy P' o rman and is set to challengo' Penn State's Eastern 1u.remacy 4 tumber one UCLA is ready again to follow on the heels of Southern Cal in the Pac 8, while back along the Atlantic; Coast Maryland is rebuilding its football iame. After dropping a close one to Alabama, the Terps: should rule the ACC. Arizona State killed highly regarded Houston: in its opener in The Gamecocks have Jeff Grantz and should be a threat in every game, even the tough ones against Houston and Georgia. the Astrodome and the Sun DevIls will probably make it undefeated to the inter-state battle with Arizona lov. 30. Georgia rates as the third team in the Southeastern Con ference, not a bad spot considering what schools are in the SEC. Houston had its chance at a great season -upset by Arizona State, but the Cougars should get back on the track, thanks to an incredibly big Jefensive line led by Don Stocking md several top runners. Ten ieseee has Condredge Holloway at quarterback, throwing to wide eceivers Stanley Morgan and !oger Phillips which is not a bad ffense In' itself. But the Vols have k rough schedule, including UCLA, vhich they have tied, and then >ack-to-back games with Alabama knd LSU in Octobrer. Rounding out the top twenty are Jarolina and Arizona. The amecocks have Jeff Grantz -who tas a chance at All-America before als college career is completed uext year, and should be a threat in very game, even the tough ones ugainst Houston and Georgia. Irisona has a relatively easy chedule with Arizona State its wtghest game. Other teams which rate at least ome mention are: Texas Tech Iorth Carolina-- State,. Wisconsin, Mdane, Arkansas, Texas A&M, n1orida, Stanford, Colorado and ilami (Fla.). So there is The Gamecock's top wenty, which, probably ike all the ther ones published, degerves mothing better than being the vrapping for some garbage. But it least it is something to look heck on in December for a good an=h.