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NFL season 49ers and Gi Baseball fans step aside. The best sport in the history of Western civilization is back in full swing, and the season promises to be very competitive and climactic. Every team in the National Football League has now played at least four games, so this marks a - good time to review the season and pick out the winners and losers. AFC West Los Angeles Raiders (4-1) ? Not many would have thought that the Raiders would be back on top of their division this year. One who did have that in mind was Art Schell, who has turned out to be one of the best coaches in the league. Kansas City Chiefs (3-2) ? One of the best AFC teams, but still erratic and sloppy. After demolishing the Browns, they lose to the shiftless Indianapolis Colts. They have the defense. They have the running attack, as long as a certain Nigerian named Okoye stays healthy. If the Chiefs can get consistency out of quarterback Steve DeBerg, who threw 3 interceptions against the Colts, they will be going places. Denver Broncos (2-3) ? The Rrnnrnc miict haup hppn fr\iinH^?H ^ivtivvu illUlJl HUT v UWU 1UUI1UVU by Charles Dickens. They can be the best of teams and the worst of teams. John Elway can engineer long drives to win the game in the last second, or throw an interception that is run back for a touchdown (he has done that twice already). Don't count on the Broncos to make another futile appearance in the Super Bowl. Seattle Seahawks (2-3) ? The Seahawks are playing exceptionally well as of late, winning their last two games after dropping their first three. They humiliated the then-undefeated Cincinnati Bengals and blew but the Patriots Sunday. San Diego Chargers (1-4) -? They are a pretty awful franchise right now, although they did beat the Browns and almost beat the Bengals. If Coach Dan Henning can keep his job another couple of years, they will be a power in the '90s. t AFC Central Pinpinnoti Dnnrro 1 c (A _ 1 \ A1 IVsll 11 Id LI LlUl^dU V" A ) A llv Bengals scare me. They scare me because I dislike them intensely, and they are doing very well. I will grudgingly admit Sam Wyche is an excellent coach but a lousy human being. The Bengals are an all-around great franchise. Houston Oilers (2-3) ? After giving the 49ers a good fight last week, the Oilers will (A) cut a swathe through the NFL and demand a rematch in the Super Bowl, or (B) piddle around with the run-and-shoot and collapse into ! Donate1 Blood together. + American Ited Cross 13 i * ? ^ I *1 El rti -5 a H M -o 1|| 1 3 S 111 | ^ <? j? | g _ ^ 1 | | # I o ^ 121 13 fifi C3 -- -s * I t 5 hi : U <n > 3 V i ||S chock full o ants look gc mediocrity. Those who pick (B) get the Chrysler LeBaron. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-3) ? The Steelers have the opposite problem. The Steeler offense was starting tr> fnrcrp.t what a touchdown looked like. Now they are back on track, sort of. They are looking to go 8-8 for the year. Cleveland Browns (2-3) ? They did the impossible last week by beating the Broncos in Denver for the first time since 1972. Now the Browns have to prove that they can win (dare I say it?) two games in a row. AFC East Miami Dolphins (4-1) ? In leading the Dolphins to an impressive start, head coach Don Shula proves the game hasn't passed him by. With an aging Dan Marino, the Dolphins have to make their move during the next couple of years to go back to the Bowl. This team is making it. Buffalo Bills (4-1) ? Divine intervention and unbelievable special-teams heroics enabled the Bills to win their last two games against the Broncos and the Raiders. They have some of the best talent in the league, but when push comes to shove, the Bills do not get together as a team. This team doesn't live up to its billing (pardon the pun). New York Jets (2-3) ? The Jets have a long way to go before they are a good team again, but they are far from the worst. Quarterback Ken O'Brien will surprise you. He nas iea ine jeis 10 impressive wins over the Browns and Patriots. Watch out for them in a few years. Indianapolis Colts (2-3) ? Truly one of the most erratic teams in the league. They lose easy ones they should win and win ones they should lose. The Colts are basically spinning thenwheels until they get that spoiled brat they call a running back, Eric Dickerson, off the Injured Reserve. New England Patriots (1-4) ? The worst team in the league gets worse every week. The Pats would be better off playing their third-string every game so they will be assured of getting the number one draft pick. NFC East New York Giants (4-0) ? The Giants are the only NFC team that has a legitimate shot of knocking the 49ers out of the Superbowl, maybe the only team that can beat the Niners in the playoffs period. The Giants are the second best team in football. Washington Redskins (3-1) ? The Skins are looking good. They will definitely get a Wild Card spot if they don't selfdestruct between now and December. Dallas Cowboys (2-3) ? Due to the new NFL schedule, Dallas has m m ^ IS* RECORDBAR COLUMBIA Dutch Square \ f surprises, ?od in NFC David Bowden a one game jump on the rest of the NFC East, so they are temporarily in third place in their division. This will change soon. Dallas is getting better and they will be a top-notch team in a few years. For nnw thmiwh rinn'f wnert mnr.h Philadelphia Eagles (1-3) ? This could be Coach Buddy Ryan's last year if the Eagles don't make the playoffs. The way they have been playing, I would advise Buddy to start looking for a high-school coaching vacancy in Idaho. Phoenix Cardinals (1-3) ? The Cards are in all kinds of trouble. Everything needs improvement. The Cardinals and Patriots will vie for the No. 1 draft pick this year. NFC Central Chicago Bears (4-1) ? The Bears are a surprise to be back in the thick of the hunt after losing their last six games last season. They have turned things around, and will definitely win their division if things stay as they are. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2) _ The NFC Central is full of surprises, none bigger than the success of the Bucs. They are playing well, but let's remember that two of their wins were against Detroit. They have a chance to make a Wild Card, but we'll see how long Vinnie Testeverde can keep from throwing five interceptions in a game. Green Bay Packers (2-3) ? Yet another unusual development is the lack of progress of the Pack. They were widely picked to win the Central and charge into the Super Bowl. Think again. Don Majkowski and Sterling Sharpe are back to form, but they are in desperate need of a running back and some secondary help. Detroit Lions (2-3) ? While vastly improved over last year, the Lions still aren't playoff material. Barry Sanders will have to run for 300 yards per game if Detroit hopes to see post-season play. Minnesota Vikings (1-4) ? The most surprising news of all this year has to be the utter ineptitude of Minnesota this year. Who would have thought that every team in the division has a believable shot at winning the title except the Vikes? With star defensive lineman Keith Millard out for the year, Minnesota is in for a depressing season. See Pep Talk page 9 _a i| Persistenc <^\ Of lime { jjmc New York's spee demolition team amped and wire Includes "Got Th _i Mii A# Q r/l jr island TB tall 'iJJ mMarn\^ W M^W - I y #lf <to^MF-v ::!^ Hk^,. Sack Attack USC defensive end Corey Miller sacks East C? Homecoming win. The Gamecocks play host to the day. Kickoff is at 12:10 p.m. Gamecocks look against Pirates By STEVE JOHNSON Staff Writer The slogan for this year's Homecoming is "Carolina On My Mind." From now until the conclusion of the Homecoming Game between USC (3-1) and East Carolina (2-4), this slogan will also be adopted by ECU head coach Bill Lewis and the rest of the Pirate football team. After being knocked out of the Top 25 two Saturdays ago in a 27-to-6 loss to undefeated Georgia Tech in Atlanta, USC is looking to bounce back with another win at home. "The quickest way to get over a loss is to win again," USC coach Sparky Woods said. In order to do this, the Gamecock offensive line must first find a way to contain ECU's All-American candidate at linebacker, Robert Jones. Called by The Sporting News "the nation's most under-rated linebacker," Jones leads the team with 92 tackles this season and is currently rated as the fifth best linebacker in the nation. This rating is no surprise when you consider Jones' strength (benches 460 nounds. smiats 650) and speed (runs 40 yards in 4.69 seconds). Running back Dion Johnson is the most versatile and dangerous weapon in the Pirates' offensive arsenal. The fastest man on the team, Johnson runs the Volleyball Trivia Answers Q. What is the most match 1990 season. Ho1 victories a USC volleyball team have the Lady G has won in a season? In what vanced to the N year did it happen? ment championsh A. USC won 36 matches in times have they \* 1978. A. USC has at Q. Who holds the USC re- Metro Champi cord for most digs in a season times, winning it with 525? What year did she es- Q. Since 1978. tablish this record? against soon-to A. Diane Denton led USC in Georgia. When digs throughout her career. She time the Lady G recorded 525 digs in the 1987 feated the Lady B season. A. The last ti Gamecocks deft Q. USC will be leaving the was in 1978. I Metro Conference after the match 15-1, 11-5, I Dl JIO ii ulfto isamm hiri combs troubi id-metal ||l|l| hmec0,llts thouble/thws that/doh't cau. mm] l CD sqoterbrai EACKS K^. ^ * i^pP^^1 jjj^B -> " x*~ JQ?^H Br M r igmKE? ^ 1^ irolina quarterback Jeff Blake in last year's 47-14 ( Pirates again this year for Homecoming on Saturto bounce back at Homecoming 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds. In addition to being highlighted in the Pirates' option attack, Johnson also handles the team duties of returning kicks and punts. Dion Johnson averages 23.6 yards per kick return and 132 all-purpose yards per game. He is ranked 23rd in the nation in all-purpose yardage. Johnson and the rest of the Pirates will face a big challenge Saturday with a Gamecock team that ranks 10th in the nation in total defense and 17th in the nation in passing defense. The defense is led by senior linebacker and leading tackier Patrick Hinton (49 tackles) and free safety Leon Harris (39 tackles, one interception). Punter Daren Parker also continues to be steady with an average of 40.6 yards per punt, ranking him 24th in the nation. The Gamecock offense is led by quarterback Bobby Fuller, the 25th rated quarterback in the nation. After four games, Filler has completed 66 passes for 819 yards and six touchdowns. With leading receiver Robert Brooks now recovering from athroscopic knee surgery, wide receiver Eddie Miller will assume the role of primary target for Fuller. A crowd of 70,000 is expected for the Homecoming Game between USC and ECU. The game will kickoff Saturday at 12:10 D.m. at the stadium O How We w many times Need YOU.' lamecocks adletro Tourna- If you have O type ip? How many you afe rafe Ivanced to the and O so special. onship four Give the gift of life, once, in 1984. ot aatm , use is 1-12 G,VE BLOOD! -be SEC foe ^ was the only famecocks deulldogs? ime the Lady * iated Georgia American Red Cross JSC won the South Carolina Regional 15-10, 17-15. Blood Services icno g}| Here Comes I Trouble Z Here's where utter insanity and musical genius meet. m Includes "Don't Call Me H Dude" and "I'm With Stupid." i 799999 M TAPE CD fA ^0^ On Sale Through Oct. 31 TRACKS COLUMBIA Harden St., Five Points 779-6046, Richland Fashion Mall