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Show UNIVERSITY lOURNAL t K r PACE 7 L L V i V. L c . By CHRIS DUFRENSE Jonathan Dean, Rose, Sugar, Fiesta oi Orange standings Dec 5 will advance to play for game the BCS national championship in the For Utah reasons, geographical Jan 4 Orange Bowl probably would end up in the Fiesta Bowl, Reaction tiom Oklahoma Coach Bob especially if that bowl lost its anchor tie-iOklahoma, to the Orange Bowl Stoops was predictable It s really no different There also is a scenario than what I said last in which Utah could end week, Stoops said in up in Pasadena should a released the Rose Bowl lose USC statement It just doesnt matter to the national-titl- e game much yet We have to and another Pac-- 1 0 team State is not available play Oklahoma this week. That s the For Utah, though, only thing were focused holding on to the No 6 on spot is no sine thing The Utes boast a powerful Utahs move from No 7 to No 6 was No 5 computer ranking Kevin Weiberg this week thanks to significant because the Utes would be assured of nonconference wins a major bowl bid if they against BCS schools Texas A&M, Arizona finished sixth or higher in the final BCS and Noi.h Carolina That computer number could standings Utah is seeking to become the fiist team weaken, though, as the Utes finish the from outside the season against weaker opponents from power the Mountain West Conference structure to earn a bid to a BCS bowl LOS ANGELES TIMES Order (for now) has been restored in the Bowl Championship Series standings, and that order is USC, Oklahoma and Miami Last weeks first release of the BCS when standings caused a Miami, ranked No 4 in the media and coaches polls, opened in second position ahead of Oklahoma, No 2 in both human polls This weeks standings more accurately unless you re reflect popular sentiment from Coral Gables, Fla USC retained its firm grip on the overall lead with a BCS average of 9843, although the Trojans did slip from No 1 to No 2 in the computer index Oklahoma is No 2 at 9325, followed by Miami at 9239 Rounding out the BCS top 10 Auburn, Flonda State, Utah, Wisconsin, California, Georgia andTexas The top two teams in the final BCS During the past couple of weeks, the sports world has seen some amazing not to mention unthinkable things mini-upro- happen. The University of Utah football team broke into the top six of the Bowl Championship Senes rankings, a feat previously viewed as next to impossible by most experts, as well as this lowly columnist. The New England Patnots extended 1 g their winning streak to 2 and games, which, in todays parity-lade- n record-breakin- NFL, is about as amazing of an accomplishment as any m sports. Red Sox came back The from a deficit to overtake the overpaid evil empire we all know as the New York Yankees Not only did the boys frojn Boston, who call themselves the idiots, overtake their archnval and long time nemesis, they made history in the process. They werent just the first team in Major League Baseball history to force a seventh game when facing a 0 deficit They were only the third team in NBA, MLB or (uncomfortable pause and swallow) NHL senes after history to win a seven-gam- e losing the first three. As happy as I am that the Red Sox won, "I think it's very unlikely that this would hold up through the balance of the ar season' major-conferen- 586-775- 9 Oklahoma was able to jump ahead of Miami this week because the Sooners computer ranking improved fiom No 5 to No 4 Miami is ranked No in the computers but only No 4 in the AP poll BCS coordinator Kevin Weiberg predicted last week the system would n correct itself All the models the BCS ran indicated it would be very hard for a team ranked No 2 in both polls to finish No 3 in the BCS standings It would require the No 2 team to have a computer ranking of No 5 or worse Thats exactly what happened last week when Oklahoma opened at No 5 in the computers I think its very unlikely that this would hold up through the balance of the season, Weiberg said at the time Turned out it took Oklahoma only one week to claim the No 2 BCS position Other BCS moves to note Arizona State moved from No 18 to No. 15 while Texas El Paso, led by first-yeCoach Mike Price, made a surprise appearance at No 24 1 dry-ru- ar 'BSircOs " and as amazing as I think some of the other happenings in sports are, I have to say that I am sorely pOILQDBCfO By JONATHAN DEAN jdeansuujoumal disappointed that one streak just ended. I generally wait until the World Series over is before I get excited about anything that com The football team will play host to Montana Western with hopes of winning its fourth game and taking its winning percentage to 500 The Montana Western Bulldogs are a Division II team that recently came has to do with the NFL, but one of Sundays games made me a little sad. The NFLs last winless team, the Miami Dolphins, finally off a winning four-gam- e streak, losing to Montana Tech 19-- 9 The are Bulldogs currently ranked won a game. The horror. Dont tell me youve never done it. You know what I mean. Weve all hoped that someone somewhere could be just bad enough to finish a season without winning a single game. Okay, maybe youre not like me, but you know the thought is intriguing. Of course you dont want your team to go through embarrassment and futility (subjects I know all too much about as a Red Sox fan), but you know you wouldnt mind seeing some other team come up shorter than any team that ever came before. I especially rooted for a Dolphins loss because of their team history. Picture this the proud Dolphins, the only NFL team to ever finish a season with an unblemished record, would have become the only team in NFL history to finish a season with a perfectly blemished record. The mere thought would knock Bob Griese right out of the press box. The 1972 Dolphins took the time to get together when the last undefeated team of the year finally lost. Following tradition, do you think the 2004-200- 5 Dolphms would have gathered to celebrate the first win of the final winless team in a given season? Its too bad that well only get to speculate on what might have been. It would have been great. I guess Ill have to wait until the weekend after next years World Senes with hopes that some poor team and its fans are suffenng through the futility of a winless season. first in the Frontier Conference with a record of only half a game ahead of Montana Tech On the offensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs are led by sophomore quarterback Travis Blome Blome averages 186 total passing yards a game Even though Blome has scored 5-- 2, three rushing touchdowns, he only averages negative Crystal Lyle and Ashley Denham hug their teammates while Dani Lavigne will play their last game of the tries to get in on the celebration. The season in a game against University of Northern Colorado. DEi sbOgddg G 3-- two yards a game Blome has gained 112 yards on the season, but he has also lost 127 rushing Running back Josh Shrum is the anchor for the Bulldog offense Shrumhasatotalof531 rushing yards, averaging 4 6 yards a carry He has recorded eight rushing touchdowns on the season Shrum has also gained another 360 yards in receiving, averaging 15.7 yards a reception and adding another three touchdowns Along with Shrum, wide receiver Dallas Mock is a player that the defense will have to key in on. Over an eight-gam- e spread. Mock has had 37 receptions for 464 yards, averaging 12.5 yards a reception. Mock has only recorded two touchdowns this season, but he always contributes to the offense with an average of 58 yards a game The offense will have to work to overcome the Bulldog defense The key defensive players to keep in mind are Erie Stoverud and Zach Tune These two players have ganged up for a total of 164 tackles combined Stoverud See POUND, Page 8 non-conferen- ce o Email Birds play last By DARREN VAUGHAN dvaughansuujournal com The SUU soccer team will close out the strongest season in the programs brief history with a match Friday against foe Northern Colorado at Thunderbird Soccer Field SUU proved to be better than the preseason predicted prognosticators nt Conference coaches picked the to finish last in the seven-tealeague before the season, but the team quickly exceeded those expectations by collecting victories in its first two conference matches against Western Illinois and Centenary SUU coach Brian Stock said he was proud of the effort the team showed in proving its doubters wrong Coming into this year, nobody thought we m Beau Stoker is an assistant copy chief is an extremely opinionated person, and if you think he is troubled, feel free to give him a hug. Beau can be reched at for the University Journal. Beau bstokersuujournal EDITOR N Uta!i now ranked among BCS elite Phins break loss streak; people upset dynasty-proo- f i ''V Thursday, October 28, 2004 -- , i ' com ire non-co- n game would even be as close as we were, he said It came down to a couple of bounces that didnt go our way, and if those get reversed were playing for first place That was something that nobody in the conference expected After winning just two games m each of the programs first three seasons, the team got off to a respectable start with an early season victory over Hope International, along with conference victories over WIU and Centenary However, the Birds dropped their final four Mid Con matches, including a double overtime heartbreaker at Valpaiaiso The team also struggled to a record away from Cedar on the road in City, including a record of Mid-Co- n play overall record. Despite the teams See FINISH, Page 8 CAMBRIC WHITE UNIVERSITY Wide receiver A.J. Smith dives to receive a The Sarurdays game against UC Davis. . play host to Montana Western JOURNAL pass during will Sal-irday- i il X i. Winner: SUU Score: & 10-- 3 -- n Spoils Editor 03 C.irthc'cnicV Opinion Editor Winner: SUU Winner: SUU Score: 49-- 7 Score- - 34-- 0 I' S.zza teisen Editor-in-Chi- ef Winner: SUU Score: 34-- 7 Terence Waters Graphics Editor leather Da rata Accent Editor Winner: SUU Winner: SUU Score: Score: 17-1- 0 21-1- 0 |