European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 18, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday january 18 1991 a the stars and stripes a a a Page 23commentarysun sets on acc s wimp Days by Kevin Lyttle a a Austin Texas american statesman As a Long suffering acc fan Here a one. And Only one prediction for pfc fans awaiting their next super bowl foil at least we wont have a wimpy Champion. The Buffalo Bills and the los Angeles raiders might not be Good enough to beat the fabulous 49ers with apologies to giants fan but at least they la be Tough enough. Its no longer Flash Over flesh in the acc. No More lollipops like the Denver Broncos candied apples like the Cleveland Browns or cupcakes like the Cincinnati bengals and the Miami dolphins. And no More acc jokes. National pundits might have a blast with the City of Buffalo which Isnit on anyone a grand destination tour package but they wont be Able to kick Lake Erie gravel in the football teams face. The Oakland los Angeles Irwindale or wherever they Retro raiders might seem like just another . Homeless statistic but they could play on Redondo Beach Anid they a still be the intimidating Silver amp Black. A a a. A a a. A. A a  �.�����?�. A. The raiders you la recall were the last acc team to win the super jowl they mauled the Washington redskins after the 1983 season. Since then its been a series of sorry sundays for the acc. The winning formula has Long since been established dominating defense Quick strike offence and the ability to run and to Stop the run. Pfc teams like the 49ers, giants bears and redskins have had it. Acc pretenders Haven t. But you get style and substance with the Bills and the raiders.  talks about Joe Montana to Jerry Rice and rightfully so but Jim Kelly to Andre Reed works almost As Well. Remember it was Kelly not Montana who was the top rated quarterback this season. Then there a Thurman Thomas the Bills All pro running Back the liners have no answer to that one. As great As they Are they can to run the Ball any More. That a their Only flaw. But Thomas can go the distance either carrying the Ball or catching it he is what Roger Craig was. Buffalo threw caution to the Rich stadium wind this year and became the highest scoring team in the league out distancing san Francisco by 75 Points. Its scary How Many Points the Bills allowed in their last two playoff games a 41 to the Browns last january and 34 to the dolphins last sunday a yet Only five teams gave up More Points than Buffalo in the regular season. Any defense with men among boys players like Bruce Smith and Cornelius Bennett can to be Sumnar ily dismissed. These Are Impact people. They not Only prevent touchdowns they score them. Playing among friends in their ice skating rink in upper new York state the Bills should put the freeze on the raiders. Overall they arc the better team. Ironically though the raiders would stand the better Chance of not getting nailed by the liners. Those who Wear the Silver amp Black have that attitude that supreme  they belong on the Field with anyone. They Are. After All the renegade raiders the dark shadows of the nil. Buffalo is still  All of this and could fall victim to stage fright in the super bowl a not against the giants whom they be already beaten in the Mead lowlands no less but possibly against the liners. Yet Buffalo is one of the few teams that could out score san Francisco. The Bills Are the gamblers capable of making a and giving up a lot of big plays. The raiders try they just done to connect As  Al Davis in charge the raiders always Are going to try for the big play but Jay Schroeder does t find the strike zone like Kelly with his fastball. The raiders done to have the run and shoot they have the run and run to Jackson and Marcus Allen. With a couple of Heisman trophy winners in his Backfield Schroeder can afford to be wild. Defensively that a where the raiders really Excel. Greg Townsend a former i horned Frog from thu brings Back memories of Otis Sistrunk formerly of the University of Mars Chrome dome and All. He also plays the same Way with reckless abandon. Throw in Howie Long Bob Golic and Scott Davis and the raiders have one of the of cd a Best defensive fronts since the steel curtain talk All you want about the giants-49ers rematch but give me the Igloo bowl in Buffalo then bring on the pfc. In the acc we re wimps no More. Many hear nil s Call but few to be chosen by Hal Bock a sports writer facing a feb. 1 declaration deadline some College football undergraduates Are beginning to apply for entry into the nil. That does no to mean  All get there. Thirty eight undergraduates applied for the draft last year the first time the nil offered that option but Only 18 were selected. Of the remaining 20, Only nine had played College Ball in 1989 and four were under some sort of academic suspension when they applied for the draft. Michigan tailback Jon Vaughn who reached 1,000 Yards faster than any Back in school history took the plunge wednesday. Story on Page 23. He joins a pair of Clemson teammates All american punter placekicker Chris Gardocki and cornerback Dexter Davis. Earlier Auburn offensive lineman de King North Carolina state safety Jesse Campbell and running Back Randy Bald a in of Mississippi had declared. A Baldwin an All Sec running Back said he decided to declare following the Gator bowl. A my father and i sat Down and discussed the matter seriously a the 23-year-old said. A we agreed that i Wasny to getting any younger and that in a a couple of years older than everyone else. We both strongly believe that its time to move  on deck was Texas a amp a fullback Robert Wilson expected to formally an. Ounce for the draft after he meets with aggie coach . Slocum who was out of a town on a recruiting trip. A the one thing i want to do now is help my family a Wilson told the Houston Post. I be could be joined by a couple of team a mates linebacker Anthony Williams who was the teams second leading Tacker last season and cornerback Kevin Smith. A a it a something in a definitely considering a Williams said. A a in a say there a a 90 percent Chance ill be Back next year a Smith said. A but this could also be a situation where its time to do something  also on the Fence Are some marquee names a notre Dame running Back rag hib a a rocket Ismail runner up for the Heisman trophy and a finalist for the aau a Sullivan award Quai Tchack Todd Marinovich of us and Syracuse wide receiver Rob Carpenter. Ismail has insisted that he would return for his senior year at notre Dame but he could change his mind with the lure of a big Money contract. Nil scouts project him As a top pick in the first round when he comes out. Marinovich was kicked off the us team by coach Larry Smith last week after missing a meeting and there were reports that he was leaving school perhaps to Transfer to another school perhaps to declare for the draft. On tuesday however his father said Marinovich was Regis. Tearing for classes and attempting to arrange a meeting with Smith  now Todd Hasni to made up his mind what he wants to do a Marv Marino Vich said tuesday. A i have not advised him. He has to make his own decisions that affect his  Carpenter hinted earlier this month that the decision of coach Dick Macpherson to leave Syracuse for the Nufi. New England patriots might prompt him to go pro. A i plan to make my decision in a Cou pie of weeks a he said. A a in a still thinking about it. I really done to know what a going to happen around  Carpenter caught 52 passes for 895 Yards and five touchdowns last season. His Good Friend and sex Syracuse teammate Rob Moore passed up his final year of eligibility after graduating and was the first round pick of the new York jets in the supplemental draft. Clemson a Gardocki fourth in the nation in both Field goals and punts explained Why he chose to give up his last year of eligibility. A i did no to want to take the Chance of getting Hurt a he said. A a the decision was Tough. But the timing was  a i thought Over my options for a Long time a said his teammate Davis who led the acc with six interceptions and had is Quot Quot Ltd it 4 Clemson punter Chris Gardocki elects to join nil draft despite Low status of kickers. 36 tackles last season. A i sat Down with my parents and they helped me come to the decision to forego my final  draft analyst Mel Kiper said Davis would be picked in the first round arid that Gardocki would go Between the second and fourth because teams usually wait until later rounds to draft kickers. Kiper said a amp mrs Wilson would also be a first round pick. The league has Long preferred that players Complete their collegiate eligibility rather than come out  staying in so Lurl is in the Best interest of the Quot overwhelming majority of. Young athletes for educational athletic and personal reasons a commissioner Paul tag liable said last summer in testimony before the Knight commission studying Reform in College athletics