European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 19, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse 1 a picture perfect final Page 26 the stars and stripes ports november 19,1991 c Page 28 paralysed lion has operation Pontiac Mich. A Detroit lion offensive lineman Mike Utley underwent surgery monday after suffering a neck injury during the Lions game on sunday that left him paralysed from the Chest Down. Lion team doctor David Collon said monday that Utley fractured his sixth cervical vertebrae and suffered an a extensive soft tissue injury on the first play of the fourth Quarter. Mike Utley Utley was in surgery at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit to a a decompress some tissue and fragments that were pressing against the spinal Cord Collon said. Or. Phillip Mayer head of spinal injuries in Henry Fords Ortho a card is decked Phoenix quarterback Stan Gelbaugh drops the Ball As he is the 49ers�?T 14-10 Victory sunday at candlestick Park. Stories sacked by san Francisco s Dennis Brown in first Quarter of of nil games on pages 21,22 and 27. Canes move to top pc Dic department performed the operation. It was expected to last four to five hours. The injury occurred when Utley was pass blocking David Rocker of the los Angeles rams on Erik Kramer a 11-Yard touchdown pass to Robert Clark. Rocker jumped into the air in an attempt to deflect the pass and came Down on Utley a 6-foot-6, 279-Pound guard out of Washington state. Utley subsequently lost his balance and fell Forward. He extended his arms out to break the fall but instead landed on the top of his head snapping his head Back on Contact. A it was an Accident a Lions coach Wayne Fontes said. A it Wasny to an illegal play or an illegal Block. It was just one of those Freak things that happen on the football Field. But you still hate to accept something like this Fontes informed the team of Utley a situation during an Early afternoon team meeting on monday. A a in a have to say his prognosis is guarded but we really have to wait because surgery is underway right now a Collon said monday afternoon. A when we find out exactly what was discovered in the operation Well have a lot better Collon was optimistic for a recovery but said Utley would have to undergo spinal fusion to stiffen the area and remain immobilized for a number of months. By Rick Warner Tallahassee Fla. A now that the game of the year is Over the debate of the year has begun. Who is the Best team in College football the undefeated Miami hurricanes or the undefeated Washington huskies on sunday the overwhelming majority of sports writers and broadcasters who vote in the associated press poll chose Miami which beat then no. 1 Florida state 17-16 on saturday. The hurricanes 9-0 jumped from second to first out polling no. 2 Washington 10-0 by 32 first place votes and 40 Points. A a Miami received 46 first place votes and 1,486 Points while the huskies moved up from third to second with 14 first place votes and 1,446 Points. Washington which trailed Miami by one Point last week routed wingless Oregon state 58-6 on saturday. A a there a no doubt that we re no. 1,�?� Miami defensive lineman Rusty Medearis said. A nobody in the country can beat Washington Center de Cunningham was just As confident in his team. A i really think we re the Best team in America right now a he said. A i think our defense is the Best defense in the nation if not the Best Ever to play the Miami coach Dennis Erickson said he wont Campaign for the National championship but he left Little doubt about Nis Miami took Over the no. 1 position in up College football ratings sunday. Washington moved into no. 2, followed by Florida state. Opinion. A fall i know is that we beat the no. 1 team on their Home Field a he said. A i done to like to politic but that has to count for Washington coach Don James whose team lost the closest final vote Ever to Brigham Young in 1984, said he a not worried about the poll. A a we be got to take care of our responsibilities and let the voters do their Job a he said. A if we get All caught up in the polls and forget who we re playing we re going to get with such a Large Lead Over Washington Miami appears to be in commanding position to win its fourth National title since 1983. The hurricanes will be Clear Cut favourites in their last three games against Boston College 4-6san Diego state 8-21 and either no. 11 Nebraska 8-1-1 or no. 15 Colorado 7-2-1 in the Orange bowl where Miami has won 43 straight. Washington closes its regular season against Washington state 4-6 before going to the Rose bowl to meet no. 4 Michigan 9-1. A we can to worry about the polls a Miami quarterback Gino Torretta said. A fall we can do is win All our Florida state 10-1which had been no. 1 since the Start of the season dropped to no. 3 after saturdays loss. The seminoles who have games remaining against no. 5 Florida 9-1 in Gainesville and probably no. 12 Texas a amp a 81 in the Cotton bowl still have a shot at the National title if Miami and Washington both lose. California 9-1 is sixth followed by Penn state 9-2alabama 9-1iowa 9-1 and Tennessee 7-2. Cal beat Arizona state 25-6, Penn state pounded notre Dame 35-13, Alabama nipped Memphis state 10-7, Iowa downed Northwestern 24-10 and Tennessee Defeated Mississippi 36-25. East Carolina 9-1 moved up to no. 13 after beating Virginia tech 24-17. The pirates Are followed by Clemson Colorado Syracuse notre Dame Ohio state Oklahoma Virginia Stanford North Carolina state Tulsa Georgia and Urcla. The bowl picture a Page 25 inside sports nil summaries standings a Page 23 Aba boxes nil summaries a Page 24 Earnhardt wins cup title a Page 25 . Boxers blast officiating a Page 27
