European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 12, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday. November 12, 1993 sports the stars and stripes Page 35 i. Notre Dame has line on flu runt of the Irish line at 286 pounds Center Tim Ruddy 61who Bench presses better than500 pounds leads Lombard award finalist Aaron Taylor 75,294 pounds into the Iray. By Ron Lesko South Bend ind. A top ranked Florida state might win with Flash and panache but no. 2 notre Dame is nearly As effective with a Low gear Low profile offence that batters opponents be Hind a fearsome offensive line. In this notre Dame team i can see a Lotof Woody Hayes there s Power in every thing they do Florida state coach Bobb Bowden said wednesday referring to the former Ohio state coach whose trademark was a relentless running game. This team is dominated by Blue Chi athletes. They play a different style than what we re used to. It s like a Black and Blue division  notre Dame has averaged 37 Points game just a touchdown off Florida state s National Best 44.3. While quarterback Charlie Ward pulls the trigger for the seminoles the Irish move behind More than 1,400 pounds of offensive line. The smallest member of the unit that will Start against the seminoles is Center Tim Ruddy who weighs 286 pounds but also is the strongest player on m8 team Bench pressing better than 500 pounds. They will line up against a three Man Florida state front whose biggest player is268-Pound end Toddrick Mclntosh. The seminoles will try to neutralize the bulk with their Speed. You be got to keep your head up you feet moving and try to get your hat on somebody said 297-Pound notre Dame tackle Todd Norman. Hopefully if Youcan get your hands on them you can push them where you want to  after a slow Start this season Notredame s offensive line has manhandled most opponents. The Irish average just Over 275 Yards Rushing a game and have run for better than 300 Yards each of the past four games including 426 in their last game against Navy. The line which has had 10 different starters this season has turned no frills Battle for no. 1 tailback Lee Becton into one of the nation s most productive runners. A Junior with Only average Speed Becton can tie a school record against Florida state with his fifth straight 100-Yard game. I d have to say it s the Best offensive line i be played against said Irish defensive tackle Jim Flanigan a senior who has practice against Many outstanding linemen at notre  know that was one of the big question Marks at the beginning of the season Outwith the Rushing Yards we be produced this year i Don t think there s any question that they Are one of the most dominant lines in  Dame started the season with Only Ruddy returning at the same Posi Tion. Tackles Norman and Aaron Taylor were guards in 1992, but offensive line coach Joe Moore recommended moving. Both outside. The Gamble appeared to bewailing Early in the season when the Irish struggled to find an effective guard combi nation. They settled on Mark Zataveski and Ryan Leahy and there was no Propof when Jeremy Akers stepped in after Lea by s knee injury six weeks , the grandson of former notre Dame coach Frank Leahy will Start sat , Taylor an All american last year is the Only offensive linemen among four semifinal its for the Lombard award Given to the nation s top  has been outstanding since he was benched for the first half against Pitts Burgh five weeks ago and Ruddy has been solid All  is Nice Bowden said but when they run right straight at you How can you pursue something that comes at you you pursue things that run away from  Dame Don t like to run away from people All that  moles have Irish number by Rick Warnera football writer South Bend ind. The numbers Don t Loo Good for second ranked notre Dame in saturday s showdown against no. 1 Florida  it s not just because Florida state leads the nation in scoring offence 44.3 and scoring de sense 6.4 although notre Dame has played in More no. 1 is. No. 2 games than any other school the fighting Irish have never won when they were no. 2. They arc 4-2-2 in games of the Century but 0-2-1 when ranked second. Notre Dame has size Power and mystique on its Side Florida state a 7-Point favorite has Speed depth and a determination to win a first National championship. Florida St. 27-24. Rutgers plus 31 at no. 3 Miami hurricanes have won 62 straight Over a ranked teams. Miami 55-10. Be Iowa St. No line at no. 4 Nebraska cyclones shocked huskers last year. Braska 45-21. No. 19 Indiana plus 14 at no. 5 Ohio  close to Pasadena. Ohio St. 24-14. No. 7 Auburn plus i at Georgia bulldogs hand tigers their first loss. Georgia 31-28. No. 8 Florida minus 14vi at South Carolin gators first trip to Columbia since 1939florida 38-28.no. 9 West Virginia minus 40 at Temple mountaineers warm up for showdown against Miami. W. Virginia 56-7. Arizona St. Plus 11 at no. 10 Ucol Bruins avenge last year s shutout loss to Sun Dev ils. Urcla 28-21. No. 20 Louisville plus 13 at no. 11 Texas a Maggie have won 17 straight at Home. I Bexai College predictions am 35-21. Mississippi St. No line at no. 12 Alabama tide has won 34 of last 35 is. Bulldogs. Ala Bama 27-7. \ no. 13 Arizona no line at Californi bears have lost four straight after 5-0 Start. Arizona 31-10. No. 15 North Carolina minus 25 at Tulane first meting since 1975north Carolina 35-17. Illinois plus Lovi at no. 16 Penn St. Kittany Lions end Zillini s four game winning Streak. Penn St. 21-7, Oklahoma St. Plus 21 at no. 17 Oklahoma cowboys have lost five in a Row. Oklahoma 28-10. No. 18 Virginia minus 6v at Clemson Cavaliers Are 0-17-1 at death Valley. Vir Ginia 28-14. Kansas plus 15h at no. 21 Colorado buffaloes have beaten Jay Hawks eight straight times. Colorado 34-17. No. 22 Boston College minus 16 at Pittsburg Campbell leads nation in scoring. Boston College 44-21. No. 23 Wyoming minus 1 at new Mexico cowboys Lead wac with 5-0 record. Wyom ing 31-28. Missouri plus 12 at no. 24 Kansas  rebound from loss to Iowa state. Kansas St. 27-14. Southern Cal plus 2 Al no. 25 Washington huskies Knock trojans out of Rose bowl race. Washington 21-17. Last week 14-3 straight 7-6 spread season 144-32 straight 80-73 spread. Prophetic Irish a a living up to words by Malcolm Mora the new York times South Bend ind. A season was about to begin last August and Kevin Mcdougal the Spring starter at quarterback for notre Dame was out of a Job. That s when coach Lou Holtz informed Mcdoug Althe he had decided to go with freshman sensation Ron Powlus. There was something that had to be  player who comes to a schoo like this really believes no can help the team do great things Mcdougal remembered wednesday. It s something i really Felt in my heart. I had to Tell  Holtz remembered the conversation which May someday be chiselled into Irish football lore he said i think i m the quarterback who can Lead notre Dameto a National championship this year i thought my goodness gracious. You can t even get us a first  the coach s opinion has been revised. The quarterback s claim May be Correct. Mcdougal who became the starter when Powlus broke a Collarbone in that third scrimmage has completed 62.8 percent of his passes. His percentage is the highest with a minimum of 100 attempts in a season in the history of a school  Heisman trophy win Ning  s 208 passing Yards and his touchdown runs of 43 and 11 Yards became an essential part of the unexpected 2723 Victory at Michigan that helped put the righting Irish in this position. Just Over two weeks before that game when Powlus became the anticipated starter Mcdougal was not sure what to think As Holtz listened to his pitch. He just gave me that smile he always gives Mcdougal remembered. He said he believed i can do it. He said Ron would probably Start then but that could change. It can Hap pen like that. There s always the possibility it could change. He s the Type of coach that if you re Good you