European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 1, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                M a g o by the associated press a i run a to the sugar bowl West Virginia May take the Money and j instead of going to the Cotton bowl for $3 million the undefeated third ranked mountaineers May instead make a $4,15 million trip to the sugar. A West Virginia University is a self sup porting athletic program and finances Are obviously important to us a athletic director de Pastilong said Money also is important to Abc which a would Benefit if West Virginia goes to the sugar. That would put rat Ings King notre Dame in no cd a Cotton bowl and take the fighting Irish out of abcs sugar bowl which competes with a a a a new years no cd a Orange bowl telecast it. Top ranked Florida state is expected night. Top ranked Florida state is exp to play no. 2 Nebraska in the Orange bowl but there was no official word monday on the bowl destinations of West Virginia and notre Dame. However Sev eral bowl sources said the. Mountaineers Rian to spurn a Cotton matchup against o. 7 Texas a amp a and head to the sugar for a meeting with no. 9 Florida or no. 16 Alabama. A a we a be honoured to play in either one of those a Pastilong said. And if those invitations Are extended then we certainly will discuss them with our administration and coaches and react  under the bowl coalition system the Cotton bowl will probably have first crack at West Virginia when the official selections Are made sunday. But the mountaineers champions of the big East have the right to decline because they can get More Money from the sugar bowl the mountaineers Arentt going to piss up an extra $1.15 million without giving it careful consideration. They be Only grossed More than $1 million from a bowl twice in the schools 103-Ycar football history. John Paquette associate commissioner  it of the big East said he was t aware of �?ot4 a a 1 any Deal. Quot writers Are calling me to say West Virginia a thinking about passing on the Cotton bowl but 1 Haven to heard anything about that a Paquette  bowl general manager Rick Baker acknowledged that the mountaineers could choose the sugar instead of his bowl. A everyone has options a he said. A we know they have that  Troy Mathieu executive director of the sugar bowl declined to say whether his bowl would pursue West Virginia. A we Are not in any position to take any  he said. Notre Dame officials said they still weren to sure where the Irish would play on Jan. I. West Virginia quarterback Darren Studstill said the situation was a real con it s just like waiting for a Job callback a he said. A a everybody a calling each other trying to see if anybody a Neard _ anything. West Virginia 110 wanted to play Nebraska 11-0 in the Orange bowl but Florida state 11-1 probably will get that Opportunity because it edged out West Virginia in the combined associated press and Usa today can polls. West Virginia is third in the a Media poll behind no. 1 Florida state and no. 2 Nebraska. In the coaches poll Nebraska is no. 1, West Virginia no. 2 and Florida state no. 3. The mountaineers could finish first in the coaches poll if Florida state beats Nebraska. A i think we can accomplish it in the Cotton or the sugar a Pastilong said. A obviously the opponents in both of those bowls Are very formidable opponents Quot Quot chargers get healthy by Steve Herman Indianapolis a the slumping san Diego chargers needed a Victory and a healthy Stan Humphries gave it to them. Making his first Start since he bruised his right shoulder eight weeks ago Humphries passed for 216 Yards and two touchdowns monday night sending the chargers to a 31-0 Romp Over the Indianapolis Colts a team in even More dire need of a Victory than san Diego. A it was Nice a Humphries said. A i had a Good feeling All week about the Way we were practising about the Way my shoulder was feeling. My mental state of mind was coming Back because i Felt my shoulder was 100  san Diego 5-6the acc West Cham a Pion a year ago but Hurt by injuries this sea Pago 32 for nil standings season had lost five of its past seven games including four since John Friesz replaced Humphries As the starter. But Humphries who appeared in Relief last week in a loss to the los Angeles raid cars was ready this  i told our Guys before the game to tired of hearing about this offence not doing a lat its capable of doing. Its time to go out there and Start playing football a Humphries said. A a the Victory can give us a Little enthusiasm a Little Energy that we need to bring us out of a Hole that maybe we had fallen into maybe bring this team together and Start playing As a  the Colts 3-8 Are still in their slump though and Nave lost four straight games and seven of their last eight. A any loss hurts. We be got to come out of it a Colts coach Ted Marchibroda said. A the big things is to Bounce Back. I wish i could say this is the last time Well get knocked Down but we a Bounce Back Quot keeping the Colts guessing by going to eight different receivers Humphries hit 12 of 19 attempts for 171 Yards in the first half including five straight for 81 Yards on the chargers second Possession. The 97-Yard drive was san Diego a longest of the season and a 39-Yard to pass to Shawn Jefferson on the second play othe second Quarter was Humphries longest completion this season and Jefferson a longest reception and first touchdown of the year. For the game Humphries hit 16 of 25 the stars and stripes december 1,1993 Page 40 Jacksonville gains in race for franchise Rosemont Iii. A the Carolina panthers Are in. Now nil owners say they will a without reservation a pick chargers Stanley Richard left makes an interception in front of Colts Jesse Hester. Attempts with no interceptions. A offensively in the first half we played Good football a Marchibroda said. A but defensively they ran at will against us. We had them in terrible Field position at times and  hold them. A those things Hurt then we had the turnovers in the second half and  move the Ball the Way we wanted to. When we did move it we gave up the. Connecticut maps Virginia ise turnovers.�?�. _ the Colts lost the Ball on an interception and twice on fumbles including one that set up the chargers third touchdown on a 1-Yard run by Marion Butts on the first play of the fourth Quarter. The chargers totalled 474 Yards offence to 262 for the Colts who extended their Streak to nine straight quarters without a touchdown. Re their second expansion City for 1995. They also say that none of the four cities left have the inside track. \ but As the meetings began tuesday St. Louis remained a favorite Jacksonville was reported to be coming on fast and Baltimore had Quot a solid but Small bloc of supporters. So maybe that Means Memphis the City everybody counts out May be in Ltd if the decision is made at 1 30, Memphis is out a William Dunavant head of the group seeking a franchise for Memphis Sai amp monday As the principles in the process ran a Gauntlet or television cameras As they arrived for the meetings. But if its a Long drawn out process Memphis will be in the heat of the  it could indeed be a Long drawn out process. At least for the record Many of the owners say they re undecided _ the owners met oct 26 and selected Charlotte As one of the new franchises then adjourned without picking a second. While St Louis probably has the most votes it probably does no to have anything near the 21 votes a from 28 owners a required to get the franchise. So while the Assumption has been that the second new City would be one that lost an nil team a Baltimore or St. Louis a that May not be the Case. That could mean the process might1 swing the Way of Jacksonville and Memphis a the dark horses