European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 19, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday october 19, 1994 sports the stars and stripes Page 33who s Best in theby Rick Warner a football writer if you love to argue about College football rankings this could be your most enjoyable season Ever. Imagine this five teams go undefeated in the regular season and none meet in a bowl game because of conference commitments or bowl bans. The debates would be endless. A it would be wild a esp commentator Beano Cook said. A a there a be arguments in every bar in  it May sound far fetched but it could happen this season with Penn state in the Rose bowl the Nebraska Colorado Winner in the Orange the Colorado state Utah Winner in the Holiday Alabama in the sugar and Texas a amp a sidelined by probation. Or if Auburn beats Alabama scratch the tide and add the tigers to the list of unbeaten. Like Texas a amp a Auburn can to play in a bowl because of Mcaa violations. Both teams Are eligible for the National championship in the associated press Media poll although probation teams Are barred from the Usa today can coaches poll. The last time five division i a teams had perfect regular seasons was 1979, when Alabama Brigham Young Ohio state Florida state and Mcniese state did it. They All played in different bowls and they All lost except for National Champion Alabama which beat Arkansas 24-9 in the sugar bowl. The situation could be More confusing this year because of the sanctions against no. 4 Auburn 7-0 and no. 6 Texas a amp a 6-0. What happens if the probation teams Are the Only ones left without a loss after the bowls Cook said he might vote for Auburn because the tigers would have completed their second straight 11-0 season. They finished fourth in the a poll last season behind a Trio of once beaten teams including National Champion Florida state. A if they re allowed to play their games should count a Cook said. A you can Tig note a team that goes two years without a  a a a it a a a a a a a a a a a a Cooke a esp colleague Lee Corso disagrees. A a a a probation teams should not win the National championship because they can to take the last step which is winning a bowl game a Corso said. So who a got the inside track to the is it top ranked Penn state 6-0which leads the nation in scoring Ana just beat Michigan at Ann Arbor is it no. 2 Colorado 6-0which has already beaten four teams that were a ranked at the time they played is it no. 3 Nebraska 7-0which continues to win despite the loss of Star quarterback Tommie Frazier what about no. 8 Alabama 7-0which keeps winning close games with clutch plays Nebraska Colorado on oct. 29 and Ai Burn Alabama on nov. 19 will serve As a elimination games. And Well know More about Penn states chances following the Lions upcoming stretch against Ohio state Indiana and Illinois. _ in his preseason predictions Cook picked Penn state to win the National championship. But he thinks the Nebraska Colorado Winner will take Over the no. 1 ranking. A the Winner of that game controls his own destiny a Cook said. Corso said Penn state Colorado and Alabama would All have Strong arguments if they go  bowl group seeks permission to feature Mcnair a file Alcorn states Steve Mcnair has thrown 28 to passes and run for six More this year. Lorman miss. Apr How far can Steve Mcnair carry Alcorn state maybe to an unprecedented bowl game. Liberty bowl officials have confirmed that division i a Alcorn state is being considered for their dec. 31 game in Memphis Tenn. / the bowls team selection committee will be closely watching Southeastern conference and big 10 teams chairman Reggie Barnes said. But in Case those teams arc committed to other games bowl officials Are asking the Mcaa for permission to invite Alcorn 5-2. The drawing card is quarterback Mcnair who is set to become the career total offence Leader in the Mcaa when the braves play Host to Southern University on saturday. Mcaa rules slate that bowl teams must win at least six games against division la Competition. Alcorn state 5-2 is tied for second in the Laa southwestern athletic conference. The braves have no division la opponents. A it would take the Mcaa approval because first of All they re a Laa school a Barnes said. A with the National publicity of a air Mcnair and their winning record we Are going to investigate the possibility. A a Here a a Young Man who a been on the cover of sports illustrated and he s even been talked about As a candidate for the Heisman  through seven games this season Mcnair has thrown for 2,705 Yards and 28 touchdowns. He has rushed for 672 Yards and six ads the Host team for the Liberty bowl is expected to be the Winner of the nov. 19 Hast Carolina Memphis game. Memphis and East Carolina Are part of the newly formed five member Liberty bowl Alliance which determines one of the teams for the dec 31 game. The top team in the Alliance goes to the howl if it meets Mcaa criteria. # Memphis leads the Alliance and ecu is second. Southern Mississippi is third. Alcorn state May face some decisions if it is invited to the Liberty bowl. The braves have a Chance at the division i a playoffs which run from nov. 26 to dec. 17. If the braves Are invited and make the finals a Liberty bowl berth would mean they would play 16 games. Moeller still irked Over Penn state loss Ann Arbor Mich. A Michigan coach Gary Moeller was visibly upset during his weekly luncheon with the Media. Almost two Days had passed since the wolverines lost to Penn state and he still  shake the disappointment. A Penn state is a great football team. I done to want to downgrade them in any Way a Moeller said monday. A they deserved to win that football game. But i wanted to w in that game and we could  a a the Victory vaulted Penn state 6-0, 30 big ten from no 3 to no. I in the associated press poll while Michigan 42, 2-1 slipped from fifth to no. 11. And things done to get any easier for the wolverines who play at Illinois 4-2, 2-1 on saturday. A we have to tackle better than that a Moeller said still steaming. A the difference was their running with the Ball and our Lack of it. We re going to have to find a Way to Rush the  the wolverines were held to just 40 Rushing Yards in the first half. Tyrone Wheatley a powerful running in the second half including touchdown runs of 67 and 21 Yards helped Michigan finish the game with 216 Rushing Yards. Michigan a defense has been a problem All season. The weaknesses just got magnified against a powerful Penn state team. Through six games Michigan a opponents Are averaging 396 Yards 142.5 on the ground and 253.5 through the air. Perhaps most alarming of All is that opponents have thrown 13 touchdown passes against Michigan including two that sent Michigan to its losses. Colorado beat the wolverines with a Hail Mary pass As time expired and Penn state won on a 16-Yard to pass with 2 53 remaining. The wolverines have thrown for Only five touchdowns. A a we re giving up too Many big plays a Moeller said. A a a e just should be doing these things better. We just  it also bothers Moeller that the wolverines have trailed in All six games. Penn state scored on its first four possessions and led the wolverines 16-0 in the second Quarter. A a that a a concern of mine a he said. A it la be magnified in a game like that. You could buy yourself some problems if that happens against  still ahead Are games against Wisconsin Purdue Minnesota and Ohio stale. With the Kittany lion s now in command of the race for the Rose bowl berth does Moeller expect his players to suffer an emotional letdown a no i done to expect that at All Quot Moeller said. A a they re still Michigan number one. I expect them to play hard. There a five weeks left. There arc a lot of things that can happen in football.�?�. Quot