9402100765 DETROIT FREE PRESS 941115 Tuesday, November 15, 1994 METRO FINAL

SPT

1C MITCH ALBOM Copyright (c) 1994, Detroit Free Press THE HUDDLE Well, we had some fun Sunday night at the SandersDome in Pontiac, but we must face facts: Our local NFL team is .500, and lucky to be there. Our troubled state university team is .500 and about to be coachless. And the studs in Ann Arbor are 7-3 and no longer dream about Roses. They dream about Citrus, which is fine if you make Tang for a living. Meanwhile. Meanwhile. Our "B" group in the state consists of -- get this -- one 10-0 team (Go, Ferris!), another playoff- bound Division II team (Go, Grand Valley!), a 9-0 team going to the Division III playoffs (Go, Albion!), and one conference champion heading for the Las Vegas Bowl, which I never heard of but I bet has really good buffets, real cheap (Go, Chips!) Out with the big. In with the small. Make room for them all in this week's Huddle. I just hope they're wearing name tags. Ready? . . . HUDDLE UP! WHO'S IN THIS WEEK: Barry Sanders (lifetime membership), Drew Bledsoe, Brian Pruitt (Yes, CMU linemen, we got your faxes!), Jeff Blake, Bill Belichick, Walter Smith (if U-M had 30 more of him, it would be going to Pasadena), Corey Bender (Division III, with CCCXLVII yards rushing), and (Marvelous) Merton Hanks. WHO'S OUT: Dan Reeves, Joel Ferguson (the voters have spoken!), the Lions' defensive line, Nebraska, Penn State, Auburn (Georgia? After all that, they tied Georgia?), Sam Wyche, the Seattle Seahawks and Dennis Rodman (just in case he's thinking about playing football). Wheee! Hiya, Huddle. Let me in? Look. It's Nancy Kerrigan. Uh, this is football, Nancy. You're an ice skater. Well, I thought because my "Ice Wars" got such high ratings this weekend, and I'm an athlete, and you know, um, like, come on, mister, I WANT IN! Sorry. This is about me having a love affair with my agent, right? I guess a little thing like that keeps me out of the Huddle? HUH? HUH? Easy, now, glitter woman. We've called security . . . Hey . . . (huff) . . . Huddle . . . Why it's Craig Fischer, the CMU player who faked a punt Saturday, then lumbered 73 yards for a touchdown. All on your own? Gutsy call. I'm a senior. What can they do, fire me? And your speed! You run the 40 in, 4.5 . . . minutes? So can I get in the Huddle? Of course. We love lunatics. Hey, Huddle, did you see where Bengals quarterback Jeff Blake kept coming back from injuries Sunday and later said, "They were going to have to drag me out of there"? Hmm. That's usually what Cincinnati players say about having to go into the game. Hey, Huddle. What was his mother thinking when she named him Merton Hanks? That "Tom" already was taken? OK, Hud? Who should be the next MSU coach? I think they better straighten out the higher-ups first. Would you work there as it is? Excuse me, Mr. Huddle, sir. Passing through. Lou Holtz! We've been waiting for you. Don't even say it. I know we lost, I know I can't get in. I'm going to the video store to rent "Rudy." Wait. Don't give up so fast. Ask us. You mean it? Go ahead. You never know. Ask. Gosh. Wow. OK. Can I get in the Huddle? With your record? Are you nuts? LET'S GO TO THE MAILBAG . . . Dear Huddle Bunch: "Wak! Wak! Wak! You've raised my dander; we finally show a little pluck, and might get to the Rose Bowl, on a wing and a prayer, and a whole lot of luck . . . forget about that other name, no matter what we remain, the Fighting Ducks of Oregon!" -- A. (Webfoot) Novitsky, Berkley. So, Webfoot. Was that supposed to rhyme? Dear Huddle: How about letting Lee Corso in the Huddle for his great college picks? How about letting me in for making the great suggestion? -- Kevin Marvin, Royal Oak. Do the words "Raise your standards" mean anything to you? Hey, Huddle. Did you see Bledsoe throw 70 times Sunday? They were great passes, except that last ball. It kinda wobbled through the air. That was his arm. It came off. Please! I must know! Your NFL poll! Calm, down, Belichick, you're in there. TOP BOTTOM 1. San Francisco 18. Detroit 2. Cleveland 27. Houston 3. Dallas 28. Central Michigan 4. San Diego 29. Tampa Bay Hey, Huddle. Did you see "Interview With the Vampire?" What? Donald Fehr is having a press conference? Yo, Huddle? Did you see when Barry came off the field after his 237 yards, Wayne Fontes grabbed him and said, "Take off that helmet. I want to kiss you"? I thought that was Nancy Kerrigan's line. Got a reason you should be in the Huddle? Write the Huddle, Detroit Free Press Sports, 321 W. Lafayette, Detroit 48226, or fax 313-222-5983.