9602040315
DETROIT FREE PRESS
961108
Friday, November 08, 1996
METRO FINAL
1D
MITCH ALBOM
Copyright (c) 1996, Detroit Free Press
TGI FOOTBALL
HUT ONE: Had a long chat with Barry Sanders this week and asked if he were
happy with his rushing attempts this year. He said no -- the way Barry says
no, which is to be polite about it -- and then he said, "We went to talk to
the coaches about it last week."
And I said, "We?"
And he said, "You know, uh, me."
When Barry talks, coaches listen. At least for a half. Sanders, you notice,
got the ball plenty against Green Bay, one of the best defenses in football,
and he racked up 105 yards in the first 30 minutes. Then, for some reason, the
Lions went away from him in the second half, and they lost. Why? Who knows
why? They had a series -- with over four minutes left and only trailing by 10
-- where they let a back-up quarterback, Don Majkowski, throw four straight
times rather than give the ball to Barry, the best back in football.
Naturally, they failed to make a first down.
I get asked all the time by people around the country, "What is Detroit's
coaching staff thinking? They alienate their star quarterback, then they
don't give it to their star running back? What's going on?"
And I do what everyone around here does. I shrug my shoulders and say, "I
dunno."
* HUT TWO: I like Johnnie Morton. He's a bright guy. But he's the youngest
and least experienced of Detroit's receivers. So why does he seem the most
discontent -- as if the Lions owe him something?
* HUT THREE: Not that Herman Moore is a barrel of laughs these days. He's
also truly bothered by the offense, and his eloquent post-game conversations
remind me of Hamlet in a dark moment. ("To pass, or not to pass, that is the
question.") Not that I blame Moore. He has the talent of a Jerry Rice or
Michael Irvin, but he's not as lucky when it comes to the team he plays on.
And he wonders if he ever will be.
* HUT FOUR: You know, the irony of this Wayne Fontes-yanking- Scott Mitchell
incident is that Mitchell is the only guy who can really save Fontes' job. If
he gets on a tear, the Lions have a chance to win. Mitchell is the only guy
who singlehandedly can sway the game. And he gets pulled, then injured in
practice, and now he's who knows what? Amazing.
* HUT FIVE: Having said all that, I bet the Lions win Monday against San
Diego. It fits the pattern, which is this: If it drives you nuts, the Lions
will do it.
* HUT SIX: Enough Lions. Let's talk college. The string of lucky Northwestern
finally ended last week, thanks to Penn State, and this is fine by me.
Northwestern was getting a little too cocky about their last-second miracles.
This conversation was overheard at the line of scrimmage, with Northwestern
trailing in the fourth quarter.
Penn State: Haw, haw, you're losin'! Hyuck!
Northwestern: Never mind that, behemoth breath. The hour arrives.
Penn State: Huh?
Northwestern: We commence our comeback.
Penn State: HUH?
Northwestern: Our ascent to glory.
Penn State: Huh?
Northwestern: Carpe Diem!
Penn State: Aw, shut your trap. (POW!...(at)$#$!)
Northwestern: (Unnnh) What hath happened?
Penn State: Haw, haw, now yer really losin'!
* HUT SEVEN: Well, you have to hand it to Dan Henning. In Boston College, he
finally found a worse situation than the Lions.
* HUT EIGHT: You can talk all you want about quarterbacks, but this year, the
big story in the NFL is running back. Think about it:
* In Denver, Terrell Davis has finally given John Elway a co- star, and the
Broncos are 8-1.
* In Philadelphia, Ricky Watters running wild has enabled the Eagles to
survive the loss of their starting quarterback. They are 7-2.
* Terry Allen, given up on by the Vikings, is the main reason the Redskins are
the story of the year.
* The Pittsburgh Steelers lost quarterback Neil O'Donnell, but they signed
Jerome Bettis, and because of that they are leading the division.
* And Houston rookie Eddie George is actually making the Heisman Trophy more
than a curse.
THE HUDDLE
* WHO'S IN: Barry Sanders (lifetime membership), Rod (Playin' In) Payne, and
Joe Paterno's gang, for getting rid of the purple.
* WHO'S OUT: The Lions' secondary (it's a ball, try to catch it, knock it
down, or knock it away, OK?), Boston College and Troy Aikman. It's comforting
to know that every week is not perfection in the life of America's most
eligible bachelor.
THE PICKS
* MICHIGAN 24, PURDUE 14: I don't get it. Brian Alford, one of the premiere
receivers in the Big Ten, comes from Oak Park. And he had to go all the way
to West Lafayette to play college football?
* MICHIGAN STATE 21, INDIANA 7: The Hoosier football team would be a lot more
popular if it wore shorts and shot jump shots.
* DETROIT 24, SAN DIEGO 20: Like I said, if it'll drive you crazy, the Lions
will do it.
* DALLAS 20, SAN FRANCISCO 17: The Big Game. The Huge Game. The Game of The
Year. And you know what? It's quite possible neither one of these teams will
be in the Super Bowl.
* PHILADELPHIA 16, BUFFALO 14: On the other hand, the Eagles might surprise
you . . . .
* GREEN BAY 28, KANSAS CITY 20: . . . if the Packers don't.
THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM THE PRINTED ARTICLE.
FOOTBALL