A SPECIAL REPORT: FOOTBALL

NEW DEAL: Football begins for real next weekend, and in Orange County, fans will see changes on all levels of play. . . . The Rams, who have won just eight times during the past two regular seasons, hope rehiring Chuck Knox as coach will change things beginning Sunday in Buffalo. But the fans aren’t sold yet. The season-ticket base is expected to be about 40,000, down from 50,000 in 1990, the season following their NFC Championship Game appearance. . . . Ticket manager Don Nims said hiring Knox caused a “little surge� in sales, but “maybe they’re waiting for us to beat Buffalo.�

Ram Reversals

The Rams’ average home crowd dropped in 1991, along with their win-loss record:

1988 54,469 10-6 ’89 58,846 11-5 ’90 59,919 5-11 ’91 51,585 3-13

Source: Los Angeles Rams