Washington St. Recalls Bad Old Days : THE COLLEGES

By STEVE HARVEY

Nov. 20, 1992 12 AM PT

Washington State jumped to a commanding 3-0 lead against Stanford on Saturday but couldn’t make it hold up as the Cardinal came back to score a 40-3 victory. For one game at least, Washington State called to mind the school’s 1970 team that won the Bottom Ten title in 1970 with a 1-10 record. Memories. . . .

This year’s pacesetter, Brown (0-9), scored 28 points but the Bruins’ Dessert Swirl defense gave up 51 points to Dartmouth. Brown has only one obstacle blocking the way to a winless season: Columbia (2-7). The Lions are bitter that their own Bottom Ten chances were ruined by a 35-30 victory over Cornell.

Perhaps the most red-faced player in the country Saturday was on a winning team: Miami wide receiver Horace Copeland performed a back flip in the end zone after catching what he thought was a touchdown pass. It was ruled incomplete, though, at which time Temple cornerback Keita Crespina performed his own back flip. Talk about one-upmanship.

The rankings:

School, Record Last Loss Next Loss 1. Brown (0-9) 28-51, Dartmouth Columbia 2. Minnesota (1-9) 6-34, Wisconsin Iowa 3. LSU (1-8) Idle Tulane 4. Duke (2-8) 27-45, North Carolina St. North Carolina 5. Tulane (2-8) 7-70, Florida State LSU 6. Arkansas St. (1-9) 18-35, East Carolina SW Louisiana 7. Arkansas (2-6-1) Idle SMU 8. Penn State (1-4)* 16-17, Notre Dame Pitt 9. Pitt (3-7) 16-31, Louisville Penn State 10. Majors (6-3) Def. Memphis St. 26-21 His job

11. Michigan (10 fumbles against Illinois); 12. Houston (3-6); 13.-16. Mildcats (Arizona, Northwestern, Kentucky, Kansas State) (16-22-1); 17. University of Texas at El Third-and-25 Paso (1-9); 18. Cal (4-6); 19. How are we ranking? Call 1-800-BUM-TEAM; 20. Clemson (5-5).

*Record over last five games.

Rout of the Week: Pitt (3-7) over Penn State (6-4).

Alumni Award: Washington State, a 3-40 loser to Stanford.

Suspended for life: Wake Forest (7-3).

No kick coming: Miami wide receiver Lamar Thomas said Florida State doesn’t deserve a bowl rematch even though the Hurricanes’ won their first game only 19-16. The Seminoles’ Dan Mowrey missed a 39-yard field-goal attempt as the final gun sounded. “If they want to play us again, they ought to take Mowrey and string him up by the end zone and give him a couple of kicks,” Thomas said. “It’s not our fault.”

No pride: Holiday Bowl officials announced they will extend a bid to the third-place finisher in the Big Ten even if that team wins only six games.

THE PROS

Mike Ditka, master psychologist. How else to describe him?

After the Bears’ Kevin Butler booted a kickoff out of bounds against Tampa Bay, Butler said that Chicago’s cuddly coach told him on the sideline: “I’m the worst kicker in the league. I’m gutless and I’m mentally weak.” Ditka evidently convinced Butler, who later missed a 44-yard field-goal attempt as time ran out to ensure a 17-20 Chicago defeat.

Don’t be surprised if this Svengali of the Midway turns to a new weapon Sunday against Chicago: mass hypnotism.

Ditka, incidentally, said after the Bears’ loss: “At least we’ve made somebody happy--the malcontents and the lousy people in the media.” And don’t think the Bottom Ten selectors don’t appreciate it, Mike.

The rankings:

SWOON DIVISION

Team Was Is 1. Detroit 1-1 2-8 2. Seattle 1-2 1-9 3.Chicago 4-3 4-6 4.Miami 6-0 7-3 5.Philadelphia 4-0 6-4 6.Washington 2-1 6-4

S.I. JINX CONTINUES* 1. July 27: Joe Montana

“Joe Gives It a Go” Consequence: Still injured

2. Aug. 31: New Mexico State

“No. 107 (S.I. ranking)” Consequence: Won first 3**

3. Sept. 7: Jerry Rice

“Hot Hands” Consequence: Worst year as pro

4. Sept. 14: Jim Harbaugh

“Good News Bears” Consequence: Ditka-scream victim

5. Oct. 12: Randall Cunningham