In his first season as coach, George Chaump is getting the Naval Academy off the ground and into the air. The Midshipmen have junked their run-oriented wishbone attack for a wide-open passing game. In Saturday's opener against Richmond at Annapolis, Md., Alton Grizzard completed 17 of 33 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns, all to Jerry Dawson, in a 28-17 victory. Grizzard, the team's leading rusher the past three seasons, also scored on a seven-yard run.
GETTING THE BOOT
It didn't take long for Division I-AA Murray State to realize it was overmatched against Louisville. Murray State's first two possessions ended in punts, the first of which went 10 yards and led to a field goal; the second was blocked out of the end zone for a safety to make the score 5-0. The final score: Louisville 68, Murray State 0. It was Louisville's largest winning margin since a 72-0 victory over Wayne State in 1955 and Murray State's worst loss since a 69-0 drubbing by Mississippi State in 1946.
'GATORBALL' HAS BITE
They're calling it "Gatorball" in Florida, and first-year Coach Steve Spurrier showed why with a 50-7 victory over Oklahoma State. A Florida record crowd of 75,428 showed up to see what "Gatorball" was all about. It turned out to be a pro-set passing offense far different from the running style that the Gators became accustomed to while showcasing running back Emmitt Smith the past three years.
Welcome Shane Matthews, a sophomore who began spring practice as the fifth-string quarterback. Matthews passed for 332 yards and a touchdown in his debut, completing 20 of 29 passes.
Spurrier, who returned to his alma mater in January after leading Duke to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship last season, watched his new offense put together scoring drives of 70, 83, 64 and 49 yards.
DID I SAY THAT?
Boston College linebacker Ivan Caesar learned a lessen in humility after he predicted that the Eagles would hold Pittsburgh to 66 yards rushing. Not quite. Running back Curvin Richards gained 117 yards and a scored a touchdown, and the Pitt defense intercepted a school-record-tying six passes on the way to a 29-6 victory. "The defense was beautiful," Pittsburgh Coach Paul Hackett said. "They took the game to B.C. from the first play of the game. Mr. Caeser was kind enough to say some things that got our football team excited, but the defense came in and dominated."
PEELING OUT?
Would you believe the Joe Robbie Bowl?
Well, the name change might not happen, but Miami's Orange Bowl Committee will decide Monday whether to move the New Year's Day Orange Bowl out of the downtown stadium and into suburban Joe Robbie Stadium, three-year-old home of the Miami Dolphins.
Why move from the 53-year-old facility?
Some say it's run down, the neighborhood isn't what it used to be, and the suburbs beckon.
But the overriding reason might be the toilet bowls. They leak. They overflow. There aren't enough of them.
The move would take effect on Jan. 1, 1992 and would leave the Orange Bowl stadium with just one tenant--the University of Miami, which recently signed a 10-year contract with the city. But moving, committee member David Kraslow said, would mean "reducing the economic viability of the stadium. You're talking about a major tenant. Even though it's just one game, it's a damned important game."
TURNAROUNDS
--Kansas, which lost, 59-10, last week to Virginia, defeated Oregon State, 38-12.
--North Carolina State, a 67-0 winner over Western Carolina last week, lost to Georgia Tech, 21-13.
--Clemson, which beat Cal State Long Beach, 59-0, last week, lost to Virginia, 20-7.
INJURIES
University of Houston wide receiver Manny Hazard, who set an NCAA record with 142 catches last season, suffered a dislocated elbow in the second quarter against Nevada Las Vegas. Hazard left the game after diving in the end zone for a pass from quarterback David Klingler. Hazard did not return to the game, finishing with two catches for nine yards. His 1,689 yards and 22 touchdowns last season were Southwest Conference records.
Ohio State linebacker John Kacherski (knee) and fullback Scott Graham (ankle) were both injured in the second quarter and did not return.
West Virginia quarterback Greg Jones suffered a concussion and left the game during the Mountaineers' 14-10 loss to Maryland.
STREAKS
Texas El Paso defeated New Mexico State, 27-24, extending the nation's longest losing streak to 19 games.
VMI was the perfect remedy for Western Carolina, which last week was held without a first down in a 67-0 loss to North Carolina State. Western Carolina won at home Saturday, 28-20, extending VMI losing streaks to 31 on artificial surfaces and 14 in away games. The game ended VMI's four-game winning streak and Western Carolina's six-game losing streak.
Mississippi State's 40-7 loss to Tennessee was it's seventh consecutive Southeastern loss.
