Emotion Can’t Block or Tackle

Alabama is a one-touchdown underdog to Notre Dame today, and Coach Bill Curry was asked if that would give his team an emotional edge.

“You don’t win on emotion,” Curry said. “Emotion disappears about the sixth time that guy hits you in the mouth and you realize those tears in your eyes are not because of dear old alma mater.”

Two more gems from the mouth of former Florida State coach Bill Peterson, featured Friday in Richard Hoffer’s college football column:

--”This is the greatest country in America.”

--On being named to the Florida Hall of Fame: “I’m very appreciative of being indicted.”

Indianapolis Colts Coach Ron Meyer, already leading the league in malaprops, now is going for the cliche crown. He scored a hat trick with this response to the criticism of Eric Dickerson:

“Don’t judge a book by the cover. Don’t believe everything you read. There are always two sides to every story.”

Add Dickerson: Said NBC’s Charlie Jones, when Dickerson played for the Colts after the Rams had announced he was injured: “Dickerson has found a miracle cure for thigh bruises--just rub it with money.”

Trivia Time: The 1965 Michigan State team was the last to represent the school in the Rose Bowl. Why didn’t the 1966 and 1978 teams, both Big Ten champions, receive invitations? (Answer below.)

From the Associated Press, under the heading, “Squeaky Wheels, Different Grease”:

“Dallas running back Herschel Walker, after saying he would ask for a trade or retire if he did not get a more prominent role in the offense, was rewarded with his first start of the season.

“New England tight end Greg Baty, after complaining when he was dropped from the starting lineup, was placed on waivers.”

New York Giants receiver Phil McConkey, who wrote a book with quarterback Phil Simms, says of working with backup Jeff Rutledge: “There are only so many things you can do on a pass play. You either go down and in or down and out, either short or long, this way or that way.

“Jeff can handle it. It’ll be a little different for me, though. I’ll have to change the name of my book--Rutledge to McConkey.”

Ouch!: Said Toronto Maple Leafs Coach John Brophy after the New York Rangers traded defenseman Willie Huber to the Vancouver Canucks: “He’s 6-5, weighs 235 pounds. He’s a big bag of waste.”

Denver offensive guard Stefan Humphries will be going against his former teammates Monday night when the Broncos face the Chicago Bears.

He offered his new teammates this advice on dealing with William (the Refrigerator) Perry: “Just get out of his way when he starts falling down.”

Trivia Answer: The 1966 team was not eligible because of the Big Ten no-repeat rule then in effect, and the 1978 team was on probation.

Note: In ‘66, Purdue, quarterbacked by Bob Griese, represented the Big Ten and beat USC, 14-13, in the 1967 Rose Bowl. The Trojans, after scoring a touchdown in the final minutes, tried a two-point conversion and failed.

Quotebook

Kathy Bosworth, mother of Seattle Seahawks linebacker Brian Bosworth, recalling some of his childhood shenanigans: “It’s a good thing Brian was a third child, or he would have been the only one.”