Fans Have Themselves a Field Day

Goal posts were falling at stadiums all over the nation Saturday as fans expressed themselves in postgame celebrations.

In Albuquerque, N.M., it took less than a minute for the fans to dismantle both goalposts after New Mexico clinched the Western Athletic Conference Mountain Division title by defeating Tulsa, 51-13.

That was at least three minutes faster than the time Lobo fans needed to break down the goalposts after last week’s 38-28 victory over Brigham Young that ended a 16-game losing streak against the Cougars.

The celebration among the crowd of more than 29,000 on Saturday erupted with the final gun. Within minutes, one goal post had been hauled into the west stands, while dozens of fans paraded up and down the field with the remains of the other goalpost.

It took elated fans in Auburn, Ala., 20 minutes to bring down the goal posts after the No. 13 Tigers defeated Alabama, 18-17.

Meanwhile, at Stanford, a somewhat different scene unfolded.

Following the Cardinal’s 21-20 victory over California in the 100th Big Game, the post-game celebration deteriorated into a melee when hundreds of Cal fans also broke through security and ran on the field.

Several fights broke out and the goal posts were torn down--by Cal fans--before order was restored.

AT WHAT PRICE OVERSTATEMENT?

Following Washington State’s 41-35 victory over Washington, Cougar fans stormed the field at Husky Stadium in Seattle and lifted Coach Mike Price onto their shoulders.

Fans back home in Pullman and in other parts of the state also were understandably excited. After all, the last time Washington State went to the Rose Bowl, Herbert Hoover was president, alcohol was illegal, television had not been invented and the nation was still in the throes of a depression.

Still, Price might have been overstating the case a bit when he said: “This team has touched the whole of America. This football team will be remembered for 100 years.”

On more than one continent, according to loquacious defensive lineman Leon Bender.

“Anyone who ever wore the crimson and gray and went to Washington State, whether in Pullman or in Africa, they supported us,” he said.

NO BULL

Tulane established a school record for points in a season when the Green Wave defeated Houston, 44-10.

The 44 points gave Tulane 365 points, breaking the mark of 358 set in 1987.

Not surprisingly, the record was broken on an interception return for a touchdown by a player whose name is synonymous with clutch performances.

Michael Jordan.

DON’T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU ON THE WAY OUT

Notre Dame quarterback Ron Powlus played his final game at Notre Dame Stadium as the Fighting Irish beat No. 22 West Virginia, 21-14.

Powlus, who connected with Bobby Brown on a 11-yard scoring pass play late in the fourth quarter, grabbed the game ball as he left the field and ran over to the student section. He was still holding onto the ball as he came out of the locker room.

“I’m going to remember the cheers, I’m going to remember the boos, the wins and the losses,” said Powlus, who has had a rocky career since arriving as one of the most heralded players in school history. “I would come back again.”

SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS

Ohio State quarterbacks completed only nine of 26 passes for 133 yards in the No. 4 Buckeyes’ 20-14 loss to top-ranked Michigan.

But Ohio State quarterback Stanley Jackson, who completed only four of nine passes and had two intercepted, was not impressed with Michigan defensive back Charles Woodson’s credentials as a Heisman Trophy candidate.

“If he’s the best guy in the country, I don’t know,” Jackson said. “I’m not going to vote for a Michigan guy.”

Last time we checked, players weren’t able to cast ballots.

Neither can coaches, but that didn’t stop Michigan’s Lloyd Carr from doing so.

“He’s the greatest player in the country, in my opinion.”

Woodson, never one to shy away from the spotlight, agrees.

“Yeah, I think so,” Woodson said. “I’ve said that before.”

Jackson started his career with a loss at Michigan and ended it the same way.

“I feel terrible right now,” he said. “I just don’t like this state.”

THERE’S A WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN’ GOIN’ ON

Michigan quarterback Brian Griese celebrated the Wolverines’ victory over Ohio State by joining dozens of teammates on the field at Michigan Stadium.

“After we sang Hail to the Victors, I just wanted to go back on the field, like an encore,” Griese said. “I wanted to shake every fans’ hand in the stands. I couldn’t, but I’d say I got about 50%.”

Saturday’s game drew 106,982. You do the math.

NOTEWORTHY

Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch broke his school single-game mark with 476 passing yards, completing 35 of 50 passes for two touchdowns in a 59-31 loss to No. 5 Tennessee. Couch set Southeastern Conference single-season records for passing yardage with 3,884 yards, total offense with 3,759, and total offensive plays with 613.

--Compiled by Gary Klein