1998 Ad

Sporting News, The, Dec 28, 1998

ADVANTAGE:      QB   RB   WR   OL   DL   LB   DB   ST

Miami                 X         X    X    X         X
NC State         X         X                   X

SEASON RESULTS

Miami (8-3)

vs. E. Tennessee St.      W         66-17
at Cincinnati             W         38-12
vs. Virginia Tech         L    (OT) 20-27
at Rutgers                W         53-17
rs, Florida State         L         14-26
at West Virginia          W         34-31
vs. Boston College        W         35-17
at Temple                 W          42-7
vs. Pittsburgh            W         38-10
at Syracuse               L         13-66
vs. UCLA                  W         49-45

NC State (7-4)

vs. Ohio                  W         34-31
vs. Florida State         W          24-7
at Baylor                 L         30-33
vs. Syracuse              W         38-17
vs. Georgia Tech          L         24-47
vs. Duke                  W         27-24
at Virginia               L         13-23
at Clemson                W         46-39
vs. Wake Forest           W         38-27
at Maryland               W         35-21
vs. North Carolina        L    (OT) 34-37

TSN VERDICT: Miami 42, NC State 31 After missing a bowl last year, the Hurricanes will roar back, taking another step toward reclaiming elite status in 1999.

ALAMO BOWL

Purdue vs. Kansas State

8:30 p.m. ET, December 29, San Antonio, Texas, ESPN

Why you should watch: The quarterback duel between Michael Bishop and Drew Brees is a network's dream. K-State has little to gain, but this is a great chance for Purdue to take another rebuilding step. Let the scoring begin.

PURDUE: The Boilermakers are a young team that had to replace nearly every key player off last season's offense. To be in a bowl again is a bonus. QB Drew Brees is the headliner. He set Big Ten single-season standards for attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns-and he's only a sophomore. As many as 10 players have caught a pass in a game, with WRs Randall Lane and Isaac Jones and TE Tim Stratton being the top targets. Purdue isn't just about passing, as Dondre Johnson and J. Crabtree are solid backs. But a lack of speed and smallish line help keep big plays to a minimum. The defense has been steady all season. The line is good, thanks to fast and athletic DEs Rosevelt Colvin and Chike 0keafor and rough-and-tumble DT Matt Mitrione. Purdue has speed at linebacker it hasn't had in years, thanks to John Reeves, Mike Rose and Jason Loerzel. The secondary has been hit hard by injuries and lacks speed, but safeties Billy Gustin and Adrian Beasley are playmakers. The kicking game is good.

KANSAS STATE: QB Michael Bishop is the most electrifying player in the nation. Without his playmaking skills, Kansas State wouldn't be an elite team. In addition to having a cannon arm, Bishop is the team's best running back who will frequently take off on draw plays. When Bishop isn't running, he hands off to Eric Hickson, the school's all-time leading rusher. He's a pedestrian back who lacks Bishop's explosion. The Wildcats have dangerous WRs Darnell McDonald, a big, strong target, and Aaron Lockett, a diminutive speedster. The defense is as powerful as the offense. The linebacker trio of Jeff Kelly, Travis Ochs and Mark Simoneau is the strength of the rant. Aside from DE Darren Howard, who paced the Big 12 with 10 1/2 sacks, the line features workmanlike talent. The unit is good at plugging holes and letting the linebackers make plays. The secondary has been the problem. The safeties are good, but the cornerbacks have been iffy. No team can match K-State's special teams, headed by K Martin Gramatica.