1998 Ad

Sporting News, The, Dec 28, 1998

ADVANTAGE:      QB   RB   WR   OL   DL   LB   DB   ST

Purdue                               X
Kansas State     X    X    X    X         X    X    X

SEASON RESULTS

Purdue (8-4)

at USC                    L        17-27
vs. Rice                  W        21-19
vs. Central Florida       W         35-7
at Notre Dame             L        30-31
vs. Minnesota             W        56-21
at Wisconsin              L        24-31
at Penn State             L        13-31
vs. Illinois              W         42-9
vs. Iowa                  W        36-14
at Northwestern           W        56-21
at Michigan State         W        25-24
vs. Indiana               W         52-7

Kansas State (11-1)

vs. Indiana State         W         66-0
vs. Northern Illinois     W         73-7
vs. Texas                 W         48-7
vs. NE Louisiana          W         62-7
at Colorado               W         16-9
vs. Oklahoma State        W        52-20
vs. Iowa State            W         52-7
at Kansas                 W         54-6
at Baylor                 W         49-6
vs. Nebraska              W        40-30
at Missouri               W        31-25
vs. Texas A&M             L  (20T) 33-36

TSN VERDICT:

Kansas State   41
Purdue         30

Somebody must pay for the Wildcats falling from a BCS bowl. K-State's superior speed and athletic ability will be too much for Purdue.

HUMANITARIAN BOWL

Idaho vs. Southern Mississippi

3 p.m. ET, December 30, Boise, Idaho, ESPN2

Why you should watch: Each team's offense features good balance, so defense could decide this game. That's where Southern Miss DE adalius Thomas enters the picture. He'll be the best player on the field.

IDAHO: The Vandals' West Coast offense will put pressure on the Southern Miss defense. Because of injuries, Idaho has played three quarterbacks, but freshman John Welsh has secured the job for a team in only its third season of I-A football. Welsh spreads the ball around; five players have 20 or more catches. But this is a balanced attack. Joel Thomas has run for 1,229 yards despite working behind a line that starts no seniors. OT Rick DeMulling is the best of the bunch. The defense excels at pressuring quarterbacks. The heat begins with DTs Wil Beck, a freshman, and Mao Tosi, who also is playing on the basketball team. Although the line is the strength, LBs Ryan Skinner, Idaho's top tackler, and Chris Nofoaiga, who led the Big West with 11 sacks, are the playmakers on a speedy, undersized defense. Because of inexperience, the secondary is the weak link. FS Bryson Gardner is one to watch. Vern Benard may break open the game with a punt return. K Ben Davis has a big leg but lacks consistency.

SOUTHERN MISS: This was supposed to be the year the Golden Eagles proved they were big time. Alas, inconsistency dampened their season. In years past, defense has been Southern Miss' strength, but offense was the story this season. QB Lee Roberts is a dangerous passer who has big targets in Sherrod Gideon and Todd Pinkston. But foes can't focus on stopping the passing attack, as true freshman Derrick Nix emerged to run for 1,180 yards. He accomplished that operating behind a line that lacks talent. If there is a standout, it's T Henry McClendon Rebuilding the secondary was the priority of the defense entering the year. The development of safeties Jose Gonzalez and Larry Watts has been key. Although the defensive backs have evolved, the front seven has been solid all season. USM likes to blitz and attack frequently, which allows a line led by DEs Adalius Thomas and Cedric Scott to run wild. T.J. Slaughter and Ty Trahan pace an athletic corps of linebackers. The special teams aren't special.