Circle The Wagons

? Wally Richardson, sophomore, Penn State. Career stats: 35 of 70 for 438 yards, two TDs. Played in four games in 1992 alter John Sacca was injured. Acquitted himself well but hasn't done much since.

?Joe Pickens, senior. Duke. Career stats: 42 of 102 for 562 yards, three TDs. A transfer from Ohio State. Started two games in '93: a 45-7 loss to Florida State and a 26-18 loss to Maryland.

? Dameyune Craig, freshman. Auburn. Career stats: 14 of 29 for 185 yards, one TD. Was good enough to press Patrick Nix for the starter job during preseason.

?Moses Moreno, freshman, Colorado State. Career stats: 3 of 8 for 27 yards, no TDs. Made his debut last week as the Rams trounced UTEP 47-9.

?Steve Emerson, senior, Texas A&M. Career stats: 1 of 5 for 14 yards, no TDs. Didn't exactly get a vote of confidence when, with 40 seconds left last Saturday and the Aggies leading Baylor 41-21, they recovered a fumble and put in starter Corey Pullig to run out the clock.

? Brandon Jones, sophomore. Utah. Career stats: 1 of 5 for 16 yards, no TDs. A walk-on whose great claim to fame is that he was the Utah state high jump champion as a junior in high school.

Luck of the Irish

Docs a 7-4 Notre Dame team deserve to play in a major bowl game? Well, it doesn't matter if the Irish deserve to or not. According to the rules of the bowl coalition, a Notre Dame team with seven wins is assured a berth in the Cotton, Fiesta, Orange or Sugar Bowl.

Of course, after losing to Brigham Young 21-14 last Saturday in South Bend, the Irish will have to win three of their last four games to wind up 7-4, and since two of their remaining games are against Florida State and Southern Cal, achieving even that record won't be easy. Well, certainly the Irish wouldn't go to a major bowl with, say, a 6-5 record, would they?

Could be. According to the coalition contract, a 6-5 Irish team could appear in a major bowl "by mutual agreement" of Notre Dame and the bowl. With its large national following, Notre Dame—with almost any record—would be tempting to any bowl committee.