Scorecard

"It's kind of strange," he admits, while declaring that he has noticed a different physical pattern in each of the four conferences in which he has coached: Southwest, Atlantic Coast, Southeastern and Big Eight. "Players in the Southwest Conference are generally taller and rangier," he says. "In the Atlantic Coast they are stronger but not as tall, not as quick and speedy. In the Southeastern they're smaller and quicker, though they're bigger than they used to be. In the Big Eight we have both size and speed. Maybe that explains our winning record against non-conference opponents."

Moore has no theories to explain the differences. "I guess it's just the way folks grow," he says. "Maybe it's something in the soil."

DAMAGED GOODS

Hockey players are tough. Some professional athletes baby themselves when they are hurt, but injured hockey players seem interested only in how quickly they can return to action.

"I'm convinced hockey players have a little more guts than other athletes," says Peter Demers, trainer of the Los Angeles Kings. "They're always playing bruised. They play when other athletes wouldn't. Stitches don't even count. They consider cuts merely nuisances."

Demers keeps track of his players' injuries and ailments in a notebook. Here is the 1974-75 rundown on Defenseman Bob Murdoch:

Nov. 2. Flu virus, did not practice.
Nov. 3. Better today but has sore throat and mouth sores.
Nov. 5. Slight contusion left quad. in game at St. Louis.
Nov. 19. Cordran Lotion for rash.
Dec. 14. Laceration (puck) left side of jaw. Cut to the bone. Sutured by doctor in New York.
Dec. 20. Given medication (tablets) for rash.
Jan. 4. Twisted left knee. Sprained medial collateral ligament. Iced. Examined by Dr. Lombardo.
Jan. 6. Knee X-rayed.
Jan. 9. Knee still sore. Heat before game. Ice after.
Jan. 19. Laceration left side of nose sutured by doctor in Montreal.
Jan. 26. Sutures removed.
Feb. 13. Sprained right wrist. Taped for practice.
Feb. 22. Fractured nose (fight). Examined by Dr. Carter. Sent to hospital. Fracture reduced by specialist. Cast applied to nose. O.K. to play with cast.
Mar. 3. Examined by specialist. Nose looks pretty good. Should wear protective shield while playing (2 more weeks).
Mar. 20. Shield removed from helmet.
Mar. 28. Laceration left eyebrow. Sutured in Vancouver.
Apr. 1. Sprained ligament left elbow. Examined by doctor in K.C. Ice.
Apr. 6. Laceration on forehead. Sutured by doctor in Oakland.
Apr. 7. Has headache and swelling at laceration. Seen by Dr. Kerlan.
Apr. 10. Sprain right shoulder. Ice. Painful. Checked by Dr. Lombardo.

Murdoch didn't miss a game.

STATUS (OUCH) QUO

The National Football League has declined to make the rules protecting quarterbacks more stringent, declaring that films showing quarterbacks being injured reveal no infractions of current regulations that prohibit the quarterback from being hit by a defensive player after he has thrown the ball.