The Week

SOUTH

After Alabama lost its opener to Mississippi, Coach Bear Bryant called his offense "a bunch of big babies" with no "guts and determination." "We'll practice till nine at night or five in the morning if we have to," Bryant said, and promised that if Alabama lost to SMU there would be practice at sunrise the following Monday morning.

On the second play of the SMU game, Albania fumbled. The Mustangs promptly converted the misplay into a field goal. The Crimson Tide was intercepted on its second series and fumbled the ball away on its third. Out came the first string, and sunrise workouts loomed. But Alabama's second string generated three straight touchdowns and the Tide rolled to a 56-3 laugher.

Before the season started, South Carolina Coach Jim Carlen threw a big "if into his evaluation of the Gamecocks. "We can be a good football team," he said, "if Quarterback Ron Bass doesn't get hurt." Bass, a junior who has had four operations in the last 18 months, was hurt against Duke and had to leave the game, but South Carolina went on to win 24-6. Freshman Quarterback Steve Swinehart ran 57 yards to the one-yard line and scored on the next play to give South Carolina a 17-6 lead and passed 36 yards to Wide Receiver Philip Logan for the Gamecocks' final touchdown. Nonetheless, Bass, who sprained his knee, will be the starter when South Carolina plays Georgia this week.

Georgia clobbered Clemson 41-0. Georgia Tech trailed Pittsburgh only 14-7 at the half before succumbing 42-14. In that game Tony Dorsett rushed for 113 yards in 27 carries and scored three touchdowns. His second tally gave him 258 career points and broke the alltime Pitt record set in 1919 by Andy Hastings.

Florida and Houston have played only twice. In their first meeting seven years ago the Gators scored 59 points, the most ever against a Bill Yeoman-coached Cougar team. In their second meeting, Florida scored 49 points while holding Houston to 14; the Gators ran up 615 yards of total offense, an all-time high against Houston. Strictly a wishbone team until now, the Gators altered their offense to "half a wishbone," sending out an extra pass receiver, and scored on their first four possessions following drives of 81, 80, 80 and 58 yards. "Florida is a fantastically talented group of athletes," said Yeoman. "When their heads are screwed on right, one of the best in the nation."

Baylor's Mark Jackson threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Tommy Davidson in the fourth quarter, then came right back to Davidson with a two-point conversion pass to give the Bears a 15-14 win over Auburn. Mississippi pounded Tulane 34-7, Tennessee shut out TCU 31-0 and Miami trounced Florida State 47-0. Vanderbilt edged Wake Forest 27-24, Mississippi State beat Louisville 30-21 on the strength of three Kinney Jordan field goals and LSU defeated Oregon State 28-11.

1. MARYLAND (2-0)
2. MISSISSIPPI (2-1)
3. GEORGIA (2-0)

WEST

USC, determined to erase memories of its loss to Missouri, swamped the Oregon Ducks 53-0. Ricky Bell alone had more rushing attempts than the entire Oregon team (32 to 26), nearly four times as much rushing yardage (193 to 49) and scored four touchdowns. Bell didn't wait long to get moving. USC won the toss and elected to receive. On the first play from scrimmage Bell ran for nine yards. The next time he touched the ball, on third and one, he went for 63 and a score. Oregon helped the Trojans' cause with 10 turnovers.