Kiffin Synonymous With 'Villain' in Tennessee

                                         If you think USC fans aren't fond of Kiffin...

By Steve Harvey
Team Member


THE COLLEGES

Welcome to the Bottom Ten. But, first, a political ad (17 seconds).

Lane Kiffin has still not been forgiven for leaving the head coaching job at Tennessee after 14 months to take the same position at USC. Kiffin is, in fact, so reviled in the Volunteer State that he's in a political attack ad there (see above).

Eddie Smith, a candidate for the Tennessee House of Reps, has charged that opponent Gloria Johnson, the incumbent, has "made a lot of big promises...like Lane Kiffin" and is "all talk" like Kiffin, now an assistant at Alabama, where he is no talk (coach Nick Saban does not allow his minions to speak to the press).

 Now back to your regularly scheduled Bottom Ten.

For the eighth straight week, the No. 1 team was dethroned. The most recent leaders to tumble were the Texas Short Horns and the Michigan Woe-verines.

In a controversial move, the selectors re-admitted Miami (Oh!) to No. 1 despite a 42-41 victory over Ole Mass on their record. Of course, Miami (1-7) does lead the nation in defeats.

North Carolina (3-4) moved up to No. 2 amid indications its won-lost record may be altered. The New York Times reported  an investigation found that  that more than 3,100 UNC students, 47.6% of them athletes, received As and Bs in nonexistent  classes. UNC, according to one report, is expected to forfeit every victory in every sport over the last 117 years, except, possibly, one 1968 debate squad match.

Team, Record............ Last Loss.................. Next Loss
1. Miami (Oh?) (1-7)... 41-51, N Ill................ Kent State
2. No Carolina (3-4).... Def. Ga Tech, 48-43..Va
3. SMU (0-6)............... 3-41, Cincinnati......... Memphis
4. Tulsa (1-6).............. 30-38, S. Florida......... Idle
5. Troy (1-6)............... 14-53, App  St...........  S Bama
6. Georgia St (1-6)...... 27-30, S Bama........... Ga Sou
7. New Mexico (2-5).. 31-35, Air Force......... UNLV
8. Kent State (1-6)....... Def. Army 39-7.......... Miami (Oh!)

9. Kansas (2-5)..............21-34, Texas Tech......Baylor

10. Colorado (2-5)....... 28-56, USC................ UCLA

Note from Andy Furillo, Bottom Ten's Sacramento bureau chief: "Looking forward to Saturday's Big "Ten" traditional between Nebraska and Rutgers."

                                  An opposing player openly mocks Raiders

THE PROS

Still another guest Bottom Ten selector popped up_sidelined Arizona defensive end Darnell Dockett, who taunted Raiders fans with a sign that said: "Worst Team in NFL...0-6" (see above).

Hey, no hard feelings---Dockett drew a smiley face inside the 0.

As Dockett forecast, the Raiders lost and were elevated to No. 1.

But Oakland might still get a fight from the 1-6 New Jersey Jets, who fell to New England, 25-27.

The Jets did so by extending one of the most beloved streaks in the NFL. For the 69th straight game, they failed to make a 2-point conversion, most notably at the end of the game when they could have sent it into overtime.

Wreck, Record ..........Last Loss.................. Next Loss

1. N.J. Jets (1-6)......... 25-27, New England.. Buffalo

2. Oakland (0-6)......... 13-24, Arizona........... Cleveland

3. Atlantis (2-5)............ 7-29, Baltimore..........Detroit

4. Tennessee (2-5)...... 17-19, Washington......Houston

5. Grampa Bay (1-5).... Off ............................Minnehaha............

6.  Jacksonville (1-6);  7. Minnehahha (2-5); 8. Washington (2-5); 9. N.J. Giants (3-4); 10. The Chicago Bears locker room, starring Brandon Marshall.