Notes on a Scorecard - Oct. 21, 1993

Paul Gruber would have been a nice addition, but the offensive line isn’t really where the Raiders need help. . . .

Gerald Perry is doing one of the best jobs in the league at Gruber’s position, left tackle. . . .

What could keep the Raiders from becoming a bona fide AFC title contender is the lack of a top-flight running back. . . .

Didn’t the Raiders, who will be idle Sunday, just have a bye? . . .

Cornerback Rod Woodson says former Ram linebacker Kevin Greene has brought a new dimension to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense. . . .

Not only have 11 Heisman Trophy winners played in the Notre Dame-USC series, so have seven men who finished second in the voting. . . .

The Heisman winners from Notre Dame: Angelo Bertelli, 1943; Johnny Lujack, 1947; Leon Hart, 1949; John Lattner, 1953; Paul Hornung, 1956; John Huarte, 1964, and Tim Brown, 1987. From USC: Mike Garrett, 1965; O.J. Simpson, 1968; Charles White, 1979, and Marcus Allen, 1981. . . . Runners-up from Notre Dame: Bertelli, 1942; Joe Theismann, 1970, and Rocket Ismail, 1990. From USC: Simpson, 1967; Anthony Davis, 1974; Ricky Bell, 1976, and Rodney Peete, 1988. . . .

When he was a bit smaller, 6-foot-6, 297-pound Notre Dame tackle Todd Norman returned an interception 96 yards for a touchdown for Ocean View High in Huntington Beach. . . .

The other Irish starting tackle, 6-4, 299-pound Aaron Taylor from Concord, Calif., is ranked among the best offensive line prospects by NFL scouts. . . .

USC Coach John Robinson on South Bend: “I’d hitchhike back there for the chance to play in that stadium.”. . .

The Irish media guide devotes 15 pages to Lou Holtz. . . .

“I do enjoy Notre Dame,” Holtz says. “I do enjoy coaching. I just don’t show it very much during the season.” . . .

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Frank Leahy, who had an 87-11-9 record at Notre Dame from 1941 to 1953, made Holtz look like an optimist. Before one of the Irish’s routs of Navy, Leahy said his team would be lucky to score a point. . . .

Leahy’s grandson, Ryan Leahy, an offensive lineman, started early in the season but is injured and won’t play Saturday. . . .

The Trojans will be favored over the Irish--in golf and tennis Friday. . . .

It would be natural for UCLA to look past Oregon State and ahead to Arizona, but the Bruins haven’t had an easy time with the Beavers three of the last four years, including an 18-17 defeat at Corvallis in 1989. . . .

Things are going so badly for Arizona State that the Phoenix Cardinals have become the biggest draw at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. . . .

Look-alikes: John Kruk and Chris Farley of “Saturday Night Live.” . . .

At least one team from the UCLA Soccer Classic has reached the NCAA semifinals seven of the last eight years. The participants Oct. 29 and Oct. 31 will be the Bruins, Old Dominion, Rutgers and Cal State Fullerton. . . .

Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye, 42, isn’t slowing down. He is leading the standings at the Oak Tree meeting and has a tough decision pending, whether to ride Cardmania or defending champion Thirty Slews in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. . . .

Now it appears that Oscar De La Hoya’s first bid for a title will be against World Boxing Assn. junior-lightweight champion Genaro Hernandez in an attractive all-L.A. matchup. . . .

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The latest World Boxing Council newsletter doesn’t protest the draw in the Pernell Whitaker-Julio Cesar Chavez fight, but complains about the lack of a Mexican judge. . . .

Heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe would like to have title fights returned to 15 rounds from 12. “It separates the men from the boys,” he said. . . .

Toughest decision for selectors of the Sporting News’ all-major league team must have been second base, the Cleveland Indians’ Carlos Baerga over the Toronto Blue Jays’ Roberto Alomar. . . .

During the next rain delay in the World Series, I won’t complain about domed stadiums. . . . Among the most remarkable Series records is Whitey Ford’s 22 pitching appearances, all as a starter. . . .

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf isn’t a new guard on the Denver Nuggets. He is the former Chris Jackson. . . .

The no-shows numbered in the thousands for the Bulls’ first exhibition game of the season at Chicago Stadium. I can’t imagine why. . . .

After Tuesday night’s game at Madison Square Garden, people are wondering which team will win the Stanley Cup first, the Mighty Ducks or the New York Rangers.