Bowlmania

It was a weekend to make the most diehard TV football fan feel as if he were caught at the bottom of a goal-line pileup. There, stutter-stepping and buttonhooking across the screen last week, were no fewer than 20 teams battling away for 30 eye-straining hours. By the time the last goal post had been torn down, a few basic truths had filtered through.

Nebraska's Johnny Rodgers, who accounted for five touchdowns in the Cornhuskers' 40-6 rout of Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl, more than merits his Heisman Trophy. U.S.C., which savaged Ohio State 42-17 in the Rose Bowl, is undeniably No. 1. Oklahoma Freshman Tinker Owens, who caught one scoring pass and set up another in the Sooners' 14-0 shutout of Penn State in the Sugar Bowl, could make home-town fans forget Big Brother Steve, the 1969 Heisman Trophy winner. And Alabama, which lost to Texas 17-13 in the Cotton Bowl, was swindled--as the instant replay clearly showed. Longhorn Quarterback Alan Lowry stepped out of bounds while running for his game-winning 34-yd. touchdown.

For its part, the National Football League staged its own showdown to determine which two teams will meet in Super Bowl VII in Los Angeles on Jan. 14. Miami Dolphin Coach Don Shula was thrice blessed in the playoff game with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Early in the game Steeler Quarterback Terry Bradshaw was knocked unconscious by a bone-jarring tackle and had to spend most of the game on the sidelines feeling "pretty loony." Then, in the second quarter, Miami Punter Larry Seiple dropped back to punt and--surprise!--ran the ball 37 yds. to set up the Dolphins' first touchdown. Finally, Dolphin Quarterback Bob Griese, out with an injury for most of the season, took over in the second half and hit Receiver Paul Warfield with two crucial passes to clinch a 21-17 win for the undefeated Dolphins.

George Allen's Washington Redskins had an easier time of it against the Dallas Cowboys. Every time Cowboy Quarterback Roger Staubach dropped back to pass, he found himself hounded by a fierce Redskin rush. By contrast, Redskin Quarterback Billy Kilmer had all the time he needed to send Receiver Charley Taylor a pair of thread-needle touchdown passes. All but smothering the Cowboy running attack, Washington rolled over Dallas 26-3.

Now comes the confrontation for the coveted N.F.L. crown. The Redskin defense, one of the stingiest in the league during the regular season, is more formidable under pressure than the less experienced Dolphins'. But Mi ami's explosive, multifaceted offense, the highest-scoring combine in the N.F.L., is superior to Washington's.

True, in Larry Brown the Redskins boast the league's leading ground gainer, but their attack lacks the triple-threat versatility of the Dolphins' Larry Csonka bulling up the middle, Mercury Morris sweeping the ends, and Jim Kiick popping through the gaps in be tween. Both Griese and Kilmer proved their passing prowess last week, but if ei ther is injured, the Dolphins can bring in Earl Morrall, the best relief man in foot ball, while the Redskins must go with the less reliable Sam Wyche.

Though the Redskins are rated as 2 1/2-point favorites, the nation's No. 1 fan, Richard Nixon, offered a safer prognostication. "I think it's an even bet."

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