Tuesday, November 23, 1999 - The Michigan Daily - 13 ho will be Florida State's Sugar Bowl foe? irginia Tech clings to No. 2 spot in latest BCS standings, but Cornhuskers narrow gap sociated Press The race is on: Who's No. 2? Florida State clinched a spot in the Bowl hampionship Series' national title game, but sec- S-lace Virginia Tech is locked in a numbers with fast-closing Nebraska in the latest BCS andings released Monday. The first-place Seminoles (11-0) guaranteed emselves atrip to the Jan. 4 Sugar Bowl by ending seir regular season with a 30-23 win at Florida on aturday. Virginia Tech (10-0) held its spot after a 62-7 rout Temple, but Nebraska (9-1) made a big jump and losed within .63 points of the Hokies. A week ago, se Huskers were 2.4 points behind. Even if Virginia Tech beats Boston College (8-2) 'day to finish with a perfect record, there is still Snce a once-beaten Nebraska could move ahead hen the final BCS standings come out Dec. 5. If se Huskers win at Colorado (6-4) on Friday, they lay Texas (9-2) in the Big 12 title game on Dec. 4. The BCS standings, which determine who plays college football's designated title game, are based n a formula that considers The Associated Press tedia poll and the ESPNIUSA Today coaches' poll, ight computer rankings, strength of schedule and sses. rida State, Virginia Tech and Nebraska are 1-2- M oth polls. The Seminoles have 2.32 points - 1 for poll verage, I for computer rank average, 0.32 for rength of schedule, and zero for losses. Virginia Tech has 6.78 points - 2 for poll aver- ge; 2.14 for computer rank average; 2.64 for rength of schedule, and zero for losses. Nebraska has 7.41 points - 3 for poll average; .57 for computer rank average; 0.84 for strength of thedule, and I for losses. It won't be easy, but here's how the Huskers could pass the Hokies. First, they would have to move ahead in five or six of the seven computer ratings used by the BCS standings. This week, the Huskers are ahead on two computers. Among the ways teams can improve their com- puter rating is by running up the score. Most of the computer ratings factor in victory margin. "To have to go into a game thinking you have to beat ateam by so many points in order to have your team considered a worthy team, or a great team, or a team that should be in position to play any kind of game ... is tough on all coaches," Nebraska coach Frank Solich said Monday. "It's probably not the way any coach wants to look at approaching the game." Added Colorado coach Gary Barnett: "I think if that's the way it is, that's what you have to do to get your team there. Unfortunately, sometimes what we might call ethics gets laid aside in that situation, but I think everyone understands it." The Huskers also can make up ground in strength of schedule based on results of their opponents' games. Nebraska could gain if Oklahoma State upsets Oklahoma and Texas beats Texas A&M. Also, the Huskers can make up ground in strength of schedule based on results of their opponents' games. Nebraska could gain if Oklahoma State upsets Oklahoma and Texas beats Texas A&M. Virginia Tech can get help from its opponents, too, including I-AA playoff-bound James Madison. The farther James Madison advances, the tougher Tech's strength of schedule becomes. Florida State's schedule is ranked eighth of the 114 I-A schools, with Tech's 66th and Nebraska's 21 st. Virginia Tech defensive end Corey Moore won't be in the mood to celebrate If Nebraska jumps his team to claim the second spot in the BCS standings. The Huskers trail the undefeated Hokies by just .63 points in the latest BCS standings. Tone at Texas A&M somber in pre-rivalry week COLLEGE STATION, Texas - This is when the collective focus of the Texas A&M campus is supposed to be on the revelry and rivalry surrounding a football game. For generations of Aggies taught to hate the University of Texas, this week is about the traditions leading up to the regular- season finale against the Longhorns. In the wake of the bonfire-building acci- dent that killed 11 A&M students and a recent graduate, the tone has changed. "Say what you will about bonfire and say what you will about the Aggie tradi- tion, but the campus really pulled together this week," said Todd Wood, a student who attended a packed memorial service Sunday at Texas A&M United Methodist Church. "We have been rivals for a long time," Wood said. "If we go atlit with the same 'Beat the Hell out of TU' attitude, it will just be the same." The game and many of the decades-old traditions surrounding it will go on this week, but much of the attention will be on healing and continuing the search for answers to why the tragedy happened. "Right now, Aggies are more concerned for Aggies than they are for a rivalry," said A&M junior Rob Clarke. "That attention they would focus has been turned." Local, state and federal officials planned to meet yesterday to plan an investigation strategy. This year's bonfire, set for Thanksgiving night, has been can- celed and university leaders will decide the future of the tradition at a later time. "I think that's in the heart of everybody that we want it to continue," said Texas A&M President Ray Bowen. "But I think at this point in time, not understanding exactly what happened, it would be best if we left out on the table the possibility upon analysis that we would have to make a hard decision and that this would be the last bonfire. "None of us want that to happen. I wouldn't want to speculate about what is going to happen, but our hearts are with the students that made that observation" that the bonfire should continue, Bowen said. The deaths profoundly affected a University of Texas student leader who attended a memorial service in College Station Thursday night, hours after the thousands of logs being used to make the bonfire came crashing down. "For all of us Longhorns who discount A&M in our never-ending rivalry, we needed to realize that Aggieland is a spe- cial place," Eric Opiela, the student body vice president at Texas, wrote on CNN's website. "It is a family. It is a family that cares for its own, a family that reaches out, a family that is unified in the face of adver- sity, a family that moved this Longhorn to tears." Texas A&M officials canceled classes Wednesday to give students extra time with their families. "Thanksgiving couldn't have come at a better time," said Amanda Arriaga, a stu dent leader at the Memorial Student Center on campus. "Half of the students are going home with their families, the rest have family coming up for the most part. "I know the next few days are going to be kind of strange, but the next few days are part of the healing." Six injured students remained hospital- ized, two of them in critical condition. 'S AP PHOTC espite losing his spleen and a kidney in the bonfire acci- lent, Texas A&M freshman J.J. Washam supports the tradi- ion. "It's part of the school," Washam said. Time Is Precious Get Your Own PC Wasting time waiting for a PC? Get a kaypro Systd Those overheads are going to take forever to print Shoot, that midterm's in an hour! 've got to type up this report before lab! Just 50 more pages to print... Custom configured systems available Accessorize Your PC *Printers *Scanners eDigital Cameras eGames and More Visit our web site today and registerto win a Spring Break getaway for you and a friend to Waikiki. $400 spending cash included!* www.promo.kaypro.com A histery of innovation 88843-A YPRO the Kaypro logo are registered trademarks oflKaypro Technology Inc. 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