Duly Noted

Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005 | 7:52 a.m.

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AND THE MARCHING BAND REFUSED TO YIELD ...

Actually, it was the reserve players and assistant coaches who strolled onto the field during the crazy lateral play at the (almost) end of Wednesday's Alamo Bowl, rekindling memories of the famous game in 1982 when the Stanford band marched onto the field during an eerily similar play by rival Cal that resulted in the winning touchdown.

If Don McLean ever adds a verse to "American Pie" perhaps he'll use the Michigan-Nebraska game for inspiration.

The only thing preventing Michigan's seven-lateral play from taking its place alongside Cal's in football lore was that the Wolverines' Tyler Ecker failed to make one more lateral -- to one of two teammates trailing the play -- upon being stopped just 13 yards from the end zone.

Check the replay: Had Ecker pitched the ball backward, there was nobody in a red shirt to prevent what would have been the most improbable of touchdowns.

Well, look at the bright side, Michigan fans. At least the music didn't die.

WHAT ABOUT THE LOVELY PARTING GIFT?

Considering the BCS finally got it right with its national championship game matchup and the minor bowls have produced some warm and fuzzy stories, such as Rutgers making it to the postseason for the first time since 1978, there has been some sentiment among my colleagues in the media to leave the current system alone.

They wonder what would happen to Rutgers' lovely parting gift if there were a 16-team playoff and the Wise Guys, or whatever Rutgers calls its football team, weren't invited.

Hold on there, Don Pardo.

An easy solution would be the M.I.T. -- short for Mediocre Football Tournament. While the 11-0 and 10-1 teams would be knocking helmets in the 16-team playoffs in prime time, the 6-5 teams that can't sell their allotment of bowl game tickets could play a consolation tournament on ESPN2.

That way, Tony Soprano would still get to walk the sidelines at the Rutgers' game, and the guy who scored the winning touchdown for Arizona State wouldn't have to fear getting whacked by Paulie Walnuts.

BUT SIRIUS FOLKS

Shock jock Howard Stern, whose show will debut on satellite radio next month, wasn't the only one pleased by the number of Sirius and XM Radio rigs that wound up in Christmas stockings this year.

Local sports radio guru Alex Shelton is calling six bowl and postseason games this year for Nevada Sports Network, a Las Vegas-based radio network he heads. More than 120 radio stations, including Sirius, XM and Armed Forces Radio, are taking the NSN feed.

Shelton's play-by-by lineup includes the Insight Bowl in Phoenix, the MPC Computers Bowl in Boise, the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, the Music City Bowl in Nashville, the Meineke Bowl in Charlotte and the East West Shrine Game in San Antonio.

Good thing there isn't a Tupperware Bowl or Shelton probably would be there.

By the Numbers:

2-0

Mountain West member Air Force's record against the mighty Atlantic Coast Conference following basketball victories against Miami and Georgia Tech.

4,500

The number of tickets Utah sold for the Emerald Bowl, some 3,000 short of its obligation.

Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham:

"We went to the Liberty Bowl a couple of years ago, and this beats the heck out of Memphis, Tenn., I can tell you that for certain. And the best place to see Las Vegas is in your rearview mirror. I guess I shouldn't say that -- it's our conference championship game (starting next season)."

on how delighted the Utes were to be playing in the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco.