Notes on a Scorecard - Jan. 10, 1996

This is the first time that the AFC championship game will be played without a franchise that began life in the old American Football League. . . .

Both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Colts moved from the NFL to the AFC in 1970. . . .

The Steelers and Dallas are heavy favorites to reach the Super Bowl, but which is more likely to be overconfident? . . .

Probably the Cowboys, who have beaten Green Bay six consecutive times, including twice in the playoffs. . . .

The Steelers have beaten Indianapolis five consecutive times, but shouldn’t have to be reminded that they lost as heavy favorites to the San Diego Chargers in the AFC championship game last year at Pittsburgh. . . .

Unless the Tampa Bay Buccaneers land Jimmy Johnson, which is a longshot, they lost out big when Steve Spurrier decided to remain as Florida’s coach. . . .

Forget the siesta in the Fiesta. The offensive-minded, imaginative Spurrier would bring new life to any struggling pro football team. . . .

Indianapolis’ Jim Harbaugh must remind NBC commentator Phil Simms of himself--a tough quarterback who didn’t earn respect until late in his career. . . .

During the Dallas-Philadelphia radio broadcast, Jack Buck said, “Every time the Eagles get the ball, their punter starts to warm up.” . . .

*

Sign of the times: Some undergraduate college football and basketball stars call news conferences to announce they’re staying in school. . . .

The second annual Eddie Robinson Award will be presented to the outstanding football player from a predominately black college or university Thursday night at the Palace in Hollywood. . . .

Former USC assistant coach Don Lindsay has become defensive coordinator for new University of Hawaii football Coach Fred vonAppen, who is a former UCLA assistant. . . .

That was some scene at Salt Lake City on Monday night after Dominick Young’s three-point basket with 0.8 of a second left gave Fresno State an upset victory over Utah. . . .

Coach Jerry Tarkanian pounded the press table in joy and then was bear-hugged to the floor by Young. . . .

Don’t look now, but Tark the Shark has it going again. After a slow start, his Bulldogs have won six in a row and are atop the Western Athletic Conference at 3-0. . . .

Long Beach State Coach Seth Greenberg on Tarkanian: “He’s an even better defensive coach than he is a recruiter.” . . .

Laffit Pincay, who resumes riding at Santa Anita today after missing 24 days with three broken ribs, turned 49 during his absence. . . .

Joy Scott, whose two Santa Anita winners have averaged a $2 win mutuel of $144.20, has developed into the leading female rider on the West Coast at 37. . . .

When asked if his Serena’s Song might face unbeaten Exotic Wood in the Santa Monica Handicap on Jan. 27, trainer Wayne Lukas said, “You mean, Exotic Wood might face Serena’s Song.” . . .

*

There are way too many ties in the NHL. It’s time to at least double the five-minute overtime period. . . .

It wasn’t long ago that Bob Gainey, who resigned as coach of the Dallas Stars Monday, was considered one of the best in the NHL. . . .

Dottie Pepper, the golfer who is divorced and resuming use of her maiden name after being known as Mochrie, is the daughter of Don Pepper, whose major league baseball career consisted of three at-bats for the Detroit Tigers in 1966. . . .

Jerry Coleman will be master of ceremonies and Pete Rose special guest at the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes’ annual Winter Warmup Feb. 25 at the Ontario Red Lion Inn. . . .

It’s refreshing when Jim Abbott re-signs with the Angels and says that his loyalty to his manager, Marcel Lachemann, had a lot to do with it. . . .

I voted for National League batting champion Tony Gwynn of San Diego and NCAA singles and doubles tennis champion Keri Phebus of UCLA in balloting for the Southern California male and female athletes of the year. . . .

Gwynn is overdue for the award. . . .

The sport of track and field will miss Shirley Franken, who died Sunday at 67. She always gave loving care to the athletes who competed in husband Al’s meets.