CONTENTS

12
WALKING TALL
Larry Bird's brilliant career ended last week after 13 seasons and three NBA championships with the Boston Celtics
BY JACK McCALLUM

College Football '92

20
A HELPING OF FAMILY VALUES
Miami's dynasty is sustained by a legacy of excellence and arrogance
BY SALLY JENKINS

30
THE END OF THE LINE
For 20 years, losing has been the woeful tradition at New Mexico State
BY JOHN GARRITY

34
BURSTING UPON THE SCENE
As a freshman, San Diego State's Marshall Faulk rewrote the record book
BY AUSTIN MURPHY

38
THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING
A charismatic coach and a savvy president have resurrected Kansas State
BY DOUGLAS S. LOONEY

44
NOTHING BUT THE BEST
What ingredients would combine to make the perfect football program?

54
THE GENTLEST GIANTS
At St. John's of Minnesota, winning does not get in the way of having fun
BY AUSTIN MURPHY

66
CLEAN, SOBER AND INSUFFERABLE
BYU is loathed for its holier-than-thou attitude and its relentless success
BY DOUGLAS S. LOONEY

72
COOL, REFRESHING JUICE
Penn State wideout O.J. McDuffie is living up to his hallowed initials
BY MICHAEL JAFFE

76
WHERE ARE THE GOOD OLD DAYS?
Once-powerful Southern Cal is struggling to recover from a 3-8 season
BY RICHARD HOFFER

82
SCOUTING REPORTS

Top 20
BY WILLIAM F. REED

Conferences and Independents
BY MICHAEL JAFFE

104
OPTIONS APLENTY
Wishbone quarterback Shawn Graves is the nation's best small-college player
BY ED HINTON

DEPARTMENTS

6
LETTERS

9
SCORECARD

108
INSIDE BASEBALL

114
FOR THE RECORD

116
POINT AFTER

COVER PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN BIEVER (TOP) R. STERLING TRANTHAM (CENTER) JOHN CHIASSON/GAMMA-LIAISON

PHOTO

JIM GUND

From Dog Days to Dawg Days: Uga V hasn't had much to cheer about in recent years, but Georgia fans have good reason to be doggone excited about their football team's chances this season (Page 18).