Bowl Notebook : Folks in Dallas Make Aikman, a Probable Cowboy in ‘89, Toast of Town

Aikmania has swept Dallas. As the player most likely to be chosen by the Dallas Cowboys, who hold the No. 1 pick in the National Football League draft, Troy Aikman has been the center of attention in Dallas during the days leading up to the Cotton Bowl.

In fact, the UCLA quarterback has been so visible this week that Coach Ken Hatfield of Arkansas told his players: “If you don’t want to see him, don’t watch television, and if you don’t want to read about him, don’t pick up a newspaper.”

The other night, during a show that was broadcast live on a Dallas radio station, Aikman fielded questions for about 45 minutes from a noisy crowd of more than 300 at a restaurant in Addison, Tex.

Interest was so great that some were turned away at the door.

Aikman surprised the crowd when he said that his arm had “deteriorated” because of his extensive weight lifting.

“I can’t get the distance that I once was able to,” he said, adding that he can still throw the ball about 70 yards.

Aikman was asked about his time in the 40-yard dash (4.7 seconds), his all-time best in the bench press (330 pounds), whether he could guarantee that he would be signed before training camp (“I can’t guarantee anything”) and about the identity of his favorite NFL quarterback.

“The quarterback I enjoy watching the most is Dan Marino,” he said in response to the latter question. “There are several great quarterbacks throughout the NFL, but strictly from a passing standpoint, I love to watch him drop back in the pocket and throw.”

Aikman also said during the show on KRLD-AM that if his family hadn’t moved from Cerritos to Henryetta, Okla., when he was 12 years old, he might never have played college football.

“I probably would have played college baseball,” said Aikman, who was a 4-year starter at shortstop for Henryetta High School. “Baseball is bigger out there (in California) than football. But after I moved to Oklahoma, football became king.”

Aikman, who played at Oklahoma for two seasons before transferring to UCLA, said the difference between coaches Barry Switzer of Oklahoma and Terry Donahue of UCLA was “like night and day.

“Coach Switzer is more colorful and flamboyant . . . really enjoys the limelight. I think when the cameras are on him is when Coach Switzer is at his best. Coach Donahue is more conservative, more reserved.”

Aikman said he was “distracted” by all the attention.

But, to laughter and a loud ovation, the soon-to-be millionaire assured the crowd: “I certainly don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me.”

Aikman had planned to make a recruiting trip to Arkansas during his senior year at Henryetta (Okla.) High School.

But, when Ken Hatfield replaced Lou Holtz as the Razorbacks’ coach, he announced that he would switch to a wishbone offense.

Hatfield canceled Aikman’s trip.

Going into the weekend bowl games, New Orleans Saints chief scout Bill Kuharich picks cornerback Deion Sanders of Florida State as one of the top five prospects in the National Football League’s next draft.

“He is a cover corner with a great (punt) return ability,” Kuharich said of Sanders, whose team will face Auburn at New Orleans Monday night in the Sugar Bowl.

Others in the Saints’ top five are Michigan State blocker Tony Mandarich, UCLA’s Aikman, and linebackers Derrick Thomas of Nebraska and Broderick Thomas of Alabama.

Coach Pat Dye of Auburn would rather be playing Florida State outdoors than in the Superdome Monday night.

“AstroTurf is too hard on a player’s body,” Dye said. “The game is so fast on AstroTurf that the collisions are so much more fierce, and there are more strains on the muscles, tendons and ligaments.

“It’s like two cars colliding at 40 miles an hour instead of 20. There’s a lot more damage.”

Bobby Bowden of Florida State, like most other coaches, prefers a natural grass field “if there’s no wind, and if it isn’t too cold.”

Then, thinking of Auburn’s top-rated defensive team, Bowden said: “I’d sure hate to play them in mud or a wind.”

He thinks there’s less objection to AstroTurf now than there once was. “Most college players today were raised on street football,” the Florida State coach said. “And street football is like playing on AstroTurf.”