41.   Being a national champion is well and good, but an Olympic or World Championship medal is the next step.

42.   Benham Bozorgi, a senior from defending national champion El Camino Real High School, plays patty-cake with a buddy.

43.   Besides representing her country in the World Amateur and several other competitions, junior Linda Ericsson is a former national champion in Sweden.

44.   Before playing defending national champion Connecticut in the second-round game, he dismissed any advantage in experience the Huskies might hold.

45.   Bob Costas of NBC had already declared Nebraska national champion, but Penn State showed up Monday, anyway.

46.   Bonny Warner, a five-time national champion in luge, dumped her brakeman, Vonetta Flowers, to grab Johnson.

47.   Both are defending divisional national champions as well.

48.   Both teams had been undefeated, but the bowl system prevented them from meeting to determine a national champion.

49.   Both teams had the credentials of a national champion.

50.   Brad Cresse, a freshman catcher for national champion Louisiana State last season, worked out Friday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.