Notes on a Scorecard - Sept. 1, 1992

It can be done. The luxury boxes are ready. Not at the Coliseum, at the Rose Bowl. Opening night will be Sept. 12 when UCLA plays Cal State Fullerton. . . .

Unlike the aborted Coliseum project, which was much more extensive and expensive, funding was not dependent on seat subscriptions. . . .

In fact, only one-third of the approximately 600 seats that are located in the three-level structure atop the west side of the stadium have been sold. . . .

Executive suite prices range from $25,000 to $44,000 per year, club suites from $20,000 to $29,000. . . .

Prices include tickets to the six UCLA home games and the Rose Bowl game and seats in the official reviewing stand at the Rose Parade. . . .

Sorry, but the NFL has the rights to the seats for the Super Bowl on Jan. 31. . . .

Cost of the construction, which includes a 320-seat press section and three elevators, was $11.5 million. The Tournament of Roses Assn. and the city of Pasadena contributed $1.4 million, with the rest coming from tax-exempt, 20-year revenue bonds that the city sold at a 3.75% interest rate. Construction of the original Rose Bowl, a horseshoe which had a capacity of 57,000, was $272,198 in 1922. . . .

Those who had a sneak preview at a UCLA scrimmage Saturday night gave rave notices to the facility. . . .

Also drawing praise was Bruin inside linebacker Arnold Ale, who had seven unassisted tackles during the scrimmage. . . .

Cal State Fullerton will show off not only a new press box, but an entirely new stadium Saturday. The 10,000-seat structure, which is expandable to 30,000, is the showcase of the Titan Sports Complex. There will be a soccer game against UC Santa Barbara at 1 p.m., a tailgate party at 3:30 and a football game at 6 against Cal State Northridge. . . .

What the Disneyland Pigskin Classic--announced attendance for Texas A&M;’s victory over Stanford on Wednesday was 35,240 at Anaheim Stadium--needs is an appearance by UCLA or USC. . . .

When Notre Dame plays Northwestern on Saturday, it will be the Irish’s first game at Soldier Field in Chicago since a 13-13 tie with Great Lakes 50 years ago. In 1927, an all-time record crowd of 120,000 saw Notre Dame beat USC, 7-6, at Soldier Field. . . .

An opening-week NFL statistic that may surprise you: The Raiders, who play Sunday night at Denver, have beaten the Broncos five consecutive times and seven of the last eight. . . .

Average margin of Raider victory during that span: 2.7 points. . . .

The New York Giants’ lack of offense during the exhibition season does not bode well for the future of Coach Ray Handley. . . .

It was nice to see Green Bay Packer ninth-round draft choice Ty Detmer, a small quarterback with a big heart, survive the cut. . . .

Good luck to the Michigan State crop and soil scientists who will try to grow grass at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich., before the 1994 World Cup. . . .

Dept. of freak injuries: American Championship Racing Series champion Strike the Gold kicked himself trying to swat a fly in the paddock before the Whitney Handicap at Saratoga Saturday, suffered a cut leg and then ran fifth. . . .

Promoter Bob Arum wants James Toney to remain a middleweight. The International Boxing Federation champion says he wants to challenge IBF super-middleweight champion Iran Barkley. Arum usually gets his way. . . .

What does an NCAA basketball championship or two mean? More than $38 million in Duke souvenirs were sold during the 12-month period that ended June 30. . . .

Before being dealt to the Minnesota North Stars by the Montreal Canadiens, Russ Courtnall said he wanted to be traded to the Kings. His wife, Paris Vaughan, is an actress. . . .

Now that the Minnesota Twins have collapsed, so much for the possibility that all four 1991 major league divisional champions will repeat. . . .

Despite their recent problems, the Twins began the week with four batters in the American League Top 10. . . .

Remember when former St. Louis Cardinal outfielder Willie McGee won the National League batting title in 1990, although he finished the season playing for the Oakland Athletics? Toronto Blue Jay pitcher David Cone, formerly of the New York Mets, has a chance to win the NL strikeout title. . . .

Quietly, former Dodger Mike Devereaux of the Baltimore Orioles has become one of the most effective outfielders in the American League. . . .

According to research by the Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles’ Paul Ziffren Sports Resource Center, New Hampshire led the United States in the Olympic Games with one medal for every 369,750 residents. California was second with one for every 496,000. . . .

The only thing less exciting in Los Angeles and Orange Counties than the NFL exhibition season has been the major league baseball regular season.