THE INSIDE TRACK : MORNING BRIEFING : Stench Will Last Long After Game Is Forgotten

Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post writes that the entire state lost when Colorado played Colorado State in football Saturday night.

“Nobody will recall the Rams beat the Buffaloes, 41-14, when the tears of shame finally dry. This night will be remembered as the worst that an athletic rivalry can possibly be.

“And what will linger is the stink of Mace sprayed by Denver police into the grandstands, the sounds of pleas from fallen CSU student Will Falshultz going unanswered and the frightening sight of quarterback Mike Moschetti running in panic toward his locker room as beer bottles bounced around him on the turf of Mile High Stadium.”

Schools of higher education, huh?

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Trivia time: Who holds the NFL record for most seasons leading the league in touchdowns?

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They got game: Four Amish inmates jailed for vandalizing a neighbor’s farm in Independence, Iowa, were released early, in part because officials feared they were being spoiled by modern conveniences such as plumbing and electricity.

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The sports angle? The Amish prisoners mixed well with the other inmates, except on the basketball court.

“The Amish were really good, and some of the other guys wouldn’t play with them,” jail administrator Russell West said.

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Destructive: After Mark McGwire hit a 502-foot home run that knocked out a light panel on the Shea Stadium scoreboard, coach Rich Donnelly of the Colorado Rockies told the Philadelphia Inquirer:

“You can’t put anything of value where he can reach it. If it’s in the park, he’s going to break it.”

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Bronco busting: Mike Littwin of the Rocky Mountain News, on the Denver Broncos’ quarterback switch:

“Bubby Brister is out, Brian Griese is in, and Vegas puts the chance of a Broncos three-peat slightly better than the chance of a Bill Clinton three-peat.”

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America’s team: Steve Schoenfeld in the Arizona Republic: “NFL historians, after exhaustive research, have decided that Jerry Jones’ recent arrest gives the Cowboys an unprecedented trifecta: ‘First team to have a star player, wide receiver Michael Irvin; head coach, Barry Switzer, and owner arrested.’ ”

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Hazardous: Mark Kriegel in the New York Daily News: “If I’m [Eagle rookie quarterback] Donovan McNabb, I’m wearing my helmet all over Philly. Those fans would throw batteries at Rocky.”

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Preparation: A question from Dan LeBatard of the Miami Herald to star San Diego Padre outfielder Tony Gwynn: “Strangest place you have ever assumed a batting stance?”

Gwynn: “The movies. Restaurants. Grocery stores. Shopping malls. Even the shower and bathtub. Though it’s hard to get a foothold.”

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Trivia answer: Don Hutson of the Green Bay Packers with eight, 1935-38 and 1941-44.

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And finally: Bill Lyon in the Philadelphia Inquirer: “The Eagles are one week from the launch of a season that has all the earmarks of paper-or-plastic. It will be essentially a throwaway year.”