By MIKE CHAPPELL
The Indianapolis Star

SAN DIEGO - Imagine a collision that would trigger a spike on the Richter Scale. Imagine the ground shaking and the air vibrating. Imagine Mike Alstott, Tampa Bay's irresistible running back, slamming into John Lynch, the Buccaneers' dynamic strong safety. Or vice versa.

Dream on, because in your imagination is the only place that intriguing train wreck is going to occur.

That reality was delivered to Lynch in 1996 shortly after the Bucs selected Alstott, a record-shattering halfback/fullback out of Purdue University, in the second round of the draft.

The messenger: Herman Edwards. Tampa Bay's first-year defensive backs coach sized up Alstott - 248 pounds of muscle and aggression piled onto a 6-1 frame - and promptly ruled him off limits to Lynch.

No hits, no way.

"Everybody says they would love to see the collisions between us, but that's not going to happen," said Lynch, a five-time Pro Bowl selection and one of the NFL's true heavy hitters. "(Edwards) told me the first day (Alstott) came in, 'Son, I don't want you to ever hit that man in practice cause he's a clavicle buster.'

"And that's what he is."

Lynch smiled and shook his head. It was clear a part of him, the give-a-lick-take-a-lick part, yearned to meet Alstott on the football field. You know, really meet him.

That won't happen Sunday. Qualcomm Stadium is the platform for Super Bowl XXXVII and a titanic clash between Tampa Bay and the Oakland Raiders.

Lynch will funnel his whacks in the direction of the Raiders. So will Alstott.

If the Bucs are to claim the Lombardi Trophy in their first Super Bowl appearance, Alstott must play a pulsating role. He must pound away, carry after jarring carry, at the Raiders' defensive midsection.

And how appropriate that would be.

Alstott was around when the Bucs wore their unsightly creamsicle-color uniforms. He's one of five holdovers from the '96 season - Lynch, defensive tackle Warren Sapp, linebacker Derrick Brooks and wide receiver Karl Williams are the others - when they endured their 14th consecutive losing season.

He was there when they were the "Yuks." And he was instrumental in the rebuilding process, which began in '96 under the direction of Tony Dungy.

"Everyone has an appreciation for where we are right now," Alstott said. "But there are only a few of us that have played in the 'orange.'

"To be in this situation, to be a part of contributing to making this franchise the franchise it is today, I'm proud of that."

On the field, Alstott's contributions consist of 4,530 rushing yards and a franchise-record 52 total touchdowns.

His value to the Bucs, though, transcends numbers.

"When he's running players over, when he's side-stepping guys after they've been hit a couple of times he lifts the entire team," Lynch said.

"He was our heart and soul in the early years," noted Sapp. "That's all we had. Run Mike, throw it to Mike, let Mike do it.

"He's just a hard-nosed, blue collar guy that we love. I'll tellin' ya, I love that guy."

But it wasn't that long ago that Alstott's future with the Bucs was uncertain.

The firing of Dungy and the hiring of Jon Gruden in February meant a reassessment of the entire roster.

"Everybody was worried," said Alstott, who had been a perfect fit in Dungy's methodical move-the-chains offense.

"Three yards and a cloud of dust," laughed Sapp. "That's Mike."

But it was uncertain how Alstott would fit in Gruden's West Coast scheme. Complicating matters was the fact Alstott was due to carry a prohibitive $4.67 million salary cap figure in 2003.

After a couple of mini-camps, it became clear his versatility was too valuable to lose, providing a contract acceptable to both sides could be reached.

"We were able to do a deal with Mike that worked for both parties," said Tampa Bay general manager Rich McKay, who signed Alstott to a four-year, $8 million extension.

Alstott's seventh season in Tampa was as impressive as the previous six: 548 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, 35 receptions and two TDs in the passing game, immeasurable punishment delivered.

Debate rages whether Alstott is a halfback trapped in a fullback's body, or a fullback who occasionally resembles a halfback. Whatever he is, Alstott will make his sixth straight Pro Bowl appearance on Feb. 3.

"He's an enigma that's tough to figure out," said quarterback Brad Johnson. "We use him as a tailback, fullback and a little at tight end at times."

Alstott declines to get drawn into the 'What is he?' discussions.

"People can argue all day if I'm a fullback, tailback, whatever," he said. "I'm a football player and I'm on a pretty good team right now.

"We have something special going on right now. I'm happy with my situation and my role."

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