The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 21

Tuesday, January 1, 1991 I III. CIN( INNA 1 1 FNQUIK! College footballB-5 College football A Rose Bowl to remember? Big plays carry Michigan State Gator Bowl feels squeeze JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Squeezed by aggressive new bowls, Gator Bowl organizers face critical negotiations after the 46th playing of the postseason game today. In recent years, the Gator Bowl has scrambled to find a date attractive for television while at the same time staying competitive with a $1.2 million purse. "We're holding our own," Gator Bowl Executive Director John Bell said Monday.

But Bell is faced with a critical round of negotiations in upcoming months. Mazda Motor of America, has sponsored the Gator Bowl the last five years and ESPN ha9 carried the game for the last three years. Today's 11:30 a.m. EST starting time to lead off a New Year's Day record eight bowl games is a roll of the dice for the Gator Bowl, which pays each team $1.2 million. ESPN preferred carrying the game during the prime-time evening hours on the Sunday before New Year's day, but their contract with the NFL bumped them from that slot this year.

"We don't expect we'll run as good as prime time Sunday night," ESPN senior vice president Loren Matthews said Monday. "But since we couldn't stay in that spot, we had a lot of influence on the 11:30 a.m. start." THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 'J i The Associated Press Michigan State cornerback Alan Haller falls on the football in the end zone for a touchback after USC quarterback Todd Marinovich fumbled during Monday's John Hancock Bowl. THE ASSOCIATKD I'RIiSS PASADENA, Calif. Iowa coach Hayden Fry hopes this Rose Bowl against Washington will be more memorable than the 1982 game against the Huskies a 28-0 loss Fry says he barely remembers.

Fry's 17th-ranked Hawkeyes (8-3) face the eighth-ranked Huskies (9-2) today in the 77th playing of the Rose Bowl, the nation's oldest bowl game. Fry is feeling considerably better this year than he did when the Hawkeyes faced Washington nine years ago on New Year's Day in Pasadena. "I remember two things very distinctly," he recalled. "We got beat, 28-0, and I had pneumonia. I don't even remember the game, frankly, 1 was so out of it from medication and so forth.

"I was supposed to be in the hospital. Obviously I didn't call a very good game." The Hawkeyes were favored in that game but were completely shut down by the Huskies, with Iowa's deepest penetration carrying only to the Washington 29-yard line. Although Pacific-10 champion Washington is favored this year over Iowa, which shared the Big Ten title with Michigan, Michigan State and Illinois, the Hawkeyes-Iluskies matchup seems relatively even. The teams have similar statistics this season in many offensive and defensive categories and they also have in common mysterious ups and downs this year. Washington, ranked second nationally in early November, was upset by three-touchdown underdog UCLA, 25-22, on Nov.

10. "We were ranked up there pretty good and I'm sure we had visions of how great it would be to go into this Rose Bowl in the top five," James said. He and Fry agreed it was a roller-coaster season in college football. Iowa, meanwhile, beat all three of the teams that wound up sharing the conference title with the Hawkeves, but then lost two of their final three regular season games (27-26 to Ohio State and 31-24 to Minnesota). "We tied with three other wonderful teams in the Big Ten; the reason we're here is that we defeated the other three teams, at their place, so we don't have any alibis or excuses," Fry said.

"We have a good team and we can play with anybody on a given day." The Hawkeyes feature the running of Nick Bell and Tony Stewart and the passing of Matt Rodgers. Bell and Stewart shared the tailback job and combined for 1,768 yards rushing this season. That duo will, however, be going against the nation's top rushing defense; the Huskies have allowed an average of just 66.8 yards per game on the ground this year. If Iowa's rushing attack bogs down, that will put more pressure on Rodgers, who threw for 2,032 yards and 14 touchdowns this season, with seven interceptions. The Hawkeyes' defense suffered a blow when it was announced that All-Conference tackle Jim Johnson will miss the Rose Bowl with a strained left knee, sustained in practice Friday.

Jeff Nelson, a sophomore, will start in Johnson's spot. Hawkins leads Hancock Bowl win THE ASSOCIATED PRESS EL PASO, Texas Michigan State wide receiver Courtney Hawkins couldn't have picked a better time to have a coming out party. With the Spartans' potent ground attack sputtering, Hawkins emerged with his best game of the season, making several big plays as No. 22 Michigan State beat the 21st-ranked Trojans, 17 16, in Monday's John Hancock Bowl. "This was my first national television game since being hurt," said Hawkins, who dislocated a shoulder in the third game of the season.

"It feels great to be back." Hawkins caught six passes for 106 yards, including an acrobatic 41-yarder on third down to keep alive a scoring drive in the third quarter. Southern Cal coach Larry Smith said Hawkins and two crucial turnovers did in the Trojans. "There were a lot of turning points," Smith said, "but the turnovers and missed scoring opportunities hurt us most." Michigan State (8-3-1) capitalized on a costly Southern Cal fumble and interception for its third victory over the Trojans in three years. Southern Cal (8-4-1) lost even though it stopped Michigan State running backs Tico Duckett and Hyland Hickson. Duckett, who gained 1,376 yards during the regular season, was held to just 18 yards, only four in the second half.

Hickson gained just 68 yards with one touchdown. Southern Cal 7 0 Michigan SI I 7 t-V USC-WeWnen 7 pan Irom Marinovich (Rodrlguei kick! MSU-Htekson run (Lengeloh kick) USC-FG Rodriguei 20 MSU-Hewkins 21 pass from Enos (Langetoh kick) MSU-FG Langetoh 52 USC-FG Rodrlguei 54 USC-FG Rodrlguei 4J INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING-Soulhern Cel. Royiler 32-135, Lockwood J-II, Conway 1-7, Strother 1-3, Foley 4-2, Marlnovicn l-l. Michigan Hickson 14-48, Duckett HI, Erwt 12-1, Abrems l-fmlnut 3). PASSING-Southern Cat, Marlnovlch II-30-3-I74, Foley 1- 2-0-0 Michigan Enos 9-I7-M3I.

RCCEIVING-Southern Cal, Lockwood 5-41, Morton 3-34. Griltm 3-22, Wetman 3-19, Crane 2-20, Scott 1-24, Royiler I-It, Strother 1-2. Michigan Hawkins 4-106, Roy 2- 14, BreOey Ml. Copper Bowl TUCSON, Ariz. Wyoming uchown pass to Brian Treggs in the second quarter and Robbie Keen kicked a 46-yard field goal in the third quarter for California (7-4-1).

"I think they worked very hard on stopping the run and they did a great job," California coach Bruce Snyder said. "They never let us get into a rhythm. It is a tribute to Wyoming. We blitzed a lot tonight. We tackled well and chased the quarterback well." Before Rivers' score, Wyoming forced California to punt with 3:44 remaining, and Corontzos drove Wyoming from its 22 to California's 27.

But Sean Fleming's 41- coach Paul Roach didn't want a tie in the Copper Bowl, and his gamble resulted in a loss. Mike Pawlawski passed for a touchdown and Greg Zomalt ran for another Monday as California withstood Wyoming's comeback to win its first postseason game in 53 years 17-15. Jay Daffer's 11-yard touchdown run capped an 83-yard drive with 5:53 left as Wyoming (9-4) pulled to 17-9, and Robert Rivers' 70-yard punt return for a touchdown with 49 seconds remaining made it 17-15. Tom Corontzos, whose 2-point conversion pass after Daffer's touchdown failed, was sacked by Joel Dixon while scrambling to find a receiver on the 2-point try after Rivers' runback. The first 2-point attempt "let us know what we have to do do win the game," Roach said.

"We went for it rather than postpone the decision." Zomalt scored on a 4-yard run with 13:38 remaining to cap an 11-play drive that gave California a 17-3 lead. Pawlawski threw a 25-yard to- Sugar Bowl Virginia lost three of its last four games to finish 8-3 and fall all the way from No. 1 out of the rankings. Things could be looking up for the Cavaliers, though. Moore, who dislocated his right thumb against Maryland on Nov.

17, underwent surgery and has been cleared to play quarterback. Tennessee (8-2-2) last played in the Sugar Bowl in 1986, beating then-No. 1-ranked Miami, 35-7. Hall of Fame Bowl Clemson (9-2) is in a bowl for the sixth consecutive season. The Tigers will face Illinois (8-3), the only team to beat Colorado this season.

Clemson, meanwhile, is one of the best defensive teams in the country. It-leads the nation in total yards allowed at 217 and is second in points allowed, 9.9. Gator Bowl Ranked No. 1 at one time this season, Michigan fell back in the polls with consecutive losses to Michigan State and Iowa. Michigan and Mississippi both have good running backs.

Jon Vaughn averaged 6.1 yards per carry for the Wolverines, and Randy Baldwin averaged 5.9 for Ole Miss. Michigan, however, also has QB Elvis Grbac, who threw 17 touchdown passes this season. yard field goal try was wide left. 3 B-15 Wyoming California .0 7 3 7-17 Cal-Treggs 25 pass Irom Pawlawski (Keen kkkl Wyo-FG Fleming 24 Cal-FG Keen 44 Cal 4 run (Keen kick) Wyo-Oatfer It run (pass tailed) Wyo-Rivers 70 punt return pass tailed) INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Wyoming, Timmer 4-34, Fleming 1-30, Caller 7 23, A. Harris t-lt.

Rivers MS, Corontios 11-11. Calitorna, Wallace 17-76, White 14-11, Zomalt 5-14, Holy 1-5, Caldwell l-l, Pawlawski t-lmlnus 25). PASSING-Wyommg, Corontios 20-39-2-226. California, Pawlawski 15-26-1-172. RECEIVING Wyoming, Wiggins 7-119.

Brown 4-42, Wood 6-40, YerDorough 2-17, Rivers l-l. CaWorma, T'gg 4-75. Dawkms 4-41, Caldwel 2-23, Zomalt 3-19, Woodal 1-12, White 1-2. Qimimm mm Mil iff ON THEIR AFC CENTRAL DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP! i M- MA McAlpin's congratulates the Cincinnati Bengals on their fine effort and performance that lead them to winning the AFC Central Division Championship. Celebrate this great team victory with all your favorite Bengals apparel and souvenirs.

McAlpin's has a spirited selection which includes Men's, Young Men's and Boys' AFC Central Division Championship Jerseys in a comfortable poly cotton blend in sizes M-L-XL. Boys' S-M-L-XL Downtown Kenwood Towns Cenliu Mlddletown Towno Mall Northgate Mall Western Mills Cherry Giov Crestvlew Hills, Ky. 7.