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I The Arizona Republic SECTION P01X THURSDAY JANUARY 2, 1992 Noo 1 issee meresolvec 'i '1, I ft 1 i i arm Washington wins Rose, wants title DAVID CASSTEVENS Republic Columnist Miami stakes its claim in shutout I 4. ij Huskies No. 1 here and now By Kent Somers The Arizona Republic PASADENA, Calif. Minutes after his team's 34-14 victory over Michigan on Wednesday in the Rose Bowl, someone in the locker room handed Washington Coach Don James a shirt with the words "1991 National Champion" embroidered on it. Either someone in the Huskies football program had a vision or he wasn't worried about future employment had second-ranked Washington lost.

"If I'd known before the game he had made it up, I'd of fired him, probably," said James, who instead proudly wore the shirt to the post-game news conference. "I've got a new shirt on guys," James told reporters. "I'm not sure if it will work or not." After doing all they could do, finishing the season 12-0 by winning their second straight Rose Bowl in convincing fashion, the fate of the Huskies' national championship hopes is in the hands of those who vote in the polls. The final poll was voted on early this morning. Does second-ranked Washington vault over top-rated Miami, a 22-0 winner over Nebraska on Wednesday night in the Orange Bowl? Or does Miami stay No.

Or will the polls be split, giving each team a claim to the title? The Huskies, a partisan bunch, are sure how they would vote after their victory in front of 103,566 in the Rose Bowl. "I don't care about Miami," Washington defensive tackle. Steve Emtman said. "We're No. 1.

1 don't See HUSKIES, pageC4 Bob GalbraithThe Associated Press Washington tackle Steve Emtman signals who's No. 1 after the Rose Bowl. FIESTAwBDWL To tor By Ben Walker The Associated Press MIAMI Miami made its and because Nebraska didn't make, any, the top-ranked Hurricanes; came out of the Orange Bowl' proclaiming themselves the national! champion. Miami's dominating defense handed No. 1 1 Nebraska its first shutout since 1973, and the Hurri-; canes' quick-strike offense did enough for a 22-0 victory Wednesday night that completed their perfect season.

"We came in and did what we had to do. Now, it's up to the voters," Miami Coach Dennis son said. Never before has a No. 1 team won its bowl game and not finished as the champion. Still, No.

2 Washington made a strong bid, mauling No. 4 Michigan, 34-14, in the Rose Bowl. Both finished with 12-0 records. The Associated Press' final poll was to be released early this morning. The USA Today-CNN coaches' poll, which had Miami and Washington tied for No.

1, was to be published in Friday's paper. "If it was a split, I could live with that," Erickson said. "I know I vote in the coaches' poll, and I'll vote for Miami No. 1 and Washington No. 2: I'm sure (Washington Coach) Don James will do the same, vote for Miami No.

1 and Washington No. 2." Not since 1973 have two major teams finished unbeaten and untied. There was lots of controversy that season when Notre Dame wound up No. 1 and Penn State finished No. 5.

There's sure to be more now along with even louder calls for a national playoff system. "I've always been against a playoff," Erickson said. "We'll just let everyone else decide. If there was a way you could do it, it might be OK. But I don't think there is." Miami came roaring out of the locker room Wednesday night.

Freshman Larry Jones, a third-stringer two months ago, ran for 144 yards, and quarterback Gino Tor-retta directed Miami to a 13-0 lead in the first quarter. 5ee MIAMI, pageC4 1 A p. .6 -fcttff 6 Jk, K. I1 PASADENA, Calif. No one knows when or where the tradition i began.

Some believe George Washington was the first to raise his index finger as he crossed the Delaware. Other historians place the event at Appomattox. When Lee surrendered, members of the Union Army, battle-weary but overjoyed, were said to have looked around for Keith Jackson and the TV sideline camera, and held a finger aloft. "Hi, Mom. We're No.

It has become our symbol of supremacy. Our national battle cry. Being Numero Uno says it all. In America, no one boasts about being second best, particularly in sports. You never will see an athlete hold up two fingers.

I take that back. Steve Emtman, a.k.a.Mount Ranier, held up two fingers 1 Wednesday as he stood on the floor of the Rose Bowl one finger on each giant hand. "We're No. the Huskies' All-America defensive tackle shouted to the sky after Washington had completed its first perfect season in school history by beating No. 4 Michigan, 34-14.

No argument here Emtman is 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds. He will get no argument here. I know, I know. Miami beat Nebraska, 22-0, in the Orange Bowl to finish unbeaten and untied. The No.

1 -ranked team in The Associated Press poll played five bowl teams this season compared with three for Washington, ranked No. 2. Never has the No. 1 team in the AP poll won its bowl game and dropped from the top spot. For that to happen would be like disappearing into the tunnel of love in a carnival midway ride and coming out to find the fellow who had been sitting in the 1 car behind you somehow had jumped into the car ahead of you, and had his arm around your girl.

Mimi( is soundly beat a solid Nebraska team, although in bowl games the Huskers have become football's answer to Pinky Lee, existing largely for the purpose of taking a pie in the face. In its past five bowl appearances, Nebraska is 0-5. Miami has every right to claim the national championship. It is hypocritical to accuse the 'Canes of running up the $cafe against lesser opponents and then demanding they do just that in their game in order to remain No. 1.

But color me purple and gold. After watching Washington roll up 404 yards and total six sacks and keep Desmond Howard bottled up, I'm convinced the Pac-10 champions could beat anybody, including Miami, any time, any place, well, any place except the Orange Bowl where the Canes have won 45 or is it 145? in a row. "Washington is by far the best team we've played," said Elvis Grbac, the Michigan quarterback. "Notre Dame and Florida State are not even close." Mr. Heisman says Listen to Howard, Mr.

Heisman: "Washington is a great team. They should win the national championship." Washington vs. Miami. What a game that would be. Some people Vould sell their firstborn for a ticket.

The fact that the nation's two best teams won't play each other is the best argument I can think of for a national playoff. The Michigan Wolverines did not have to fool themselves into believing they could give Washington a real battle. The Big Ten champions lost only once (to Florida State) and outscored their previous five opponents, 204-23. Howard is as volatile as nitro. Washington's defense may be the best ever invented.

When Michigan tried to run inside the holes closed. When a Wolverines back sprinted to the outside a fleet Huskie linebacker met him before he could reach the corner. Michigan ran for 9 yards 9 in the first half. Washington mirrored Howard's every move. The Wolverines' game breaker caught only one pass a 35-yarder and gained 15 yards rushing on a reverse.

He failed to break a return. As the game ended, Washington fans picked up the chant "We're Number One!" On tlie field, groups of exhauste players came together in a clumsy embrace. "We did it man," Darius Turner told teammate Matt Jones. The Washington running backs knelt near the Michigan 4-yard line, where the game had ended, the Huskies with the ball. "They can't take it away from us.

They just can't." If the score didn't win me over, the tears did. (I i 1 Ml' 'if Rob SchumacherThe Arizona Republic Penn State's Derek Bochna sacks Tennessee's Andy Kelly to force a fumble that Reggie Givens (58) recovers and returns for a Lions touchdown. 35 points in 7:49 vanquish Vols BOWL GAME RESULTS PEACH BOWL 12 E. Carolina 37 21 N. Carolina 34 E.

Carolina completes great year with great comeback. C3. HALL OF FAME BOWL 16 Syracuse 24 25 Ohio State 17 It's the "other" Orangemen who do in Ohio State. C5. CITRUS BOWL 14 California 37 13Clemson 13 Caifornia starts fast to finish its banner season.

C3. COTTON BOWL 5 Florida State 10 9TexasA4M 2 Seminoles' defense shines in mistake-filled game. C5. ROSE BOWL 2 Washington 34 4 Michigan 14 Pac-10 champion Huskies run over Big Ten rivals again. ORANGE BOWL 1 Miami 22 11 Nebraska 0 Hurricanes stake their claim to another national championship.

SUGAR BOWL 18 Notre Dame 39 3 Florida 28 Irish erase 1 3-point deficit in offensive showcase. C4. i -1 PENN STATE 42 TENNESSEE 17 FAILURE: Tennessee self-destructs on offense. C6. HURT: Penn State wide receiver O.J.

McDuffie made the plays. C6. SACCA: Nittany Lions quarterback recovers from bad start. C7. DEFENSE: Penn State defense rallies from slumber.

C7. JACOBSEN: King Day nightmare a distant memory. C7. By Bob Cohn The Arizona Republic In its 21 -year history, the Fiesta Bowl has had national championship games, fantastic finishes and superb individual performances. But never has it had anything like this.

Penn State was trailing, 17-7, Wednesday in the third quarter. Those plain white uniforms were scuffed with Tennessee tire tracks, and the question wasn't whether the Nittany Lions would win their fifth Fiesta Bowl in as many tries, but whether they could stagger home without being statistically embarrassed. At one point in the third quarter, Tennessee had outgained Penn State, 400 yards to 67. What then happened "happened so fast," Tennessee quarterback Andy Kelly said. To the amazement of the 71,133 at Sun Devil Stadium, all of the players and coaches and anyone still watching on NBC, Penn State scored 35 points during an incredible span of 7:49 that bridged the third and fourth quarters.

And with quarterback Tony Sacca throwing four touchdown passes, the sixth-ranked I kill I Nittany Lions beat the No. 10 Volunteers, 42-17, in one of the most memorable Fiesta Bowb. It certainly was the most bizarre. "Football games," Penn State Coach Joe Paterno said, "are funny animals." This one belonged in a zoo, all right, fenced in where folks could gape and point at it for See PENN STATE, pageC6 Rob SchumacherThe Arizona Republic Penn State Coach Joe Paterno displays his delight with a third-quarter touchdown..