Florida Today from Cocoa, Florida • Page 17

i muMW zz teMVn LIGHTNING CHARGE The expansion Tampa Bay Lightning, losers of three consecutive games on their current road trip, face the Oilers in Edmonton tonight. NHL report, 6-7C MAGIC DISAPPEARING ACT The Orlando Magic host the Detroit Pistons tonight, but the game will not be shown on local cable because of a dispute with Sunshine Network, 6C. SEGTIOH BUSINESS OCQLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL REPORTO SATURDAY, January 2, 1993 'Noles stomp 'Huskers 27-14 'Canes caught in storm's eye NEW ORLEANS This is not one of the better Miami Hurricane title-caliber teams of the past decade, but it has suffered more stress and responded more positively than practically any college sports team in years. By Brian White FLORIDA TODAY Coverage, 2C. 'W .1 AP bly playing as good as anyone in the country.

I didn't say we deserved it. The ones (Alabama) who deserved it are winning it tonight." "Our defense did a great job. They did better than I thought they would. We had a tremendous advantage playing in the heat. We have to hand it to them.

I'd hate to play them up in Nebraska." Nebraska's rushing game, which ranked No. 1 in the nation with an average of 328 See SEMINOLES, Next Page Game summary, 2C. MIAMI No surprises here in The Other Game, where business as usual found a New Year's Day filled with Seminole success and Cornhusker futility. Florida State put its usual strong finish to a season Friday night, whipping Nebraska 27-14 in the Orange Bowl while much of the nation tuned into the Sugar Bowl, which featured Alabama's 34-13 victory against Miami for the national championship. The rain-drenched victory assured the No.

3 Seminoles (11-1) a top-four ranking for the sixth consecutive season and gave them an NCAA-record eight straight bowl victories. "It's our fault we didn't beat Miami or tie Miami (during the season)," Coach Bobby Bowden said. "But I'm glad we got to the end of the year and people are saying we're playing the best. "Do I think we are the best? We must not be, but we must be pretty darn close. We're proba yi jut iwwww i' And it took big strides under Coach Dennis Erickson in erasing the bad-guy image stemming from earlier championship seasons including the infamous Cotton Bowl win against Texas two years ago in which the school administration was embarrassed by the taunting tactics employed by the Hurricanes.

Among the highs, the and the FLORIDA STATE quarterback Charlie Ward, right, Seminoles were trying to escape Nebraska on Friday. nn BAMIAN CR1STCGER0 SPORTS LWli auJo LI LI c5) Lyiiii 'Canes lose Sugar Bowl, crown 34-13 By Mike Lopresti Gannett News Service NEW ORLEANS Somewhere today, the Bear is smiling. Alabama is back on top. The No. 2 Crimson Tide, unleashing a two-pronged attack of defense and the running game, overwhelmed top-ranked Miami 34-13 on Friday night in the Sugar Bowl, giving this storied program its 12th national championship and first since the glory days of Paul (Bear) Bryant.

"Roll, Tide, roll!" the majority of the Superdome thundered. Roll the 13-0 Tide did, crushing the Hurricanes' 29-game winning streak, shattering their mystique, and making Heisman winner Gino Torretta's final college game a three-interception disaster. "They kept saying we were underdogs, I kept saying I didn't think we were," Alabama coach Gene Stallings said. "You're See ALABAMA, Next Page Sugar Bowl report, 2C. IIIBIIPWWIIIBWPIffl 1 7 H5-''V' 1 dun-it if 'irrtha ii' Michigan, N.

Dame prevail FLORIDA TODAY Wires The bloom was off the Rose, although that did nothing to dim the luster of Tyrone Wheatley's performance. Wheatley scored on runs of 56, 88 and 24 yards and rushed for 235 yards in an electrifying performance for Michigan. The 38-31 victory against Washington helped salve some of the disappointment after Michigan (9-0-3) had to settle for draws against Notre Dame, Illinois and Ohio State. "I also wanted to send the guys who were leaving, the seniors, out with a bang," said Wheatley, a sophomore. In Dallas, Texas hopes for an unbeaten season and the right to argue about who is No.

1 were scuttled by Notre Dame 28-3 in the Cotton Bowl. Playing without leading rusher Greg Hill, who was suspended, (12-1) never got going in a bid to complete its first perfect season since 1939. Rick Mirer threw for two TDs as the Irish (10-1-1) closed the season with a seven-game winning streak. In Orlando, Garrison Hearst ran for 163 yards and two touchdowns as the eighth-ranked Bulldogs (10-2) completed their first 10-win season since 1983 with a 21-14 win against Ohio State in the Citrus Bowl. Coverage, 4-5C.

lows and the rest of a season that came to a downbeat end with a 34-13 loss to Alabama in Friday's Sugar Bowl: The good Big-game victories: Miami teetered on the brink of disaster, but pulled out four games by six points or less against Arizona (8-7), Florida State (19-16), Penn State (17-14) and Syracuse (16-10). Reaping the awards: Quarterback Gino Torretta joined Vinny Testaverde as Miami's only Heisman Trophy winners. The senior owns eight Miami passing records, including most passing yards. The Hurricanes also had linebackers Micheal Barrow, Darrin Smith and Jessie Armstead considered for the Butkus Award. Tackling adversity: After suffering through Hurricane Andrew, Miami dedicated the season to the people of South Dade County, and started the season with an emotional win at Iowa.

the bad Hurricane Andrew: Six coaches had their houses badly damaged by the storm, as did the families of many players. The Miami campus in Coral Gables sustained enough damage that the team moved its training camp 140 miles north to Vero Beach in preparation for its season-opener against Iowa. Former players killed: Former Hurricane defensive linemen Jerome Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles and Shane Curry of the Indianapolis Colts were killed during the summer. Brown was in a car crash in Brownsville, while Curry was shot outside a Cincinnati bar. Ail-American injured: Defensive end Rusty Medearis suffered a season-ending knee injury Sept.

26 against Arizona. The junior withdrew from school and received an extra year of eligibility from the NCAA. Running game disappears: With the offensive line struggling because of injuries, the Hurricanes get two yards rushing against Arizona on 22 carries. and the ugly Lockerroom bickering: Receiverreturn specialist Kevin Williams said before the Syracuse game that his teammates were New Year's daze cf bowl games Today's games Florida battles Grambling State in the second Heritage Bowl in Tallahassee. Mississippi State meets North Carolina in the Peach Bowl.

Previews, 4C. Tennessee 38, Boston College 23 Notre Dame 28, Texas 3 Georgia 21, Ohio State 14 Stanford 24, Penn State 3 Syracuse 26, Colorado 22 Michigan 38, Washington 31 Florida State 27, Nebraska 14 Alabama 34, Miami 13 Hall oi Fame: Cotton: Citrus: Blockbuster: Fiesta: Rose: Orange: Sugar: AP ALABAMA RUNNING BACK Derrick Lassie, who rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns for MVP honors Friday night, escapes the grasp of Miami's Casey Greer during Sugar Bowl action in New Orleans. Complete bowl roundup, 2C, 4-5C, 7C. "falling asleep" in their punt blocking and that he was not involved enough in the Miami offense. He then caught a career-high nine passes against the Orangemen.

Pell Grant scandal: Receiver Lamar Florida, FSU tip off Thomas and reserve runningback Jason Maruc NFL deals wild cards Vikings, Chargers host playoff games ci were indicted by a federal grand jury for making false statements to obtain illegal financial aid. The pair were given a "leave of absence" from the team, but later were allowed to enter a pretrial diversion program that will shield them from prosecution, and were allow Holiday hoopla The Florida Tech women's basketball team hosts Air Force tonight in the school's Holiday Tournament. Preview, 3C. ed to play in Miami's season opener. The investigation includes 40 former and current football players and is ongoing.

Police blotter. Kevin Williams was caught in Miami Beach with a stolen gun under the seat of his car. Defensive tackle Mark FLORIDA TODAY Now that college football fans have been bowled over, the attention turns to basketball in a big way today. Fans of Florida and Florida State can settle one score as the teams meet in Tallahassee (TV: 4 p.m., WIRBCh.56). Sam Cassell has been the big gun of late for FSU (8-3) with back-to-back 30-point games.

Florida (5-3) has had a harder time scoring although it busted out in an 86-62 victory against Austin Peay. Meanwhile, Miami is in the thick of Big East Conference competition as the Hurricanes battle Georgetown. The local scene also is busy. makethe playoffs in each of the last th'ree seasons, lost at home to Washington 15-13 in Week 8 of the regular season. In the American Conference, the Kansas City Chiefs (9-7) will be making their third straight playoff appearance when they tackle the San Diego Chargers (11-5) in the second game today.

San Diego won the AFC West for the first time in 11 years and is in the postseason for the first time in 10 years. Since the Chiefs and the Chargers are in the same division, they play twice a year. NFL report, 6C. Game capsules, 7C. TV: Noon, ABC Chs.

9, 25 New York Times New meets old in today's two National Football League playoff match-ups. In the National Conference, the Washington Redskins (9-7) will meet the Minnesota Vikings (11-5) at the Metrodome to kick off the four first-round games this weekend. The Redskins are seasoned postseason participants, having won Super Bowl XXVI over the Buffalo Bills nearly one year ago on the Vikings' home turf. Minnesota, which failed to Caesar was arrested after a fight in a hotel lobby. Defensive line coach Ed Orgeron was arrested after a fight in a local bar.

Williams, who said his father gave him the gun in his hometown of Dallas, was placed in a Brevard Community College's men's team has eligibility questions to clear up before tonight's home game against Florida Community College. Florida Tech looks for a second consecutive win when the Panthers host New Haven. Coverage, 3C. Dretrial diversion program. Caesars trial is scheduled for February.

Orgeron was given a leave of absence from the team and reached an Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY SAM CASSELL has been the offensive sparkplug for Florida State in recent games. out-of-court settlement. Best on TV Fishing hot line Brian Lavelle National Hockey League Scoring leaders National Basketball Association Scoring leader Anglers are taking fair numbers of speckled perch on Lake Kissimmee. The areas where dropoffs occur around islands might be slightly more productive. Fishing forecast, 6C.

brother, Jimmy, played on Coach Don Smith's first team at BCC. Stats: 17.1 points and six assists a game as a high school senior. Titans coach Don Smith's assessment: "Brian is a smart guard who can run the offense and play good defense." COLLEGE BASKETBALL 4 p.m. Florida at FSU (WIRB Ch. 56) COLLEGE FOOTBALL 4 p.m.

Heritage: Florida vs. Grambling St. (BET) 8 p.m. Peach: Miss. St.

vs. North Carolina (ESPN) Pts Avg Player, Team A Pts Jordan, Chi. 27 867 32.1 Lemieux, Pit 37 64 101 Mullin.G.S. 28 782 27.9 Lafontaine, Buf 24 43 67 Wilkins, Atl. 20 553 27.7 Oates, Bos 22 41 63 K.

Malone, Utah 26 708 27.2 Sundin, Que 25 36 61 Barkley, Phoe. 25 647 25.9 Sakic.Que 28 32 60 Olajuwon, Hou. 25 616 24.6 Recchi, Phi 23 37 60 Orlando Magic leader Tampa Bay Lightning leader Oeal.Orl. 24 528 22.0 Bradlo' 28 21 49 Member of: Brevard Community College men's basketball team. Former residence: Syracuse, N.Y.

High school: Manlius. Year: Freshman. Position: Guard. Background: Brian's -wig- If if tin i I WeekenfTV log, 7C..