Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • Page 25

mm SCOREBOARD 2 BASKETBALL 3 FOOTBALL 45 COMMODITIES 5 If STOCKS 6-7 7 SECTION FRONT 8 THURSDAY JANUARY 1, 1998 TO SHARE TIPS, IDEAS: Contact: Mike Knobler, sports editor Jackson area: 961-7293 Toll free: 1-800-222-8015 I Fax: 961-7224 1 E-mail: Mknoblerjackson.gannett.com THE CLARION-LEDGER JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI No. 1 Wolverines to risk all in Rose Bowl RICK CLEVELAND Sports Columnist Vv' The Clarion-Ledger Outback Bowl: Georgia vs. Wisconsin, 10 a.m., ESPN Gator Bowl: Va. Tech vs. North Carolina, 11:30 a.m., NBC Citrus Bowl: Florida vs.

Penn State, noon, ABC Cotton Bowl: UCLA vs. Texas 12:30 p.m., CBS Rose Bowl: Michigan vs. Washington 3:30 p.m., ABC Sugar Bowl: Florida State vs. Ohio State, 7:30 p.m., ABC 20,000 USM fans attend Liberty Bowl, make Bower beam could do," said comerback Charles Woodson, Michigan's Heisman Trophy winner. "That's what you look for, play for, practice for." Washington State coach Mike Price missed practice the last two days and Wednesday's news conference because of the flu.

However, he showed in the afternoon for a team photo and promised to be on the sideline. "I feel fine," he said, though looking tired. "IH be good enough to go tomorrow." For the past two weeks, the Wolverines' top-rated defense has been readying itself for an imposing quarterback and an attacking Prolific Washington State stands between Michigan and national title By Richard Rosenblatt TIM Associated Press PASADENA, Calif. Tradi-tion is one thing, but when it comes to winning national championships, Michigan coach Lloyd Carr wants no part of it "It's been a long time," Carr said. Fifty years, to be exact Thafs the last time Michigan won a national title, and today the top-ranked Wolverines, 11-0, have a chance to write their own history when they face No.

8 Washing- and his "Fab Five" receivers as have 10 other teams this season then it's No. 2 Nebraska playing for the title Friday in the Orange Bowl against No. 3 Tennessee. "To win a national title, that would be the greatest thing we ton State, 10-1, in the Rose BowL If Michigan wins, the national championship will be shaded in maize and blue, returning to Ann Arbor for the first time since 1948. But should the Wolverines fall prey to Cougars quarterback Ryan Leaf offense the likes of which it has not seen this season.

"First, since I've been at Michigan, I think Ryan Leaf is the best quarterback we've played against. Secondly, we've never played against a team that averages 42 points a game. That's six touchdowns a game," Carr said of the Cougars, 10-1, who averaged more than 500 yards per game. "So we've never faced a team as prolific as this." Nor has Washington State faced a defense as overpowering as Michigan's. The Wolverines' defense ranked first nationally in points allowed (8.9), yards allowed (206.9) and in pass efficiency (75.8 rating points).

No regrets for Vols' Manning Orange Bowl will be popular QB's final reward or disappointment By SUvsn Win The Assoc Istsd Press MIAMI Let's eliminate any lingering speculation: Peyton Manning has decided to turn pro after this season. Sorry, Tennessee fans, but your quarterback's eligibility expires Friday when the third-ranked Volunteers play No. 2 Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. There will be no repeat of the miracle in March Manning's announcement that he would return to Tennessee. urn Mm 4 0 i Wife tr I aw.

Hi nt "That was like a gift from heaven," said Haywood Har IBowl roundup, 4C ris, the Vols associ ill 1 I i Steve JoneiThe Associated Press MEMPHIS For Southern Miss, the numbers all looked perfectly splendid Wednesday. The 41-7 victory, the three offensive touchdowns, the three defensive touchdowns, Lee Roberts' 227 yards passing, Sherrod Gideon's 111 yards receiving, the nine-victory season, the million dollar payday and we could go on and on. You get the idea. But Jeff Bower, who has been around USM for a total of 20 years as a player, an assistant coach and now head coach, knew what number showed the most progress of his program. There must have been at least 20,000 South-era Miss fans here today," Bower said.

"I looked up behind me early in the game, and I saw all that gold, and I got chills. I just couldn't believe it. I said, 'Good gosh, would you just look at That's big. I can't even tell you how big that is." Bower can remember his last game as a USM quarterback in 1975 when USM capped a seven-victory season with a victory over nationally ranked Brigham Young on a sun-kissed day in Jackson. The 3,500 who showed up looked lost in Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Bower can remember during his seven years as a head coach when the home games didn't attract nearly the number of USM fans who were at the Liberty Bowl. He can remember his first game as USMs head coach in the All American Bowl at Birmingham with a quarterback named Brett Favre when only about 10,000 Eagle fans purchased tickets. USM makes believer of Pitt coach Liberty Bowl president Jan Gwin, a former Mississippi State football player, estimated that 20,000 USM fans were in attendance. He said USM sold 16,000 tickets through the university and that another 4,000 Eagle fans bought tickets through the Liberty Bowl. That's the kind of support this team deserves," Bower said.

The truth is, if the kind of support USM football has deserved for a long, long time. USM has played high-quality football for decades only few people ever seemed to notice. That's changing. Take it from Pittsburgh coach Walt Harris, who watched USMs speed and precision annihilate his Panthers. Asked to assess what happened, Harris was succinct.

"First and foremost, they have very, very good football players," Harris said. "You witnessed an outstanding football team out there, a team that plays with a lot of confidence." And, he might have added, a team that seemed faster at every position on the field Wednesday. Said Harris, They have superior speed to what we are accustomed to facing." Eagles slowly gaining recognition Conference USA commissioner Mike Slive didn't miss a chance to brag on his league's best team, a team whose average victory margin in conference games was 19 points. "Southern Miss is emerging as one of the best football programs in the country," Slive said. The next step (for Conference USA) is to take the reality and make it the perception." Thafs been the task for USM for years.

And it is a task that is not yet accomplished. Too recent is the memory of 1996 when USM won eight games and spent the holidays at home. Too recent is Nov. 15, 1997, when USM clinched this year's C-USA title with a 33-0 trouncing of Houston before a home crowd of only 20,091. But, as Bower pointed out, positive steps are being made.

What ESPN announcers called "one of college football's best kept secrets" is getting out. Fifteen USM games have been televised over the past two seasons. Texas comes to Hattiesburg next season. Nebraska has a date in the Hub City down the road. And USM, which should rank in the Top 25 to begin the 1998 season, will open at Penn State.

Pitt QB Pete Gonzalez may have paid USM its highest compliment Wednesday when asked about the Penn State-USM matchup. Said the man who threw 30 touchdowns this past season, including two against Penn State in a 34-17 Pitt defeat, Til tell you this much. Joe Paterao is going to have his hands full." To contact Rick Cleveland, call 96 1 -721 0 or USM coach Jeff Bower embraces his daughter, Stephanie, 1 1 fol- ty Bowl. Golden Eagles (from left) Patrick Surtain, Marchant Kenney lowing the Golden Eagles' 41-7 victory over Pittsburgh in the Liber- and Keith Caton celebrate in the background. Pitt offense can't deal with 'organized chaos' Robert Wilson Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer Css3 LIBERTY try to slow down the Lee Roberts-Sherrod Gideon show.

Roberts passed to Gideon for three touchdowns. "It wasn't anything different than they had done all year," USM coach Jeff Bower said. "They've made big plays all year by working hard in practice. They have a great thing going." Roberts found Gideon for a 31-yard score on a post pattern in the first quarter and an 8-yard post in the second quarter. The third TD was a 5-yard fade on the final play of the third quarter.

See LIBERTY, 4C ers who came from all directions. "I've never played against a defense that played like that and played that well. Some of the best offenses in the country had trouble against them and their schemes." Said USM senior middle linebacker Marchant Kenney: "It was organized chaos. Their linemen didn't know who to block and Gonzalez was trying to figure out what to do." Gonzalez who completed 13 of 29 passes for 172 yards wasn't the only Pittsburgh player who had trouble. Take Pittsburgh's secondary, which had to MEMPHIS Southern Mississippi's plan was to confuse Pittsburgh quarterback Pete Gonzalez.

But even the Golden Eagle defensive players were surprised at what they did Wednesday in the Liberty Bowl. No. 22 USM scored three defensive touchdowns and blew out Pittsburgh 41-7 for the largest victory margin in the bowl's history. Defensive end Adalius Thomas and corner-back Terrence Parrish returned ate athletic director. "Our fans are so rabid, and they couldn't believe he made that decision." At first glance, the decision now looks dubious.

Manning passed up a chance to help Bill Parcells revive the New York Jets as the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. He lost to Florida again and failed to win the Heisman Trophy- But Manning claims no regrets. "My No. 1 resolution was to have fun this year, and I've had a ball," he said.

"I came back to create more memories and to try to win some championships. I've had a lot of fun and we won the SEC championship. "I wouldn't change one thing about this year." The accomplishment that Manning desires most remains within reach. If eighth-ranked Washington State beats No. 1 Michigan in the Rose Bowl today, the Volunteers, 11-1, could claim their first national championship since 1951 by beating Nebraska, 12-0, in the Orange Bowl.

The Comhuskers, however, are favored by 14 points to win coach Tom Osborne's final game. Should the Vols fall short of No. 1, Manning will be remembered by Tennesseans as a champion denied the rewards he deserved for returning to play his senior season. He began the year as a heavy favorite to win the Heisman, passed for 3,819 yards and 36 touchdowns and yet finished second to Michigan's Charles Woodson. Equally galling was the 33-20 loss to Florida, Tennessee's fifth in a row against the Gators.

Manning threw for 353 yards and three touchdowns, but he also had an interception returned 89 yards for a score. Despite the setbacks, Manning has conducted himself with grace, poise and patience. And in Tennessee, his popularity rivals Elvis. interceptions for touchdowns and free safety Perry Phenix returned a fumble for a score all in the second half. And they all passed by a confused Gonzalez.

"There were bullets coming from everywhere," said Gonzalez, referring to USMs defensive play MVP: Gideon's good hands come in handy nuarterhack. By Rick Cleveland Sports Columnist said. "He's so fast, so quick and so instinctive. He does a lot of things you can't teach." Pitt free safety John Jenkins, who was named the Panthers' outstanding defensive player, said his team was well aware of Gideon's capabilities beforehand but just couldn't do anything with him. "We came in with a lot of respect for him, because you could see what a great athlete he is," Jenkins said.

"He just proved it again today." USM faithful can be thankful for a highlight film that Greenwood coach Terry Moore put together following Gideon's senior season when Gideon played "We couldn't evaluate Sherrod because he was out of position," Bower said. "Terry Moore made a highlight film of his sophomore and junior seasons as a wide receiver, and we didn't even get halfway through it before we said we'd sign him." Gideon deflected credit for his two Liberty Bowl trophies to his teammates, especially Roberts, who completed 18 of 26 for 227 yards. "I knew with Lee Roberts coming back and our new offensive system that I could have this kind of season," Gideon said. "Now I can't wait till next year." Eagles ring up victory, 1A Full-page coverage, AC sophomore. For Gideon, it was like putting an exclamation point on the end of the best season a USM pass receiver has ever had.

He set school records in '97 with 54 catches, nine touchdown receptions and five 100-yard games, not counting the bowl game. Gideon caught seven more Wednesday for 111 yards, and scored on catches of 31, eight and five yards. "He's special, I'll tell you that," USM coach Jeff Bower MEMPHIS Sherrod Gideon, who may have the best hands in Southern Miss football history, needed both and some help from his friends to carry out his hardware after Saturday's Liberty Bowl. After catching a bowl-record three touchdowns in USMs 41-7 trouncing of Pittsburgh, Gideon won huge trophies as the game's Most Valuable Player and the Golden Eagles' most outstanding offensive player. "This is definitely the highlight of my career," said Gideon, who has provided USM fans with a season of highlights as a 4WIMMI.1IW Levy steps down his way, with class iiiLUsiLltaitvi 18.

Michigan 76 Wisconsin 63 Liberty Bowl 22. USM 41 Pittsburgh 7 Sun Bowl 1 6. Arizona State 1 7 Iowa 7 Fiesta Bowl 10. Kansas St. 28...14.

Syracuse 15 Georgetown 74 W. Virginia 65 23. Arkansas 103 Alabama St. 48 25. Marquette 71 St.

Peter's 55 Top 25 Women 3. Connecticut 82 Rutgers 69 7. Vanderbilt 91 Cleveland St. 72 1 6. SW Missouri 89 Evansville59 22.

Florida Int. 76 Army56 "It does change my thinking a little bit because I knew deep down I was coming back for another year but I was wanting to come best in team history. The team won consecutive AFC championships from 1990-93, but failed to win the Super Bowl those four straight years. Right to the end, the silver-haired coach showed the class that endeared him to generations of players, coaches and fans from around the league. "All you can ask for is a fair chance to compete," Levy said, his eyes welling with tears during an emotional news conference.

"When it's over, and the See LEVY, 3C Levy retired Wednesday after 12 years to give somebody else a chance to rebuild the Bills. The anguish I felt after every loss over the last few years had begun to reach an intensity that the thrill of victory could not overcome," said the 72-year-old Levy, who missed the playoffs for just the third time in his tenure. "I thought a new-and-improved approach, a breath of fresh air, might be helpful to the Buffalo Bills. Tm a Buffalo Bills Levy finished his career in Buffalo with a 123-78 record, the Buffalo's decline makes coach realize it's time for a change By Bucky Gleason The Associated Press ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. For Marv Levy, it wasn't the Buffalo Bills' four straight Super Bowl losses that hurt.

It was the team's steady decline the past two seasons that finally proved too much. Saying he no longer could accept losing after a 6-10 season, Thomas back for another year under Marv Levy." Buffalo running back Thurman Thomas' reaction to Marv Levy's retirement announcement. I NHL NBA Wizards 1 1 8 Raptors 9 1 Top 25 Men 14. Iowa 89 Indiana 76 15. Florida State 66 DePaul 55 Penguins 3 Hurricanes 2 Sabres 3 SenatorsO.