News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 29

NEWS-PRESS SCORELINE Call 332-5600 or 1-800-848-0515 Touch tone only EXECUTIVE SPORTS EDITOR: MIKE KLOCKE, 335-0357 (Monday Friday, 1 9 p.m.) SECTION MET WEEKEND IN SPORTS 0 LOOK AHEAD OPINIONS AND ANALYSIS MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 1995 tafifi)b)D MS 5 sou Dream finally comes true for Nebraska MIAMI The quarterback played on pure guts and after blood thinners had run through his veins, which helped to clear the clot that had developed in one of his precious legs. The fullback was known for blocking defenders and driving In demolition derbies, but had visited the end zone only six times in the last three years. With a national championship on the line, he journeyed there two times In the final 7:38. Fourth-quarter rally wins Orange 24-17 LJ i ByMIKELOPRESTI Gannett News Service I now MIAMI For Tom Osborne, the long quest ended with a fullback dive. The unceasing questions of past restless Januarys are over.

As of Sunday night, there is nothing left to answer. Cory Schlesinger's 14-yard touchdown run with 2:46 left, his second score in a fourth quarter of Nebraska redemption, carried the top-ranked Cornhuskers past Miami 24-17 and probably into the national championship. "I thought In the fourth quarter we'd be the best team, and we were," Osborne said. "We were a little stronger physically. I'm proud of the way we played." Down 17-7 in the second half in the loud hostility of the Orange Bowl, the 13-0 Cornhuskers clawed back to give Osborne the title he has come so close to in 22 years of coaching.

Miami, losing for only the nr pa And the coach had worked for his school for 33 years, the last 22 as head coach, winning 83 percent of his games and graduating his players. Yet he still had to listen to critics justifiably say he couldn't win the big game. Put them together OA MIKE KLOCKE Commentary second time at home since 1985, was left with the awful frustration of a victory taken out of its hands. The Hurricanes had leads of 10-0 and 17-7 but ran out of steam and offense, then sank beneath the weight of their own mistakes. "We had a lot of opportunities, and we didn't take advantage of them," Miami coach Dennis Erickson said.

"We couldn't make the plays on offense when we had to, which kept the defense out there. Our kids played their rear ends off. They came down here and beat us in our PEACH BOWL I Terry Harvey passed for one touchdown and set up another with a 62-yard completion as No. 23 North Carolina State rallied to defeat Mississippi State 28-24 In Atlanta. Story 5C A en SXss, VA (s own stadium.

They ought to be national champions no matter what happens Monday." No. 2 and unbeaten Penn State meets Oregon in the Rose Bowl today, but even a lopsided victory probably won't help the Nittany Lions' cause. Nebraska survived its test of fire by going to its age-old weapon the ground game in the fourth quarter. The Cornhuskers outrushed Miami 1 99-29 overall. "We thought sooner or later if we kept pounding on them they would give in," tackle Zach Wiegert said.

Schlesinger's 15-yard run with 7:58 left, combined with Tommie Frazier's two-point PAT pass to Eric Alford, tied the game at 17-17. The winning drive began at the Nebraska 40 with 6:28 left. The game was in the hands of Frazier, who was relieved by Brook Berringer after the first two series of the game and did not return until the fourth quarter, when he led the Cornhuskers to victory. "We knew we could beat them if we executed our offense," he said. "We knew they were tired." Frazier's 25-yard run off the option was the spark that sent Nebraska to its last march to the championship.

along with an inspired defensive effort and you have a long-awaited, hard-earned national championship for Nebraska. It all came true in the waning hours of the year's first day, and even spilled over into this morning. After being dominated for three quarters, Nebraska staged a Houdinl-like rally for a 24-1 7 Orange Bowl victory over Miami. A 13-0 record and the No. 1 ranking secured, Nebraska has no worries today as the rest of the college bowl schedule is played.

Penn State? Who cares? For that, the Cornhuskers can thank quarterback Tommie Frazier, fullback Cory Schlesinger and, perhaps most of all, Coach Tom Osborne. The Orange Bowl was not particularly well played. But you can bet the red-and-white clad fans from Nebraska don't care. Because they'll crawl back Into their Winnebagos and head home to Lincoln as the nation's best college football team. This Orange sweet The long wait is over.

The Osborne legend had included 218 victories, an .829 winning percentage and a longstanding reputation for class. It also had included losses in the last three Orange Bowls. Losses in the last seven bowl appearances, includingsix to either Miami or Florida State. Losses in bowls in 1 3 of Osborne's 2 1 previous years. And no national championships.

But after ad versity and the Hurricanes hadkeptthem down for three quarters, the Cornhuskers showed poise and guile. Those were not traits for which Nebraska had been recognized in the past. Sure, the Cornhuskers could beat the Colorados and the Oklahomas. They could pound on the Iowa States and the Kansas States andacreampuff non-conference schedule. See ORANGE 5C The Associated Press Fort Myers' German struggles 5C Few answers for Canes 5C OFF TO THE RACES: Miami receiver Trent Jones breaks away for the Hurricanes' first touchdown.

Bears bumble, then bounce Vikes 35-18 17 BROWNS BRUISE PATRIOTS 20-13 Vinny Testaverde passed for 268 yards and a touchdown as the Browns downed the New England Patriots 20-13 in Cleveland. It was the first playoff win ever for Testaverde, who spent six losing seasons in Tampa Bay before coming to Cleveland last season. Stories 8C But in big games they were Jell-O, I Walsh drilled guard Jay Leeu-wenberg in the back of the helmet with a pass that ricocheted into the arms of Minnesota's Anthony Parker, who returned the interception to the Chicago 39. Minnesota (10-7) began its next possession at the Chicago 33 after a 58-yard kickoff return by Robert Smith. But Minnesota scored just three points on those three drives.

"To see our defense play that hard and allow them to come away with only three points," offensive tackle James "Big Cat" Williams said, "was so much of a motivator to our offense. People will never know how much." From that point on, the Bears (10-7) dominated Minnesota. They ran on the NFL's best run defense in the last 30 minutes, gaining 94 yards against a team See BEARS 8C By MATT TROWBRIDGE Rocktord (III.) Register Star MINNEAPOLIS The Chicago Bears needed to play a perfect game, said the critics. These talent-thin overachievers, without a Pro Bowler in their Christmas stocking, couldn't afford any turnovers. The Bears, never a fan of critics, blew that theory sky high.

They stumbled and bumbled at the start like so many Stooges, yet recovered to blow out the NFC Central-champion Minnesota Vikings 35-1 8 on Sunday. "This shows what a group of men who are committed with an unselfish attitude can accomplish," Bears coach Dave Wanns-tedtsaid. Lewis Tillman fumbled the ball away at Chicago's 7-yard line on the Bears' first possession. Then quarterback Steve NFL PLAYOFFS unable to match up talent-wtse with the powers of the Sunshine State. Not anymore.

Not after a fourth-quarter comeback packed with drama and courage. Schlesinger whose hobby is driving in demolition derbies ran up the gut of the Miami defense for the final two touchdowns. "It felt great, that's all there is to it," Schlesinger said. "I was thinking 'national Sunday's scores Cleveland 20, N. England 13 Chicago 35, Minnesota 18 Saturday's scores Green Bay 16, Detroit 12 Miami 27, Kansas City 17 Saturday, Jan.

7 Cleveland at Pittsburgh, 12:30, NBC Chicago at San 4, Fox Sunday, Jan. 8 Green Bay at Dallas, 12:30, Fox Miami at San Diego, 4, NBC Frazier made two key runs on the The Associated Press STAY DOWN: Chicago's Trace Armstrong celebrates after sacking Minnesota's Warren Moon. winning drive and earlier threw a crucial two-point conversion pass. That he played at all was deemed a miracle by some. The junior had not seen action since Sept.

24 because of a blood clot in his right knee that threatened his career. And he was pulled after a poor first quarter on Sunday. "I just tried to stay ready," Frazier said. "Coach told Brook (Berringer) and I from the start that either one of us could see action. I just wanted to be ready if called on." BOTTOM OF THE FIRST Fiesta Bowl Hall of Fame Bowl Cotton Bowl Sugar Bowl The Cornhuskers won on Miami's home field, which had been their personal den of horrors.

Osborne, who has been roundly Wisconsin (6-4-1) vs. Duke (8-3) WHERE: Tampa. WHEN: 1 1 a.m. TV: ESPN. LINE: Wisconsin by 8.

Preview 7C INSIDE SPORTsMwt Monday Morning QUARTERBACK Readers express their opinions on the weekend's NFL games 5C Colorado (10-1) vs. Notre Dame (6-4-1) WHERE: Tempe, Ariz. WHEN: 4:30 p.m. TV: NBC. RADIO: WDCQ-AM (1200).

LINE: Colorado by 7. Preview 7C Texas Tech (6-5) vs. Southern Cal (7-3-1) WHERE: Dallas. WHEN: 1 p.m. TV: NBC.

RADIO: WDCQ-AM (1200). LINE: Southern Cal by 6Vfe. Preview 7C criticized for his big-game coaching, ir i made the decision of his career in the fourth quarter. Back in went Frazier, the storybook quarterback who directed the storybook finish. The game had strange and bizarre moments.

But there's a national championship team headed back to Nebraska. Florida (10-1-1) vs. Florida State (9-1-1) WHEN: 8:30 p.m. TV: ABC. RADIO: WDCQ-AM (1200).

LINE: Gators by Yh. PLAY IT AGAIN: Rematches in bowl games are rare, but tonight's Sugar Bowl promises to be a sweet replay. Florida and Florida State get another chance to settle the score after a 31-31 tie In November. Preview 6C And the Cornhuskers surely don't Citrus Bowl Carquest Bowl Rose Bowl Ohio State (9-3) South Carolina (6-5) Penn State (11-0) vs. Alabama (1 1-1) vs.

West Virginia (7-5) vs. Oregon (9-3) WHERE: Orlando. WHEN: 1 WHERE: Miami. WHEN: 1:30 WHERE: Pasadena, Calif, p.m. TV: ABC.

LINE: Alabama p.m. TV: CBS. LINE: West WHEN: 4:50 p.m. TV: ABC. by3V2.

Virginia by 2. LINE: Penn State by 17. Preview 7C Preview 7C Preview 7C Sports FORUM A sampling of opinions from sports columnists across the United States 3C care about style points. Mike Klocke Is executive sports editor of the News-Press. You can write him at P.

O. Box 1 0, Fort Myers, FL 33902, call him at (813) 335-0357 or fax him at (813) 334-0708..