The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • Page 53

1 Nebraska 6, To. Dions By BILL CLARK Overwhelms Alabama, Win MatiOTaL Cham 38 A I. 1972 1D "if, if'- a a 'A. JpjjWniaBtSl aI I Sunday, Jan. 2, NEBRASKA'S JEFF KINNEY Goes for 14 'r' L-lui tip) mm 9 i B'ttl St Sf 2 I vK.

I Hill i SUGAR BOWL NOT SO SWEET FOR PAT SULLIVAN, WIFE JEAN Oklahoma spoils planned day of good old family fun MIAMI Nebraska erupted for 11 first half points within four and a half minutes here Saturday night to smash Alabama, 38-6, in an Orange Bowl meeting which nailed the national eha mpionihip. and should by rights qualify the Husk-ers for some sort of extravagenza against the winner of the Super Bowl. In extending to 32 its streak of unbeaten outings, the powerful invaders from the great plains electrified a sellout crowd of 78,151 by the ease in which they manhandled previously unbeaten and united 'Bama. But Alabama made it easier, mysteriously losing Its virtually mistake-proof, touch during regular season by coughing up two fumbles which led directly to 14 of Nebraska's 28 first half points. Johnny Rodgers, who had done the very same thing in the dramatic Husker win over Oklahoma a month ago, fled with a punt 77 yards for the third touchdown as Bob Devaney's crew broke the game open in the last two minutes of the opening quarter and the first two and a half of the second.

Nationally No. 2 ranked Alabama never recovered from its disastrous first half showing as the Big 8 champions muzzled Johnny Musso and controlled the ball with its awesome balanced attack. 'BAMA FANS sat stunned as the nightmare unfolded dreams of Bear Bryant's fourth national crown dashed. Alabama did not get on the board until the third period, trailing then, 28-0, and Nebraska quickly added a 21-yard field goal by Rich Sanger plus a short fourth quarter touchdown by Van Brownson, undersWdy quarterback behind the brilliant Jerry Tagge. The final statistics actually did not paint the true game story.

Devaney's winners, in copping their second straight U. S. championship, had only 16 first downs to Bama's IS and only a 342-288 lead in total yards. But the game had already been decided before 'Bama cranked up and even then, Nebraska usually had the answer down near its goal line in the form of devastating stops toy Rich Glover, Willie Harper, Larry Jacobson and the rest. Musso gained 79 yards in 15 carries, and came out of the game with 12 minutes left with a pulled hamstring muscle and Nebraska leading, 31-6.

Jeff Kinney of Nebraska had 99 yards on 20 hauls to lead all rushers and Tagge completed 11 passes for 159 yards. Alabama may have been simply too primed. The two early fumbles and a controversial pass interference call were hard to explain otherwise. But in the final analysis, alert Nebraska capitalized with its poise and relentless power. After a day of very little sun and scattered rain, the skies broke loose around 5:30 p.m., and a torrential downpour hit the Miami area just as early game-goers hit the streets.

Pom-poms wilted as fans dashed to waiting buses, cars and cabs. The traffic situation became crucial with numerous collisions reported on the jammed streets and expressways. Miami police, however, did a fantastic job of moving the thousands of cars, all headed for the same destination and the Orange Bowl was almost packed at kickoff only a handful of stragglers still arriving. Few people from Nebraska or Alabama had packed umbrellas or rainwear so the stadium vendors hawking cheap plastic raincoats were doing a booming business. The PolyTurf field, cussed a lot early in the year due to its slickness, was under water at 6:30, but as the rain lightened and finally ended before kickoff time, the puddles vanished.

It was one of the shining hours for artificial turf, beyond doubt. On real turf, the field would have been a OFF TO ORANGE BOWL RACES (AP) yards In that quarter (UPI) I'- QS i KiC of) I a I (AP) LateFG Difference In Upset By Sentinel Services PASADENA, Calif. "I wasn't real nervous but I was slightly nervous," said Rose Bowl hero Rod Garcia with a grin. "I just visualized I would make it. I tried to relax and concentrate." Garcia, a 5-9, 155-pound sophomore from La Mirada, made Stanford football coach John Ralston's second straight trip to Pasadena a happy one with a 31-yard field goal with 12 seconds left to beat Michigan 13-12 Saturday.

"I'll take a Michigan win in the Rose Bowl over a San Jose State loss anytime," Stanford Coach John Ralston said, referring to Garcia's five missed MICHIGAN 16 74-10 24 14 3-1M 7-31-f 1 23 STANFORD 31 13-111 291 2 24-40-1 4-41-3 4 14 First downs Rushes yards Passim yardae Return vardaie Passes Punts Fumbles lost Yards penaliied Michigan I IB ii Stanford 01 1013 Mich FG Coin 3 Stan-FO Garcia 41 Mich Seyferth 1 run (Coin kick) Stan Brown 24 run (Garcia kick) Mich Safety Fertuson tackled In end lone Stan FG Garcia 31 A 103,154. field goal attempts against the Spartans in one of the Indians' three regular season losses. "I couldn't have been more thankful of the outcome. It really took James Ferguson off the hook." Ferguson, a sophomore, was tackled in the Stanford end zone after trying to run a missed goal out with 3:18 remaining. That gave the Wolverines a 12-10 lead.

"I didn't say anything to Rod," Ralston continued. "One of our players asked me not to. I guess he remembered that I talked to him during the San Jose game." Garcia, who also booted a 42-yard field goal In the third period, said he didn't think about taking Ferguson off the hook, only winning the game. "That didn't even occur to me until someone said something to me in the dressing room," the little soccer-style place kicker remarked. "When I blow a game people don't get on me.

In fact, no one on this team gets on anyone else." (Continued On Page 5-D, Col. 1) Mildren Makes It Look Easy By Sentinel services NEW ORLEANS Jack Mildren of Oklahoma, called by his coach "the best player i college football this year scored three touchdowns i in in out-dueling Heisman Tronhv winner Pat Sullivan Saturday as the third-ranked Sooners downed No. 5 Auburn 40-22 in the Sugar Bowl football game. Mildren scored on runs of five, four and seven yards, all in the first half, as the awesome Sooners streaked to a 34-0 lead before Auburn got its first touchdown in the third period. ''We came here running scared," said Sooner Coach Chuck Fairbanks, whose high-scoring offense pushed 78 yards OKLAHOMA AUBURN II First downi 15 17-43 Rushes yards 1M0 11 Passim yardage 250 Return yardage 49 H-0 Passes 1 IS-45-2 S-3S Punts I Fumbles lost I II Yards penalized 0 Oklahoma 1 11 1 Auburn 7 IS 12 tailed) Oka-Mlldren run (Carroll kick) Okie Wliylie 71 punt return (past tailed) kla Mlldrn 4 run (run failed) kla Mildren 7 run (past tailed) Okla-FG Carroll 51 Aub Unw 11 run (Jett kick) Okla Pruitt 2 run (kick (ailed) Aub Cannon 11 pass from Sullivan (Jett kick) Aub Unter I run (Beck run) with the opening kickoff to assert its superiority early.

Joe Wylie's 71 yard punt return was the only long distance dash of the day by the fleet Sooners "Mildren is the best player in college football this year," Fairbanks said shortly after his 1 9 9 ound quarterback from Abilene, was presented the trophy as the game's outstanding player. However, in accepting his award, Mildren said, "Pat Sullivan deserved the Heisman Trophy. What Ed Marinaro said was out of place. Sullivan deserved the award." Marinaro, the all-time rushing leader from Cornell, had criticized the selection of Sullivan over himself. "Certainly we're disappointed to lose, but we lost to a great team," said Auburn coach Ralph "Snug" Jordan.

"They were easily the best team we faced all year. "This Oklahoma team just be the best offensive team Auburn has ever tired to stop," said Jordan. "Their statistics during (Continued On Page 4-D, Col. 1) Lions Win For The East By services DALLAS If there's any doubt about the quality of Eastern football, just check with the University of Texas about the credentials of the Penn State Nittany Lions, who stomped the Longhorns, 30-6, in one of the most lop-sided routs in Cotton Bowl history. Among other things, the Nittany Lions forced Texas and its awesome Wishbone-T offense into five fumbles and held the Southwest Conference champions without a touchdown for the first time in 80 games or since 1964.

Penn State exploded for 17 points in the third period, including a 65-yard pass-and-run touchdown bomb over Texas defensive back Mike Bayer, who had been dazed on a previous play and was wandering around lost on the field. The bomb triggered the landslide. Texas Coach Darrell Royal, not wishing to alibi for the thorough beating, said Bayer was "out on his feet on the two passes that were completed over him in the third quarter." One pass went for the touchdown and the other set up Lydell Mitchell's a touchdown run. Royal said, "I don't intend that as an alibi, but two touchdowns changes things in a hurry. Our offense never did get off center.

We had opportunities, but they had a clever defensive ilan they deserved to win in every respect." Penn State Coach Joe Paterno said, "We guessed right, hustled, came off fthe blocks and stopped the big play. If they don't fumble the ball, it's a different game." "I couldn't believe it," said, Scott Skarzynskl, the 207-pound Junior split end of the Lions. (Continued On Page 4-D, Col. 1) ENN STATE First Downs S4 23S 30 PENN STATtt Rushes-Yards Passing Y-trdaee Return Yardaie Passes Punts Fumbles Lost Yards enalued "'3 TEXAS TEX-FO. Valek it P5 pl VIMtllO II TEX-FO Valek 4a PS-Mitchell run (Villello klckl Met from Mufnatel (Vitlello kick) PS 0 Villello 37 PS-FO Vitiello 21 PJ-Huinan) run (Vitiello kick) INDIVIDUAI LEADERS RUSHING Penn Stale, Mllch.ll 17-144, Harris, 11-47) Tones, Bertlesen 14 51.

Ladd. I 4S. RECEIVING Ponir State, Skanynskl 1 II, Parsons 1 li Teas BurriU 3-4S. PASSINO Ptrni State, Hulnaerl MM, 1)7 yards Tanas, Phillips, 3 4, It, Wittintoe, 1MB 11 1 i' iijaV, HI AND A FEW MINUTES LATER, KINNEY SCORES Dives over for first Cornhusker TD quagmire reminiscent of Atlanta Stadium for last week's Peach Bowl Alabama's nightmare erupted with astonishing suddness late in the first quarter. After some early sparring which caused no damage, tide sophomore punter Greg Gantt got a high snap on fourth down at the Cornhusker 40, 'and couldn't get the ball away.

After juggling the football momentarily, the Birmingham player tried to run and was knocked down for a seven-yard loss by defensive end Willie Harper. From its own 47 came Nebraska with the aid of a very big penalty to score the game's first touchdown in five plays. Kinney ran twice for seven yards and Tagge hit Rodgers for 11 on a pass. At the Tide 35, Tagge threw long to Woody Cox and the ball was clearly overthrown. However, Alabama defensive back Steve Williams was called for Interference and officials placed the ball at the 'Bama two a 33-yard penalty.

Kinney bulled in for the score on the first play as Bryant's boys stood around seemingly stunned by call they hadn't liked. Rich Sanger' try (Continued On Page 5-D, Col. 4).