South Florida Sun Sentinel from Fort Lauderdale, Florida • Page 25

0 I OJ pmm men Sun-Sentinel, Sunday, September 10, 1989 Section CRAIG DAVIS Staff Writer It's no slam, but Graf beats Navratilova in grand style 4 iv f. Saw '''VVV "Mr I I Becker, Lendl reach final. 8C That was as close as she came. Graf won 1 0 of the final 12 games to take her seventh title in a Grand Slam event in the last two years, and beat Navratilova the player she loves to beat the most for the third time in a row. "It means so much more to win it again," said Graf.

The Grand Slam did not come with this title. That second swipe at history was missed at the French Open. But just barely. Graf was one game away from beating Arantxa Sanchez, before menstrual cramps struck. Navratilova was two games away from beating SEE OPEN 8C By JIM SARNI Staff Writer FLUSHING MEADOW, N.Y.

Steffi Graf won the Grand Slam here last year, and hardly cracked a smile. Graf was a picture of relief, not joy. The Grand Slam was over. Graf won the U.S. Open again Saturday, but this time, she celebrated by eagerly running to the box seats with victory hugs for her father and coach.

Last year, Graf did what everyone knew she would do. Saturday, Graf did what she knew she could do. Graf beat Martina Navratilova 3-6, 7-5, 6-1, after Navratilova served at 4-3 in the second set. Navratilova was two games from her first major title in two years, her first victory over Graf in two years. Forget Bob-foolery FSU ran out of tricks i ALLAHASSEE With illusionist Doug Henning nowhere on the roster and grim reality grinning in Bobby Bowden's mirror, this was a nieht for trearhprv Tint trirkprv Reuters photo Steffi Graf celebrates after U.S.

Open win. 3 Despite coach, QB changes, the beatings go on at UM i ti i Id in Yt il a si if il Virginia surprises Penn State 14-6. 10C amassed impressive numbers. The championship chemistry, it seems, is intact. "I absolutely forgot about the coaching change after we took the field," tackle Mike Sullivan said.

"The defense came out and was flying around and joking around as usual. It was a good feeling." Erickson orchestrated the most lopsided season-opening UM victory since a 62-0 thrashing of Havana in 1928. It By RANDALL MELL Staff Writer MADISON, Wis. The beat goes on. Or, better yet, the beatings go on.

The Miami Hurricanes ushered in the Erickson era Saturday much the way they ushered out the Jimmy Johnson era. They dominated their competition with a nasty, swarming defense. After a sluggish start, coach Dennis Erickson made his debut a successful one as his third-ranked 'Canes pounded Wisconsin 51-3 before 38,646 at Camp Randall Stadium. UM's defensive domination was every bit as impressive as it was in the 'Canes' 23-3 pounding of Nebraska in last January's Orange Bowl. And though Erickson's new offense struggled early, his one-back attack i was the Badgers worst opener since a 55-7 drubbing to Arizona State in 1968.

The numbers tell the lopsided story: SEE 'CANES 13C Clemson hands Florida State its second straight loss 34-23 I 1 4 Allen, who didn't play in the Clemson opener, completed the drive with a 1-yard dive, and Gardocki's conversion made it 7-0 with 10:59 left. Willis was ineffective early, as was the entire Florida State offense. Clemson wiped out the remainder of the first quarter with an 80-yard, 15-, play drive. Another 1-yard run by Allen complet- ed the drive on the first play of the sec- ond quarter, and Gardocki's conversion made it 14-0. Then, Willis tried to hit Carter in the flat, but Simmons was there for Clemson and romped 73 yards, the longest return in history by a Tiger linebacker.

Gardocki's conversion with 12:57 left made it 21-0, and it appeared the rout was on. By CRAIG BARNES Staff Writer TALLAHASSEE Clemson avenged last year's loss to Florida State and handed the winless Seminoles their second straight loss Saturday night with a 34-23 victory at Doak Campbell Stadium. The Tigers (2-0) opened a 21-0 lead in the game's first 18 minutes and led at halftime 28-10. The Seminoles (0-2) won at Clemson last year 24-21. Clemson showed it meant business immediately when Joe Henderson returned the opening kickoff 45 yards, giving the Tigers excellent field position.

It wasn't wasted as Morocco directed his team into scoring position with two completions for 31 yards. The occasion called for substance over style. A T-shirt recalling the 0. Henry theatrics of Florida State foolery at Clemson last year was a popular item around the capital the past week: "Remember the Rooskie The Butler did it (34-23)." A glorious memory in these parts, one to bedazzle future generations. But Saturday was no time for Seminoles to be plotting a show-stopping encore to the great deception of '88, the famous puntrooskie.

A tall order even for Bowden, down-home Houdini himself. It would have taken something truly cosmic, like a dropkick to Deion Sanders in Atlanta, followed by a double-pump to Sammie Smith's agent Robert Fraley in Hawaii and an interstate shovel pass to holdout Sammie under Joe Robbie's nose. Alas, FSU is beyond the help of late-great Seminoles Sanders and Smith. And magic the magnitude of last year's season-saver may not pass this way again for a while. For now the T-shirt concession passes to Clemson.

The message will read something like: "Rooskie this Fire the Butler The ruse wasn't enough this time. But give Bowden credit for trying. He sprung the old Nebraska umblerooskie play late in the first half. Quarterback Peter Tom Willis left the ball on the ground for guard Hayward Haynes, who rambled 21 yards to set up FSU's first score of the night. A loaded reply The magic lasted for all of 18 seconds, before Clemson's Terry Allen dashed 73 yards for his third TD and a 28-7 lead.

Surely the Tigers didn't miss the irony of coraerback LeRoy Butler, 1988 Rooskie of the Year, giving futile chase. You bet they stewed about that for a whole year in Clemson, S.C. The Tigers brought a large and loud contingent to witness retribution. The response was as subtle as brass knuckles. A testimonial to gristle rather than nerves.

Wits aren't much help in stopping a bloody nose, and Clemson had FSU hemorrhaging almost from the bell. Can't beat razzle-dazzle for prime-time drama, but a season isn't built on a moment It took more than one nifty trick to go 11-1 last time around. After an opening upset by Southern Mississippi, the Seminole situation was similar to a year ago, but with critical differences: a young defense that showed frightening vulnerability, and an apparently tougher climb to New Year's Day. Major questions exposed a week ago are now concerns. The FSU condition has been downgraded to critical.

Just shows there is no future in living in the past Much has changed. That was evident right off. No limousines outside the home lockerroom. No dark shades in the huddle. Likewise, nobody in the stands blinded by the reflection of gold chains.

There was, however, a mass cringe whenever the Clemson quarterback looked into the FSU Lights out at the pass Yes, the Deion era is over. Bowden may not miss the cacophony, but he can't help but long for the days when a snap of the fingers blanketed half of the field with a neon shield. The Seminoles may be slipping into the dreaded Miami Dolphin Syndrome, in which a porous defense shackles its of fense with having to score every time it steps onto the field. Then any mistake is crippling, like Paul Moore's third-quarter fumble in Clemson territory as FSU was clawing back into the game. Right out of the box, Clemson swept 53 yards to a touchdown with little resistance.

Willis cranked up a long-distance answer, but a leaping, 53-yard reception by Shannon Baker was wiped out by a holdingrooskie. FSU can still make the sparks fly with the ball in tow. But too many loose connections to sustain a solid charge. In the final accounting, not enough magic or muscle. Set aside the grand visions of polls and bowls for now.

Grab a sturdy rope. The Seminoles are stuck on a narrow ledge looking up a sheer cliff at the likes of LSU, Syracuse and the double-whammy of Auburn and Miami back-to-back in October. Someone better call the witch doctor. Tell him to conjure up a get-well-quick-rooskie. Him INSIDE CUBS' DEMISE? One day after blowing a six-run lead, the Cubs show they're not ready to fold yet, defeating Vie Cardinals 3-lin 10 innings.

3C Rebels turn back Gators; fans rebel against Morris "I'm very disappointed in the outcome," said UF coach Galen Hall. "We had numerous opportunities to do the things we had to do to win the game, and we didn't get it done. "We self-destructed and helped Ole Miss out." The Gators gave every indication almost that they were the superior team. Their offensive output was almost three times greater than the Rebels (379 yards to 128), and their defen-sive performance bordered on dominant. And UF held the ball 12 minutes longer than Ole Miss (36:01 to But the only stat that counted was the Morris Factor.

Figure it in, and the SEE GATORS 14C By ROBBIE ANDREU Staff Writer GAINESVILLE For Kyle Morris and the Florida Gators, the nightmare continues. And it is as vivid and painfully real as it was a season ago, unfolding in horrifying slow motion. They're baaaaaack. So much for the new and improved Morris. The old Morris returned to Florida Field Saturday, looking as shaky and self -destructive as ever.

And he brought the supposedly new and improved Gators down with him on a ugly day for UF footbalL With 70,014 angry Gator fans booing his every move, Morris misdirected the Gators to a 24-19 loss to the Ole Miss Rebels that defies all football logic. Special to the Sun-Sentinel UM's Wesley Carroll celebrates one of 2 TD receptions. Sammie, agent come to Miami and go nowhere Moye had said. It is probable that the sought by the Dolphins, was an attempt to confront Smith directly with an offer i of $2.45 million over four years. The! club had been dealing exclusively with Moye and Robert Fraley, the two agents, until Saturday.

I If the thinking was that Smith would take the offer if they could spell it outf directly to him, they were apparently wrong. with Robbie and his father, owner Joe Robbie, representing the Dolphins and the running back and one of his agents, Michael Moye. It broke up about 3:30. Smith had made it known Friday that he was flying from Tallahassee to Miami to meet personally with the Robbies, touching off speculation that an "understanding" had been reached. But there had been none.

"We just don't know where they stand, and that's one of the purpose of the meeting," Forget preseason: Dolphins undefeated. 7C After the meeting, Vice President Tim Robbie issued a statement "We had a face-to-face meeting with Sammie, but we were not able to reach an Although our meeting has concluded, we will continue to The meeting began about 11:30 a.m. By CHARLES BRICKER Staff Writer MIAMI Amid wild rumors and erroneous reports that he was going to finally wrap up his contract first-round draft pick Sammie Smith met for four hours with Dolphins officials Saturday, but he reached no agreement and flew back to Tallahassee to watch his alma mater, Florida State, play Clemson on Saturday night.