Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 13

Journal Star if I 7 Ulf KZJ. a 1 tout s- Saturday, January 3, 1 998 cOn n-n Dl flu7 7 QTuQQl Huskers dust off Vols in Grange BY KEN HAMBLETON Uhcolri Journal Star i a A i l.r 'c- 'si 1 rf. AC- I JL Aw; 'V MIAMI Nebraska uncorked a famous old vintage in honor of Coach Tom Osborne. dizzying celebrations included the reliable blocking by Nebraska's offensive line, bubbly runs by Ahman Green and the efferve-sence of Scott Frost's passing. The result was a giddy 42-17 Corn-husker frolic in the Orange Bowl at the expense of No.

3-ranked Tennessee. "Nebraska were simply wonderful," said Tennessee Coach Phil Fulmer. "They handed us our butts." The Orange Bowl blowout still may not be enough to vault Nebraska into its third national championship in four years, but it was good enough to give Osborne his third perfect season in the last four as he ended a sterling 25-year career as head coach of the Cornhuskers. Osborne said he hoped that voters would weigh the results of No. 1 Michigan's 21-16 win over Washington State in Thursday's Rose Bowl while the No.

2 Cornhuskers throttled No. 3 Tennessee. Nebraska quarterback 1 Scott Frost pleaded with the national television audience and the remainder of the crowd in the Orange Bowl to consider Nebraska at 13-0 and beating No. 3 Tennessee, while No. 1 Michigan bat No.

7 Washington State 21-16. "You can't honestly think that Michigan could beat us?" Frost said to anybody who would listen. "The AP has already given it away. But my plea is to the coaches' poll. "My question is that if your job depended on whether you had to play Michigan or Nebraska, who would you play?" Frost said.

"We deserve a share of the national title." Tennessee Coach Phil Fulmer made lead the charge for Nebraska to at least get a title in the coaches poll. "They are everything a No. 1 team should be," he said. "They got my vote." However, in the history of voting in the polls, no No. 1 team has ever lost it's post with a victory in the bowls.

But remember, this is the season when four No. 1 teams fell from the top spot despite wins. Even 9 lr a A tiff- te. ...1 .11,. 1 11 rr Ft it tin ml i TED KIRKUncom Jogmd Star Full steam ahead: Nebraska fullback Joel Makovicka (45)' battles for extra yardage as V- -Tennessee's Terry Fair (13) tries to drag him down early in the third quarter.

More on ORANGE, Page 9B Tennessee 0 3 6 8 17 Nebraska 7 7 21 .7 42 NU Ahrjian Green 1 run (Kris Brown kick) NO Shevin Wiggins 1 0 run (K. Brown kick) Ut FG Jeff Hall 44 NU Scott Frost 1 run (K. Brown kick) NU Frost 1 1 run (K. Brown kick) UT. Peerless Price 5 pass from Peyton Manning (pass failed) NU Ahman Green 22 run (K.

Brown kick) 1 NU Frost 9 run (K. Brown kick) UT Andy McCullough 3 pass from Tee Martin (Travis Stephens pass from Martin) A 72,385, UT NU First downs 16 30 Rushes-yards. 21-128 68-409 Passing 187 125 Total yards 315 534 Passing 25-35-1 9-12-0 Return yards -4 59 Punts-average Fumbles-lost 2-2 3-2 5-37 8-63 Time of possession 23:57 36:03 NOTES Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne jumped past Tennessee's Phillip Fulmer on the list of active winningest coaches by percentage. When Osborne officially retires, Fulmer will again rise to the top of the list. Welcome the Huskers back 1 The Nebraska football team is scheduled to arrive at the Lincoln Municipal Airport at 2:50 p.m.

today. Immediately after they deplane, the Huskers will head to the Bob Devaney Sports Center for a celebration with the Husker fans. TED KIRKUncsIn Journal Star Go Big Green: l-back Ahman Green (30) breaks away from Vols defenders Cory Gaines (30, white), and Terry Fair (13) on a long run in the third quarter. Green set an Orange Bowl record for rushing yards in a game. Last victory a big deal to everyone but Coach 6' nnn 1 cs t-1 it 1 .1 "v- Met if; He (Tom) couldn't afford to feel it until it was over.

He had to keep coachins and keep focused, and it's been Nancy Osborne i MIAMI Tom Osborne insisted until the end that it was no big deal, 1 That the last game in one of the greatest coaching careers in college-football history was no big deal. I But someone who knows him Ipretty well knew better. I "It was a very big deal," Nancy Osborne said. 1 Tom's wife watched and listened late Friday night as the Nebraska fans at the Orange Bowl chanted "T.O., T.O." after the Cornhuskers' 42-17 victory over Tennessee. 1 Nancy explained why her husband had been so cool through it all.

i "He couldn't afford to feel it until! it over," she said. "He had to keep coaching and keep focused, and it's been difficult." 'i Jack Osborne said his brother did a good job of hiding his emotions, but they were there, t- I I 1 1' ii -j Mm 11 mill- 11 mi' II tm m- Nebraska's victory over Tennessee in the Orange Bowl to have given the Cornhuskers another national championship. A No. 1 finish would have been a huge thrill tor the players. It would have been great for the fans.

It would have been nice for Osborne. Nice. That's alL The top ranking was never what it was all about for Osborne. He leaves coaching with two national championships. What else can you give the coach who has everything? A Big 12 championship and an unbeaten season is a pretty good going-away present Osborne finishes his career with more than a couple of both.

Winning a national title is such an annoyance anyway. A nice annoyance, but an annoyance just the same.lt leads to more attention than Osborne wants. He's never wanted the attention. More on MABRY, Page 2B "I think he's probably terribly emotional," Jack said. "He has kind of, just like always, kept it inside." And if the Cornhuskers don't get the national title, and chances are good they won't, Tom Osborne will be OK with that, too.

1 Somehow No. 2 doesn't seem like such a bad place for Osborne to be in the end. Not that he wouldn't have wanted I HANDY HAMPTONUneam Journal Star The final march: Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne leads the players and spirit squad onto the field before the game, Friday nicjfit. 11.