The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 39

Lincoln Journal-Star SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8. 1992 Ticle has eyes on Offlll i maclle lami liar ivf tt Scoring, stats Nebraska 14 7 10 7 38 Kansas State 0 10 0 14 24 NU Dixon 18 pass from Frazier JBen-nettkick) NU Frazier 19 run (Bennett kick) NU Frazier 4 run (Bennett kick) KSU Coleman 10 pass from Garber (Wright kick) KSU FG Wright 40 NU FO Bennett 42 NU Jones 38 run (Bennett kick) KSU Garber 8 run (Wright kick) NU Frazier 1 run (Bennett kick) BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) Alabama has done everything it can. Now it's up to the voters. After edging Florida 28-21 in the first Southeastern Conference cham- pionship football game Saturday, the second-ranked Crimson Tide must wait until today to find out for sure whether they it will get a chance to play top-ranked Miami for the national championship.

Alabama will take its 12-0 record to the Sugar Bowl and expects to play 11-0 Miami In the Jan. 1 game. But under the new bowl coalition that matchup won't happen unless the Tide stays ahead of No. 3 Florida State in today's final regular-season Associated Press poll. -1 If 10-1 Florida State passes Alabama and moves up to No.

2, the Seminoles would play Miami in the Fiesta Bowl Then the Tide probably would play No. 5 Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. i "That did not even enter my mind," Alabama Coach Gene Stallings said. "We're an undefeated football team, and we've played a lot of tough teams. Yeah, we'll be No.

2." The vote could be close if voters compare Alabama's narrow win against No. 12 Florida with Florida State's 45-24 rout of the Gators a week KSU Seib 21 pass from Garber (Wright kick) A 50,000 NU 25 59-292 128 420 50 11-18-0 3-1 6-51 33:32 13-17 KSU 19 30-62 253 .315 -4 20-30-0 -3-1 '6-60 26:28 3-13 2-3 First downs Rushes-yards Passing yards Total yards Return yards Passing Punts FumHes-tost Penalties-yards Time of possession Third-down conversions Fourth-down conversions ASSOCIATED PRESS Alabama defenders Eric Curry (80) and John Copeland sack Florida quarterback Shane Matthews (left). By Ken Hambletort Lincoln Journal-Star TOKYO Nebraska conquered the land of the Rising Sun and can head to the Sunshine State as the Big Eight football champion after Sunday's 38-24 victory over Kansas State. Behind the four touchdowns of freshman quarterback Tommie Fra-zier three running and one throwing and a standout performance by I-back Calvin Jones, No. 11 Nebraska won its second straight Big Eight title and its first outright title since 1988.

The Cornhuskers can now begin preparing for the Jan. 1 Orange Bowl in Miami. Nebraska's opponent is expected to be third-ranked Florida State or No. 5 Notre Dame. Nebraska, which finished the regular season 9-2 overall and 6-1 in the Big Eight, was not challenged from the outset.

The Cornhuskers scored on three consecutive drives after punting on their first possession of the game, which began at about 10 p.m. Saturday Lincoln time. Coach Tom Osborne said quick starts to the first and third quarters made for a big enough cushion for Nebraska to relax. "But it worries a coach when you see us start with such a big bang and then fizzle at the end of the first half and the end of the game," he said. "It's just a good thing we played well enough when we had the intensity to get a lead and hold it" Nebraska defensive coordinator Charlie McBride echoed Osborne's thoughts.

"You're happy to win the Big Eight, but if we play like that again, we won't win anything in the Orange Bowl," he said. "I'm sure the kids are a little loggy with the time changes, playing indoors in a very warm and noisy place, but we made a lot of mental mistakes we shouldn't make. "But I'm still going to be happy 1-2 earlier. On the other hand, Florida 1 State has one loss, 19-16 to-Miamf '4Olir "defense got the big turnover, Oct. 3.

which been doing, all year the nation's top-rated defense" in every major category, but the Tide had its worst defensive performance of the season. Alabama gave up a season-high 317 yards and allowed three touchdowns for the first time this year. Matthews completed 30 of 49 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns, although a half-dozen of his completions were short shovel passes to Rhett. Rhett rushed 22 times for 59 yards two more than the per-game average given up by Alabama in its first 11 games. "They used a whole lot of draws and screens and kept us in a gray area," said Alabama defensive end John Copeland.

"We had to think -about that as we rushed the quarterback Alabama quarterback Jay Barker was lO-of-18 for 154 yards and one TD. Langham also played a part in Rogers' game-clinching interception. Matthews' pass was tipped at the line by Derrick Oden, deflected off Langham and bounced into Rogers' hands. The 8-4 Gators got the ball one more time at their 9-yard line with 45 seconds left. But Matthews, the SEC's career passing leader, threw four straight incompletions.

The win extended Alabama's winning streak to 22 games, gave the Tide its 20th SEC championship and avenged last season's 35-0 loss to Florida. It also provided a thrilling beginning for the SEC championship game, which was created after the league expanded to 12 teams. Alabama won the West Division with an 8-0 league' record, and Florida won the East with a 6-2 mark. Alabama entered the game with INDIVIDUAL LEADERS RUSHING Nebraska, Jones Lance Lewis 7-44, Tommie Frazier Tyrone Hughes 1-1, Cory Schlesinger 2-7, Mike Grant 4-(-5), Tony Veland 2-4. Kansas State, Eric Gallon 16-40.

Matt Garber 11-13, J.J. Smith 2-8, Rod Schiller 2-3. PASSING Nebraska, Frazier 11-18-0, 128. Kansas State, Garber 19-29-0, Mitch Running 1-1-0, 1. RECEIVING Nebraska, Jones 5-41, Corey Dixon 5-71, Vincent Hawkins 1-17.

Kansas State, Gerald Benton 7-93, Andre Coleman 4-64. Brad Seib 4-61, Running 2-8, Brad Rees 2-20. Gordon 1-7. with the win and the fact we're going to the Orange BowL That was the goal of the players, and they reached it." A loss for Nebraska would have given the Big Eight title to Colorado, which went 5-1-1 in the conference. Frazier dazzled the crowd of more than 50,000 people in the soldout See NU on page 3E Alabama had a 62-point lead in last week's poll.

That means about half of the 62 voters in the AP poll would have to change their ballots to put Florida State ahead of Alabama. Alabama's Derrick Lassie, who rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns, said Florida State doesn't deserve a rematch with Miami, "They've had their chance, and they lost to Miami," he said. "That's enough said there." After a shaky showing against Florida, Alabama's top-rated defense pulled out the victory in the closing minutes. Antonio Langham scored on a 27-yard interception return with 3:16 left -in the game, and Michael Rogers picked off another pass 22 seconds later to clinch the win at Legion Field. long," Stallihgs said.

Alabama appeared to be in control after taking a 21-7 lead on Lassie's 15-yard touchdown run with 5:14 left in the third quarter. But Florida rallied to tie the score on a 4-yard scoring pass from Shane Matthews to Willie Jackson near the end of the third quarter and a 1-yard TD run by Errict Rhett with 8:09 left in the game. Langham, whose tfl-yard interception return broke a scoreless tie against Auburn on Thanksgiving, came up with another huge play Saturday. The junior cornerback stepped in front of receiver Monty Duncan near the sideline, intercepted Matthews' pass and weaved his way into the end zone to put Alabama ahead 28-21. When Florida got the ball back, Hiiskers win Ameritas Classic efense hame of the game jfr.

-y- -iSSieM No. 4 Dukte topples Wolverines i DURHAM. N.C. (AP) No game; could have lived up to the hype. Fourth-ranked Duke's 79-68 basketball victory against No.

1 Michigan Saturday night didnt come close to what had been said and written about it, but for an early-season game filled with mistakes it was as exciting as ft i 4 By Curt McKeever i yu're not defense, you're not Urm Journal-Star HewKl going to play, so it's kind of important To understand how good a defense mm tp for everybody to play." the Nebraska basketball team played isjSsSITT: ih i Nee rotated nine players in and out in Saturday's 85-61 victory against oougem o-i a 2 te 2 of his lineup against the discipline-Kent in the championship game of the SSSr; to-. I ue minded Golden Flashes, who after Ameritas Classic, one need only look eova 1-9 4 5 17 2 hanging tough for nearly 25 minutes at the opening segment of the second fST I I AV half Shawn McKenz o-3 0-02040 Af ter a dunk by Kent Rod Koch The Cornhuskers turned the ball I JSSSS over on four of their first six posses- KSfcT 0 4 0 SLrtJSi SftJETtta sions then but still padded their lead. toum, js-tj mi ss ib2os ti tIZJhJZ That's what vou call defense Nebraska (85) Cornhuskers to break the game open. 1 nai wnai you can aeiense. H-igt mm it pi Npe's auad then hpid the finldpn "We're really emphasizing it," NU Be 2 22 Coarh Dannv Nee said "Tho thini? 44 ,6 30 23 Flashes to just three points during a loacn uanny ixee saia.

ine ining am Chancer 7-83-5 7 2 22 17 civ minntp-nlus sourt in which its lead that bothers me is the offensive re- 11 4 is 1 nAVSSJ- Kji uiav uf jwonBoont oo 5 2 23 8 peaked at 81-50 with 4:36 remaining. bounding. We re not boxing out, but Twrmce 3-10 1-2 9 16 7 -j tnink the Kent team runs motion we're getting as good of pressure on TomBest. 2-5 -1 is 4 the ball as we've Iver had here We're ne woomdg. 4 1 1 22 offense as good as we 11 see all I I Nee said.

"In the first half, they really 8 8 8 executed well, moved the ball and got W-S ThVSSdldT with just Saturday, a Devaney Sports Center Nebraska 34 51 -85 onereouest from their coach, crowd of 12,023 people watched NU Three-pom go.n Kent 4-17 (Koch i-2. req.ueIom TO.acn-. hvLt roan 0-5, Anderson 2-6. Cudgel 0-2, Reinking 1-1, Nee told them to "just Work, WOrk heck Kent on just 34.7 percent Watkm 0-1). Nebraska 3-12 (PiatkowsM 1-3.

harder work harder and not rive "I think we just want it a lot more," Boone 2-3, Best 0-2. wooindge 0-3, stnckiand el'" said forward Eric Piatkowslci who -1 FWd n01 Pfl 347. Ne- them any uncontested shots, he said. jft, "filK0WSK1' Wno braska 48 5 Fre throw peroerrtege Kent 636, "And most Of the time We did that" SCOred 23 points and pulled down a Ca- Nebraska 667. Technlcale Carr.

Kent bench. iu. reer-hieh 16 rebounds en route to Kent is (Johnson 6), Nebraska 24 That why no one in the Nebraska tui JfJoL.f i (Boone 6). Turnover. Kent is.

Nebraska is. locker room at halftime was too con- eaming tne tournament most valU- Blocked amis Kent 1 (Evans I), Nebraska 7 crnA flhoiit what would trnn-jnirp in able olaver award. "Last vear I know Piatkowaw. chandter. Badgett 2).

steaia Kern 6 eernea aooui wnai wouia iranspire in I was tut there, at times, playing trailed onlv 34-27 maUdordefense just sort of playing stil, a uttIe slow1 but not going at it that hard. To win a helpside. but intensity and playing championship, you've got to play this team. man on ball it's sreat" said frhman tough defense, and I think Coach has "Also, last year we didnt really man on daU' It great saW trcshman kind of instilled that in everybody on have anybody to bring in. This year, if See HOOP on page 3E -J IAN DOREMUSUNCOLN JOURNAL-STAR Nebraska's Eric Piatkowski dribbles away from Kent's Greg Holman.

anything you see in March. "I know someone is going to say it wasn't a pretty game and you're right, it wasn't a pretty game," Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "You put all those athletes out there and kids who want it it's tough to score. Nobody got easy shots except on the break." The two-time defending champions Blue Devils (2-0). who won their latest title at the expense of Michigan, led by as many as 14 points in the second half and despite not scoring a field goal over the final 5 minutes until a layup at the buzzer, were never really threatened.

The victory was the third straight against a No. 1 team by Duke. Duke took its largest lead at 58-44 with 11:54 left on a baseline turnaround by Grant Hill and the crowd at Cameron Indoor Stadium brought the already unbearable noise level tq a new height Michigan (1-1), the team that shocked the college basketball world as freshmen and has its utmost respect as sophomores, then held Duke scoreless for 4:06 and got within 58-52. Enter Bobby Hurley, the point guard with the 93-17 record as a collegian and a 17-1 mark in the NCAA tournament Duke came out of a TV timeout with the ball and swung it around to Hurley, who nailed a 3-pointer to end Duke's scoring drought His three-point play with 6:08 left gave the Blue Devils a 66-56 lead. "Hurley was.

well. Hurley tonight" Krzyzewski said. "He always seems to come up with the big play when we need it. He makes me look like a good coach. I thought his 3-pointer was the biggest bucket of the night It came when we were struggling.

Michigan was outplaying us and we were in foul trouble. I thought they were wearing us down." So did Hurley. "That made me feel good because I hadn't made a shot in a while. That one picked up my confidence," he said. "The play could have gone to anybody.

It's up to me to create something and it just happened my shot was there." Bonds worth $43 million to San Francisco 4 ll Baseball notes iiiii By Associated Press Outfielder Barry Bonds, the biggest prize in this year's free agent sweepstakes, reached tentative agreement with San Francisco on Saturday night for a six-year contract worth about $43 million. The deal, which the Giants announced in a brief statement 1 at the winter meetings in Louis ville, Ky, is by far the largest in baseball history, topping the $32.5 million, five-year contract signed this year by 'shortstop Cal Ripken and Baltimore. 4 annual jraiuv I ll will be at least 47 Ififi fifi7 malt-. Pitchers dealt Minnesota sent left-handed pitcher David West to Philadelphia for right-hander Mike Hartley in the first trade of the winter meetings. West 28, was 1-3 with a 6.99 ERA in nine games for the Twins last year and was 7-6 with a 4.43 ERA in 19 games at Portland of the Pacific Coast League.

Hartley, 31, was 7-6 with a 3.44 ERA in 46 relief appearances with the Phillies. Dodgers sign two Free-agent reliever Roger McDowell re-signed with Los Angeles, agreeing on a two-year, $3 million contract McDowell, who will turn 32 later this month, was 6-10 with 14 saves and a 4.09 ERA last season. The Dodgers also reached agreement with free agent Cory Snyder on a two-year, $3 million contract Snyder, who will contend for the third base job, hit 14 homers with 57 RBI for San Francisco last season. Canseco arrested Texas outfielder Jose Canseco, who has been involved in a long series of scrapes, was arrested early Saturday and charged with battery after a fight at an upscale Chicago nightclub. Broadcast reports indicated Canseco struck a man for insulting the outfielder's female companion, but police said they didnt know what the fight about; ing Bonds the highest-paid fM Mm language," the statement said.

"No members of the Giants organization. Bonds or his representative Dennis Gilbert will have any further comment on this situation prior to the completion of the final agreement" Bonds and Magowan planned to be at the winter meetings today, when it was expected the contract would be completed. Bonds, who recently won his second" National League Most Valuable Player award in three years with Pittsburgh, had been courted in the past few days by the New York Yankees. They offered a five-year, $38 million contract, and the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs had scheduled meetings at Louisville with Gilbert Gilbert balked when the Yankees would not offer a sixth year. Gilbert secretly flew to San Francisco during the week, and the Giants got him by offering him what he wanted the longest baseball contract in at least eight years.

Bonds batted Jll with 34 home runs and 103 RBI in 1992. He had a .624 slugging average and a .456 on-base average both league highs and was a Gold Glove left fielder. Bonds, 28, has a career 774 average with 176 homers. 536 RBI and 2S1 stolen bases in seven major league seasons. Fall Academic AH-Stato Pages 4E-5E Nebraska men win gym meet Pago 6E U.S.

up 2-1 Davis Cup Togo 8E PlTT1A Tr 8re2l Barry Bond, ously held by Chicago Cubs see ond baseman Ryne Sandberg at $7.1 millioa The deal was astounding not only for its size but also for the team that agreed to it The Giants are in the process of being sold from Bob Lurie to a group headed by Safeway Inc. chairman Peter Magowan. The sale is slated for approval by owners during the winter meetings, but Magowan's people already are running the team and making con-tracua! commitments even though they don't te-gallyowniL "The San Francisco Giants and outfielder Barry J3ands have reached a tentative agreement on con- No. 3 Kansas beats second-ranked Indiana. Page 2E.

subject to the completion of specific contract iWWiaSiSS I 4.