Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 13

Business, 1 8 Deaths, 20Comlcs, 23 TUESDAY, JAWARY2, 1990 LWtNEURNAL2 FSD passes Nl) in record-setting fashion But Willis hit three straight passes in the span of 57 seconds to put Florida State ahead for good with 6:55 left in the first half. Willis even found the right receivers WiSWIiM) Will 'ij'1'' 1 By Ken Hambleton Jouml8porti Writer TEMPE, Ariz. Bobby Bowden wasn't worried when Florida State wasn't exciting in the first quarter of the Fiesta Bowl He knew the time was coming when his Seminoles would come to life. MI knew we coukhbe dun, dull, dun and then bam, bam, bam," Bowden said. And Florida State's Peter Tom Willis went pass, pass, pass, and the Seminoles scored, scored, scored in a 41-17 romp over Nebraska Monday afternoon before a national television audience and 73,953 fans at Sun Devil Stadlunv The toss was Nebraska's fourth in four tries in the Fiesta Bowl and third straight bowl loss overall.

Willis broke records with five touchdown passes and 422 yards passing as. he and receivers Ronald Lewis, Terry Reggie Johnson, Dexter Carter Shannon Baker had the best game any team has ever had against a Nebraska defense in modern times. game Junked It the previous bei passing ef I to score after the Seminoles faced a first down and 40 yards situation Mowing three, consecutive holding calls late in the second quarter. Me wasn't worried "I wouldn't swap our attack for any," Bowden said. "When they were ahead 7-0, 1 was so proud.

I "knew something would explode." By the end of the game, everything had blown up in Nebraska's face. The Cornhusker offense, which was the national champion in rushing, saw Gdowski held to a net gain of one yard for the game. The Cornhuskers had just six first downs in the second half And -only a blocked punt by Hike Croel late in the game that set up a 2-. yard touchdown run by reserve quarterback Mickey Joseph prevented Nebraska from suffering its worst bowl loss ever. That point did not miss Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne.

"We thought we were capable of winning, but we almost ended up getting blown out "I'm a little embarrassed. We didn't play the way we are capable of playing and that disappointed me." Willis completed 15 of 21 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns in the second quarter. In the third quarter, the fifth-year senior hit 9 of 16 passes for 167 yards and three more By then Willis had more touchdown passes and more passing yards than any Nebraska opponent ever. "They obviously had very fine receivers and a great passer. And a lot of big Osborne said.

"A couple of times the receivers were open. A couple of times they made great catches. A couple of times it was like a Jump ban on the See FIESTA on page 15 fort against NU, which was aowrtr w-n8 Florida State tight end Reggie Johnson escapes the tackle of Hiisker Mike Croel after catching a 14-yard pass in the first quarter of Monday's game. Johnson ran the ball to Nebraska's 25 on the Polls imperfect way lid p0k- cfew 4x- comfortable with that vote, as comfortable as I can be doing something in which I no longer believe. If I were again given the opportunity to be an AP voter, I would respectfully decline.

-I'm really not qualified to determine the national champion and neither are the other 59 voters, no matter how -conscientious they might be. To think otherwise is conceit of highest order. It's tough to admit, but we're all affected by regional bias and limited by the games we see. 1 What I saw Monday afternoon in Sun Devil Stadium convinced me there's not a better team in the country than Florida State. Notre Dame and Miami might.be just as good as the Seminoles, but they're wrtainly not better.

The wire service polls take responsibility for something the NCAA should handle by establishing a playoff system for Division IA football teams. There would be many problems. But It ought to be done. After this, I refuse to participate in a poll that offers a poor substitute for the real thing. Irish eves Quote of the game Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden: "I knew we could be -dull, dull, dull and then bam, bam, bam." Scoring, team stats Nebraska 7 3 0 717 Florida Stat -A 0 21 20 041 NU Gregory 9 pan from Gdowski (Barrios kick) FSU Anthony 14 pass from Willis (Andrews kick) NU FQ Drennan 39 FSU RJohnson 6 pass from Willis (Andrews kick) FSU D.Carter 10 pass from Willis (Andrews kick) FSU Moore 1 run (kick tailed) FSU RJohnson 8 pass from Willis (Andrews kick) FSU Anthony 24 pass from Willie (Andrews kick) NU Joseph 2 run (Barrtae kick) A 73.853 NU FSU 18 24-72 422 494 42 40415 Passing yards'' 207 322 Total yards Return yards Passing Punts Fumbles-lost Penalties-yards Time of possession Third-down conversions Fourth-down conversions 5 15-26-2 2541-0 5-3 0-0 8-48 13-135 32:30 27:30 7-18 7-16 1-2 1-3 On the Inside Related stqrles.

Pages 15, 16, down after a Gdowski fumble to tie the game. Nebraska regained the' lead when Chris Drennan kicked a S9-yard field goal after a W-yard ktekoff return by Tyrone Final ratings Rec Pt Pvs 1. Miami, Fla. (39) 11-1-0 1,474 2 2. Notre Darned?) 12-1-0 1,452 4 3.

Florida St. (2) 10-2-0 1,384 5 4. Colorado 11-1-0 1,320 1 5. Tennessee 11-1-0 1,228 8 t. Auburn 10-2-0 7.

Michigan 10-2-0 1,091 3 8. Southern Cal 9-2-1 1,07 12 9. Alabama 10-2-0 1,029 7 10. Illinois 10-2-0 1,019 11 11. Nebraska 10-2-0 80 6 2.

Clemson 10-2-0 820 14 13. Arkansas 10-2-0 807 10 14. Houston 9-2-0 748 13 15. Penn St. 8-3-1 433 18 14.

Michigan St. 8-4-0 ,507 22 17. Pittsburgh 8-3-1 478 23 18. Virginia 10-34 455 15 19. Texas Tech 9-3-0 451 24 20.

Texas A8.M 6-4-0 330 14 21. West Virginia 8-3-1 260 17 22. Brigham Young 10-34 231 19 23. Washington 8-4-0 200 24. Ohio St.

8-4-0 154 21 25. Arizona 8-4-0 77 Others receiving votes: Mississippi 69, Duke 59, Syracuse 52, Fresno St. 35, Oregon 26, Hawaii 11, Florida 8, Georgia Tech N. Carolina St. 2.

repeat as national champions. 'You can justify why Miami won it What you can't justify is why we didnt," he said. "We played the toughest schedule, we had the best record, we were No. 1 every week but one and came back to beat No. 1 quite decisively." The lith-place finish marked the fourth time in the last 20 years that Nebraska has not finished in the top 10 of the final Associated Press poll The Huskers were 11th in the final poll after the 1985 season, 11th in 1981 and 12th in 1977.

In each of those years, however, Nebraska did finish in the top 10 of the United Press International final ratings. opponent, bowl 39. Holldfy Bowl Hughes: Fiesta BowL "We wasted a few downs trying to establish the run," Bowden said. "Everybody says you should try to establish the run. We wasted a few downs running and then we threw the ball And then we moved the ban." Sure enough, Florida State threw two passes on its first drive, one pass on its second drive and no passes on its thlrdy possession ami ended up with two missed field goals and a drive that was stalled at the Nebraska 3-yard fine.

In the meantime, Nebraska passed for a touchdown by Gerry Gdowski after punter Hark Stigge threw a 41-yard pass on fourth down to set up a 7-0 NU lead. Then, Florida State got serious about passing and Nebraska contributed to its own demise with a series of five turnovers and a missed field goal -m Willis hit Anthony for a 14-yard touch' iami rated 1 By Associated Press Miami, college football's team of the 1980s, started the new decade. Tuesday with its third national championship in the last seven years. The Hurricanes jumped from No. 2 to 1 in the final Associated Press poll following their 33-25 victory over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and Notre Dame's 21-6 win over top-ranked Colorado 'in the Orange BowL Notre Dame rose from No.

4 to No. 2, while Colorado fell to fourth in voting by a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters. Miami, which handed Notre Dame its only loss in 13 games, received 39 first-place votes and 1,474 points after finishing 11-1. Notre Dame got 19 first-place votes and 1,452 points. The other two first-place votes went to No.

3 Florida State, the only team to beat Miami this season. Nebraska dipped to No. 11 fat lowing its loss-to the Seminoles in the Fiesta BowL The 22-point margin was the second closest since the AP began its postsea-J son poll in 1968. Brigham Young edged Washington by 20 points at the end of the 1984 season. Miami Coach Dennis Erickson said voters made the right choice.

"There is no doubt in my mind that were the best team in the country," Erickson said. "Regardless of what anyone else says, we're No. Notre Dame Coach Lou Holtz said he was disappointed that the Irish did not -ii Result No TED K1RKUNCOLN JOURNAL -i The national championship means too much to those involved to be determined by voters who fill out their ballots on 1 How else could someone vote; Miami ahead of Florida State after the Seminoles defeated the How else could someone vote Notre I Dame ahead of Miami even though the'? Hurricanes defeated the Fighting Irish! But it happened. After the Fiesta Bowl victory, Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden was asked if he thought his team was the best in the: country. It was on Monday, he said.

"But over a 12-game haul, it aint going to hold up." -r Maybe it should. Among those with a. reasonable claim to the national the Seminoles finished up with the longest winning streak. Basically, that's what happens with a playoff. The team; playing the best at the end is the 'i-: champion And as near as I can tell, Florida State was playing the best when this season came to an end, In any case, now Florida State oughti to print up T-shirts that say Florida State 24, National Champions ia tiimBle; mile as Buffs TEMPE, Ariz.

On Monday, at least, Florida State had the No. 1 college football team in the country. And the Seminoles proved it by embarrassing a good Nebraska team 41-17 in the Fiesta BowL Never mind that Florida State lost its first two games, to Southern Mississippi oops and Gemson. The Seminoles finished strong, with 10 consecutive victories. They defeated Miami, which defeated Notre Dame, which ended Colorado's hopes of an undefeated season and a national championship in the Orange Bowl Monday night Things fell just right for Florida State Monday.

In addition to Colorado's losing, Michigan fell to USC in the Rose Bowl -the Wolverines had won 10 in a row since losing to Notre Dame in their opener to work their way into contention. The problem was, the Seminoles were painted out of the national title picture tongago.v Florida State lost the national championship when it suffered the second of its losses, to Clemson. And, apparently, there was nothing it could do Notre Oame Coach Lou Holtz FS--'l I ft. Mike Babcock Columnist to convince those who vote In the Associated Press poll otherwise. The mythical national championship has never been awarded to a team with two losses.

That point was made time and again as teams prepared for the New Year's Day bowl games. ESPN television analyst Lee Corso didntbother to predict the outcome of the Fiesta Bowl during a Monday morning bowl preview. The national champion was going to be determined by three bowls, and no one was going to the party. Even so, the Seminoles got my vote for No. 1 in the final AP Top 25, with Notre Dame No.

2, Miami No. 3, Colorado No. 4 and Auburn No. 5. Tm AiJUAItU PHtt3 is drenched by his players after the XraSj 4 3 Notre Dame 21, Colorado 4 Cetorado 4 't- NotrtDomt 014,711 nd Johnsonlrun(Hntrietiklck) NO Ismail 35 run (Hmtrlch kick) CU Hoson 39 run (kick tailed) ND Johnson 7 run (Htntrlch kick) cu First downs 14 Rushes-yards 46-217 52-179 Passing yards 45 v.9 Rtturn yards 36 4-13-2 5-9-0 Punts 3-39 Fumbles-lost l-i 04) Penalties-yards 1-5 -3-35 Time of possession 27:17 ,32:43 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Colorado, Hagan 19-Wo.

Bieniemy 11-66, Flannlgan 12-45, Klsslck 2-6, Campbell 2-(-6), Notre Dame, Ismail 16-108, Johnson 1549, Rice 14-50, Culver 5-29, Watters 2-3. PASSING Colorado, Hagan 4-13-2, 65. Notre Dame, Rice 5-9-0, 99. RECEIVING) Colorado, Klsslck 2-33, Prltchard 1-16, Perak 1-16. Notre Dame, Eilers 2-47, Smith 1-27, Johnson 1-13, Brown 1-12.

foiled CU's fake field goal attempt at tip i There, the game turned. "We just tightened up and said, Hey, it's time to do it," Notre Dame defensive end Scott Kowalkowski said. 1 "They had four chances to go up on top of us," Notre Dame Coach Lou Holtz sail "We wire fortunate to be able' to get away with It," How did they got away with it? In the first half, the Buffs offense was quicker, more versatile. Their defense shackled Notre Dame, limiting the Irish to 54 yards total offense until three minutes before halftime. And what did Colorado have to show By Alan Greenberg TheHartfortCourant MIAMI The one-year wonders, the black shirts, 'wore "Colorado" on their jersey fronts and their names on the back.

Just so you would know who they were. Except for a little monogram on the sleeve, the white shirts were plain. No names on the front No names on the back. Who needed names? Who needed ID? You knew who they were. They were curators as much as football players.

Curators of the greatest tradition in college football The most Heisman Trophy winners. The most national championships. The most amazing performances, whether the odds be greatorbesmalL The amazing thing about Monday night's Orange Bowl was that Notre Dame was still in It when the second half started. By all rights, the Fighting Irish should have been losing 17-0 at half-time. What possessed Colorado running back Eric Bieniemy to attempt to switch the ball from his left to right hand, fumbling it to the Irish, when he seemed a sure thing to scoot the final 20 yards untouched for the game's first touchdown? What possessed CU place-kicker Ken Culbertson to duck-hook a 23-yard field goal attempt leaving the Buffaloes to come up empty again after driving to the Notre Dame 5-yard line? And what possessed the Irish defense, after being dominated by the Buffaloes for virtually the entire first half, to pull off an awesome goal-line stand after CU had first and goal at the Notre Dame When the Buffs lined up on thlrd-and-1, they were 31 for 31 on tnird-and-1 conversions this season Notre Dame ma jeit 31 of then 1 Colorado (11-1) lost to Notre Dame 21 -6.

Orange Bowl 2. Miami. Fla. (11-1)def. Alabama 33-25.

Sugar Bowl 3. Michigan (1 0-2) lost to Southern Cal 1 7-1 0. Rose Bowl 4. Notre Dame (12-1) def. Colorado 21 -6.

Orange Bowl 5. Florida Stated 0-2) def. Nebraska 41 -17. Fiesta Bowl 6. Nebraska (10-2) lostto Florida St.

41-17. Fiesta Bowl 7. Alabama (10-2) lost to Miami 33-25. Sugar Bowl 8. Tennessee (11-1) def.

Arkansas 31 -27. Cotton Bowl 9. Auburn (1 0-2) def. Ohio State 31 -1 4. Hall of Fame Bowl 1 0.

Arkansas (1 0-2) lost to Tennessee 31 -27. Cotton Bowl 11. Illinois (10-2) def. Virginia 31-21. Citrus Bowl 1 2.

Southern Cal (9-2-1 def. Michigan 1 7-1 0. Rose Bowl 1 3. Houston (9-2). on probation, did not play In bowl 1 4.

Clemson (1 0-2) def. West Virginia 27-7. Gator Bowl 15. Virginia (10-3) lost to Illinois 31-21. Citrus Bowl 16.

Texas ASM (8-4) lost to Pittsburgh 31-28. John Hancock Bowl 17. West Virginia (8-2-1 lost to Clemson 27-7. Gator Bowl 18. Penn State (8-3-1) def.

BYU 50 1 9. Brigham Young (1 0-3) lost to Penn State 50-39. Holiday Bowl 20. Duke (8-4) lost to Texas Tech 49-21 All American Bowl 21 Ohio State (8-4) lost to Auburn 31-14. Hall of Feme Bowl 22.

Michigan State (7-4) def. Hawaii 33-1 3. Aloha Bowl 23. Hawaii (9-3-1 lost to Michigan St. 33-1 3.

Aloha Bowl 24. Pittsburgh (8-3-1) def. Texas 31-28. John Hancock Bowl 25. Texas Tech (9-3) def.

Duke 49-21 All American Bowl "We never got into a rhythm offensively in the first half," Holtz said. i Notre Dame had gone a long time without rhythm. The Irish had beaten See ORANGE on page 14 Fighting Irish beat Colorado 21 -6 Inthe Orange Bowl..