Rocky Mount Telegram from Rocky Mount, North Carolina • 8

HE Telegram 8 Rocky Mount N.C. Telegram Tor Heels Show They Deserved Bid Evening 7i-rT 1 By DAN SE WELL AP Sport Writer JACKSONVILLE, Fla. After the Gator Bowl issued North Carolina an invitation, the Tar Heels began wondering if they were supposed to issue, an apology. When several teams with better records were snubbed by the bowl committees, they pointed at North Carolina's 7-3-1 record and fifth-place finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference, a conference that is still trying to erase its basketball-only reputation. out of the Top Twenty.

Only a 55-7 rout of Kansas in the season finale gave Missouri a winning record. On Monday, Baylor will meet Clemson in the Peach Bowl in the afternoon and Purdue will take on Tennessee in the Bluebonnet Bowl at night. Four big games are scheduled for New Year's Day Arkansas against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, Nebraska against Houston in the Cotton Bowl, Ohio State against Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl and, at night, Florida State against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. George Rogers, a S-foot-2, 220-pound tailback who rushed for 1,548 yards in the regular season to rank second behind Southern Cal's Charles White. Although Missouri was just 6-5 in the regular season, Coach Warren Powers said, "I'm not embarassed to take our team They've had a tremendous of criticism, but they fought back and finished with a respectable season." The Tigers were ranked fifth nationally after winning their first three games, but consecutive losses to Texas and Oklahoma State knocked them bechler said.

"Losing him was one of those things. A good football team has to overcome that "We're not bad," he added. "But we're not good enough. That's the story of our season." It marked the second straight year for a 17-15 ACC victory over the Big Terr. Last year, Clemson defeated Ohio State by that score.

And it was the seventh straight time Schembechler's team has lost in a bowl game. Before the game, Schembechler had pointed out that Michigan's losses in the Rose Bowl five times and the Orange Bowl once all came against teams ranked near the top. The Wolverines finished their worst record in Schembechler's 11 seasons. "I feel sorry for two people me and Bo," said Michigan tackle Curtis Greer, who ended his collegiate career Friday. "It's getting to be a big thing with him." In the only other bowl game weekend, South Carolina will take on Missouri tonight in the third annual Hall of Fame Bowl in Birmingham, Ala.

South Carolina, 8-3 and rankedJ6th nationally, is led by All-America funning back started out real well (with victories over South Carolina and Pittsburgh), but we seemed to slump the middle of the season. This team didn't expect to go to a bowl, so we wanted to make the most out it," said North Carolina running back Amos Lawrence after the Tar Heels' 17-15 victory over Michigan Friday night The Tar Heels were the heavy underdogs and took some abuse from the local press during Gator Bowl week. "We wanted this all week long we wanted it To tell the truth, the coaches worked us to death," Lawrence said. "We didn't think Michigan-had any respect for us at all. They were saving bad things about the Atlantic Coast Conference," said Lawrence, a junior who has compiled three seasons and gained HI yards on 23 carries Friday.

Lawrence's running and sharp passing by quarterback Matt Kupec, who hit 11 of 17 passes for 101 yards, helped North Carolina sustain long drives through the first three quarters. The Tar Heels' defense came up with two interceptions and a fumble recovery in the second half to hold off Michigan. "I don't think this necessarily says anything about the Big Ten," said North Carolina Coach Dick Crum. "But it does say that the Atlantic Coast Conference plays very good football." The Wolverines were plagued by injuries in the game, most notably a knee injury that sidelined starting quarterback John Wangler in the second quarter. Wangler was off to a hot start, completing six of eight passes for 203 yards, including a 30-yard scoring pass to Anthony Carter.

"Wangler hit some big plays," Coach Bo Schem- PLaMrlio USC defensive back Ricky Barden hoists Gator trophy Heel tailback Amos Lawrence searches for running room Add Another Feather To ACC Cop By CLIFTON BARNES Telegram Csrrespondeat JACKSONVILLE FLA. -For the second straight year an ACC team has defeated a Big Ten team by score of 17-15 in the Gator Bowl. Last season the Tigers of Clemson beat Ohio State and last night UNCs Tar Heels turned the trick on the Michigan Wolverines. "People will start thinking of the ACC as more than basketball," UNCI safety Ricky Barden said following the game. "This is the biggest win in Carolina history.

It's gang to Gminski Leods Duke M- oV 1 Lrs'Pof "I think they probably did." senior quartertiadt and co-MVP Matt Kupec said. "We've been put down somewhat in the papers "I think emotion definitely helped us." Buddy Curry added. "We had read the papers." Maybe the Big Ten and the media will stop taking the ACC so lightly after two years at the Gator Bowl. As Schembechler said follwing the loss last night, I sure thought I'd win this one 1 1 a jj TT! 'k rv'" Tar help the University in all athletics." The press has been giving the Heels a hard time the last two weeks predicting a lopsided victory for Michigan. Even Bo Schembechler admitted after the game he did not feel the Atlantic Coast Conference was up to the challenge of the Big Ten.

"They (the ACC) met Ohio State a year ago when they were down," Scnembechler said, "and they met us when we were down." Schembechler appeared bitter and gave little credit to 32 at the half. Duke's margin remained in the 10-point range until 12 minutes left in the game when the Blue Devils scored the next li points to take a 73-iS lead with (: 10 left Freshman Ralph Sampson pumped life into the 14-ranked Virginia Cavaliers to lead them to victory over Virginia Commonwealth in the semifinals of the Richmond Tunes Dispatch Tournament in Richmond, Va. Because of the lackluster first hag. Coach Terry Holland was guarded in his enthusiasm about the victory. "We need to do this for two, three, or four games before we can say this a great victory and we are over the hump.

But obvwusly this is a start" Holland said things fell in place for theavaaers after they begaa playing aggressively and getting after the Rams. He said Sampson's second-hal performance was hu test of the season, but he added that -we had a tot of gays whs played well taught." He ited Lee Raker. Jeff Jones, Jeff Lamp and Kike Owens. Samp hushed with a game-high 22 paints aad had a total af Is nooands and sts Worked shots. Lsmp added pousts.

Raker IS sod Jones tot tor far tht Csvahers. The ww boosted Vangtosa to S-landaropgedVCUtoM htarylasd Coach Lefty DrseaeB said las Terps were dragging satil sophomore cesser Back Wilkame entered the game to Cofieg Park, Md, snatanrtofi WiAem scared IS sf su Terps to I tares, sad led his team am bms reoosads to 24 Carolina coach Dick Cram gets carried away college bowl, you have to respect them. "They have an excellent program and an excellent team and they played well I think they could compete in the Big Ten and do very well." Barden agreed UNC was "not playing over our heads tonight We came out and played the kind of football we are capable of playing." Carolina team members felt the Michigan players, coaches, and the media in general were taking them too lightly. V- i -S'f' JP the Tar Heels at the post-game press conference. "I would say that there are a lot of plays that I would ciD questionable, if you want my opinion a lot of plays.

"We're not a good ball team. We're not bad, but we are not good enough to win. We just weren't good enough to win themthisyear." Michigan's senior Alt American defensive tackle Curbs Greer had positive things to say about North Carolina. Did he feel they underrated the Tar Heels? "No, not really. When they get to a major Maryland stomped Miami of Ohio, 11S-7J, in the Maryland Invitational Tournament "We got to dragging," Driesell said, "and when he came in, he perked us up." Williams, who led the Atlantic Coast Conference in rebounding as a freshman, was on the court for the first time this season Friday night after missing seven games with fractured finger.

"I to a little skeptical, at first, about my finger," Williams said, "but as the game progressed, I got more confidence." The Terps, now 7-1. shot 70 percent and ran op the biggest score ever recorded against a Miami team. The toss dropped the Redskins to 14. In the Far West Clasac to Portland. John -Moose" Campbell and Horace Wyatt dominated play inside Fnday mght as anbeatea Oemsos downed North Carolina-Chartotto C4S to semifinal The Ors, sow S4.

stored to the gam sgssst demsaa through most of the first haK. But the mack bigger Tigers satocored them as the tost fear annates of the first hal to takes 4141 lead. The story was the aams to tht first tt mvakes sf the second half, as aetnsoB, aw S4, aatacared UNC-CherioOe 174. After that the tos aatcams sever A and Wyatt fed the Tiger scaraaj with 17 SkthadrSS; btoefcadjatota wsstodoBbtafam. Campbell and Wyatt led the hesMced Tiger scarvsj with 17 aad CampheS saw bad IS Chad kjarh aacsd the sA 9 pesats, wtsle Bobby Pstts scared It.

Noll Anxious For By The Associated Press Duke Coach Bill Foster was pleased and center Mike Gminski was praised as the No. 1 -ranked Blue Devils grabbed a 92-67 win over Vermont in the opening round of the Iron Duke Classic Friday night The Blue Devils pulled away from the scrappy Vermont team midway through the second half. "Gminski wis something else, all the way across the board." Foster said. "He hit a ragh in assists, which is important for him to do when defense collapses around him." In other action involving Coast Conference teams. 14th-ranked Virginia beat Virginia Commonwealth -e.

Maryland thrashed Miami of Orao HS-7S and Clemson defeated the University of North Caroun.at Charlotte SVC Foster said hu Blue Devils had a "realy hne'game al araand. "We had a great spurt in the opeaug cf the second ha I aad then another one about seven ar eight minutes later." he added. Vermeat reach Peter Straaberg left Darham beatesi hat Impressed with hu ap-ponete- They were tost a very goad be! team." Strssberg seal They played like we expected them to. and were strong where we expected (hem to be Strang. "hi Gnanato i present to traty atfrnatoong." Dak, aew 14, got fl points.

IT rehaaads. tsgM basked shots Gene Banks costrlbated pants as the Btoe Denis shot percaat tram the Soar to the brat keJL Heewver Versaent, bow tmied by tost Base, ti- Action season completed percent of hts passes la hu last three games. The Dallas defense expects to be hard-pressed by the Rams in thru Sunday encounter Though the Cowboys hart never surrendered as many as 10) rasrtng yards to sa opponng ramer at past playoff games, ranntng back WendeS Tyler leads a- Los Angeles raining attack that may thru tea that mark. "Oar defense hasn't played that weO. hot it will at the future." predicts Dallas Coach Tarn Laadry.

"It's tost matter af rcnbdeor-" The Cowboys sraght aeed it against Tyler, whs raabed far U0 yards ttms seasaa Bard-toghest ia Rams tostory. -Tyler rates with the top rearers to the latgac." and Laadry. -He has mads many ka rana eoftmg hack" agaasft the flow af ptoy. adds Landry's special aasartaat. Ermal Aflea.

"II roe let toss cat hack asadc, yoaX tost mt baffle. Vhea as starts wwte. a dseaa't saeaa he's of today's match between the Houston Oilers and San Diego Chargers. The PhUadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were to open the weekend's playoff action this afternoon by meeting la a National Football Conference semifinal The Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys dam Sunday ia the other NFC semifinal. Miami, thanks to part to 0 rssntng at Larry Csenka, took ths AFC East tttto anth a ls4 record.

Csonka. whs retorted to the Dolpbjas before the aeasoa began, is ant af the purrers whs helped best, the Steelers to that lfTlgama. "He's grvea as everyttang I hoped as woald coatnbete -pass mart." said Miami Caadi DoaShsta. "Cseeka is tha apart," agreed rWsbarffe defensn tackl Joe Greeae. "He's kkebeaatdta.

Bweda a goad jooeCaanka.SSsrwBt efsarewrkwiBbedco. Part af the ether it percent wffl be the Steelers heading sf aaarierback Boh Grtaae, whs By TV AuariiiH Prat The boars and days have gone by stowty far Pittsburgh Coech Chock NoU. II has been nearly two weeks since his Steelers played their last game, and NoU has found bunself getting somewhat fractions. "A week off makes yes a UtUe antsy." he said Friday. "Yarn get aaed to a game every week.

We're ready for the played. Is wish it were today." NoU will hare to wait anta Sonday before he caa lead the Steelers into the National Footbal Leagae's Amencaa Confereac aeoufiaal agaaost' the MUri Docprana. "I Bask everybody holds Maori to high satoem." and. Nofl. "If they Soa they should." The Dosptins apended lb Betters ka thesr last playoff among at the Wl Amencaa Conference, tils Pe.

That teas want ea to a 17- retard sad 9m first tw emm mb ve Sapar 4 Bites. The wiisaar at Sanday'a usee at V2ut Cmtaski win rebonssd gang' rmattaa-ga ana tace ids i i.