The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 21

THE TAMPA TRIBUNE Monday, January 2, 1995 Gators suspend 2 after scuffle I. I- II I I III I JLIL Ill II. Ill I i -Y t' Martin Fennelly Teams: Florida (10-1-1) vs. Florida State (9-1-1). When: Today, Bloody altercation sends Riggins to hospital, Hambrick back to Gainesville.

By CHRIS HARRY Tribune Staff Writer NEW ORLEANS The concern that violence could break out among University of Florida and Florida State players and fans during Sugar Bowl week was only natural but no one expected teammates to turn on each other. Florida linebackers Darren Hambrick and Anthony Riggins Medical Center after undergoing several hours of reconstructive surgery to repair a deep gash on his face. Riggins was expected to be there through tonight. "It was a nasty scene," Spurrier said. "We're embarrassed about It and I'm trying to handle it as quickly as I can, so hopefully the players will get the message.

It was an isolated incident and it was unfortunate that it happened, but it happened." Spurrier added that the future of Hambrick and Riggins as Gators was in jeopardy, but that noth- See BRAWL, Page 4 SCORE TO SETTLE Gators, Seminoles meet in tonight's Sugar Bowl, aiming to break the deadlock caused by the 31-31 tie of five weeks ago 7 were suspended from the Gator football team Sunday following a bloody altercation between the two at a Sugar Bowl function Saturday night. Hambrick, a sophomore and former Pasco High star, was sent home Sunday morning for his part In the fray. Riggins, a junior from Fort Pierce, remained in stable condition at Tulane University 8:30 p.m. Where: Superdome, New Orleans. Tickets: Game is sold out.

TV: Channel 28. Radio: WFNS 910 AM. Latest line: Florida by 1V2. MATCHUPS 7 Associated Press photo Florida's Steve Spurrier said he looks down on fighting. mt ran IT Fame enough for both Duke and Wisconsin have rankings on the line in Hall of Fame Bowl.

A 1 if' By DAVID ALFONSO Tribune Staff Writer TAMPA Duke and Wisconsin are not playing for the national championship today at Tampa Stadium, not even a spot in the final Top 10 although both figure to land in the Top 25 with a win. But the No. 25 Blue Devils (8-3) and unranked Badgers (6-4-1) are delighted to be here, playing in the New Year's lineup, on national television, before a buzzed crowd of about 60,000, in perfect weather. When you know the other side of the deal, a trip to the Hall of Fame Bowl is looked upon with anticipation. Both teams have tasted repeated losing recently enough to appreciate an alternative.

Consider Duke. Early in the 1990 season, the first after Coach Steve Spurrier left, the Blue Devils were getting beat at home 59-0 by Virginia. On the side of the Wallace-Wade Stadium scoreboard where "Duke" should have been, was placed instead. As in, just what the heck is this? It isn't decent football, that's for sure. "And that's from your own people," Duke quarterback Spence Fischer said.

"That hurts." "A most humiliating experience," senior linebacker David Hawkins said of that game. "It left a bad taste in my mouth." It would be a while before See BADGERS, Page 8 Top-ranked Nebraska rallies to stake its claim to the national title, beating Miami 24-17 in the Orange Bowl. By JOE FRISARO Tribune Staff Writer MIAMI Mystique died. Misery ended. And the Nebraska Cornhuskers, the longtime heartbroken Midwest-erners, are about to be crowned national champions.

In a high-drama, electrifying, fourth-quarter comeback, the top-ranked Cornhuskers slipped past No. 3 Miami 24-17 Sunday night in the Orange Bowl before the largest crowd to. pack the storied old stadium 81,753. The eyes of a nation, too, watched as Nebraska coach Tom Osborne had years of futility vanish into the lukewarm Miami night. Osborne, who has 218 career victories, never has had a more satisfying win.

He was doused with water in the closing seconds as he shook hands with Miami coach Dennis Er-ickson. Spearheading the rally was quarterback Tommie Frazier, who started but was benched, and then returned in the fourth quarter to lead Nebraska to two touchdowns and a two-point conversion pass. "We came so close last year," said Frazier, voted Nebraska's MVP, referring to the 18-16 loss to Florida State in a national championship showdown. "When I came to Nebraska, one of the things I wanted was to win a national championship." Although most of the pre-bowl hype was centered on Frazier's return after missing three months with blood clots in his right leg, scoring runs of 15 and 14 yards by fullback Cory Schlesinger made the 'Huskers probable national champs. Schlesinger's second TD came with 2:46 remaining, capping a seven-play, 58-yard drive that included a 25-yard run by Frazier on third-and-four.

For Nebraska, the victory marked sweet revenge after seven consecutive bowl losses. Included in that string were Orange Bowl defeats to Miami in 1984, '89 and '92. Now, Nebraska (13-0) must See NEBRASKA, Page 6 i i. i. fiv it i I Cornhuskers won thriller Tommie's way MIAMI It had to be this way.

Tommie's way. He had to make hearts stop. None of them his own. He won it. He played sick, too.

"I have a pretty bad cold," he said. -A pretty bad cold. Now we can all breathe a sigh of relief and smile at the child who took our breath away. It could not be easy, not for Tom Osborne, not for his Nebraska Cornhuskers, not even after 22 years of victory upon victory. It could not be easy to finally win Osborne's national championship, not at the Orange Bowl, not against the monster that had haunted Nebraska the team, the coach, the state for 11 years.

It would not be easy to beat Miami. It would take ups and downs. It would take pain. It would take mistakes swallowed. It would take a comeback.

It would, take Tommie Frazier. The kid who used to have clots. The kid who always has dreams. "I think anybody would want to come down to the end, be in there, win the game," Frazier said early this week. "I want to win like that as much as Maybe more.

A final hurrah After the clots, nobody figured he would play again this season. Some thought he would never play again. Even after the clots disappeared, some thought he should not have tried to play this Orange Bowl. You thought it again as he left this game one quarter after starting it. He'd thrown a bad pass, and tossed an interception.

It did not seem like his night. He had not played in 98 days. Osborne lifted him in favor of Brook Berringer. Tommie Frazier stood. And watched.

Fourth quarter. Nebraska was hanging in, somehow, 17-9, but still, the Husk-ers had died a thousand times this night. Yes, Berringer had thrown a touchdown. But then a third-quarter drive inside Miami land died of a fumble. Then a muffed Miami punt snap, and Nebraska was at the Miami 4-yard line, first-and-goal.

On the next play, Berringer rolled right. He was a wonderful story this season, Brook Berringer. He kept his team No. 1 and undefeated. But now Miami was storming him, so he tried to throw the ball away.

It was intercepted. Nebraska team, coach and state dropped to its knees. And Tommie Frazier put on his helmet. He put on his helmet and won the Orange Bowl, the game he maybe shouldn't have played. The game he knew all along that he would win.

He always told everybody when he was growing up in Palmetto. He wasn't always the biggest kid, but by far he had the biggest dreams. He was going to win a national title, and a Heisman Trophy, and then be the second black quarterback to win a Super Bowl. No matter what opponent. No matter what clots.

No matter anything. Leading by example "I just felt it was time to put Tommie in," Osborne said. "It was a gut feeling." Osborne's choice scored neither the tying or winning touchdowns. That was Cornhuskers fullback Cory Schlesinger, who ran 15 yards and 14 yards for scores. But it was Frazier who threw for the two-point conversion that tied it at 17 with 7:38 left.

Nebraska. Two points. Orange Bowl. Miracles do happen. And then that final drive, starting at Nebraska's 42.

Frazier completion, 7 yards. Frazier scramble, 25 yards. As the clock ticked, as 81,753 looked on, Frazier lined his team up for a third-and-three from the Miami 20. Osborne had to choose a play. He did.

Tommie Frazier, option right. Six yards. First down. Schlesinger scored two plays later, and it was 24-17 with 2:46 left. Nobody was going to stop the Nebraska defense, which on Miami's last possession got two sacks and the final interception.

But it all went back to Tommie Frazier, who, at night's end, had only these numbers: three completions for 25 yards, seven rushes for 31 yards. Nobody was fooled. He was voted the game MVP. His mom, Priscil-la, who said she might cry if he won this game like he always said he would, probably cried. She was probably not alone.

"This is the last chapter storybook ending," Priscilla's son said, through his pretty bad cold. "I couldn't have dreamed a better ending." Why bother? He'd already dreamed this one. Tommie's way. Teams: Wisconsin (6-4-1) vs. Duke (8-3).

When: Today, 1 1 Where: Tampa Stadium. Tickets: $30; available through Ticketmaster (287-8844). TV: ESPN (blacked out locally) MATCHUPS 8 Associated Press photo Quarterback Tommie Frazier was thankful after helping to lead Nebraska on its game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter in the Orange Bowl. Testaverde follows new script for Browns When: Today, 5 p.m. Where: Sun Dome.

Tickets: $8 at the gate or through Ticketmaster Saturday's Games Cleveland at Pittsburgh, 12:30 p.m., Channel 8 Chicago at San Francisco, 4 p.m., Channel 13 Sunday's Games Green Bay at Dallas, 12:30 p.m., Channel 13 Miami at San Diego, 4 p.m., Channel 8 COMPLETE SCHEDULE 2 BEARING DOWN Chicago upsets Minnesota 35-18 in NFC wild-card game 11 The much-maligned ex-Bucs QB sparks a 20-13 playoff victory against the Patriots. By RICK GOSSELIN of the Dallas Morning News CLEVELAND Seven Januarys had passed since Vinny Testaver-de's last visit to a football postseason. With each one his legend grew: Loser. Can't win a big game. Will never win a big game.

Testaverde waited patiently for the chance to avenge his two disastrous bowl performances at the University of Miami that branded him as a choke artist. That day finally came Sunday and, in the first playoff game of his NFL career, Testaverde delivered the Cleveland Browns a 20-13 victory against the New England Patriots. That sets up an Central Division rematch in the AFC semifinals between the Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers won the Central and posted the best record in the AFC, earning a first-round bye. 1 Hockey Small group resumes talks for the first time since Dec.

17 in an effort to break the NHL impasse 3 Basketball Freshman center blocks a school-record 1 1 shots as Louisville upsets No. 5 Kentucky, 88-86 4 The Steelers swept the two-game regular-season series with the Browns and play them a third time Saturdry. Testaverde completed 20 of 30 passes against the Patriots for 268 yards and a touchdown. More important, he didn't commit a turnover. No interceptions.

No fumbles. No mistakes. "Vinny silenced a lot of people See BROWNS, Page 12 Associated Press photo Vinny Testaverde was one step ahead of the Patriots' defense all day, passing for 268 yards with one TD and no interceptions..