The Commercial Appeal from Memphis, Tennessee • 31

kr'W' THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL rrors Hurt Bullies In Sun Bowl Defeat To Big 8 suited in 102 yards passing completing 7-of-19 with two interceptions By BOBBY HALL EL PASO Mississippi State ra victim ofseU-destructiouSatardaylnfoeSiinBowl And powerful Nebraska didn't help matters Ml for tin mistakeplagued Bulldogs When football team commits six turnovers it rarely wins a regular-season game much lea a poeteeaeon encounter against otw of the nationh premier collegiate giants Thus it wai understandable that No-braeka defeated the BuUdoo 31-17 in thii 46th classic Just flat oat made too many mistakes on offense and gave them too many said Bmoty Ballard the State coach defense played good enough to win I'm proud of this football team for the see-it had though These guys are a helluva group" The 17th-nnked Bulldogs who came here with a record to match Nebraska's at 9-2 fonnd themselves trailing at halftime 17-0 For the first 30 minutes it appeared that rarely had a team come so far to do so little Flrestuaan quarterback John Bond was Mor-I in passing and State already had turned the ball over three times "I don't know what was wrong" Bond said 1 didn't fed tight I don't mink I've to loosen cR jusMm'trardlnie breaks went their Bat the bowl-record crowd of 34723 which induded about 6500 cowbeUclang-ing Bulldog booeters and a national TV audience of about 30 million was felly aware that Nebraska had a lot to do with the outcome The eighth-ranked Cornhuskers did about as much taking as acceptance of Bull- the Misslisippians here noting for the Bnlldop wee GovernerWllUam Winter and Sen John Riiic Nebraska which outgained MSU fer the day 318-195 produced fee game's two honored players Quarterback Jeff Quinn who passed for 159 yards and two touchdowns was voted the Most Valuable Player Defensive end Jimmy Williams who scooped up two Bulldog fumbles was named the most valuable lineman Stateb trouble's back Mardye McDole fumbled a Nebraska possession at the Bulldog 21 On the first puqr the Cornhuskers sent split end Todd Brown scooting around the right side on a reverse for the touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 1230 left in the first period favored by The Cornhuskers who were two on their week of dosedpractice sessions here which had infuriated many persons in this italityconsdous dty They used a fake goal late in the firm period that led to better field poeition and a22-yard field goal by Kevin Seibel for a 100 wed with 323 remaining in the second period "We felt by dosing practices we were able i do the things that were important in winning" said Nebraska coach Tom Osborne whoee approach to the game was nun like 1 Day or Halloween tricking than April 1 a Christmas greeting "The reverse the fake field goal both led to our winning" Nebraska bolted 61 yarda ia two plays to to 17-0 with 158 left in the stretch its lead half Quinn heaved a 55-yard pass down the right side to wingback Tim HcCTady who made a tight-rope catch on the sideline at the Finn for State had prompted early questions by soin flip and electing coin I which was only blowing at about mph While a medal guest of the bowl the San Diego Chicken was cutting up on the sideline there was some about the Bulldogs' selection "We were hopeful of getting field posi-gion and maybe get off to a good start and gain some said Bellard whose pregame decision also meant Nebraska had its choice to open the second half "ft all went well except we fumbled the punL" 1ISU finally got on the acoreboard midfoe third way of the i when Dana Moore goal making it a 17-3 kicked a 47-yard I the Bulldogs fumbled again on their next poasession at their own 25 and Nebraska blew the contest open 2431 wife fullback Andra Franklin bulling over from two yards out State salvaged a lot of pride in the final erlod with 14 pointt Including a 76-yard itplay drive which Bond ended wife a one- yard gainer around fee left side The TD pulled State 1 Nebraska mede it 31-11 with 321 left in the game on a 52yaid peas to McCrady whose two catches for the day totaled 107 yards Mississippi State completed the scoring wife a minute remaining on an ll-yard pern from Bond to tailback Michael Haddix MSU fullback Donald Ray King finished as the game's top rusher wife 96 yards on 23 attempts Bonds improved second half re Smith led an Arkansas defense feat didn't allow Tulane to score until the fourth period By then Arkansas was ahead 31-0 Smith finishd wife I solo tackles including one for anil-yard loo He also recovered a fumble one of two fee Rasorbacks caaw up Arkansas also picked off two passes "I felt good about our team before the game" raw Holts whoae team finished wife a 7-5 record and helped save sosse face for an otherwise disappointing campaign "I thought we'd pfey well tonight We really played well in fee first half We wanted to win or tie the third quarter because we thought if that happened the game would be niaeo was as Arkansas teokaSl-6 lead into the final period always believed in this team Thafs why we wanted to come to this game We hope well have a chance to coaw back here with a better record so we can coma to town wife our heads high and without having to apologise to anyone for our record "When for they extended the bid to us I told them to invite anyone they wanted and if we didn't win we'd let them keep their money I don't mean that in disrespect to Tulane or to be bragging but I Just felt good about this Tulane coach Vince Gibeon was disappointed with his team's sut Just didn't ptay very well" said Gibson whose Green Wave finished wife a 7-5 son whose Green defense let us down" On its first possession Arkansas set the tone for the test of the game when the Ra- swept from their own 25 to the before a 51-yard field goal by Ish Ordonex fell short to the left wife 1055 re- TulancMI mainlng in the first period Despite the arias offense had established its dominance It was 36 degrees at kickoff but the Porkers were hoi Trent Bryant's interception only the sixth recorded by an Arkansas defensive back this year set up the first Arkansas touchdown Tulane had driven from its own 32 to the Raxorback 32 before quarterback Nickla Hall suffered his life pern interception of the year Bryaafx steal gave fee Porkers breathing room and quarterback Tom Jones marched the Hogs 66 yards in 7 plays for their first touchdown A 44-yard run by Anderson to the touchdown Three the Tulane 4 set up the touchdown Three plays later James Tolbert cracked over fee left side (or the score with 6:49 left Ordonex Despite the loss which snapped a 5-game winning streak by the Bulldogs Bond said "We beat ourselves they're definitely not the best defensive team played We were prepared I Just know what it Osborne said "We felt we had and they have some great Webeata good team today proud of my boys We Oklahoma game They came back after the I worked hard never complained and de-served to win "Our defense played well until the end 1 think we got a little tired but contribute that to Missisdppi State's team The most impor- Hack of tant thing was our concentration and 1 turnovers" The Bulldogs left iauudiately to return to Starkville while many of the IfSU fans mainland continued tocSmk theircow-bells into the night "Nebraska is as good a team as there is in the country" Bellard said "But we contributed an awful lot to their win We really did help them and they did some good things to help themselves "I really don't know what was wrong us in the first half We seemed to be with ex- tremely tight It Just didn't look like we could relax and do (See Bobby HalTs column on Page D2 Picture oa Page D5) Sun Statistics i a m-w i r-n Bimm im IMM UdO M-MWMB MU I pm trim QntM (MM kick) MSU FA Mtn 47 Nik FimHi I im (MM kick) MSU Urn I rm (Mura kick) NM McCnUy II mm tram Mm MM kkfc) MSU MMI II mm Iren Bma (Mura kick) A-HIB IS B-IM St-Ml Ml -i a MM MM Ml UUSMMM MliUnlMl SMk KHf mk MMM 4-M MkMk Pracklki MI IiMm IWl PASSING MlumlMl StaNt BmU MM-M Nk- krMkk Omm mm-h RECEIVING MNUMMH SM McOaik Ml Na-kiwka McCnEy S-W Porker machine running in overdrive Hauling in a Vince Manalla punt at the Porker 20 the 6-L 184pound sophomore from Columbia Mo easily bettered the old Hall of Fame record wife his 80-yard punt return The old mark was only 5 yards At 1:49 Or-donex made it 144 Tulane was definitely in trouble Tulane had its chances in fee first period After having Bryant's pass stop its first drive another Green Wave turnover stopped a drive at the Arkansas 17 Ron Far-ofs interception of a pass put the brakes on that drive Ricky Richardson wrapped his lumber arms around Hall to force the turnover The Rasorbacks pushed their lead to 21-4 early in the second period when Jones took them 70 yards to score The sophomore quarterback from Ruston La ran 5 landlyards and also hit Steve Clyde wife a 9-yard pass for the touchdown wife 7:14 left in the first half Ordonex' kick stretched foe margin to 21 points It was the largest deficit a Tulane had feci i faced at this stage in the game since 1977 Once again Anderson stole the thunder Three plays into a drive that started at its own 43 Arkansas sprung Anderson loose for fee largest TD by running in the bowl's history 46 yards It was a foot race after the tint 20 yards as Anderson raced untouched into the end tone Ordonex was true again and the Porkers had their 2M halftime lead Bven then Arkansas wasn't through The Porkers got to the Tulane 31 Jut before halftime out another 51-yard effort by Or dooex was way short Hall Of Fame Statistics MMS S-M 0 SIM-M Ml MNnil Ml nNn KNMaw kick) Ark OyEa Mac Nam Jmm HMmm kick) Ark AaEcrcia nn lOrWmc kick) Mvm PM I M-NONmI TnI MINN I IM A-r kick) WU SMB Ml 41 IMM' MSI i MS MS RUM UNO Aikciicia AnEarMa It-HA Dm HTitl VA TMmc Lnk hkZF1? Arkansas Tops Tulane In Hall Of Fame Game By LARRY REA BIRMINGHAM -For the first time since early in the season a healthy Gary Anderson caaw out of the WOppCQ DRV i charged Arkansas lane's (Been Wave in the fourth Hall of Fame BowL Anderson pierced Tulaneh defense for 156 yards on 11 carries and scored on a 46- rin He also raced 10 yards for the punt return talUU of Fame history to help the Porkers roar to a 264 halftime By intermission suny of the 41000 ticket buyers had hmgeince departed for warmer surroundings Fame officials reported they had soU41ODO tickets However an estimated 30J0 actually came to the game Gigantic Legion Field seats more than 7SJ30Q The highetepping Anderson led an Arkansas offense that picked up 383 yards on the ground and 22 first downs He was an overwhelming choice aa the game's most valuable player while teammate felly Ray Sarith the sophoaun defensive tackle from Pino Texas claimed defensive honors was easily Anderson's best showing since he picked up 103 yards and scored a touchdown ia Arkansas1 23-17 1 seesonopen- lag loss to Texas A nagging ankle injury ilnderof the pfogued him moat of the remainder season Late in the season Fosker coach Lou Holts even tried Anderson at wide receiver The move undoubtedly cost him the teamb title as he finished second behind ibarfs 571 wife 561 yards 1 think we played the best game of the ter said Anderaon "We were Just trying to keep ia the (asm I thought it would be a good gasse but I didn't know we would score that many points in the first half (28) I am many points in the first half (20) going to give the MVP trophy to my mother" One of fee first things Holts did when the Porkers started drills their fourth bowl trip in a row was to sure Anderaon back to tailback Arkansaf 31 points were the smst ever by an Arkansas turn in bowl competition breaking the old mark of 31 set in the 1976 Cotton Bowl I and 1978 Orange BowL Along fee way fee Hogs broke six team records and thru individual records infoe Hall of Ftune The Rasorbacks set records for most points scores by one team most first downs most rushing attempts (64) most net yards rushing most total offense (466) and most field goals (two by Ish Ordonex) ii Liberty Bowl Standouts ly David Darnel pomes fer the EsM Herrmann threw fer 2S9 yards and 4 touchdowns (Additional pictures stories on Pages D2JDI) ashefintahedaff at Purdue and gave the fram Purdue defenders Derrick Taylor (3) and Brack Speck (lop picture) on hie way to a 92yard touchdown ruabock of a kickoff la yesterday's Liberty Bowl game Follow -T who took abandon from Joints Pee en a reverse cut fee Purdue lead is 144 wife Us Mjasoaifs Ren FoBews (S) runs away run ia fee first halt but fee Bailermaken went ante win 2621 PurdaekAlLAamricaa quarterback Mark Herrmann (9) firm ana of hie few incempiete passes (bottom pit tan) as he gets pressure Item Randy Jeataa (99) Tom Mcsky(7D and Ray Conner (12) nj ts bleil lest as llmmsnn hK TlefM i Arkaaaa Jmm 4L IMMM4V RECEIVING-- Arkcwa WaHari Mk I Imm 4H TiMm ArMiim tea OrtHH UIWNeWNNMlWk kicked it to 74 It wm turn again to keep the hEMl.