Omaha World-Herald from Omaha, Nebraska • 45

I wr x' 4 4 Sunday SSorld Ijrrald OMAHA NEBRASKA JANUARY 2 1983 SECTION 14 PAGES NL Matchups 3 Ullw Outdoor Recreation 10 MT Scoreboard 13 John Gaps IllWorld Herald Up the middle HuskerMike Rozier gains 1 yard in the first quarter Please turn to Page 6 Col 1 NU Offense Responds to Challenge Please turn to Page 2 Col 1 By Dave Sittier World Herald Staff Writer No 1 Geon WithAeria been in that predicament before and pulled it off" Rozier was one of several Comhusk ers whose first half errors put Nebras ka in a 14 7 hole at intermission LSU free safety Liffort Hobley pounced on fumble at the Ne braska 11 with 6:43 left in the first quar ter LSU tailback Dalton 1 yard touchdown was the result of the mistake know what was wrong the first Rozier said ner vous or uptight Every team is going to make mistakes You just have to be good enough to overcome Nebraska wingback Irving ryar had inal Ratings The final Associated Press and United Press International college foot ball ratings will be released today at 5:30 pm Both polls will be published in Monday editions of The World Herald NU Air Game Pops LSU Balloon Patemo: We Deserve to Be No 1 By Hershel Nissenson New Orleans (AP) Penn State Coach Joe Patemo issued another of his Patemo Polls Saturday night This time he may be right the No 1 and No 2 teams play and the No 2 team wins I certain lv think thpv should mnvp un Patomn 'j Michael Kelly Sports Editor one theory why the Comhuskers had four fumbles all of which they lost were using Orange Bowl foot balls out ryar said were real slick and we hold on to them It felt like they had plastic on ryar said the balls seem to have the small dimples in them that the Comhuskers used this season finally got them to change to our footballs after my ryar said fumble produced sec ond touchdown also a 1 yard Hilliard run It came with 13:23 left in the sec ond quarter when ryar tried to return a Tiger punt long one said Blackledge "1 faded back and threw it as far as I could and Garrity made a great diving catch in the end That proved decisive when Georgia scored with 3:54 remaining on a 9 yard pass from John Lastinger to tight end square down the eye of the Louisiana State Tigers and blink Saturday night The No 1 offensive unit in the coun try the Comhuskers had to overcome a bundle of errors to rally for a 21 20 Or ange Bowl victory Osborne challenged us at I back Mike Rozier said said supposed to be the best offense in the country go out there and prove was confident we could because each time a bridesmaid instead of a bride in the final rankings built their 17 point lead on touchdown runs of 2 and 9 yards by Curt Warner and field goals of 38 and 45 yards by Nick Ganci tano Robinson Interceptions They then withstood a lightning Georgia strike that produced a touch down with five seconds left in the first half plus a 69 yard drive following the second half kickoff However Penn State safety Mark Robinson intercepted two Georgia passes in the third quarter and Blackledge took advantage of the sec ond one launching a 48 yard touchdown bomb to Gregg Garrity who got behind freshman cornerback Tony lack and Miami offense looked maue a sensational Giving eaten in me end zone with 13:16 left in the game had been leaving that area tough defense against the run and we felt that we might get a made things ditncuit tor Nebraska na tion leading running game So Osborne opened things up Quarterback (Turner Gill uncharac teristically passed on the first' play of the game a 22 yard gain to wingback Irving ryar The Huskers scored on their first drive almost making it look easy The Huskers have played their best 1 1 eiiucu uicn cuneue careers ast mpnr and now all left is to see where they finish in the final ranking It will' be either second or third behind Penn State the team that beat the Huskers with 4 seconds to play on that Saturday late in September our seconds a cruel margin by which to miss out on a national Championship In some ways it was a bittersweet night at the Orange Bowl Osborne said this was the best Ne braska team in his 10 years as head coach Does he feel in his heart that it was college best team in 1982? are arguments that could be made for he said played eight teams with winning re cords six teams that went to bowl games But we probably play well enough tonight to deserve conside Accent on Positive He couldn't help thinking about the 27 24 loss to Penn State were some bad calls in that game but we play well he said we had played well in the first half we would have won the And perhaps that elusive national championship a dream that never dies for Osborne or his players or their fans But the accent last night was on the positive Jamie Williams was ecstatic as he ran onto the field at the final gun loved it! I loved The Lions unbeaten three times in shouted just great! What a last 17 years at the helm but game! twelve wins! me no team the It was just a year ago on this night that Osborne and his players walked off quietly The coach came out of the locker room after the 22 15 loss to Clemson a game that cost the Huskers the 1981 championship and put it plain ly was the greatest disappoint ment of my he said had a chafice to win the national champion ship and we do Last night was much different Ne only chance at the national ti tle was a tie in the Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Penn State LSU was an up and down team that had beaten three teams ranked in the Top 10 na tionally and for a time it looked like the Tigers would win it But it turned out to be a Blue Bayou night NU Dream Die After several steps and still in the open ryar lost the ball without being hit think it hit my ryar said was too slick to hang ryar redeemed himself later in the game when he returned a punt 42 yards in the second half ryar also caught five passes for 84 yards one away from the Nebraska bowl game record was getting a little tense that last ryar said knew we had the talent to get the ball in the end zone if we could cut down on the mistakes had a tough defense so I knew Please turn to Page 6 Col 2 top teams in the country during the sea son and certainly we should be No Patemo said Announcement Today Penn triumph left fourth ranked Southern Methodist as the only unbeaten major college team The Mus tangs finished 11 0 1 by defeating Pitts burgh 7 3 in the Cotton Bowl earlier in the day Penn State and Georgia fin ished with 11 1 records while third ranked Nebraska ended 12 1 by edging LSU 21 20 in the Orange Bowl Saturday night The Associated Press will announce the 1982 national champion at 5:30 pm CST today Quarterback Todd Blackledge engi neered Penn triumph passing the Lions into position for two touch downs and two field goals in the first half and helping build a 20 3 lead Miami At the stroke of midnight Nebraska tight end Jamie Williams turned to Coach Tom Osborne extended a hand and smiled broadly Wil liams said been a great five And a great year Nebraska ended a 12 1 season at mid night with a 21 20 win over Louisiana State a come from behind victory by a team been coming from behind ever since Sept 25 Jamie Williams All American Davp i iy uium uiey snuuiu move up rateniu Riming on and several other players fniiowinp Sfind ranki Pann PndPfl their cn PPP a top re la ct ninkt JP stare supar Knw virrnrv nver top ratea ana previously unbeaten Georgia The triumph may have assured the Nittany Lions of their first national col lege football championship think we beat three or four of the Huskers Need Rally to Stop Upstart Tigers By Steve Sinclair World Herald Staff Writer Miami Nebraska did it the hard way Saturday night Just when it appeared the Huskers had fumbled and bumbled enough for another Orange Bowl appearance to end in a fizz the Comhuskers re grouped They did it with two touchdowns in the last 16:25 of the game to score a dramatic 21 20 victory over Louisiana State The Comhuskers had to overcome six turnovers four in the first half and one in the third quarter and one in the last period to fight their way back from a 17 7 deficit LSU took that lead when Juan Betanzos kicked a 28 yard field goal with 6:40 left in the third quarter wanted it to be close going into the fourth Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne said thought we could win at that Nebraska the best rushing team went to the pass against the rugged Tiger defenders including the Huskers first play of the game NU outyarded the Tigers 403 to 211 with 219 rushing and 184 through the air Turner Gill completed 13 of 22 passes The Huskers got it close when quar terback Gill threw an 11 yard touch down pass to I back Mike Rozier with 1:25 left in the third quarter score made it 17 14 The Huskers then got a break on the first play of the fourth quarter when Clay Parker get off a punt under heavy pressure from NU defensive end Tony elici Parker de cided to run and gained 12 yards before he was stopped by Wade Praeuner and Bret Clark short of a first down at the LSU 48 rom there Nebraska needed just eight plays for the winning touchdown a 1 yard sneak by Gill One of the key plays of the drive came on third and 5 from the LSU 43 Gill threw toward Todd Brown but it fell incomplete Then pass interference was called on defensive back James Britt The score with 11:14 left in the game Rips dMManaBy awwwIMimwHBi rtSK 'tv '8ewsaS889nK jgu 'HKg 'TnTyWInlinlffinr 'Tnaij this year late in the game And the big gest play of this 1983 Orange Bowl came with about two minutes to play in the third quarter With fourth and 1 at the LSU 35 trailing by 10 points Osborne sent in a pass play Nebraska never passes on fourth and 1 But this time the Huskers did Gill looked for wingback Irving ryar but he was covered So Gill looked again and found senior split end Todd Brown of Hpldrege Brown snared it for an 18 yard gain and the Huskers were in business After two runs Gill threw another pass this one to I back Mike Rozier who scored from 11 yards out In the fourth quarter Gill scored a touchdown with 11 minutes to play and Nebraska took home its 12th win of the season more than any other team It enough though for a national ti tle tZ Georgia The Sugar Bowl end in a tie The announcement that Penn State had won 27 23 was made over the public address system near the end of the game but the crowd was yelling so loud that Osborne hear it Georgia he asked a writer as he left the field That game on Sept 25 it turns out was for the national championship The pass play to the 2 yard line with 9 sec onds to play was called incorrectly be cause the receiver was out of bounds and Penn State scored on the next play "But to say that Penn State wouldn't have scored the winning TD even if the officials had called that pass reception out of bounds Who knows? Nothing will change that play and Penn State deserves its first national champi onship Nebraska had a great year the kind thdt entertained the fans and spoke well for the players and the coaches Sure you can think back to what might have been" But Nebraska players coaches and fans can keep that dream in their hearts for another year The dream never dies 1 7 How the Top 20s ared in Bowls APUPI Bowl 1 1 (11 1 lost to Penn State 27 23 Sugar 2 2 Penn State (11 1) beat Georgia 27 23 Sugar 3 3 Nebraska (12 1) beat Louisiana State 21 20 Orange 4 4 Southern Methodist (11 0 1) beat Pittsburgh 7 3 Cotton 5 5 UCLA (1 0 1 1 beat Michigan 24 1 4 Rose 6 6 Pittsburgh (9 3) lost to Southern Methodist 7 3 Cotton 7 Clemson (9 1 1 did not play in bowl 8 7 Texas (9 3) lost to North Carolina 26 10 Sun 9 8 Washington (1 0 2) beat Maryland 21 20 Aloha 109 West Virginia (9 3) lost to lorida State 31 1 2 Gator Arizona State (1 0 2) beat Oklahoma 32 21 iesta 1210 Oklahoma (8 4) lost to Arizona State 32 21 iesta 1313 LSU (8 3 1 lost to Nebraska 21 20 Orange 14712 Arkansas (9 2 1) beat lorida 28 24 Bluebonnet 15 Southern Cal (8 3) was ineligible for postseason play 1614 Maryland (8 4) lost to Washington 21 20 Aloha 1 71 6 Ohio State (9 3) beat Brigham Young 47 1 7 Holiday 181 5 Auburn (9 3) beat Boston College 33 26 Tangerine 1 9 1 7 Michigan (8 4) lost to UCLA 24 1 4 Rose 2018 Tulsa (10 1) did not receive bowl bid 19 lorida (8 4) lost to Arkansas 28 24 Bluebonnet 720 lorida State (9 3) beat West Virginia 31 1 2 Gator Big Play Defense Triggers Bruins to Rose Bowl Win Pasadena Calif (AP) UCLA used a powerful offense that averaged more than 34 points a game to get into the Rose Bowl But it was an unheralded defense that sparked the fifth ranked Bruins to victory Saturday was our best defensive game of the season" said UCLA free safety Don Rogers after his 24 14 triumph over 19th ranked Michigan played tough defense all the way The UCLA defense allowed an aver age of 198 points per game this season and gave up 60 points in its two recent games against the Wolverines It was a different story Saturday think our defense has been under said Rogers who was named co player of the game along with UCLA quarterback Tom Ramsey really came together at the end of the Rogers intercepted a pass at the UCLA 12 yard line early in the second quarter and knocked out Michigan quarterback Steve Smith with a bone jarring tackle a few minutes later Rog ers a 6 foot 204 pound junior was in volved in 11 tackles and broke up three passes thought it was a turning point a big said Rogers of the tackle that resulted in a separated shoulder for Smith knew it waS a good hit but I know be out the rest of the game I really did not want to hurt Another defensive hero for the Bruins was linebacker Blanchard Montgom ery who made one of the key plays when he returned an Intercepted 'b Please turn to Page 5 Col 3 11 Switzer: Dupree Pounds Cost OU Tempe Ariz (UPI) But for a few extra pounds on freshman star Marcus Dupree Oklahoma Coach Barry Switz er said the game against Ari zona State in iesta Bowl could have been turned around a little Switzer said would have scored two touchdowns if he would have played at 228 instead of 240 like he did today He's a freshman who needs to make a com Despite a iesta Bowl record of 239 yards Dupree score a touchdown and the Sooners win the game a 32 21 decision to llth ranked Arizona State Dupree had two runs of 56 yards and one of 48 but was caught from behind each time ASU Coach Darryl Rogers said he notice extra weight know if we have played any back like Marcus Rogers said he got 239 like it was and hate to see what he would have done in 40 minutes He deserves all his acco lades because he did this against a great A leg injury knocked Dupree out of action in the third quarter might have turned out differently if I had stayed in the Dupree said injuries I got today were freak injuries that never had Dupree hurt his ribs in the first quar ter after falling on the football and hurt his right thigh early in the fourth almost pulled my he said heard it pop and tighten up so I just pulled Dupree who said he weighs 232 pounds averaged 14 yards per carry Two of his long runs set up Oklahoma touchdowns and the other would have except the Sooners fumbled at the 6 yard line Dupree disagreed with Switzer about whether he could have scored two touchdowns if his weight was lower think I could said the freshman from Philadelphia Miss guys had the angles on me When anyone has the angle on you gonna get you 1 felt in good shape until I got my ribs and lung banged up and pulled my Arizona State which finished with a 10 2 record clinched the victory by re covering four Oklahoma fumbles and forcing two punting mistakes by the lOth ranked Sooners 8 4 basically how Please turn to Page 4 Col 1 Inside Sports Please turn to Page 5 Col 1 CHEATERS BEWARE: near in NCAA battle against recruiting abuses Page 9 BLUEJAY TEST: Marquette and form er Creighton Prep stars Kerry Trotter and Vic Lazzaretti challenge Creighton today at City Auditorium Page 9 TEEING An expanded and en riched PGA Tour begins Thursday with the Tucson Open Page 11 Taking Look Back At Year in Sports Do you recall the stars and stories of 1982? A special page takes a look back at The Year in Sports Page 12 Coach: Undefeated SMU Merits No 1 Consideration Dallas (AP) Southern Methodist placed itself on the final national cham pionship ballot New Day with an unbeaten season and its first Cotton Bowl victory in 32 years The No 4 ranked Mustangs fashioned a 7 3 victory over sixth rated Pittsburgh with clutch defense two long passes to wide receiver Bobby Leach and quick thinking by quarterback Lance Mcll henny It was the fewest points scored by the Panthers in their last 89 games not No 1 there is going to be a nrettv eood team that is No 1" said SMU Coach Bobby Collins henny the most valuable player unaeieatea we ve won games know what else have to do I "As far as concerned this team 9 yard touchdown run coming after he had completed passes of 20 and 42 yards to Leach gave the Mustangs their dream of an unbeaten season the first since 1948 Only a 17 17 tie with Arkansas blemishes the Mus record "Somebody up looking after said Leach probably break both legs and arms next year" Leach won a game against Texas Tech with a 91 yard kickoff return with six seconds left and beat Texas in the fourth quarter with a score on a def lected pass done a great said Mell who fooled the Pitt defense on the fourth period touchdown play The Mus tangs ran a fake to All America tail.