European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 29, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse Friday december 29. 1989 the stars and stripes Page 23 bowl season longest weekend kicks off by the associated press College football s longest weekend began thursday with the All american and Liberty bowls but some of the new year s Day players won t get too serious for a few Days first couple of nights we re going to look around Alabama guard Johnny Howard said. We re going to have some seventh ranked Crimson tide id-1 take on no. 2 Miami 10-1 in the sugar b9wl on new year s Day in new Orleans one of America s greatest part towns. The sugar bowl is one of seven bowl games on Jan. 1, a Day of College football that will begin at about i . Est and end about Midnight. First though 20th-ranked Duke 8-3 was to play no. 25 Texas tech 8-3 in the All american bowl a Birmingham ala., and air Force 8-3-1 was to meet Mississippi 7-4 in the Liberty bowl at Memphis. Friday s Lone game has no. 18 Penn state 7-3-1 against no. 19 Brigham Young 10-2 in the Holiday bowl at san Diego. There Are four bowl games on saturday no. 24 Pitt 7-3-1 is. No. 16 Texas am 8-3 in the John Hancock bowl at Elpaso Texas Washington 7-4 is. Florida 7-4 in the Freedom bowl at Anaheim 6-5 is. Syracuse 7-4 in the peach bowl at Atlanta and no. 17 West Virginia 8-2-1 is. No. 14clcmson 9-2 in the Gator bowl at Jacksonville Fla. In the final precursor to monday s madness Nort Carolina state 7-4 plays Arizona 7-4 in the inaugural Copper bowl sunday night at Tucson Ariz. The sugar Orange and Rose arc the three newyear s Day bowls with National championship significance. Top ranked Colorado 11-0 plays no. 4 Notredame 11-1 in the Orange bowl at Miami and no. 3 Michigan 10-1 meets no. 12 Southern Cal 8-2-1 in the Rose bowl at Pasadena Calif. The rest of the new year s Day schedule has no. 9auburn 9-2 is. No. 21 Ohio state 8-3 in the Hall of Fame bowl at Tampa Fla. No. 15 Virginia 10-2 . 11 Illinois 9-1 in the Citrus bowl at Orlando Fla. No. 10 Arkansas 10-1 is. No. 8 Tennessee 10-1 in the Cotton bowl at Dallas and no. 6 Nebraska 10-i is. No. 5 Florida state 9-2 in the fiesta bowl at temp Ariz. Three contenders await a Colorado stumble by Rick Warnera football writer and the Winner is. Four teams will Start new year s Day with a Chance to win College football s National championship. We May the Winner that night. Then again we May not know until the following Day. Top ranked Colorado can end the sus Pense by beating no. 4 notre Dame in the Orange bowl and completing a perfect season. But if the buffaloes lose Sec Ond ranked Miami no. 3 Michigan and notre Dame can All stake their claim tothe top spot in the final associated press poll which will be released on Jan. 2. A Colorado loss and Miami Victory Over Alabama in the sugar bowl would probably give the hurricanes their third National championship of the decade. However if Miami loses and Notredame wins the fighting Irish would Likely become the first school to win consecutive titles since Alabama in 1978-79. Michigan s chances Are slim. The wolverines need an impressive win Over Southern Cal in the Rose bowl losses by Colorado and Miami and some Goodwill votes for retiring coach to finish no. I. Although Michigan is ranked ahead of notre Dame the fight ing Irish would probably jump ahead of the wolverines if they both win because of a 24-19 Victory at Ann Arbor Early in the season. Whatever happens it should be one of the most interesting bowl Days in a Long time. Here s a closer look at the three biggest games to win the National championship for a Launse. Their former teammate who died of cancer Early this season. Notre Dame is favored by i a Points. Colorado 28-24. Orange sugar notre Dame has the tradition Colora do has the momentum. The fighting Irish have won More National titles than any other school but they May still be reeling from the 27-10loss to Miami in their regular season finale nov. 25. Lou Holt claims his Tea has lost the Confidence it had during its 23-game winning Streak and this time he May not be kidding. But notre Dame still has loads of Tal ent and valuable experience in pressure games such As its Victory Over West Vir Ginia in last year s fiesta bowl. Colorado has never played in a Gam of this magnitude. However the Buffa Loes did beat three bowl teams Illinois Washington and Nebraska in route twinning their first outright big eight title since 1961. Both teams have great option Quarter backs breakaway runners solid de lenses Good kicking games and excellent coaches. Colorado also has a Mission can the team of the 1980s Start the new decade on a winning note this is the fifth straight year Miami has entered a bowl game with a Chance to win the National championship. Only Penn state has won As Many National titles in the 80s and Only Nebraska has better winning percentage during the decade. Some people expected a drop off after Jimmy Johnson left for the cowboys but it has t happened. The canes arc Asgood As Ever. Their Lone loss came at Florida state when starting quarterback Craig Erickson was out with an injury. Erickson is Back guiding the potent Miami offence which averaged 454 Yards per game this season. The defens Ewas even More impressive limiting opponents to an average of nine Points and217 total Yards per game both Best in the nation. Alabama just wanted to be the bes team in its state but Auburn ruined the tide s perfect record and National title Hopes with a 30-20 Victory in their first meeting Ever at Auburn. The hurricanes arc favored by 42-21. Rose to s Swan song promises to be a memorable one. Michigan can become the first big ten school to win consecutive Rose bowls by beating Southern Cal. Which will be Mak ing a record 27th appearance in the nation s oldest bowl game. Schum Bechler s teams Haven t been very successful in Pasadena. He is 2-7 inthe Rose bowl and 5-11 Overall in Post season games although Michigan has won three of its last four bowl contests. The wolverines have won 10 straight since losing their season opener to notre Dame while Southern Cal is coming offa disappointing 10-10 tic with Urcla. But the trojans usually play Well in therose bowl where they have an 18-8 re Cord. Both teams feature powerful Rushing attacks and Strong defences but South Ern Cal is a better passing team. Fresh Man Todd Marinovich passed for 2,400 Yards and 16 touchdowns and completed6 percent of his passes. The trojans Are favored by two Southern Cal 21-17. An s lineup television saturday John Hancock bowl Pittsburgh n. Texas am 6 30 . Sunday Gator bowl Clemson is. West Virginia 2 pfc wild card game lot Angela rams at Philadelphia 6 30 . Acc wild card game Pittsburgh at Houston Lopen. Monday Copper bowl North Carolina state is. Arizona 2 . Cotton bowl Arkansas is. Tennessee 7-Jo . Fiesta bowl Florida state is. Nebraska 10 30 pan. Tuesday Orange bowl Colorado is. Notre Dame 2 . Radio saturday peach bowl Georgia is. Syracuse 10 30 . Sunday Gator bowl Clemson is. West Virginia 2 Aan pfc wild card game los Angeles rams at Philadelphia 6 30 . Acc wild card game Pittsburgh at Houston 10p.m. Monday Cyrus bowl Illinois is. Vir Gutnia 7 30 Rose bowl Michigan n. Southern California 11 . Tuesday sugar bowl Alabama is. ,2ajn. Cor Husker conference Nebraska head football coach Tom Osborne guides tight ends William Washington left and Monte through a fiesta bowl practice cession tuesday in Tempe Ariz. The once beaten and sixth ranked Cor huskers take on fifth ranked Florida stale in Arizona s annual new year s Day shootout
