European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 20, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 26 c the stars and stripes wednesday november 20,1991 commentary Miami cops out on bowl selection by Jeff Shain the Miami hurricanes walked the walk of no. 1 on saturday in knocking off Florida state but school administrators did no to talk the talk of no. 1 sunday when it came to bowl matchup. Instead of taking on the Best available opponent to Settle the National championship the hurricanes copped out by accepting an invitation to spend new years night at the Orange bowl. So much for the Miami swagger. A team that developed a reputation Over the last decade for taking on All Comers a anytime anywhere a opted for the Security of its Home Field and a $4.2 million payoff. There a also a Strong possibility that the hurricanes opponent in this classic matchup will be Nebraska which is rapidly turning into one of the worst bowl teams of All time. The Corn huskers Haven to won a bowl game since 1986 and Are 2-6 in their last eight trips to the postseason. Obviously the Ideal matchup would be for the hurricanes to meet no. 2 Washington to Settle the National title on the Field. That can to happen because of the Pac loss commitment to the Rose bowl but there must be at least a half dozen better matchup out there for Miami. The most intriguing possibility would have been for the hurricanes to meet no. 5 Florida in the sugar bowl. Not Only Are the gators the Best available opponent but the contest would have the added intensity of being an in state rivalry. But Ever since notre Dame was eliminated from the title Chase by Tennessee Miami officials have expressed a preference to stay Home for the holidays. Even if the hurricanes had lost to Florida state they have travelled much More than 40 Miles for their postseason trip. The blockbuster bowl played at Joe Robbie stadium would have been their alternate Choice. Coach Dennis Erickson contends that in discussions with Miami athletic director Dave mag Gard he came away with the impression that school officials did no to believe the sugar bowl was an available option. Nobody knows the Complete truth except for the principals involved but sugar bowl executive director Mickey Holmes was believed to still be holding talks with Miami officials late last week. And the sugar bowl sent a scout to the Florida state Miami game in the slim Hope that Miami would change its mind. Even if the sugar bowl Wasny to an option for the hurricanes there remain other matchup that would have carried More Luster than Nebraska. How about Miami against no. 6 California in the blockbuster bowl or a replay of the 1987 title game against no. 7 Penn stg the in the fiesta bowl even a game against no. 9 Alabama or no. 10 Tennessee would have carried More weight. So Erickson had better get used to the questions. While Miami is enjoying Home cooking and preparing to steamroll Nebraska unbeaten Washington draws a much tougher opponent in the Rose bowl with no. 4 Michigan. Only 15 Points separate Miami and Washington in the latest up off ratings which was voted on before bowl bids were officially offered sunday. If eight people fault the hurricanes for ducking the Best available opponent and switch their votes away from Miami the huskies become no. 1. Recall what happened just one year ago when Colorado carried the no. 1 rating into the postseason beat notre Dame 10-9 and came out ranked no. 2 behind Georgia tech. Its hard to Tell what goes on in the minds of voters and Miami is taking an awfully big risk. Which Points out the biggest problem in the whole bowl scenario. Despite being saddled with bad matchup time and time again bowl officials have been unwilling to delay selection Day into december. Last year the sugar bowl rushed into an decision to invite Virginia then watched the Cavaliers lose their final two regular season games. This year they decided to take notre Dame Over Penn state regardless of what happened in saturdays game Between the two. The fighting Irish got pounded 35-13. Hopefully some of the problem can be cleared up by the bowl Alliance that takes effect next year. Under that system the Orange sugar Cotton and fiesta bowls drawing from the same eight team Pool of top candidates will wait until the first week of december to make their matchup with the Hope of facilitating a National title game. After he bowl shenanigans of the last two years the Alliance can to happen soon enough. United Prass Letam atonal monarchs Host knights in 92 debut giving pointers to the Champ heavyweight Champion Evandor holy Flold left gets some Atlanta where he will race smoking Bert Cooper saturday in animated pointers monday from Trainer George Benton in a bout at the Omni. 2 More americans reach semis Sydney Australia apr Vernon Forrest of Augusta ga., and Larry Donald of Cincinnati became the second and third americans to reach the semifinals of the world Amateur boxing championships with victories on tuesday night. Forrest a 33-18 Winner in a 139-Pound fight against Peter Richardson of England will meet Candelari Duvergel of Cuba in a semifinal on wednesday night. Donald stopped Petr Hrivnak of Czechoslovakia in the second round of their super heavyweight bout. He will face Sevilen Russinoff of Bulgaria in the semifinals on wednesday. Eric Griffin who won the 106-Pound world Amateur boxing title at the world championships in Moscow in 1989, had earned a semifinal berth when he stopped soc Shargal of Mongolia in the third round monday night. The fourth . Boxer in the quarterfinals John Ruiz of Chelsea mass., lost 20-14 to Andrei kurnia Vak of the soviet Union at 171 pounds on tuesday. Griffin a 5-foot-3 Light flyweight had his Victory Over soc Shargal protested by the mongolians who contended the left to the body that ended the fight was a Low blow. The protest was rejected tuesday by the International Amateur boxing association. Griffin will meet Nelson Dieppa of puerto Rico in the semifinals. »u9nj�onday in fit Ivan Robinson of Philadelphia lost a 49-47 decision to Park Duk Kyu of South Korea in a ruling that enraged the . Contingent. Their anger was focused on yugoslav referee Cretin Jab Canin who issued two warnings against Robinson costing him six Points but did not penalize the korean for grabbing Robinson about the neck. Besides Robinsons controversial loss on monday Tim Austin of Cincinnati was eliminated when he lost 29-28 to is Van Kovacs of Hungary at 112 pounds alter falling far behind in the first round. New York up the world league of american football entering its second season under the umbrella of the nil monday released its 1992 schedule with the London monarchs opening defense of their championship by hosting the new York new Jersey knights. The 10-team Olaf will open the season with three games March 21 and wind up with the world bowl june 6. Nine of the teams will be returning for their second season with the 10th to be awarded within the United states this month. Teams returning Are London the Barcelona dragons and Frankfurt Galaxy in the european division new York new Jersey the Montreal machine and Orlando Thunder in the North american East which also will feature the expansion team and the Birmingham fire Sacramento surge and san Antonio riders in the North american West. The three division champions and one wild card team with the Best Overall second place record will make the semifinal playoffs May 30-31. The nil recently extended television agreements through 1994, which will include Olaf coverage by Abc sports and Usa network. In Europe Barcelona is in the second year of a two year television agreement and final negotiations Are in process with broadcasters in Canada Germany the United kingdom Japan and the soviet Union. The Olaf said it expects expanded television coverage in at least 25 countries. Of the 50 regular season games 28 will be played on saturdays and 22 on sundays. Frankfurt and Barcelona begin at month Pic stadium site of the 1992 olympics opening and closing ceremonies. Abc will carry the monarchs opener against the knights from Wembley stadium March 22. London went 11-1 last year to win the inaugural championship and new York new Jersey went 9-1 to win its division. A
