European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 9, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday december 9,1992 sports the stars and stripes b Page 25history takes either Side in sugar by Paul Newberry Alliance has arranged its 1-2 showdown Alabama and Miami each can claim history will be on its Side when Birmingham Ala. Apr now that the bowl 1-2 St in 1 the hurricanes and Crimson tide meet for the National championship in new Orleans. But history is against them too. Alabama has clinched two National titles at the sugar bowl including the memorable 1979 game in which Penn state was stopped at the goal line and the Crimson tide held on for a 14-7 Victory. Miami likes to Point to the 1990 game when the hurricanes beat Alabama 33-25 to finish no. 1. Both teams also have known their share of disappointment in the big easy. At Alabama they still remember the missed extra Point in the 1973 sugar bowl that gave Stalun notre Dame a 24-23 win and the National championship. The Low Point for Miami was the a Rocky top game against Tennessee in 1986, a 35-7 loss that ended the hurricanes bid for a National Crown. On new years night top ranked Miami 11-0 and the second ranked Crimson tide 12-0 will meet at the super dome in a potentially landmark game with another National title at stake. A i thought it would be almost impossible for us to go 120,�?� Alabama coach Gene Stallings said after his team Defeated no. 14 Florida 28-21 in the inaugural Southeastern conference championship game saturday. A but it took every one of those wins to put us in position to play for the National championship. That was one of our goals  the sugar bowl could be described As a Battle of the Ages with the dominant team from the 1960s and �?T70s Alabama meeting the heir to the College football throne Miami. Between them they have collected 10 National  loses feat in Sec title game Birmingham Ala. Apr no. 2 Alabama was hoping to become Only the second team in Mcaa history to Lead the nation in All four major defensive categories. But an extra game even though it was a 28-21 Victory Cost the Crimson tide. Alabama 12-0 was ranked first in total Rushing passing and scoring defense heading into saturdays inaugural Southeastern conference championship game against no. 14 Florida. The gators rallying from a 21-7 deficit became the first team this season to score three touchdowns against the tide which gave up 287 Yards passing and 317 Yards total a both season highs. That shaky performance knocked Alabama to second in Points allowed 9.1 per game trailing arizonans 8.9 and passing efficiency defense just behind Western Michigan. The tide did fish on top in Rushing defense 55-Yard average and total defense 194.2-Yard average. Oklahoma in 1986 remains the Only school to Lead the nation in All four categories for an entire season. The hurricanes have won their four championships in the past nine years and Are seeking to become the first team Ever to win five Over a 10-year period. A a we re chasing history a cornerback Ryan Mcneil said. A it does no to matter who a in our  Miami also wants to become the first school to finish no. 1 two years in a Row since the tide in 1978 and �?T79, when Alabama won the last of its six National championships. The tide and hurricanes feature two of the nations Best defences with Alabama finishing first or second in All four major categories. But Miami figures to have a big Edge at quarterback with Heisman trophy contender Gino Torretta. Torretta a senior has thrown for 3,060 Yards and 19 touchdowns while Alabama Sophomore Jay Barker has Only seven to passes and nine interceptions. A we know the truth a Mcneil said. A they Are Good and they Lead the nation in every defensive category actually two but its going to be hard to contain our offence. I think our offence Nas a Little More Mph than their  Alabama is used to being put Down though from those who say the tide has played a soft schedule to others who claim the offence is not championship Cali Bre. A you can to listen to what people say when they criticize us a said Barker who is 16-0 As a starter. A a we be proven ourselves 12 times now. We arc going to the sugar bowl with a Chance to win the National  Alabama also figures to have a Home Field advantage in new Orleans. In both 1986 and �?T90, Miami took Only a Small contingent of fans who were heavily outnumbered by Tennessee and Alabama rooters. The crowd made a difference in 1986. Miami quarterback Vinny Testaverde said after that game he had trouble hearing Over the Roar of the Tennessee fans. On the hurricanes first play he was so rattled he lined up behind the guard. In 1990, Miami used the crowd to its advantage. A week of taunting and jeers by Alabama fans had the hurricanes angry and ready to go by Kickoff. A this is a Southeastern conference Home game a Miami coach Dennis Erickson said after that contest referring to the secs automatic sugar bowl berth. A a it a always going to be that  not that playing on the Road bothers the hurricanes who have the nations longest winning Streak at 29 games. Alabama is second with 22 in a Row. A a we re one game away from completing our goal a Miami linebacker Micheal Barrow said. A we Haven to come this far to be  Alabama feels the same Way. A a we be got another game to play a said running Back Derrick Lassie. A a it a not a dream season yet.caps survive senators rally for 6-5 win by the associated press Ottawa a the Ottawa senators displayed that never give up attitude scored five goals for Only the second time in their history and. Lost. A we fought Back a Ottawa coach Rick Bowness said proudly. A a they re a hell of a hockey team and for us to score five goals is very  but not Good enough. Mike Ridley and Kelly Miller had a goal and two assists each and the Washington capitals withstood a late surge to beat the senators 6-5 monday night for their fourth straight Victory and seventh in nine games. Leading 6-2, the capitals forgot to play defense. Itji Early Cost them the game. A _ goals Tawa which trailed 4-0 Ana 6-2 before Sylvain Turgeon had two goals for of scoring three times in games final 14 minutes. The loss ended the expansion teams Only two game unbeaten Streak and left the senators 3-24-2. A the first two periods we outplayed them pretty badly said defens Eman a1 Iafrate who had two assists and set up a Host of other Good scoring chances. A in the third we May have gotten too fancy and tried to fill out our  Sylvain Cote Peter Bondra Kevin Hatcher and Dale Hunter also had goals for Washington. Jeff Lazaro Andrew Mcbain Ana Tomas Jelinek also scored for Ottawa. Ridley opened the scoring against Peter Sidorkiewicz with his 12th goal with just 2 27 gone and assisted along with Miller when Cote scored shorthanded at 5 30. Bondra scored at 10 28 and Hunter at 15 33. Lazaro beat Don Beaupre with 3 02 left in the period and Turgeon scored 30 seconds later to make it 4-2. Hatchery a Power play goal at 6 32 was the Only score of the second period. Ridley got an assist when Miller scored his seventh goal at 5 27 of the final period. The senators began their comeback on Turgeon a 10th goal at 6 27. Mcbain scored 57 seconds later and Jelinek pulled the senators to a goal Back at 13 46. In other games monday night canucks 4, blues 3 Vancouver British Columbia defens Eman Dana Murzyn a first goal of the season with 5 46 to play won it for Vancouver. Murzyn scored unassisted when his shot from just inside the Blue line beat goalie Curtis Joseph who was screened by canucks Captain Trevor Linden. It was the eighth consecutive Victory at the Pacific coliseum for the canucks Matching a team record set in 1983 and reached again three years ago. Vancouver goalie Kay Whitmore preserved the Victory with a spectacular save on Brendan Shanahan in the last minute. Petr Nedved Sergio Somesso and Geoff Courtnell also scored for the canucks. Nelson Emerson scored twice and Kevin Miller once for St. Louis which dropped to 2-10-1 on the  6, oilers 3 Calgary Alberta a denied twice in the opening minutes Sergei Makarovs Diligence eventually paid off and he helped Calgary continue its dominance of Edmonton. The russian born right Wing hit a Post and was robbed by Edmonton goaltender Bill Ranford in the first three minutes. But he wound up with a goal and an assist As Calgary increased its unbeaten Streak against the oilers to six games 50-1 since last january. Other Paul ran goal scorers for Calgary were Neim Joel Otto Joe Lieuwen Dyk and Roger Johansson. Edmonton got goals from Chris Joseph Scott Mellanby and Shayne  6, lightning 1 Tampa Fla. A Brian Mullen scored twice and Glenn Healy stopped 26 shots As new York handed Tampa Bay its fourth straight loss and ninth in 10 games. The game featured three fighting penalties on each Side and 114 penalty minutes. Ray Ferraro Jeff Norton Derek King and Brad Delgarno also scored for the islanders against Pat Jablonski. Healy lost his shutout when Shawn Chambers scored with less than five minutes to  4, sabres 3 Quebec a Joe Sakic had two goals and Mats Sundin two assists extending his string of games with at least a Point to 29 As Quebec ended a four game losing Streak. The sabres a wingless in their last four games a were denied a potential tying goal with 4 19 to play when referee Terry Gregson consulted a video replay and determined the puck had not entered the net. Quebec goaltender Ron Hextall covered the puck on the goal line with his Blocker after a shot by Dave  Probert allowed to play in Canada again Detroit apr Bob Probert went Home again monday setting foot in his native Canada for the first time since Border guards caught him trying to smuggle cocaine into the United states nearly four years ago. The Detroit red wings rugged left Wing made a Brief trip with his lawyer through the Tunnel Between Detroit and Windsor Ontario to certify a . Immigration and naturalization service waiver allowing him to travel freely in and out of the United states. The ruling Means Probert a 27-year-old Windsor native will be Able to join the red wings for games played in Canada for the first time since his arrest. A a it a got to be one of the happiest Days of my life to be Able to play with the team m Canada and visit my family again a Probert said monday. Probert was arrested on the Canadian Side of the Detroit Windsor Tunnel with a half ounce of cocaine in March 1989. He was ordered deported because of his conviction in that arrest and past problems with Drunken driving. Since then he has appealed the deportation order and applied numerous times for an immigration waiver. His latest application was granted monday. The red wings were to Host Chicago on tuesday and travel to Toronto on wednesday. Probert last played in Canada against the Maple Leafs in december 1988