Web posted January 2, 1998

The Associated Press

MIAMI -- Even before the Rose Bowl began, Tom Osborne knew the score.

The retiring Nebraska coach was well aware that a victory by No. 1 Michigan would make it tough for his No. 2 team to win the national title, no matter how it did against Tennessee in the Orange Bowl.

So he offered this one thought early Thursday.

``My only hope is that people will watch the games -- at least through January 2,'' he said. ``However it falls, it falls.''

Hours later, Michigan won the Rose, 21-16 over No. 8 Washington State to complete a perfect season.

Now, in Osborne's final game, the unbeaten Cornhuskers will get a last chance to stake their claim to a third national title in four seasons Friday night when they take on Peyton Manning and No. 3 Tennessee.

``Whether Michigan wins or loses, hopefully it will not have a major effect on how we play the game,'' Osborne said. ``You kind of wish you were all playing at the same time.''

Despite its 12-0 record, Nebraska finished far behind Michigan in the regular-season polls. The last time a team went undefeated and did not win the title was 1994 -- when the Cornhuskers were voted ahead of Penn State.

Starting next season, the bowl alliance will include all teams, making a No. 1 vs. No. 2 match almost certain. Still, Osborne and Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer would support a playoff setup.

``I've changed in the last couple, three years,'' Fulmer said. ``I always thought the bowl system was the way to go. But after being left out of the bowl alliance the last two or three seasons, I think we should play it off.''

In the meantime, there was not much for either team to do Thursday except wait and watch.

Nebraska and Tennessee (11-1) each held walk-through practices at Pro Player Stadium during the first half of the Rose Bowl.

``We were told it was nonnegotiable,'' Osborne said. ``We tried to negotiate it.''

Osborne was told there was no other option, however, because the elaborate halftime show at the Orange Bowl, sponsored by FedEx, needed the field for preparation. So the Huskers were left to scramble for the TV sets whenever possible to see the Rose.

``The plan is to try to watch as much as we can,'' he said. ``We'll probably miss quite a bit of the game. As I've told the players, it doesn't matter.''

The Cornhuskers wanted to see for themselves, though. Osborne said he offered his players a choice of going to three or four movies, but ``85-90 percent wanted to watch the Rose Bowl, so that's what we'll do.''

Fulmer planned to take his team to dinner after the workout, and he envisioned having television sets near the tables.

For the moment, his focus was on Tennessee's first game against Nebraska. Stopping the Cornhuskers' offense, which leads the nation with 47 points a game, is one big problem, and protecting Manning is another.

At least Fulmer was not fretting about Manning's gimpy right knee. The AllAmerica quarterback was mobile in practice, giving the Volunteers hope they could exploit Nebraska's inexperienced secondary.

``He's about as close to 100 percent as you could be,'' Fulmer said. ``It's up to us to make sure we help him as much as we can.''

One facet Fulmer cannot control is Nebraska's resolve to send Osborne out with a win. The oddsmakers believe Osborne's impending retirement will help the Huskers -- the point spread increased from 7 1/2 to 13 1/2 after his announcement.

``I would think from an emotional standpoint it would excite and motivate their players,'' Fulmer said. ``But I think once the game starts, that's not such a big factor.''

Osborne, true to his nature, has played down talk about his departure after 25 years.

``I really don't think a whole lot about it being my last game,'' he said. ``Obviously, I'm aware of the fact that it's the last one. But it won't trigger any special emotion. Nobody has sat around and reminisced or shed any tears.''

``It's the final game for a lot of guys,'' he added. ``For both sides, there are probably 20-30 seniors playing their last game. The fact that it's mine is no different than those guys.''