ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, December 23, 1996 TAG: 9612230163
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
For Nebraska, the scenery is familiar, but the circumstances have changed.
The Cornhuskers (10-2) arrived in Miami on Sunday amidst the usual fanfare and perfect weather. Nebraska will face Big East co-champion Virginia Tech (10-1) in the Orange Bowl on Dec.31 at Pro Player Stadium.
The change in game venue isn't the only thing that makes this year's game different than years past.
Something was missing as coach Tom Osborne and his players walked off the airplane with the Nebraska fight song blaring over speakers. There was no sense of urgency in the air.
For the first time in recent years Nebraska isn't playing for a national title or in a game with championship implications.
Not with two losses, including a shocking 37-27 upset by 201/2-point underdog Texas in the Big 12 Conference championship on Dec.6.
The loss, Nebraska's first to a conference foe in five years, knocked them out of a likely Sugar Bowl matchup with No.1 Florida State and sent the Cornhuskers to Miami for the fifth time in six years.
``Naturally, I'd rather be playing in a national championship game, but we're really honored and we're probably fortunate to be here,'' Osborne said. ``I'm pleased that the Orange Bowl took us; they obviously could have gone in other directions.''
Many of the Cornhuskers' fans may be headed in different directions, as well. Nebraska has sold only 7,500 of its 15,000 allotted tickets because many fans already had booked non-refundable flights to New Orleans.
After spending Sunday settling in and getting acclimated to the warm weather, Nebraska will start preparing in earnest today. Temperatures near 80 degrees are expected for Christmas compared with the 25-degree deep freeze the team left behind. The Hokies are not leaving Blacksburg until Christmas night.
Even though the Cornhuskers won't be playing for the national title for the first time in four years, there won't be any changes in the preparation.
``I don't know how to approach it any other way,'' said Osborne, who guided Nebraska to back-to-back titles the past two years. ``We're going to try and win it and play as well as we can. It doesn't make any difference whether you're 12-0 or 10-2, it's the same deal. You've got to try and play the best you can.''
HOCKEY Hull scores 500th goal
Brett Hull became the 24th player in NHL history to score 500 goals when he completed a hat trick in the third period of the St. Louis Blues' 7-4 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in St.Louis.
In reaching the milestone, Hull joined Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Hull as the only father-son combination in the sport's history to score 500 goals apiece. Bobby Hull scored 610 goals, the NHL record for a left wing.
Hull got his 500th 10:25 into the third period. Pierre Turgeon centered the puck to Hull in the right faceoff circle from behind the net, and Hull one-timed a shot between goalie Stephane Fiset's pads to give the Blues a 7-3 advantage.
BASKETBALL Rage, Staley come up short
Former Virginia All-American Dawn Staley's 3-point shot fell short in the final second as the Atlanta Glory held on for a 78-77 American Basketball League victory over the Richmond Rage in Richmond
Missy Masley led the Glory with 17 points and Carla McGhee added 15. Adrienne Goodson scored 20 points to lead the Rage, who also got 16 points from Taj McWilliams.
LENGTH: Medium: 69 linesby CNB