Silence is Frazier’s remedy
By Todd Cooper
Senior Editor
MIAMI — Tommie Frazier didn't
want to talk to anyone after Nebras
ka’s 18-16 loss to Florida State in the
Orange Bowl.
So for a while, he didn’t.
With Turner
U UAlxlili
Gill draped over
him, Frazier twist
ed his way through
) the erowds of well
wishers, who had
just watched the
sophomore surprise
the nation by weav
ing his way through
Florida State’s de
fense.
Head down, Frazier showed no
expression as Seminole coaches and
players approached him with con
gratulations for his performance and
consolations for the loss.
“I noticed them,” Frazier said later
of the crowds. “But I didn’t feel like
talking.”
Fra/.ierdid feel a lot like Gill must
have after the 19X4 Orange Bowl,
when the former Nebraska quarter
back’s national title hopes disappeared
with a failed two-point conversion in
the closing seconds of the game.
“It happened to him,” Frazier said.
“So he knew how 1 felt. He just told
me to keep my head up and to stay
focused.”
But, Frazier said, staying focused
maybe tougherafter hisperformance,
which earned him Nebraska’s Orange
Bowl MVP award.
He said he realized the spotlight
might shine his way in the fall.
“That might be the case,” he said.
“1 can’t worry about what the media
says, though, because what they say
isn’t going to help us win any games.”
More performances like Frazier’s
in the Orange Bowl might help Ne
braska win games, though.
Frazier threw for 20b yards on 13
of-24 passing and led Nebraska with
77 yards on 14 carries. His 283 yards
of total offense equaled Hcisman T ro
phy winner Charlie Ward’s output.
Ward threw for 28b yards on 24-of-43
passing but was held to minus-three
yards rushing.
Frazier’s performance impressed
Florida State coach Bobby Bowden.
“Charlie, 1 guess, ends as the star,
but if that boy kicks the field goal,
then Tommie Fra/icr is the star, isn’t
he?,” Bowden said. “Fie made some
plays that were unbelievable.”
But Frazier said he didn’t do any
thing extraordinary.
“I just felt a lot more relaxed,” he
said. “I didn’t try to put too much
pressure on myself. And when things
went bad, I stayed focused.”
Frazier rebounded from a fourth
quarter interception deep in Florida
State’s territory to lead Nebraska on
two drives in the final two minutes.
His 29-yard pass to light end
Trumanc Bell in the closing seconds
set up Byron Bennett's 45-yard field
goal that missed left.
“I was disappointed that we came
just a field goal away,” Frazier said.
“It was disappointing, but we’re not
going to blame our kicker. He should
have never been in that situation. It
shouldn’t have been a game by then.”
But will coming that close help
Nebraska next season?
“I don’t think it gives us momen
tum,” Frazier said. “But it makes us
more aware of what we can do.
“I am very excited about next year.
We’ll just have to wait and see what
happens.”