Kanell Wards Off Irish With Comeback

Danny Kanell will never replace Charlie Ward in the hearts of Florida State fans, and Tom Krug will never replace Ron Powlus in the mind of Notre Dame Coach Lou Holtz. But even if neither starting quarterback won over his critics in Monday night’s Orange Bowl game, they at least left them speechless.

Of course, Kanell had to feel better because his team won, 31-26, largely because of the fourth-quarter comeback that he led and the 290 yards and Orange Bowl-record four touchdowns that he produced through the air. It was Florida State’s 14th consecutive bowl game without a loss, including an NCAA record 11 consecutive victories.

But although Krug did not have quite that good a night statistically, he did prove that he belonged on the field. If one listened to Holtz last week while he either screamed in Krug’s ear during practices or made unflattering remarks about him afterward, there had to be some question about the Los Gatos, Calif., junior’s ability. Until Powlus was injured in the next-to-last regular-season game, Krug had not thrown a pass this season.

When Krug was not hearing about Powlus last week, he was looking at him. Even though Powlus has a broken arm, Holtz brought him with the team to coach Krug before, during and after practices.

Krug either learned his lessons well, or tuned them out, because he threw for three touchdowns and almost led the Irish to the biggest upset of the bowl season. No. 6 Notre Dame and No. 8 Florida State were both 9-2 entering the game, but the Irish were 11-point underdogs.

Krug could at least see his nemesis. Kanell has been operating against the ghost of Ward, the Heisman Trophy winner who led Florida State to its only national championship in 1993. Kanell finished his college career with one fewer victory than Ward, but the perception persists that he is not as much of a winner.

That certainly had to be the feeling among those in the crowd of 72,198 who favored Florida State early in the fourth quarter, when Kanell stepped out of the back of his own end zone while attempting to pass, the safety giving Notre Dame a 19-14 lead.

The Irish then took the ensuing kick and drove 63 yards in five plays, including a five-yard pass to tight end Pete Chryplewicz for a touchdown. With 11:43 remaining, Notre Dame led, 26-14.

“At that time, I wouldn’t have given a plug nickel for our chances,” Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden said.

He should have known better. As well as the Irish played defensively in the first three quarters, the Seminoles have one of the nation’s most explosive offenses, with tailback Warrick Dunn rushing for more than 1,200 yards--a school record--and receivers Andre Cooper and E.G. Green each gaining more than 1,000 yards in receptions.

The Seminoles needed only 1:56 to cut the Notre Dame lead to 26-21, driving 73 yards in five plays. Kanell passed 11 yards to Green for the touchdown with 9:47 remaining.

After a 48-yard punt return by Dee Feaster, the Seminoles had to drive only 30 yards for the touchdown that gave them the lead. Cooper caught a three-yard touchdown pass, his third of the night, then caught the two-point conversion that gave the Seminoles a 29-26 lead with 6:09 remaining.

That was the sequence that probably earned Cooper Florida State’s most valuable player award, but Dunn, with 151 yards on 22 carries, also could have won it.

Florida State had time for another drive to the Notre Dame three, but a fourth-down pass into the end zone failed. That gave the Irish one last chance, but Krug was called for intentional grounding in the end zone for a safety and the Seminoles’ final two points.

Until the fourth quarter, Notre Dame had tied Florida State’s defense in knots with a shotgun offense designed for Krug and four wideouts. One of them, Derrick Mayes, caught six passes for 96 yards and touchdown passes of 39 and 33 yards. Krug was not the only able backup. Filling in for suspended tailback Randy Kinder, Robert Farmer and Autry Denson combined for 170 yards. Holtz even let his punter, Hunter Smith, throw once, connecting for a first down on fourth and 13 from his own 21 late in the first half. Fullback Marc Edwards caught the pass for a 29-yard gain. With flair like that almost came the upset.

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Bowling Them Over

Coach Bobby Bowden and Florida State have won 11 consecutive bowl games. A look: *--*

Year Bowl Result 1985 Gator Florida State 34, Oklahoma State 23 1986 All-American Florida State 27, Indiana 13 1988 Fiesta Florida State 31, Nebraska 28 1989 Sugar Florida State 13, Auburn 7 1990 Fiesta Florida State 41, Nebraska 17 1990 Blockbuster Florida State 24, Penn State 17 1992 Cotton Florida State 10, Texas A&M; 2 1993 Orange Florida State 27, Nebraska 14 1994 Orange Florida State 18, Nebraska 16 1995 Sugar Florida State 23, Florida 17 1996 Orange Florida State 31, Notre Dame 26

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ALL-TIME BOWL VICTORIES FOR COACHES

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Coach Bowls (School) W-L-T Pct Joe Paterno 26 (Penn State) 17-8-1 .673 Paul “Bear” Bryant 29 (Al, Ky, Tx A&M;) 15-12-2 .552 Bobby Bowden 19 (Florida St., W. Va) 15-3-1 .816 Lou Holtz 20 (N.C. St., Ark, N. D., Wm & M) 10-8-2 .550 Don James 15 (Kent, Wash.) 10-5-0 .667 Johnny Vaught 18 (Mississippi) 10-8-0 .555

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