A SIDEWAYS GLANCE : SIMPLY, SUCCINCTLY, SUGAR.

Florida State is 13-0-1 in bowl games since losing to Oklahoma on New Year's Day, 1981. That's a college record.

The Seminoles did wind up tied with Georgia in the 1984 Citrus Bowl. But they've won three Orange Bowls, a pair of Sugar Bowls, a couple Fiesta Bowls, two Gator Bowls, a Peach, All-American, Blockbuster and Cotton bowl since that slip-up to the Sooners.

Why are the Seminoles vexed about the Gators rematch? Perhaps because in the 10 bowl rematches in history, the winner of the first game has prevailed in the next game only four times.

More, the 'Noles have handled Florida so regularly - they're 4-2-1 in the rivalry since Steve Spurrier took over in Gainesville - that they may be concerned about the odds catching up with them.

But history also shows that the Gators don't handle games of this magnitude very well. They've played in college football's last two No. 1-vs.-No. 2 games and been defeated both times - 62-24 by Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl last Jan. 2 and 24-21 by Florida State on Nov. 30 in Tallahassee.

Florida State's treatment of Gators quarterback Danny Wuerffel has dominated pregame banter. And here's why: By quasi-actual count, Spurrier said he documented 29 occasions in the Nov. 30 game when FSU pass rushers thumped Wuerffel to the green earth. There were six recorded sacks, suggesting that the other 23 hits were merely for unscheduled massage therapy.

So after weeks of listening to Spurrier whine, members of each coaching staff met Wednesday morning with members of the Big 12 crew that will officiate the game.

Spurrier said afterward that he was confident that ``we're all on the same page.''

And coming from him, that's a concession.

Remember, this is a guy who, after growing tired of a reporter referring to him as a ``genius,'' kindly suggested ``mastermind'' instead.

From second string to MVP 

The surprise hit of New Year's Day was undoubtedly North Carolina quarterback Oscar Davenport, who led the Tar Heels to a 20-13 victory over West Virginia in the Gator Bowl.

A seasonlong backup to all-ACC passer Chris Keldorf, Davenport's opportunity came when Keldorf broke an ankle against Duke in the regular-season finale.

Davenport, a Florida native, had 32 relatives make the trip to Jacksonville for the first start of his college career - against the nation's top-ranked defense, no less.

He responded with a touchdown run and a scoring pass in the second quarter to propel the Tar Heels.

``He was ready,'' said UNC linebacker Kivuusama Mays, who spent Christmas with Davenport. ``He waited his turn the whole year. He didn't cause a controversy. He sat back and congratulated Chris.

``When his time came around, he did his thing and Chris congratulated him. When it comes time for spring football, it's going to be a struggle. One is always trying to beat out the other.''

Arch that pass

Former NFL quarterback Archie Manning is the newest coach in New Orleans, but not for the Saints.

The former Saints quarterback is helping prepare Greg Smith for the Nokia Best Connection Sweepstakes.

Smith, a 32-year-old construction supervisor from Lutcher, La., can win $1 million at halftime of the Sugar Bowl if he can throw a football into a head-high, 1 foot-by-1 foot square from a distance of 12 yards.

Manning showed he still had the touch on Tuesday when he zipped his fifth throw through the hole while working with Smith and two others who were in the drawing.

And Smith showed he stands a decent chance tonight, throwing it through within 10 tries.

It might not be that easy to make that throw when it counts, though.

``There aren't many people who have ever thrown a football in front of 70,000 people,'' Manning said.

Not to mention when $1 million is on the line.

Hail, to the losers

The play of the day? You could pick a dozen from the Rose Bowl, or Dwayne Rudd's interception for Alabama, or a Peyton Manning pass. But how about Kansas State's miracle heave in the final seconds of the first half against Brigham Young in the Cotton Bowl?

With five seconds remaining and Kansas State on the BYU 41, Wildcats quarterback Brian Kavanagh threw into a pack of would-be receivers and defenders waiting in the end zone. The ball bounced off a BYU defender and settled into Andre Anderson's arms as the Kansas State junior fell to the ground.

With no time left on the clock, Jamie Rheem kicked the extra point. BYU was flagged for offsides on the conversion, but everybody except Kansas State coach Bill Snyder ignored the flag and disappeared into the tunnel.

A moment later, the teams were ordered to return, because the penalty moved the ball to the 2, and Snyder decided to try for a 2-point conversion.

Mike Lawrence took a pitch from Kavanagh on the 8 and vaulted into the end zone.

``It was just a numbers game. What do you want to be ahead, by two or three?'' said Snyder.

A Purple Parlay

It's hardly the end of a dynasty, or even an era, but things just won't be the same at Northwestern next season. Coach Gary Barnett is returning - for now, at least, since some think he'll follow Rick Neuheisel at Colorado if Neuheisel takes the Detroit Lions job - but he's one of the few.

Quarterback Steve Schnur departs, as does brilliant linebacker Pat Fitzgerald. Junior tailback Darnell Autry may bolt for the NFL. Defensive coordinator Ron Vanderlinden recently parlayed the Wildcats' success into the head-coaching job at Maryland.

And after a 48-28 thrashing by Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl, quarterbacks coach Craig Johnson announced he'll join Vanderlinden as the Terps offensive coordinator.

Johnson helped Schnur, an intelligent but physically limited passer, become the highest-rated quarterback in the Big Ten this year.

``It's the toughest decision I've ever made,'' said Johnson, who spent five years in purple. ``Northwestern represents everything I want in college football. I'm as comfortable and happy here as I've ever been. But the ultimate goal is to continue to be challenged as a coach.''

Barnett may be thinking the same.

VOICES

``I made a decision before the game that this game would have no bearing on my decision. I'm going to have fun tonight and take my time with this decision. I have no timetable whatsoever. I'm glad I don't have to rush it.''

-Tennessee junior quarterback Peyton Manning, on whether he'll turn pro.

``It was a fun run. When I came here it was bleak. It has been a great ride. It has been an honor to play with these guys. We played as a family. That is what I will take with me. We were not separated by class or age or color. On other teams it is different. It is the way we carry ourselves.''

-Northwestern senior linebacker Pat Fitzgerald.

``It's their party. They can invite who they want.''

-BYU coach LaVell Edwards, on not being invited to the Bowl Alliance.

``If he was the second-team quarterback, I don't even want to see the first-team quarterback.''

-West Virginia linebacker Canute Curtis, on North Carolina's Oscar Davenport, who started his first college game in the Gator Bowl.

``As I was telling the players last night and a little before the game, a lot had been said about maybe winning the game for me. And I wanted that to be the absolute furthest thing on their minds. I said, `The only way you can embarrass me is to not play hard.' ''

-Retiring Alabama coach Gene Stallings.

``Steve Spurrier is still pouting over a loss. He should take it like a man.''

-Florida State nose guard Andre Wadsworth, on FSU's Nov. 30 victory over the Gators.

CAPTION(S):

4 Photos

Photo: (1) No Caption (Oscar Davenport, College Football)

(2) No Caption (College Football Players)

(3) No Caption (College Football Players)

(4) No Caption (Gene Stallings, College Football Coach)

Associated Press