Orange Bowl UF punishes Terps [Times photo: Brendan Fitterer] FLORIDA 56, MARYLAND 23: Rex Grossman, coming off bench after missing curfew, leads rout. Third in trio gets chance to stand out Taylor Jacobs, Florida's No. 3 receiver, has breakout game on a national stage with 10 catches for 170 yards.

John Romano
Coach's point taken, Grossman makes his
MIAMI -- Midnight arrived, curfew's hour called, and you knew exactly where Rex Grossman stood. That would be back in Steve Spurrier's good graces.

Rose Bowl
Belittled foe a bad match for 'Canes
Nebraska may appear unworthy, but option attack might give it best shot of beating Miami in title game.

BCS founder likes idea of a split championship
MIAMI -- The man who helped create the Bowl Championship Series said Wednesday night that he likes the idea of two national champions.

Leavitt gives some options on how to stop the option
TAMPA -- As a defensive coach at Kansas State from 1990 to 1995, South Florida coach Jim Leavitt went up against the Nebraska option attack six times. So the Times asked Leavitt if he could give a briefing on what it takes to slow the mighty Cornhuskers.

• Nebraska's 5 keys to victory
• Miami's 5 keys to victory

Coaches seem relaxed as game nears
LOS ANGELES -- It's almost time to take the field. The hypefest has ended.

Bucs
Bucs tied for most with 6 Pro Bowl players
Four from Tampa Bay's defense, two from the offense going to Hawaii.

An overlooked Rice feeling frustrated
TAMPA -- The Bucs had six players make the Pro Bowl, and none was a surprise.

Many Bucs taking the week off
With nothing on the line against the Eagles, several starters may sit out with "injuries".

Lightning
Lightning shoots but misses
Nikolai Khabibulin gets no help in a 2-0 loss to the Wild.

Lightning may alter logo
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Lightning again is trying to find a new look.

Starting strong a priority
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Left wing Dave Andreychuk said he never saw anything like it. Neither had right wing Sheldon Keefe.

College basketball
USF's waste hastens FSU's win
TAMPA -- The hollering by Florida State's players during the walk to the locker room, mixed with some emphatic expletives of joy, gave the distinct impression they had just won a huge game.

Colleges
Seminoles set stage for return to old times
Tuesday's Gator Bowl win gave a young squad several things to build on next season.

UM sued for sexual harassment
MIAMI -- A former assistant equipment manager at Miami is suing the school, alleging sexual discrimination and harassment on the job after administrators removed her in February less than one hour after she filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Parimutuels
Saint strong in Puppy Preview
ST. PETERSBURG -- Jim Abernathy had a hard time explaining how his greyhound, Husker Saint, won the first Puppy Preview semifinal during the opening of Derby Lane's 77th season on Wednesday.

Preps
Boys soccer city championship
WHEN/WHERE: Today -- Friday, Northeast High

Late goal keeps Eagles perfect
Springstead wins 1-0 against Gulf to earn a matchup with Palm Harbor University, the only other undefeated team in the tournament.

Largo's defense baffles Brandon
The Eagles struggle to score in the second half against Largo. The Packers will face Wharton in Friday's semifinals.

Around the county
Golf

PHU's win sets up showdown with undefeated Springstead
The 'Canes will face the Eagles after beating Pasco 5-1. Tarpon Springs falls to Ridgewood 3-0.

Outdoors
Daily fishing report
Acombination of low morning tides, cool water and the lack of baitfish have made for tough fishing on the flats. The afternoons have proven more productive when the water temperature rises a degree or two and the water creeps back around the mangrove roots.