8 p.m. TV: ABC-28 Radio: WWBA-1040AM [Times photo: Jim Damaske] Chris Weinke [AP photo] Josh Heupel
• Orange Bowl No. 3 Florida State vs. No. 1 Oklahoma • FSU keys to victory • Oklahoma keys to victory • Who has the edge		Orange Bowl preview Mr. Heisman vs. Mr. Heupel You've heard athletes say this before: They would trade any individual award for the success of their team. Tonight, the Heisman winner takes on the runner-up, and this time, the prize both truly covet is at stake -- the national championship.

[Times photo: Kevin White] Feeling shunned by the BCS and ignored by UF, Miami gets satisfying win and awaits its title fate. Main story | Photo gallery Refs let the flags fly against both teams NEW ORLEANS -- The officiating crew made it clear early Tuesday that taunting and excessive celebration would not be tolerated, but neither the Gators nor the Hurricanes seemed to pay much attention. Hobbled stars can't slow 'Canes With two key seniors banged up, Miami still has plenty of weapons. Caldwell steps up for UF The receiver who spent the season in Jabar Gaffney's shadow shows why preseason expectations for him were big. It's nearly Ibis in mourning Mascot's celebration: 15-yard penalty, 50-yard PAT, angry UM coach.

Hubert Mizell Dungy faces possibly his most crucial season New Year's Eve in Philadelphia, minutes before midnight's champagne chime, squishing through trashy snow with newspaper comrades in Veterans Stadium's cold, stark, by-then-empty parking lot, it struck me?. . . Bucs Five plays that changed the Bucs' season Here are five plays that, if they had gone in the Bucs' favor, would have given them the best record in the NFL: Gary Shelton Seasons of admiration later, Bowden within reach of a legend MIAMI -- The shadow of the Bear is long, deep, eternal. Darrell Fry The case for the 'Canes has holes NEW ORLEANS -- They wanted to persuade you. They wanted there to be no doubt in your mind, no lingering questions about meeting their burden of proof.

• Bowden quips with an eye toward UF
  MIAMI -- Florida State coach Bobby Bowden was so loose the day before today's Orange Bowl against Oklahoma that he took a good-natured jab at Florida's Steve Spurrier.
• Stoops braces for familiar foe
  The Oklahoma coach knows the pros and cons of facing FSU. He did it four times as a UF assistant.
• Sooners need strong defense; Seminoles will be ready
  Former Ohio State quarterback Kirk Herbstreit, now an ESPN college football analyst and co-host of College GameDay, spoke to Times staff writer Sharon Ginn about today's Orange Bowl.
• Missing Minnis in the thoughts of fellow FSU receivers
  The FSU All-American is ineligible, presenting a chance for his understudies to shine.

NFL
Good feelings abound about Dayne
The numbers paint a blah picture of the Giants' rookie running back. But few partisans are concerned, including Dayne.

Around the AFC

Around the NFC

NFL briefs

Lightning/NHL
Ludzik points to this month
With 10 of 15 January games on the road, the coach says, "It's our season."

Theodore gets 1, allows none
UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Jose Theodore became the sixth goalie to score a goal in a regular-season game and stopped 32 shots as the Montreal Canadiens beat the Islanders 3-0 Tuesday.

Colleges
College basketball briefs
Wake rout brings UVa to earth

Indian star signs with Gators
GIBSONTON -- Mandy Schuerman, a starting pitcher for East Bay's softball team the past three years, will start her senior season a little more relaxed. She recently signed a full four-year athletic scholarship with the University of Florida.

College football briefs
Buckeye letdowns get Cooper fired

Outdoors
Captain's corner
Late afternoon continues to produce the most action. Try to select an afternoon with a major solar-lunar table, outgoing tide or falling barometer.

Et cetera
Sports briefs
Mutiny GM: no worries for team's future

NBA briefs
Nets hold off Magic's rally for 120-110 win

Chill greets Derby Lane opening
Most watch indoors, though some vacationers refuse to be cooped up.

Preps
Eagles, Bears to meet in final
NEW PORT RICHEY -- River Ridge will have to settle for the consolation game today after falling 47-36 to Springstead in the first round of the River Ridge Holiday Tournament on Tuesday.

Tournaments to showcase top area teams
TAMPA -- The King Tournament may be significantly downsized this year and the Soccer Field Classic may be making its debut, but that doesn't mean there will be a shortage of high-caliber soccer to kick off the new millennium.