Michigan Home to Watch Orange Bowl

ROMULUS, Mich. (AP) -- Although Michigan players insisted the outcome was not important, that didn't mean some of the Rose Bowl champion Wolverines were unconcerned about events taking place at the Orange Bowl Friday night.

Some of the Wolverines who arrived back in Michigan said they planned to watch No. 2 Nebraska play No. 3 Tennessee in Miami. The Cornhuskers won 42-17.

At the conclusion of Orange Bowl, voters in The Associated Press poll were to begin voting for a national champion. Some had speculated that a convincing win by Nebraska might sway enough poll voters to split the vote for the national champion.

``They probably got some voters but I don't know, I really don't know,'' Michigan wide receiver Terrence Quinn said by telephone from his apartment in Ann Arbor, where he watched the Orange Bowl.

``We're No. 1 in the country right now,'' he said, adding that it's unfortunate that the No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup wouldn't be played this year.

``I just think it would be a great game but that's not possible this year,'' he said.

The final AP Top 25 poll was expected to be released Saturday morning.

``That's out of our control. We've done what we can do,'' offensive tackle Jon Jansen said, shortly after stepping off a flight at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. ``We won 12 games. We played a tough schedule. Whatever they do, it's really not up to us.''

Jansen had planned to watch the Orange Bowl with family and friends. Others, like linebacker Ian Gold, seemed less interested in the game.

``If it happens to be on my tube, then it happens to be on,'' Gold said.

Gold said the outcome of the Orange Bowl shouldn't matter. Like the rest of his teammates, he believes the Wolverines should be No. 1.

As far as a potential split of the two polls, Gold said thanks, but no thanks.

``Honestly, you never like a tie. I'm a competitor, and anytime I tie somebody, it means I'm not better than them,'' Gold said. ``I wouldn't want to say we were co-national champions. So I say they should either pick one or the other.

``If they pick us, so be it. I'll be real happy about that. If they pick them, I'm not a sore loser. I'll congratulate them. They've also had a great season.''

Defensive lineman James Hall said splitting the polls would be bittersweet.

``We should be champions. Even if we don't get it, or split it, in everybody's mind on this team, we're the No. 1 team in the nation.''

Running back Chris Floyd agreed.

``I heard they might decide to split the polls. Even if we weren't ranked No. 1, it's all good to me,'' Floyd said. ``I feel like we're still the best team in the country. I'm not dwelling on (the Orange Bowl).''

At Ann Arbor, a crowd of about 50 people singing ``The Victors'' greeted about eight players and coaches who arrived on a chartered bus in front of Schembechler Hall. Some players skirted the crowd, others signed autographs.

Andre Weathers, a senior cornerback, circled the crowd on the way to his car. He said he would continue celebrating after he'd had some rest.

The crowd was formed mostly of children, parents and students.

Weathers said he thought the celebration would last ``forever ... until next season.''

``At Michigan, you always have high expectations,'' he added.