Troubled Star Back In Lineup

Lawrence Phillips, the troubled running back who has not started for No. 1 Nebraska in more than three months, will start against No. 2 Florida in the Fiesta Bowl for the national championship.

Nebraska coach Tom Osborne said Tuesday that Phillips simply played better than freshman Ahman Green in two recent scrimmages and the regular-season finale against Oklahoma.

Phillips has not started since Sept. 9 at Michigan State, when he ran for 206 yards and four touchdowns. The next morning, he climbed into a Lincoln apartment and beat former girlfriend Kate McEwen, a 20-year-old Nebraska basketball player.