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turn to the
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The Michigan Daily - Sports Monday - November 13, 1989
tightens
as
Michigan
tops
Illini
24-10 win
No rivalry here -
Illini sing the Blues
CHAMPAIGN - It takes two to have a rivalry.
Judging from the atmosphere in Champaign this
weekend, the Michigan-Illinois game involved more
people than a presidential election.
There were tee-shirts with the block M saying "M
blows." And others were around saying things like "Bo
don't know football, Bo don't know coaching, Bo don't
know Illinois."
Stupid, stupid shirts.
They would have been slightly
better if the designers had passed a
Steve fifth-grade English grammar class.
Blonder And then driving to the stadium,'
I saw a fraternity charging people to
hit (using a sledge hammer) a car
with "Bo Shitbechler died here"
inscribed on the door.
The sad part is that the fraternity
seemed to be making a lot of
money.
Stupid, stupid people.
The entire atmosphere was one of
hate. People on the street were
obsessed with making Michigan-
Illinois into a fierce and unsurpassed
rivalry.
But it takes two to have a rivalry, and Michigan fans
aren't yet ready to canonize the Illini.
Michigan already has a big rivalry with Michigan
State and another involving Ohio State. The Wolverines
don't have enough emotion to spread over three different
Big Ten teams and Notre Dame.
On the other hand, Illinois has no one else to rival.
Just imagine if a team's major rivalry was against the
other conference school in the state, and that school was
Northwestern.
The suspense of winning would be gone. Big games
would be determined by how many points above the
spread Illinois could win by.
Stupid, stupid idea.
Sure Michigan and Illinois have played several big
games in the past year and will probably play a few
more in years to come. Particularly with Illinois
fielding a potentially dangerous team again next season.
But for now, the tradition doesn't exist to establish
Michigan-Illinois as a rivalry. One can go back to the
1920s when Red Grange ran wild against the
Wolverines, or the 1940s when Illinois lost six straight
to Michigan and eight of nine.
Recent football tradition at Illinois remains
composed of scandal and losing. Maybe that's why
21,000 tickets still remain for Illinois' last home game
of the season against Indiana.
Michigan has helped fawn Illinois' losing ways both
on the gridiron and the basketball court. The Wolverines
took control of Illinois' football destiny the last two
season§ and knocked the Illini out of the NCAA Final
Four in Seattle.
See BLONDER, page 4
moves
M'
closer to
Pasadena
by Adam Benson
Daily Football Writer
CHAMPAIGN - As Vada
Murray tipped away Jeff George's
pass into the end zone for what could
have been a game-tying touchdown
in the third quarter, the University of
Illinois must look at the University
of Michigan like a little brother
might when a big brother dangles a
piece of candy over head.
The little brother keeps jumping
to grab the piece away, but the big
brother always keeps the sugary stuff
just a bit too far away.
The deflection highlighted a
second-half revival from Michigan's
defense, which stymied quarterback
Jeff George and Illinois' explosive
passing attack in Saturday's 24-10
Woverine victory.
"We played extremely hard and
our defense played extremely well in
the second half," Michigan coach Bo
Schembechler said. "To shut them
out in in the second half is quite an
accomplishment."
The Illini's only scoring came as
result of their two opening
possessions, keeping even with
Michigan. While George led the
Illini on long drives, Michigan
scoring started with a one-play
explosion, a Tony Boles 73-yard
gallop to the one yard line.
"Their defense pulled down,"
Bunch said. "I was supposed to
block the end, but he came across
our tight ends face, and he took him.
I just happened to pick up (Illinois
linebacker Darrick) Brownlow
coming around outside. Tony just
cracked it."
Jarrod Bunch followed the Boles
run with a one yard burst into the
end zone. It was fitting that Bunch
scored, since he and Dean Dingman
threw the key blocks freeing Boles
for his scamper.
With the offense moving,
stopping George and the Illinois
running game became Michigan's
main task, especially after George
See ILLINOIS, page 4
UULfULJL
Defensive end Mike Evans rushes Illinois quarterback Jeff George Saturday. Michigan's defense held Illinois
scoreless in the second half.
Grant-ed: J.J.'s return helps
by Adam Benson
Daily Football Writer
CHAMPAIGN - Michigan's walking wounded crawled
into starring roles this weekend. Most notable of the returnees
was linebacker J.J. Grant, who made a major contribution to
the Wolverines' 24-10 win over Illinois.
"I really thought I could have made some more
plays," Grant said. "I'm happy getting the defense where we
need it to be. My knee felt fine."
Grant, along with quarterback Micheal Taylor and running
back Jarrod Bunch, have missed significant playing time this
season.
Grant had not played since hurting his left knee against
Michigan State. When Grant went down against the Spartans,
it appeared that his season could have been over and rumors
that he needed knee surgery bounced about.
Yet his left knee recovered quickly and the Michigan
linebacker returned for the Illinois encounter.
Grant's return brought kudos from his teammates, who
missed him for more than just his playing ability.
"J.J. is our leader," Michigan linebacker Alex Marshall
said. "Without J.J., we lack a little something. With him, we
play inspired ball."
Free safety Vada Murray agreed. "J.J. is the QB of our
defense. He played a great game. Without J.J., you miss the
leadership out there. When J.J.'s out there, we go to another
level."
The Wolverines definitely needed Grant out there to pull
together a defense that the Illini and quarterback Jeff George
trashed in their first two possessions.
"The big thing was in the first half they really moved the
ball," Grant said. "They scored on their first two possessions.
We just had to settle down; we weren't on the same page on
defense. Our defense played the worst half they've played this
year. We had to buckle down."
Part of the problem for Michigan early was their lack of
pressure on Illini quarterback Jeff George, but that would
change in the second half. Grant and the linebackers would
help lead that charge.
"We didn't go after George as much because of his quick
release," Grant said. "We wanted to give him some different
looks and have trouble reading us. We succeed in the second
half."
I
1"
First-period sprees
lift 'M' past Ferris
1989-90 WRESTLING PREVIEW
New recruiting class
will keep team strong
by Eric Lemont
Daily Hockey Writer
There should have been a sign
outside Yost Ice Arena saying
"Beware Bulldogs" because Ferris
State was clearly not welcomed by
the Michigan hockey team this
weekend.
The Wolverines took the bite
out of the Bulldogs' attack by
taking control of both games early
before defeating the Bulldogs 5-4
Friday and 4-0 Saturday.
Ferris State (1-6-3 overall and in
the CCHA) came into the weekend
series having been outscored in the
first period 15 to five. The Bulldogs
held true to form Saturday night
*against the Wolverines (6-3-1),
falling behind 4-0 in the first
period.
Left winger Don Stone led
Michigan with a hat trick in the
first period. After Stone's blitzkrieg
had the Bulldog's reeling, goalie
Tim Keough slammed the door on
any possible Bulldog comeback by
recording the shutout.
"I had been slumping all year"
Stone said, who came into the
Perpich said the Wolverines
early lead made it tough for his
team to get on track while Berenson
said that he did not want to take any
unnecessary scoring chances with a
four goal cushion. As a result, there
was very little offense and no goals
in the latter two periods.
Another reason, of course, for
the sputtering offenses was the
stellar goaltending. Mike Williams,
who replaced Felicio near the end of
the first period, allowed only one
goal but was overshadowed by the
play of Keough.
The sophomore goaltender
turned away all 17 shots he faced in
earning his first collegiate shutout.
He didn't know he was starting
until Berenson gave him the nod
Saturday morning.
"It was one of the most nervous
games I've been in," he said.
"Being at home...it's very nerve
racking. I probably wouldn't have
slept very well if I had found out
earlier."
Keough said the domination of
the Michigan offense in the first
period took some pressure off of
by Jeff Sheran
Daily Sports Writer
Last season the Michigan
wrestling team set a school record
for wins with a 20-2 record. But the
team is not expected to repeat its
unprecedented success this season,
largely because of the loss of six
starters, including all-Americans
John Fisher and Joe Pantaleo.
However, coach Dale Bahr isn't
complaining.
"We've got the best situation
around," he said. "I come to work
smiling all the time."
Others agree with Bahr's opt-
imism. Amateur Wrestling News
(AWN), a widely-accepted wrestling
publication, ranked Michigan No. 9
in the nation. "Obviously they're
saying we know Michigan will
drop, but we don't think they'll
drop that much," Bahr explained.
The Wolverines finished fifth last
season a nroiected.
Nowick, who was also redshirted
last year.
James Feldkamp will wrestle at
142 pounds, a spot vacated when
Big Ten Champion Larry Gotcher
moved up one class. Feldkamp has
had "success in open tournaments,"
Bahr said. "It's just a matter of him
adjusting to wrestling at this level."
Replacing former all-American
Mike Amine is walk-on Lanny
Green. "He will simply succeed on
effort and on work ethic," Bahr said
of the 167-pounder. "I really feel he
is going to surprise some people."
How these wrestlers fare is
pivotal to the Wolverines success,
Bahr said. "The key to the season is
how fast Cluff, Feldkamp, and
Green develop."
Another newcomer whose
performance is crucial is 134-pound
blue chipper Joey Gilbert. Gilbert
compiled a 161-1 high school rec-
ord, capturing four Illinois state
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