The Michigan Daily -Wednesday, October 10, 1990 - Page 11
FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK.
Coaches downplay
Blue's top ranking
by Eric Lemont
Daily Football Writer
The word is out. After learning
that Michigan had been ranked the
No. 1 football team in the country,
different Big Ten coaches had differ-
ent reactions. When asked if the
Wolverines fielded the best team in
the land, Wisconsin coach Barry Al-
varez said, "I don't know. Having
been in that situation the last few
years as an assistant at Notre Dame,
I remember (head coach) Lou (Holtz)
telling the kids, 'You don't get any
more points for a touchdown and
you still have to go 10 yards for a
first down.'
"I do think they're (the Wolver-
ines) as good as anybody in the
country."
Michigan coach Gary Moeller
would probably agree most with
Iowa's Hayden Fry, who said,
"Rankings mean absolutely zip,
other than coffee-talk, until the end
of the season. Just go back and ask
all the people who've been ranked
No. 1 this year and then have been
knocked off."
QB CONTRIBUTION: Elvis
Grbac's performance Saturday
against Wisconsin made him the cur-
rent Michigan career leader in com-
pletion percentage at 62.6 percent,
surpassing Jim Harbaugh's 62.4 per-
cent completion rate. Grbac's three
touchdown passes against Wisconsin
are the most touchdowns he has
thrown in a single game as a
Wolverine. He has thrown two
touchdown passes in a single game
Most every year Michigan has a
quarterback that does very well with
the option. Once in a while they'll
have a drop-back passer - that's
what they have this year."
HOME FIELD ADVAN-
TAGE?: George Perles thinks it's a
coincidence. Ohio State coach John
Cooper thinks it reflects the balance
of the Big Ten. For whatever reason,
is in the same class as Michigin,
but I think you'll see some other
teams get knocked off."
Said Moeller: "I don't know
it's a coincidence or what. Studies
have shown that there's no great ad-.
vantage of playing at home if ypu,
don't get the crowd noise in." -
BETTER THAN EXPECTED:
One of Michigan's question mar"
before the season started was how
wide receivers Chris Calloway, now
with the Steelers, and Greg Mc-,
Murtry (Patriots), could be replaced.
Split end Desmond Howard and
flanker Derrick Alexander have an-
swered that question on the field. A
comparison of the receivers' statis
tics after the first four games in
1989 and 1990 (against the same
four opponents) show that Howard
and Alexander have a total of 32'
catches for 491 yards and six touch-
downs. At the same time last year,
McMurtry and Calloway had 27 fe-
ceptions for 398 yards and four
touchdowns.
four times in his Michigan career
(Notre Dame 1989 and 1990, Mary-
land 1989 and 1990).
Michigan State coach George
Perles, for one, noted the passing
difference in Michigan's offense this
season: "The biggest difference is
who's going to be their quarterback.
last weekend's opening of the Big
Ten schedule saw all five home
teams lose.
Are the five losses a fluke or part
of a trend?
"I think you're going to see more
and more teams get knocked off,"
Cooper said. "I don't think anybody
JOSE JUAREZ/Daiy
Jbn Vaughn leads the Wolverines past Wisconsin and into the No. 1 spot
in the polls. Michigan defends their top ranking Saturday versus MSU.
II
S.
OWATER POLO CLUB SEEKS MID-SEASON SURGE
M' struggles to stay afloat
-a
The Staff of the 1991
by David Kraft
Daily Sports Writer
The Michigan water polo team compiled a 21-7
record overall, 11-0 in the Big Ten.
This season the team has sunk to 4-8. Has the team
*it its low water mark?
"After a great season last year, it becomes frustrating
at times losing matches that would have likely been
won last season", senior co-captain Keith Cox said.
One of the primary ingredients of the club's 1989
success was its depth and experience - experience that
has been lost with the graduation of eight seniors.
In addition, the Wolverines must play every match
away from their practice site, Canham Natatorium,
because of scheduling conflicts. This factor, coupled
with a schedule that features difficult opponents early in
*he season, has led to the slow start.
But first-year coach Scott Russell still stresses the
importance of a weighted schedule. "Competing early
against great teams such as Slippery Rock and
Northwestern motivates the club to bring a high level
of intensity right into the beginning of the season," he
said.
Despite the squad's losing record, Michigan notched
a noteworthy victory over Notre Dame two weekends
ago at the Hope College Tournament in Holland,
eichigan.
With the score tied 9-9 going into the final minute
of the game, first year player Michael Wiletszky scored
the decisive goal that gave the Wolverines a 10-9
sgmifinal victory over the rival Irish. The victory
vaulted Michigan into the finals, where it faced
oationally-ranked Northwestern.
9 The Wildcats won the match, 6-4, but Michigan
stored a moral victory.
PEACE CORPS SI
A Good Career M
t//
%% ~
"Walking away from the Northwestern loss, we felt
the momentum and confidence to compete closely with
any top Big Ten team, namely Northwestern and
Wisconsin," Cox said.
Originally a standout water polo player in high
school, Cox joined the club his first year at Michigan.
After playing a major role on last year's highly touted
squad, Cox tops the Wolverine scoring chart this
season.
"He is a dedicated, strong competitor whose
leadership extends beyond the pool," Russell said.
"Keith is a leader by example," senior teammate
Paul Murray said. "He does a lot of important behind:
the-scenes work that most people aren't fully aware of."
Unlike Cox, mostfirst and second-year players
compete on the "B" team. Russell and assistant coach
Bruce Murden lead this squad against top level varsity
and club teams.
"Although they are frequently overmatched, they
gain the experience that will eventually help them
compete on the collegiate ("A") level", Russell
explained.
The remainder of the season brings with it an easier
schedule, but one of no less importance. Michigan's
biggest tests occur in November at the Big Ten
Championships in Bloomington, and the Midwest
Regionals in Evanston. But Russell's goals can not be
achieved in one or two tournaments.
"I would like to build a consistent team for years to
come," Russell said. "If we can build a consistently
solid team that can remain at the the top of the Big Ten
for several years, then we will be successful in
accomplishing our main motives."
would like
thanks to all
to offer its apology
of the seniors who
and
waited
patiently in the library on Friday*
pt Due to the camera malfunction we are offering a make-up week for
senior portraits to ALL SENIORS who have not had their portrait taken
yet. Senior portrait make-ups are being taken Monday, October 22
4.
thru Friday, October 26.
the campus addresses
85+credits.
New appointment cards are being sent to
of all students who have accumulated.
R
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