Volleyball at Rice-Baden Showcase Tournament Tomorrow and Saturday Houston The Michigan Daily Wheatley runs faster than'speeding bullet SPORTS Women's Soccer vs. Siena Heights Today, 4:30 p.m. Minhl Fiil * . f' tvicheIu r Thursday, September 12, 1991 giee Page 10 : Knee injury ends Alexander's season, w by Matt Rennie Waily Football Writer . One month ago, Michigan foot- ball coach Gary Moeller wouldn't even address the notion of running back Tyrone Wheatley playing this season. "I don't like to talk about Ashmen," Moeller said, "because most of them aren't good enough to play anyway." *"Followers of Michigan high school football figured Moeller tbuld not have been including Wheatley in that statement. Wheatley was clearly not "most freshmen." In his high school days, be was known simply as, VSuperman," zand why not? - Superman scored 67 touchdowns in his high school career. His 253 points last season were the second highest total in Michigan prep his- AvN 1 tory. Superman won state track titles in three events his final season, after doing it in four events the previous year. Superman played eight different positions in leading Dearborn Heights Robichaud to the Class B state championship his senior year. In the state championship game, Superman rushed for 168 yards and one touchdown. And made 11 tack- les. And kicked three extra points. Sorry, Coach, but Superman is not "most freshmen." Wheatley proved this point, quickly, skyrocketing up the depth charts to claim the No. 2 spot be- hind Ricky Powers. Moeller real- ized that he had an exceptional tal- ent on his hands. "He's learning the system pretty well," Moeller said. "He's going to play. I don't want to go through the season with only one tailback." In his collegiate debut last Saturday against Boston College, Wheatley carried the ball eight times for 37 yards. That he received significant playing time while the game was still close is a testimony to Moeller's trust in him. "I don't want to jinx the kid or anything," Moeller said, "but I'm confident that when we're going to give him the ball, he's not going to drop it." Although most anticipated Wheatley would see action this sea- son, his fast progress has surprised nearly everybody, including Wheatley. "I didn't know if there'd be a spot for me right away or not," said Wheatley, 19. "My goal was just to work as hard as I possibly could." Michigan's lack of returning depth at tailback greatly benefitted the first-year tailback. As a rookie in 1990, Powers had to outplay vet- eran Allen Jefferson for the backup role to Jon Vaughn. This year, the second-string slot was there for Wheatley to take, which meant more carries for him in pre-season practice. "He's farther along than Ricky was at this' point last year," Moeller said. "He's just had more carries. This year, we need someone else back there who can carry the ball." Wheatley said that Powers, who only a year ago was a rookie tail- back, helped him adjust to the rigors college football. "He tells me about how he felt last year," Wheatley said. "If I mess up a play, he helps me deal with it because he made some of the same mistakes last season. And be- cause he's young, I can relate to him a little better than some of the older players. . During high school, Wheatley wasn't even sure that he wanted to play football. Nevertheless, he at- by Matt Rennie Daily Football Writer Michigan's depth at the wide re- ceiver position will be severely tested because the Wolverines will have to play without starter Derrick Alexander for the remainder of the season. Alexander suffered a knee injury in Michigan's 35-13 victory at Boston College. He underwent arthroscopic surgery Tuesday. The injury occurred after Boston College had kicked a field goal to close the gap to 14-13. Alexander received the ensuing kickoff on the Wolverine 15-yard line and returned it to the 30, when an Eagle defender grabbed Alexander's left knee and spun him to the ground. After the Boston College game, Alexander told reporter that he would be able to play Saturday against Notre Dame. However, fur-- ther examinations revealed -the greater extent of the injury. Alexander made three catches for 59 yards and returned three kickoffs for 56 yards in the season opener. "We felt Alexander was coming into his own as a great player," Wolverine coach Gary Moeller said. "He means a lot to this team." Alexander was Michigan's sec- ond leading receiver in 1990 with 31 catches for 450 yards and six touch- downs. A talented leaper with tremendous speed, he was selected by The Sporting News as one of the top first-year receivers in the nation; in 1989. This season, the junior fron4 Detroit Benedictine High Schooj was expected to benefit from thy, double coverage fellow receivei Desmond Howard will often be re{ ceiving from opponents. Senior Yaleg VanDyne, the Wolverines' usuat; third receiver, will likely start irl Alexander's absence. Moeller tried to remain opti- mistic about how the team woulk react to the injury, listing several players the Wolverines could po-v tentially use in three-receiver situa-j tions. "As in any case with an injury: someone will have to step up and take his place," Moeller said. "VanDyne will probably start in his place against Notre Dame, bub we have a few others like (John) Ellison, (Walter) Smith and frosh Felman Malveaux who can handlel the position." Of the three players Moeller' mentioned besides VanDyne, only, the senior Ellison has seen game ac-" tion, but he has yet to catch a pass of Michigan. Smith was redshirted ifr his first season a year ago, after posting impressive numbers at Detroit Mackenzie High School. Malveaux, a true frosh, was highl - touted recruit out of Beaumont, Texas, with 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash. Michigan wide receiver Derrick Alexander underwent knee surgery yesterday and will miss the remainder of the season. tended Michigan's football summer camp, where he met Moeller, then an assistant to former Wolverine coach Bo Schembechler. Moeller could not ignore Wheatley's athletic ability, and he tried to convince the youngster to keep playing football. When it came time for Wheatley to choose from the myriad of colleges recruiting him, he remembered his days at summer camp. "I had always been a Michigan State fan in high school," Wheatley said. "The main reason I came here is because I felt a personally close re- lationship with coach Moeller. Plus, I could feel a sense of pride at Michigan, like I'd had in high school." Wheatley has toyed with the idea of continuing his track career at Michigan, and he has even enter- tained notions of competing in the 1992 Olympics. However, that will have to wait because Wheatley doesn't think he can find time in his hectic schedule. Although Wheatley has made a smooth transition to college on the field, he said he has experienced typ- ical first-year problems. He lists "time management" as one of his biggest difficulties in trying to jug- gle football and academics. After all, the first year of college is tough. Even for Superman. Oklahoma hone OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame welcomed five new inductees Tuesday, led by former Detroit Lion Steve Owens. Also inducted were football great Tommy McDonald and golfer Susie Maxwell Berning. Paul and Lloyd Waner, known as "Big Poison" and "Little Poison" during their Hall of Fame baseball careers, were to be inducted posthumously during a ceremony Tuesday night. "I've always been very proud of the fact I'm from the state of Oklahoma," Owens, the 1969 Heisman Trophy winner at Oklahoma, said at an afternoon news ors former Lion conference. "I think when you're honored by your people at home, it's really ex tra special for you. This is right up, there with all the awards I've ever_ 9V received." He's won plenty. Owens was the state's high school player of thq year in 1965. He was a consensus college All-American in 1968 andt 1969, was a three-time All-Big Eight pick and was named an All,; Pro with the Detroit Lions. He still holds several Oklahoma records, including points scored in A. season and a career and most carries in a game. I I aaPoda F;)o 2 2 Q U'- U NOW OPEN IN THE GALL ERIA FOOD COURT 1 1 - - - OPEN FOR LUNCH 7 DAYS A WEEK MON - SAT 11:00 AM TO MIDNIGRT SUNDAY NOON TO MIDNIGHT DELIVERY STARTS AT 4:00 PM (I) H t~i1 INTENSIVE REVIEW A high LSAT score can open the right doors. 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