Volleyball
at Iowa
Tonight, 8:30 p.m.
Carver-Hawkeye Arena
SPORTS
Football
vs. Florida St.
Tomorrow, 12 noon
Michigan Stadium
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The Michigan Daily
Friday, September 27, 1991
The
Battle
for
No.
Page 11
.
Florida State vs. Michigan: the matchups
OSHOWDOWN
Continued from page 1
to 1990 Heisman winner Ty Detmer.
Weldon's prime targets will be
wideouts Shannon Baker and Kez
McCorvey, and fullback Edgar
Bennett. Bennett was second on the
squad with 35 receptions last sea-
son, and besides being a solid ball
carrier, he provides the lead blocks
.for 1990 Seminole most valuable
ptayer Amp Lee. They formed one of
the most lethal backfields in the na-
tion last year, combining for almost
2,000 yards rushing while fumbling
the ball away only once.
"(Weldon's) got tremendous
poise. He's able to find every eligi-
ble receiver. He's got great mobil-
ity. If he gets loose, he stretches
your defense. He's a really fine
qvarterback," Wolverine linebacker
Erick Anderson said. "Defensively,
we have some good team speed. They
do have good speed, we just have to
cgrral them. They are going to get
some big plays I don't see a team
completely shutting down Florida
S'tate."
:The natural elements should
help the Wolverines' attempts to
slow down Florida State. Tomor-
row's weather report calls for a
chance of rain - which would
hamper even the best passing game
- with high temperatures in the
50s - to which Michigan would be
more accustomed.
"Forty degrees and grass that's a
foot high ought to help us,"
Michigan coach Gary Moeller said
with a chuckle. "They're anticipat-
ing high grass, and you always want
to be hospitable."
While each squad has its trade-
marked style, these teams haven't
achieved their lofty national rank-
ings with purely one-dimensional
game plans. The Seminoles' offen-
sive line, while not as behemoth as
Michigan's, averages over 270
pounds. Florida State also plays an
aggressive, man-to-man blitzing de-
fense that hits as hard as any in the
nation. On the other side,
Wolverines like Tyrone Wheatley
and Desmond Howard provide
Michigan with plenty of speed to
spread out a defense.
"The key for us is if we can ball
control with our offensive line and
our running backs against their de-
fensive front," Michigan quarter-
back Elvis Grbac said. "And when
they do come with the blitzes, we're
going to have to come up with some
key plays."
When it comes to key plays,
Bowden usually has a few tricks up
his sleeve; He uses his players' high
skill levels in every way possible.
"Bowden tries a fake punt from
his own five-yard line and he goes 97
yards," Moeller said. "He uses that
approach to his football. He plays
very aggressive in play calling and
on the field - on both sides of the.
ball."
The two teams have only met
once before. The Seminoles jour-
neyed to Ann Arbor in 1986, the
last time Michigan was 2-0, and the
Wolverines came away victorious,
20-18.
Se ators make wer.
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by Theodore Cox
and Phil Green
Daily Football Writers
QUARTERBACKS: Florida State's
Casey Weldon is considered one of
the premier quarterbacks in the coun-
try. Since overtaking the starting posi-
tion last season, the Seminoles are
undefeated over nine games. He's got
a strong arm, excellent mobility, and
he constantly makes the right deci-
sions. Last season, he was the nation's
second most efficient passer.
Michigan's Elvis Grbac alsoranks
with the nation's elite. He's the typi-
cal strong-armed pocketpasser. Grbac
has begun making better decisions
this season, and the offensive line
makes up for his poor mobility - he
was sacked only three times last sea-
son.
Advantage: Florida State
RUNNING BACKs: Florida State's
Amp Lee and Edgar Bennett form
one of the most potent backfields in
the country. Lee, last season's Semi-
nole MVP, simply makes people miss
him and averages 6.6 yards per carry.
He also has a knack for the endzone
with 24 career touchdowns. Bennett is
a little small for a fullback, but is very
quick with 4.5 speed in the 40-yard
dash. Both can run, catch and block.
Michigan's Ricky Powers has 340
yards in only two games and can ex-
plode for a long run at almost any
time. Burnie Legette is a solid
blocking back with good hands.
0
Advantage: Florida State
RECEIVERS: Michigan has the best
receiver on the field - Desmond
Howard. Yale VanDyne did a great
job as the number two receiver against
Notre Dame, and the rest of the Wol-
verines filled in amiably. But Florida
State has a few wide outs almost as
good as Howard. Shannon Baker and
Eric Turral lead a consistently ex-
plosive crew of receivers.
4
C
4
A
4
KENNETHIllOMLEflILJa
Quarterback Elvis Grbac gets off a pass under pressure in the Boston College game earlier this season. Grbac,
who was 20 of 22 passing against Notre Dame, hopes to continue his efficient ways against Florida State.
Advantage: None to 78 ya
Hutchin
OFFENSIvE LINE: Michigan possi- key tom
bly possesses the best offensive line in rush wh
the country. In order for the Wolver- quickly.
ines to overcome the Seminoles'
quickness, Michigan will have to
dominate the line of scrimmage.
Florida State's line is solid, but it lacks Adv
the sheer size of a Big Ten line.
LINE
lineback
leticism
well. S
.tM iJones isI
Advantage: Michigan led the t
last sea4
DEFENSIVE LINE: Like the rest of Mid
the Seminoles, Florida State's front derson
three is extremely quick. However', uc
they lack the strength to match up with mucthe s
Michigan's line. They frequently don't teci
come off blocks well and overpursue,
thus leaving themselves vulnerable to
inside runs.
Michigan's line held Notre Dame Adv
rds rushing. A healthy Chris
nson makes the difference. The
orrow could be the line's pass
ich needs to get to Weldon
antage: Michigan
EBACKERS: Florida State's
king crew possesses the ath-
to cover the field extremely
ophomore sensation Marvin
the leader of the group, having
eam in tackles as a true-frosh
son with 133.
higan co-captain Erick An-
roams the middle with just as
kill. But, once again, speed is
iding factor.
0
vantage: Florida State
SECONDARY: Seminole cornerback
Terrell Buckley evokes memories of
former all-America Deion Sanders.
He has the ability to handle Howard
one-on-one. The Wolverines'
backfield on the other hand, continues
to give up the big play.
Advantage: Florida State
SPECIAL TEAMS: Former Tal-
lahasee high schoolrivals J.D. Carlson
and Dan Mowrey handle the kicking
for U-M and FSU, respectively.
Carlson should win the duel this time.
Michigan's improved punting
game provides an edge over FSU..
Buckley and Howard are two of the
most exciting kick return threats in the
nation.
Advantage: Michigan
e
Michigan game is
---AK - only good contest
by David Kraft
Daily Sports Writer
As the Big Ten enters its fourth
and final week of non-conference ac-
tion, there are few if any games out-
side of the Michigan-Florida State
showdown that spark any interest.
With Ohio State and Illinois -
both looking strong after three
games - idle, the rest of the Big
Ten matchups appear rather dull ---
So let's have some fun.
Notre Dame at Purdue:
With its fourth consecutive
game against a Big Ten squad, you
would think Notre Dame, not Penn
State, was joining the Big Ten.
O Strangely, Irish coach Lou Holtz
b3as yet to praise the Boilermakers,
who yielded a mere 79 points to
California two weeks ago.
For only $40 million, CBS de-
cides to pick up all Notre Dame
away games for the next five years.
Despite all of the hoopla, same
old story. The Irish win, 51-24.
Rutgers at Michigan State
,The last time Michigan State
lost its first three games (1988), the
Spartans stormed back to a second-
place Big Ten finish and a Gator
Bowl birth.
If the Spartans lose to Rutgers at
Spartan Stadium tomorrow - after
being trounced by Notre Dame last
week and CMU in the home- opener
two weeks ago - they can forget
about a second-place finish or a
Gator Bowl birth.
Realizing his offense has only
produced 13 points and one touch-
down in its first two contests, Spar-
tan Athletic Director/coach George
Perles hires Houston coach John
Jenkins to install the run 'n shoot.
Unfortunately, Perles fails to
realize the Jenkins' Cougars have
only put up 17 points in their last
two games.
Spartan 'D' saves the day by scor-
ing the winning points on a safety in
the closing seconds. MSU squeaks
by, 2-0.
Indiana at Missouri
Drained after last week's 13-10
emotional victory over Kentucky,
Hoosier coach Bill Mallory flies in
basketball guru Bobby Knight to
deliver the pregame speech.
Still frustrated over his basket-
ball team's loss to Kansas in the
NCAA tournament, Knight throws
a helmet onto the field in the clos-
ing seconds, forcing a botched field
goal attempt by the Mizzou kicker.
Hoosiers win, 24-23.
Eastern Michigan at Wisconsin
Both teams will try to end their
12-game losing streaks. Eastern has
lost its last 12 contests, while the
Badgers are looking for their first
victory over a team from Michigan
since 1984 (0-12 since then).
Looking to change their luck, the
Eagles change their nickname once
again. They need not have bothered.
The Badgers take it, 17-9.
Boston College at Penn State
Realizing this game's uphill
struggle, Eagle coach Tom
Coughlin, former New York Giants
receivers coach, sneaks Giants split
end Mark Ingram into uniform.
Ingram grabs four touchdown
passes before Penn State coach Joe
Paterno breaks from tradition and
takes off his sunglasses to see
what's going on. Ingram is disquali-
fied, and the Eagles reveal their true
colors. The Nittany Lions romp the
rest of the way, 42-28.
Northern Illinois at Iowa
Iowa coach Hayden Fry disap-
pears with his starting team to
Hawaii for a week off before the
Michigan game. Hawkeye second-
stringers get in a good workout,
winning, 52-3.
Pittsburgh at Minnesota
ABC executives must have been
brain dead when they scheduled this
one for national television after the
Michigan-FSU game. Inspired by
the play of baseball's Minnesota
Twins, the Golden Gophers recover
from last week's thrashing by Col-
orado, staging a mini-upset. Min-
nesota 33, Pittsburgh 21.
Wake Forest at Northwestern
The Game of the Week. Yeah,
right. Tie game, 0-0.
a II
THE GREAT WALL
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