Women's Basketball
vs. Cuban National Team
Thursday, 5:45 p.m.
Crisler Arena

SPORTS

Men's Basketball
vs. Cuban National Team
Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Crisler Arena


The Michiqan Daily

Wednesday, November 13, 1991

Page 1'Q ,


w

Team must kill to
end current slide
by Adam Miller
Daily Sports Writer
Midway through the first game of the Michigan volleyball team's 3-0
loss to Penn State Saturday, a fellow sportswriter asked, "What happened
to this team?"
His bewilderment was understandable. At the time of the question,
Michigan had fallen behind, 10-3, committed four serving errors, and
spent two timeouts in an effort to stop the Lady Lions' run. The team
looked disorganized, frustrated, and almost in awe of Penn State's speed,
efficiency, and power.
This was not representative of the team this season. The Wolverines
have been known for their ability to overcome challenges and come away
with upsets of the heavy favorites.
Just two weeks earlier, Michigan shocked nationally-ranked Illinois
on the same Cliff Keen Arena floor. Sophomore Michelle Horrigan called
the Michigan defense "awesome" as it shut down the Illini's highly-
touted Lorna Henderson. Horrigan herself put on an awesome jump-serv-
ing display, beating Henderson at her own game. And the Wolverine of-
fense hit .230, while limiting Illinois to only a .120 hitting efficiency.
Like the Illini, the Lady Lions were heavily favored entering the
match, and also like Illinois, they brought in a hitting superstar, outside
hitter Leanne Kling. But this time the tables were turned. Penn State hit
.209 and had 53 kills in three games - Illinois had only 49 kills in four
- and Michigan's efficiency was a not-so-efficient .154. Kling's 15 kills
may not seem like a tremendous amount, but remember that the match
lasted only three games, meaning if all of her kills had gone for points,
they would have been worth an entire game.
So what is the difference? A commonly used word after the Penn State
match was "tentativeness," a word also heard after Michigan's loss at
Michigan State last Wednesday. This word probably represents most of
the Wolverine's difficulties.
Coach Peggy Bradley-Doppes says that her team plays best when it's
playing with "reckless abandon." Tentativeness and reckless abandon
don't go well together. In fact, to modify an old saying, you can't have one
with the other.
Reckless abandon and a "killer attitude" - the team's motto for the
season is "We kill for it" - can do wonders for a team. Just look at
Michigan's season. Coming off last year's 6-25 disappointment, many
prognosticators saw more of the same ahead for the team at the beginning
of the year. The Wolverines showed them wrong with an 8-2 start, includ-
ing a win over old nemesis Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
When Michigan lost to Minnesota and Ohio State in the next two
matches, there was some concern, but that vanished quickly with the
"Wolverines' impressive home wins over Indiana and Michigan State. Af-
xr both matches, Bradley-Doppes commented on the team's "reckless
See RESULTS, Page 12

MACKOVIC WARY OF POTENT WOLVERINE ATTACK

Illini fearful of 'M'

explosion

by Theodore Cox
Daily Football Writer
After listening to Illinois coach
John Mackovic at yesterday's tele-
conference, one has to wonder if
there is anything that can be done to
stop the Michigan offense.
"They have an explosive offense
with a lot of weapons," Mackovic
said. "They have outstanding all-
star players at just a lot of posi-
tions, both in the line and at quar-
terback, running back, wide receiver,
just everywhere you look."
The Wolverines have been aver-
aging 39.4 points a game by balanc-
ing both the pass and run. The offen-
sive line, although battered, has im-
proved with each game.
"We're all fourth- or fifth-year
players, so we know each other,"
Michigan offensive tackle Greg
Skrepenak said. "But it still takes a
while to get used to a different guy
next to you."~
DUNBAR FOR HEISMAN?: A
small campaign is sparking to nom-
inate Indiana running back Vaughn
Dunbar for the Heisman trophy. It
is still unlikely the senior tailback,
who has gained over 1,400 yards this
season, will beat out Michigan wide
receiver Desmond Howard. But
Iowa coach Hayden Fry said Dun-
bar deserves the award after seeing
him against the Hawkeyes last Sat-
urday.
"I definitely think he's in the
top five," Indiana coach Bill Mal-
lory said. "I think Desmond is in a
class of his own right now. I just
think he's played exceptional this
year. He's done things that are fan-
tastic. But I like to think that Dun-
bar is certainly one of the top five
players in the country. I think he's
very deserving."
Ohio State coach John Cooper
was also very complimentary: "I
don't know of a better running back
in college football than Vaughn
Dunbar," he said.
M AGIC CON'4RO V RSY:
Michigan coach "Yary Mli-11r- has

0

The Wolverine offensive line, led here by Doug Skene (left) and Rob Doherty, has been effective despite losing'
several players to injury. Michigan will be put to the test against Illinois Saturday.

decided to avoid the issue of
whether Desmond Howard should
keep his nickname of Magic.
"I really don't have a comment
on that," Moeller said. "I don't
want to get into anything like that.
In fact, I don't call Desmond
Howard 'Magic,' I call him
'Desmond."'
Michigan State basketball coach
Jud Heathcote made a plea to the
media Monday, to stop referring to
Howard by the nickname, claiming
there should only be one 'Magic' in
the state of Michigan - former
Michigan State basketball star
Earvin Johnson.
Heathcote softened his stance
later after finding out the nickname

wasn't a recent tag. Howard has had
the name since the fifth grade, when
he was compared to Johnson in a
basketball game. Howard has said he
keeps the nickname as an honor to
Johnson and will continue to use it.
SPEAKING OF MAGIC: Now
that many consider Howard a lock
for the Heisman trophy, the next
big question is will he stay at
Michigan next year or venture to
the NFL. Howard is remaining non-
committal, but Greg Skrepenak,
who had to make the same decision
last year, offered his thoughts.
"I want him to stay in because
my stock will rise if he does,"
Skrepenak joked. "As much as I'd
like to see him come back, with the

money he may be passing up...
"It's really his decision. It's
what he expects to do with the re;
of his life. It's tough to turn dovr
all that money. I will say tha
whatever decision Desmowd
Howard makes will be the rigl: *
one."
W HEATLEY AWARDED'
Michigan rookie tailback Tyrone
Wheatley was honored with tlh
AT&T Long Distance Award thi.
week for his 74-yard touchdown ry
against Northwestern. AT&T w
donate $400 to Michigan's gener
scholarship fund in Wheatley
name.


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