The Michigan Daily - Sports Monday - November 18, 1991 - Page 5 I L L I 0 I S 0 Michigan rushers coming up Roses by Matt Rennie Daily Football Writer CHAMPAIGN - While his- tory may remember 1991 as the year coach Gary Moeller and wide re- ceiver Desmond Howard revolu- tionized Michigan football, the Wolverines still won their Big Ten championship the old-fashioned way. They ran for it. Saturday, Moeller reverted to the "three yards and a cloud of dust" style that characterized Michigan football under former coach Bo Schembechler in the 1970s and 80s. In his two years at the helm, Moeller has employed a more wide-open attack, throwing the ball in traditional running situations. But clinging to a narrow lead against Illinois, he needed time-con- suming drives. The Wolverines pounded out 330 yards on the ground, led by sopho- more Ricky Powers' 151-yard game. Michigan ran the ball on 57 of its 77 offensive plays, holding the ball for 38:20 and keeping the Illini offense off the field. In that respect, Powers and company bolstered the stingy Wolverine defense. "When the offense possesses the ball like that, it definitely helps," linebacker Erick Anderson said. "It gave us a chance to rest, so that every time we went in there, we were fresh." While Powers was the game's headliner, the Wolverines employed the same tailback-by-committee system that has been so potent this year. Jesse Johnson rushed for 104 yards on 21 carries, and Tyrone Wheatley had 49 yards on 6 carries. Powers' big day got off to an ominous start, after he fumbled twice early in the game. He had not lost a fumble this season. "I couldn't believe it," Powers said. "After the second time, I said something's not right, so I took the gloves off. I just started playing without them and soon I didn't even notice." Michigan's offensive diversity did not lead Illinois coach John Mackovic to underestimate the Wolverine rushing game. "They could run the ball any- time they wanted," Mackovic said. "They just elected to mix it up a bit more, but they could always run." r, r Rushing Player Att Yds Avg La Feagin 3 17 5.6 11 Bell 4 17 4.3 16 Verduzco 8 9 1.1 10 Boyer 4 7 1.8 4 Arneson 1 -1 -1.0 -1 Totals 20 49 2.5 16 Passing Player C-A Yds TD Int Verduzco 22-37 207 0 1 Totals 22-37 207 0 1 Receiving Player No Yds La TD Bell 6 53 13 0 Feagin 6 48 17 0 Wright 5 59 19 0 Koester 2 13 8 0 E. Turner 2 27 19 0 Dilger 1 7 7 0 Totals 22 207 1 9 0 Defense Player Tac Ast Tot Johnson 1 0 1 Cox 4 0 4 Primous 7 2 9 Hopkins 6 6 1 2 Crumpton 1 1 2 Samuels 2 0 2 Howard 15 9 24 Shelby 10 3 13 Brown 4 3 7 Gustafsson 2 2 4 Foggey 2 0 2 Streeter 1 2 3 Wall 1 1 2 Hasenstab 1 1 2 Zitnik 1 2 3 Poloskey 7 4 11 STANDINGS Conf. Overall WL WLT Michigan 7 0 9 1 0 Iowa 6 1 9 1 0 OhioState 52 8 2 0 Illinois 4 3 6 4 0 Indiana 4 3 5 4 1 Purdue 3 4 4 6 0 Northwestern 2 5 3 7 0 Michigan State 2 5 2 8 0 Wisconsin 1 6 4 6 0 Minnesota 1 6 2 8 0 NEXT WEEK Ohio State at Michigan Illinois at Michigan State Purdue at Indiana Minnesota at Iowa Northwestern at Wisconsin Michigan tailback Ricky Powers carries the ball during Saturday's game against Illinois. Powers led the Wolverines' rushing attack with 151 yards on 26 carries. Michigan totaled 330 rushing yards in the game. POWERS Continued from page 1 out of the recruiting process. "My mom took care of most of the phone calls. She can talk more than the recruiters, so some of them stopped calling," he joked. "She helped out a lot. But you sometimes started thinking late at night and wondering, 'If I go here... And what if I could go here and here and here? And what if I don't like it here?"' Powers' final decision was between Michigan and Florida ;State, and he chose Ann Arbor for believe it or not - the climate. "Florida State was just too shot," he said. "I sat in the hotel room during the visit and I was sweating. I said, 'There's no way I can survive here.' Plus, I didn't want to miss the seasons.". However, the apparently smooth ;recruiting process was not without its controversy. Michigan State reportedly had a good chance of signing Powers, though Powers says 'he never seriously considered the Spartans. The Michigan State 'coaches told Powers that, regardless of where Ricky decided to go to school, they were planning to sign =his younger brother, Scott. "I was very impressed with ;that," Ricky said. "I didn't want to go to Michigan State, but I was ,happy to know that they would still take my brother. My brother has talent also, so he could make it -there. However, once Ricky signed with Moeller and Michigan, the folks in East Lansing changed their tune. "All of a sudden, they started saying that his grades weren't good enough, which they were," Ricky said. "I guess it was just excuses not to take him. They didn't hold up their word. I don't respect that, and I don't respect them for that." Scott Powers now starts at defensive back for Baldwin- Wallace, the top-ranked team in Division III. Nevertheless, Ricky took special pleasure in Michigan's 45-28 rout of Michigan State last month. Though Powers grew up amid constant adulation, he has never been comfortable as a prominent player on the social scene. "His mom used to complain that he was always around the house," Flossy said. "I used to tell her to just keep him there." Powers never felt the need to do a lot of partying. "My parents always ask me, 'How come you never go out? Your brother always goes out,"' he said. "I say, 'My brother goes out enough for both of us.' relaxed moments are spent after he is done with his homework, when he can "just sit back and watch my fish tank." This unglamorous life is typical of Powers, who has never let his fame affect him personally. Throughout high school, some of his best friends were the younger kids who lived on his street, who looked up to him. Not just because he was a football player, but because he had the best toys in town. "If they don't have anything to do, they always come knock on my door," Powers said. "I have toys and all that stuff that I don't play with anymore, so I just give them away. And I show them games to play and all that. They play school sometimes, when they make up the game and I just play the teacher." An education major, Powers '1 got to come to this university and start playing as a freshman at a top university. That's anyone's dream right there. Now I'm starting for them, and that's even better' - Ricky Powers living away from home for the first time and to a new, rigorous academic environment. And with former Wolverine Jon Vaughn setting the world on fire at Powers' position, the rookie couldn't even take solace in football. "When he got 200 yards against Notre Dame and then the following week almost got 300, I thought I'd never play," Powers said. He did work his way into the tailback rotation, receiving more carries with every game, and when an ankle injury sidelined Vaughn, Moeller called on Powers to start. "I've got to be the luckiest man in the world," Powers said. "I got to come to this university and start playing as a freshman at a top university. That's anyone's dream right there. Now I'm starting for them, and that's even better." Powers capitalized on the opportunity, rushing for 100 yards in each of the last four games of the year, including the Wolverines' 35-3 victory over Ole Miss in the Gator Bowl. This season, he has been a mainstay in the Wolverine backfield. Although both Jesse Johnson and Tyrone Wheatley have had big games at tailback, Powers has been Michigan's starter and most consistent performer all year long. When Moeller needs a workhorse, Powers is there, as he was against Notre Dame, when he had 38 carries. At the same time, when one of the other backs is playing well, Powers accepts his limited role. "It's something that any back has to deal with. If you've got all that talent, you have to let them play," Powers said. "It bothers me, but in another sense, it helps the team because if I get hurt, these guys can come in and never miss a beat. Personally, it hurts sometimes, but they're good guys." Powers' teammates have acknowledged his ability to deal with his changing role. "He's the type of person, like any good back, who wants to carry the ball as many times as he can," Skrepenak said "He's also the kind of person who sees that there are other guys who can do a good job too. "It just goes to show the kind of person he is. He handles himself so well." While Powers is an unassuming hero for the Michigan offense, many believe that he won't be able to hide in the shadows for long. "I'm a big believer in what goes around, comes around," Skrepenak said. "Ricky Powers will have his day before all is said and done." In fact, no one would be shocked if two years from now, Powers was in the running for a Heisman Trophy of his own. It would sure look good next to the fish tank. "I'm just that type of person. I don't go out much." Even today, Powers remains unchanged by the social pressures that accompany college life. After a big victory, Powers usually declines his teammates' invitations to go out partying. He finds more relaxation in being by himself or with a small group of friends than with huge crowds of people. Some of his most hopes to put this neighborhood experience to use as an elementary school teacher. However, Powers was not always this pillar of maturity. In fact, not that long ago, he was as lost as some of the children who knock on his door. His first year at the University was no different from other students' - a year of transition. He had to adjust to " MULTI Cw'LOR SPECIALISTS -*ARTIST ON STAFF - RUSH ORDERS * NEAR U OF M CAMPUS 1217 PROSPECT, ANN ARBOR 665-1771 Ho .iay 0 1a Q -- i ' -- i Ll6ILT; i aLe, i NEW 02 ACHTUNG, BABY ( ;\s :; 1h {1.11' is ' }:'"' :.5:.; , ~ y e. r \\ . Custom Photo Calendars * Gift Certificates * Personalized Stationery * Colorful Photo Enlargements * Unique Bookmarks, Placemats & Ornaments * Holiday Cards & Invitations * Colorful Holiday Newsletters Open 24 Hours 761-4539 - 540 East Liberty 747-9070 - 1220 South University 11 1 "I'S 1 In