The Michigan Daily-- Sports Monday - September 14, 1992 - Page 5
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FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
Score elicits plenty
of mixed emotions
by Josh Dubow
Daily Football Writer
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Both Notre Dame and Michigan were un-
happy with Saturday's 17-17 tie. Both teams left the field yesterday feeling
the game had not ended.
"It's been a long time since I've been in a tie," Notre Dame coach Lou
Holtz said. "It just doesn't seem like the game should be over, and I don't
know how you are supposed to feel. It was a crazy game that has left me
with an empty feeling."
While Holtz did not know how he was supposed to feel, Michigan
coach Gary Moeller knew what his emotions were. .
"We came in here to win," Moeller said. "I'm very disappointed we
didn't, and so is my team."
Another group of people was very adamant about its opposition to the
tie. After Irish free safety Jeff Burris intercepted Elvis Grbac at the Notre
Dame 12-yard line with 1:05 remaining, Holtz called runs on the next two
plays, the second of which was called back by a penalty. The Irish then let
15 seconds run off the clock before throwing an incompletion. Then Cor-
win Brown broke up a "Hail Mary" attempt in the game's final seconds.
As the Irish left the field the Notre Dame faithful greeted them with a
chorus of boos. However, Holtz claims he was not playing for a tie.
"We had the ball and we were backed up," Holtz said. "Michigan did a
good job of mixing up their coverages. We wanted to find out what cover-
age they would be in, so we ran the ball. I thought we would spring it loose
and we almost did."
While Moeller refused to second guess Holtz's strategy, Michigan tight
end Tony McGee did not hold back.
"If that had been us, we would have gone for the win," McGee said.
BREAKING THE LAW: Michigan freshman cornerback Ty Law saw
his first action as a collegian Saturday. Law played on special teams and as
a nickel back for the Wolverine defense. Law's biggest play came early in
the fourth quarter with Michigan ahead, 17-7.
The Irish drove down the field to the Michigan 12 and faced a third and
seven. Irish quarterback Rick Mirer faked a hand off and threw a quick
slant to Lake Dawson. Law came around Dawson and appeared to knock
the ball away cleanly, however, the referee flagged him for pass interfer-
ence setting up Notre Dame's second touchdown.
"I thought I made a great play," Law said. "I read the play and the ball
hit him first. I came down on his arms after I heard the ball hit his chest. I
think the call should have gone my way. But on their home field, they are
going to get the breaks on such a close call."
Moeller would not outwardly criticize the officials but he did question
the call.
"I can't comment," Moeller said. "My hands are tied. If I say anything,
4 can't coach next week, and I want to coach next week. All I can do is
DEBUTS: Six Michigan rookies saw action in Saturday's game. Four
true freshman and two redshirt freshmen competed in their first collegiate
game action.
Of the true frosh, Law saw the most extensive playing time. Jean
Agnus-Charles was the first rookie to take the field and played on special
teams. Also, receivers Amani Toomer and Mercury Hayes received lim-
ited playing time but did not have the ball thrown their way.
Redshirt freshmen Ed Davis and Ce Foster both saw limited time.
COIN TOSS: Michigan botched up what is usually one of football's
easiest plays - the coin toss. Moeller sent out his three captains - Grbac,
Brown and Chris Hutchinson - for the toss. Notre Dame won the toss
and deferred its choice to the second half. Michigan then chose to defend
the south goal and kickoff in the first half. Notre Dame then chose to re-
ceive in the second half and started both halves with the ball.
"I told them that the wind and sun meant a lot," Moeller said. "I said,
'If we win the toss, defer and defend the south goal. If they win the toss
take the ball.' But I told them if (Notre Dame) won the toss they would
want to start on offense and we should defend the south goal. I'm the head
coach. I've got to take that blunder. It makes some difference, but not that
much."
ALEXANDER'S RETURN: Michigan receiver Derrick Alexander saw
his first action since suffering a season-ending knee injury against Boston
College in last year's opener.
Alexander caught six passes for 92 yards including a 30-yard touch-
down reception in the fourth quarter. However, he dropped a potential
touchdown from Grbac in the third quarter and in the second quarter, a
Grbac pass to Alexander was picked off in the end zone by Tom Carter.
"I should have had that ball but I just misread it," Alexander said. "The
interception was my fault too. I should have looked in better. It was my
play. The touchdown was nice, but I shouldn't have had to make up for
anything."
INJURY UPDATE: Michigan fullback Dennis Washington suffered a
4islocated knee in the third quarter. Washington is out indefinitely.
RECORD SETTER: In Saturday's first half, Grbac broke yet another
Michigan passing record. With his 28 attempts against Notre Dame, Grbac
now has 664 career passing attempts. That puts him 16 ahead of Steve
Smith, who played for the Wolverines from 1980-83.
Grbac also moved past Smith and into second place in career passing
yards. Grbac trails Jim Harbaugh who has 5,449 yards.
Rushing
Player Aft
1 s AvI La
Powers 8
Wheatley 6
Grbac 2
J. Johnson 15
Alexander 1
Leaette 3
30
27
4
62t
1
12_
4 . 5
2.0
4.1
1.0
.40
16
16
22
.i
Total 35 136 3,9 22
Passing
Pr C-A Yds TD 1t
Grbac 17-28 242 2 3
Totals 17-28 242 2 3
Receiving
Player No Yds La TD
Alexander 6 92 30.1
Smith 4 70 21 0
McGee 4 39 16 0
Wheatley 1 27 27 1
Legette 1 14 14 0
J Johnson. 1 0 0 0
Totals 17 242 30 2
Punting
Player No Yds Ava a
Azcona 3 87 29.0 36
Punt Returns
Player, No Yds Ava La
Alexander 1
5 5.0 5
Kickoff Returns
Player No Yds Avg Lg
Wheatley 2 41 20.5 24
Defense
Player Tac Ast Tot
Notre Dame cornerback Tom Carter intercepts an Elvis Grbac pass iintended for Michigan wide receiver Derrick
Alexander in the end zone during the second quarter. The interception was the first of three for Grbac on the day.
LIN
Continued from page 1
McGee did come across the mid-
dle on that play, and Elvis was look-
ing in his direction. But he appar-
ently thought McGee too well cov-
ered - maybe he did learn some-
thing - and decided to throw one
away. But over the middle? You
throw the ball at the ground or to the
sideline if you're giving up on the
play. You don't throw it into the
teeth of the defense.
To his credit, Grbac took respon-
sibility for the play. He accepted the
blame, but what he said even when
not searching for an excuse raised
questions about his thought process.
"I didn't take the defensive
player into account," was his expla-
nation.
You didn't take the defender into
account?!? You throw a ball up for.
grabs and you don't care if someone
is there to pick it off?!? Isn't it your
job to assess the situation and throw
the ball where the defender is least
likely to interfere? How can you not
care whether or not someone is wait-
ing there?
We will give Elvis his due as a
solid college quarterback. A guy
with very limited mobility (even
though he ran the option in high
school - can you imagine that?)
and an OK arm. He had his moments
Saturday, including a perfectly
thrown deep ball that Alexander ab-
solutely should have caught. But that
does not explain why he continues to
puzzle us with some of his choices.
After three years at the helm of
this offense, we think Elvis should
be better. That he should understand
his mistakes and try to correct them.
Learn how and when to make certain
passes.
Elvis spends countless hours por-
ing over game film, analyzing him-
self and his game. Yet sound deci-
sions in the clutch continue to elude
him. Maybe he just has some fun-
damental weaknesses.
"I question his ability to make
quick reads," NFL Draft expert Mel
Kiper Jr. said. "He didn't sense de-
fensive pressure well (last year). He
telegraphs his passes and his deliv-
ery takes a little too long."
Every year we expect him to
come into fall practice a smarter
quarterback, a better quarterback.
Maybe we're expecting too
much.
Davis
Stanley
Rekowski
Henderson
H utchinson
Dyson
Walker
Morrison
Holdren
Wallace
Ware
Peoples
Brown
Burch
Law
Johnson
Smith
Davis
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~1
1993 BSN
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