Who quarterbacked the last Michigan team to turn the ball over five or more times in a single game? (For answer see page 2) 'M' Sports Calendar 2 AP Top 25 2 J r1 p 4 Griddes Field Hockey Cross Country Q&A Blame it on Niyo Football NFL Roundup Women's Golf 2 2 2 3 3 4-5 6 7 Sloppy Running game 'gets on track Their aim was to relieve themselves of some frustra- tions. A tie had basically pre-empted the season's true beginning. It was as if they hadn't even played yet. 17- 17. It hung over their heads all week long. No one took solace in the fact that, one game into the season, the Wolverines hadn't lost yet. They hadn't won yet, either. Now they have. And it was a convincing victory. Those who watched it left convinced that Michigan's defense is for real, that the seemingly endless assembly line of wide receivers is very talented and that there is plenty of reason to be optimistic about the future - immediate and distant. Remember, Todd Collins is our backup quarterback. ' cleans house, 35- 3 John Niyo But those same people who watched Saturday's game also left convinced that Oklahoma State is no Notre Dame. That makes the coaching staff's job a little harder. Was there progress from game one? Did they improve? It's hard to compare the season's first two contests. The quick answer (and probably the correct answer) is, "Yes, they did improve." But that answer comes with some Collins outguns inept Cowboys by Jeni Durst Daily Football Writer Three things seemed to characterize Michigan's 35-3 romp of Oklahoma State Saturday: turnovers, yellow flags and Wolverine quarterback Todd Collins. Michigan (1-0-1 overall) dominated OSU, scoring five touchdowns over three quarters of play. The Cowboys (1-1) fate could have been worse, though. The Wolverines missed two touchdown opportunities and kicker Peter Elezovic failed to convert his two field goal attempts, a 32-yarder in the first quarter and a 19- yarder that ricocheted off the left upright in the fourth. Both the Wolverines and the Cowboys had five turnovers apiece, the most for Michigan since it gave up the ball seven times against Michigan State in 1987. The Wolverines fumbled four times, including one at the goal line in the third quarter, and Collins threw one interception at the Oklahoma State 7-yard line in the second. OSU committed two fumbles, losing pos- session once, and threw three interceptions. "You can't turn the ball over offensively like we did," Michigan coach Gary Moeller said. "When you have a fumble in the end zone and you have four (three) other fumbles and an interception, you can't turn the ball over offensively like that and have a good football team. "I want to win and I'm not complaining about the score or anything like that, but I want to play that flawless football ... Anytime you give anyone the ball on this football team they have a valuable responsi- biltiy and that's to hang on to it." Penalties also plagued the two teams. Yellow flags flew all afternoon in Michigan Stadium, as the two teams racked up 135 yards on 16 penalties. Oklahoma State registered a whopping ten of those, while one of Michigan's six, a holding call, denied the Wolverines a touchdown in the second quarter, calling back a Collins' pass to Derrick Alexander. "Their defense was pretty good, but we hurt our- selves," Oklahoma State tailback Rafael Denson said. "There was talk we wouldn't be able to run the ball against them. taut if we had executed we would have been able to. We would get five or six yards on first down, but then we'd take a penalty and give it right back." Yet Collins provided a definite positive to help See MICHIGAN, Page 4 Blame IV apprehension. There was the small matter of the scoreboard disagreeing with much of what Michigan accomplished on the field Saturday afternoon - at least until some late scores padded the final tally. The final score, had it not been for the key miscues, would have been much greater. Like 49-3. Or 52-3. "You can't turn the ball over like that and have a good football team," coach Gary Moeller said, after admitting what everybody else was feeling - that a win is a win. But that doesn't mean you have to be completely satisfied. Ricky Powers wasn't. "We just made too many mistakes," he said. "I dropped one ball, so I was a part of that problem. There's no excuse for that." But we will excuse him after watching him run like the old Ricky Powers in the second half. Gaining noth- ing on five carries in the first half was a scary extension See RUNNING, Page 5 KIiTbOmER GILLE TTE/aily Michigan quarterback Todd Collins shined in his debut Saturday as the Wolverines defeated Oklahoma State, 35-3. Search and Destroy Alfie Burch keys aggressive DBs by Josh Dubow Daily Football Writer Warning: Opposition receivers beware. This is a new Michigan secondary. Strap on your helmet and prepare for a collision. Don't enter its sites unless you are prepared to pay the price. uw5This is how this year's Michigan defensive backfield operates. Every Friday, secondary coach Billy Harris gathers his troops in a meeting to watch a film. Not last week's game film or a scouting report of this week's opponent. But a film called "Search and Destroy." This is a highlight film of the Houston Oilers when Jerry Glanville was the coach and hard- hitting, trash-talking, speed-burning defensive backs were the norm. Teams were afraid to enter Houston's House of Pain. Commander Alfie Burch - starting wide cornerback on the Wolverines - would like to give a tour of Michigan's own House of Pain. "It's a new age of defensive backs at Michigan," Burch said. "It's a new type of athlete Michigan's recruiting. There's gonna be a lot of fireworks and a lot of banging around back there. "We want to make it exciting for the fans. We want people to feel they got their money's worth. What better way to create excitement than to snap somebody's neck back or take the ball away. Flying around and collisions are the name of the game. "If receivers want to come into our secondary they have to pay. That's the truth. I believe that. This is the first year I've really believed that. They know if they catch the ball, they better have eyes in the back of their head." When Alfie Burch came to Michigan four years DOUG KANTERDaily The Michigan volleyball team defeated Miami (Ohio) and Maryland before falling to host Kentucky in the Conference Challenge this weekend. M'sikers stumble against entucky by Scott Burton come to mind to describe the loss to Upon initial look, it would be onex .o :t. r..-t .h Ik;(hia n u,- the Wildcats. "Tniannanntd' No not nt nil "