Volleyball
vs. Indiana
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Cliff Keen Arena
SPORTS
Football
vs. Houston
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Michigan Stadium
. ......... ..
The Michigan Daily
Thursday, September 24, 1992
Page 8
Mo stresses ground game
Powers and Johnson to carry the load again
by Josh Dubow
Daily Football Writer
While Michigan's vaunted run-
ning attack has struggled in the first
two games of the season, coach Gary
Moeller is confident the Wolverines
will recover. Michigan ran for 136
yards in the season opener and
struggled in the first half last week
before breaking through in the sec-
ond.
"We did a good job running the
ball in the second half last week,"
Moeller said. "The backs got better
in the end particularly. We need to
continue to improve that throughout
the season."
Another factor in Michigan's
second-half running success was the
resurgence of Ricky Powers. After
rushing for zero yards in the first
half, Powers came back in the sec-
ond to run for 64 yards and two
touchdowns.
"Ricky Powers looked like a
Michigan back in the second half,"
Moeller said. "He said, 'I'm gonna
run the football. I'm gonna run over
people. I'm gonna break tackles."'
In the opener against Notre
Dame, Powers rotated with both
Jesse Johnson and Tyrone Wheatley.
However, Wheatley pulled his groin
that game, and Powers and Johnson
shared the ball-carrying duties last
Saturday. Wheatley is questionable
for Saturday's game. Because of this
rotation system, Moeller feels his
running backs have been pressing
too much.
"I don't want to pressure the kids
into thinking they have to break a
big run every time they get the ball,"
Moeller said. "I have to sell them on
the fact that a three-yard run can be a
good play. They are trying to bounce
outside too much instead of settling
for three or four yards up the mid-
dle."
Another problem for the running
game has been the blocking of the
offensive line. Moeller thinks these
problems are temporary, and should
be worked out soon.
"We're just not meshing up
front," Moeller said. "Steve Everitt
and Joe Cocozzo did a good job in
there. Trezelle (Jenkins) played al-
right. He got a little experience. He
was hesitant at times, but he'll iron
those things out."
COUGH IT UP: Michigan has
turned the ball over eight times in its
first two games. This has left
Moeller concerned to say the least.
"If we keep going at this pace,,
we will set a big record in regard to
turnovers," Moeller said. "We will
not allow that to continue. Over 80
percent of the time, the team which
turns the ball over less wins the'
game."
KICKING WOES: Michigan's"'
kicking game struggled last weekend
as kicker Peter Elezovic missed two
short field goals and also had diffi-
culty on kickoffs. Despite Elezovic's
trouble against Oklahoma State,
Moeller still has confidence in his
junior placekicker.
"I'm not afraid of using him,"
Moeller said. "I still think he is a
pretty good kicker. I have a lot more
confidence in him now than I did a
month and a half ago."
The Wolverines are still waiting
for the debut of true freshman Remy
Hamilton. Hamilton pulled a ham
string in August and has not returned
to the lineup. When Hamilton does,
return, Moeller is hesitant about us-
ing him on kickoffs.
The Ricky Powers of old re-emerged in the second half of Saturday's victory over OSU. Powers' inspired play, after
zero rushing yards in the first half, has renewed Michigan's urgency toward establishing its potent running attack.
Cross country opens on fields of green
by Tonva Broad
Four! Or should I say nine.
That's how many runners will be at
Forester Acres Golf Course in East
Lansing, Saturday, for the Michigan
men's cross country team when it
competes in its first meet of the sea-
son. The Wolverines face Michigan
State and Ohio State in a tri-meet to
begin at 11:15 a.m.
Despite the fact that Michigan
has only competed in scrimmages
since the school year commenced,
first-meet nerves are not a concern
of Wolverine coach Ron Warhurst.
"I think we can handle (Michigan
State and Ohio State)," Warhurst
said. "MSU will not want to lose on
their home court. We beat them be-
fore, but they will return stronger."
The Wolverines have reason to
feel confident against the Spartans.
In its last dual meet against its inter-
state rival, Michigan placed seven
runners among the top 10 finishers.
Senior Matt Smith expects a good
performance from his team right
from the start.
"We don't know much about
OSU, and MSU is always a tough
competitor, but we're using this
meet to gain experience and build
team unity," Smith said. "We'll run
as hard as we can and whatever hap-
pens, happens. It will be a good first
meet."
Warhurst on the other hand is a
little more adamant about his expec-
tations.
"I know I, and the rest of the
team for that matter, will be disap-
pointed if we don't come away with
a win," Warhurst said. "They may
end up walking home if they don't."
In addition to Smith, the
Wolverines will be counting on their
No. 2 runner Jim Finlayson to have a
good performance if they are to have
a successful weekend. Finlayson is
anxious to get the season under way.
"We need to get out and run to
get used to racing," Finlayson said.
"It will mainly be a team race in the
beginning. People will use each
other to pace early, then make their
moves later in the race."
Saturday's race will be the colle-
giate debut of two runners, Theo
Molla and Scott MacDonald. Each
has shown great promise during the
pre-season. While obviously lacking
race experience, both are expected to
contribute right away.
Finishing out the Wolverines
strong lineup are seniors Jason
Colvin, Jay Schemanske, Sean
Sweat and sophomore Robert Lee.
Griddes!
Drop off your picks at the Student Publications
Building at 420 Maynard by noon on Friday to win
a $15 gift certificate to O'Sullivans Eatery & Pub.
1. Houston at Michigan
2. Purdue at Notre Dame
3. Iowa at Colorado
4. Michigan State at Boston College
5. Missouri at Indiana
6. Minnesota at Pittsburgh
7. Northern Illinois at Wisconsin
8. Maryland at Penn State
9. Arizona at Miami (Fla.)
10. Wake Forest at Florida State
11. Louisiana Tech at Alabama
12. Arizona State at Nebraska
13. Cincinnati at Tennessee
14. San Diego State at UCLA
15. North Carolina State at North Carolina
16. Clemson at Georgia Tech
17. San Jose State at Stanford
18. Mississippi at Georgia
19. Virginia at Duke
20. Colgate at Penn
Tie breaker: Total points -- Houston at Michigan
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