0 Page 4-The Michigan Daily- Sports Wednesday - January 6, 1993 I C H I G A N 3 . Dream Weaver Tony McGee fashions storybook ending to career Wheatley Rushing Player Att Yds Avg Lq Wheatley 15 235 15.7 88 Davis 9 35 3.9 7 Powers 6 28 4.7 24 Legette 5 12 2.4 4 Grbac 1 -2 -2.0 -2 Total 36 308 8.6 88 Passing Player C-A Yds TD Int Grbac 17-30 175 2 0 Receiving Player No Yds Avg TD .McGee 6 117 19.5 2 Smith 3 19 6.3 0 Alexander 3 18 6.0 0 Wheatley 2 4 2.0 0 Hayes 1 10, 10.0 0 Malveaux 1 5 5.0 0 Le ette 1 2 2.0 0 Total 17 175 10.3 2 Punting Player No Yds Avg La Stapleton 6 222 37.0 42 Team 1 0 0.0 0 Total 7 222 31.7 42 Punt Returns Player No Yds Avg Lg by Jeni Durst Daily Football Writer PASADENA - Fortunately for Tony McGee and the rest of the Michigan team, sometimes dreams don't come true. McGee, who was the only Wolverine besides Tyrone Wheatley and Pete Elezovic to put up points in Michigan's 38-31 defeat of Wash- ington, was plagued with a dream filled with his playing mistakes before Friday's matchup. "1 had a dream the other night I was in one of those plays - up-the-middle plays - and (quarterback) Elvis (Grbac) threw the ball right on the money and I missed it," McGee said. "I'd start at one end of the bed and end up at the other I was so nervous. I had to get that out of my mind. I saw myself drop (the ball). I got that negative thought out and out of the way." Come game time, the negatives were defi- nitely out of mind and out of the way and all that were left were postitives. McGee connected with Grbac for several over-the-middle plays, hauling in six passes for 117 yards and two of Michi- gan's five touchdowns. He was the only Michi- gan receiver to score on the day. Though it is Wheatley's electrifying runs, in- cluding an 88-yard score from scrimmage, that spectators will remember most about this year's Rose Bowl, it was a McGee catch that clinched the Michigan victory, breaking the 31-31 tie late in the fourth quarter."I didn't know McGee caught the ball until I heard the crowd," Grbac said. "I got hit and was on my back, but I knew what happened from the roar that went up." Late in the first quarter, McGee's, and Michi- gan's, first touchdown enabled the Wolverines to regain the lead, putting them up, 10-7. Grbac dropped the ball over the middle to the senior, who dashed untouched 49 yards into the endzone. "I was like, 'Dang, I hope I'm not running slow'," McGee said of his TD run. "I knew I wasn't up on my toes like I should be. I'll prob- ably hear about it when I look at the film." Even though McGee's running style may not have been on track, his hands surely were. lis re- ceptions accounted for all but 58 of Michigan's 175 passing yards and his two touchdowns tied a Rose Bowl record for TD receptions. It is an un- usual occurance for a team that in the past hasn't. normally utilized its tight ends. "We came into the season with a new coach, new position coach, and it was a new type of learning," McGee said. "I know what everyone else on the offense was doing - not just myself. We wanted to take the tight end to another level." Which is exactly what the 6-foot-5 native of Terre Haute, Ind., did. McGee's afternoon tally of six catches is two more receptions than he had registered in his entire career prior to this season. In this first year as a starter McGee had racked up 32 receptions for 350 yards and four touch- downs before Saturday's game, second on the team to Derrick Alexander in receptions. "This is a very gratifying feeling," McGee said. "For three years I haven't really gotten the chance to play and I come here and play my best. I can't really describe the feelings with words. But I'm not just happy for myself but for the whole team. It cane at the right time." McGee's gratifying play helped lead his Michigan team to its first Rose Bowl victory in the last four years and only its fifth in the last 29. After a disappointing loss to the Huskies last year in Pasedena, the Wolverines were determined to hand Washington a defeat this season. McGee's offensive production was one of the ma- jor factors in reaching that goal. "I just looked up and said 'Thank God'," McGee said about his actions after the final sec- onds had ticked away. "I got next to the trophy and said that 'Hi Mom'. You have to get one of those in." Yet, McGee is not one to claim any signifi- cant credit in his team's accomplishment. In- stead, he cites Grbac, Michigan's offensive line, Alexander and the rest of the receiving corps as the reason for his and the squad's success. "(Washington) has to worry about Derrick, Felman, all the guys you see," McGee explained. "I have to give all the credit to Elvis; he got me the ball. Their defense gave me the opportunity to score and we exploited the opportunity." Though the Husky defense did seem to leave McGee virtually alone in the open field, Michi- gan coach Gary Moeller has a different take on McGee's talent and contributions to the Wolver- ines victory. "I don't think there is a better tight end in the nation right now than Tony McGee," Moeller said. If Moeller's praise rings true, one has to won- der what NFL dreams lie ahead for McGee. Though it would be a boon to him to make it in professional football, McGee will receive his de- gree in communications in May and is leaving his options open. "That's why you play football, you want to make it in the NFL," McGee said. "It would be a great honor to be in the NFL but if it doesn't happen ... I'll make my mark somewhere else." At the moment, McGee will savor the excite- ment of the Rose Bowl victory and the last game of his collegiate career. "As a Michigan team that's our goal, to win the Rose Bowl - to sing 'The Victors' in Pasadena," McGee said. In this case, sometimes dreams do come true. In the first quarter, Michigan.tight end of his two touchdowns. The two TD rec HUSKY Continued from page 1 When asked at the iostgamne press conference if he was surprised at the size of the openings, Wheatley motioned to the five linemen behind him and answered, "No, not at all. I mean, look at 'em. Would you be surprised?" But as well as the Michigan of- fense executed, the game proved to be a see-saw affair. That's because neither side could stop the other from scoring. For every Wolverine touchdown jaunt there was a Washington answer. "It was a shootout. The momen- tumn went back and forth, back and forth," said Grbac, who closed out his career with 175 yards on 17-for- 30 passing. "It seemed like whoever got the ball last was gonna win the game. Luckily, our defense really stopped them there in the end." Lucky, indeed. On fourth down from its own 44 with just over a minute left and the play clock run- ning down, Michigan hurried a kick rather than call a timeout, and Chris Stapleton's punt was blocked. Wash- ington recovered at the line of scrim- mage - down, 38-31 - and had plenty of time to try to tie or win the game. "We had to find a way to stop them," said outside linebacker Matt Dyson, who had seven tackles on the day, including the game's only sack. "We had to find a way to dig deep and come up with the big play." Washington quarterback Mark Brunell, the 1991 Rose Bowl MVP and a thorn in Michigan's side all day long, tried to work some more magic. Earlier, in the second quarter on back-to-back drives, Brunell had escaped the Michigan rush and found receivers well downfield for gains of 64 and 55 yards. Both possessions ended in touchdowns. This time, however, the Mich= igan defense tightened up. Brunell went for big gainers on first and second down, but overthrew one receiver and nearly had the second at- tempt intercepted. On third down, he looked to his tight end for a first down, but threw high. So Washington's season came down to one last play. And the Wolverines did not break. Brunell thought he saw a passing lane, but the ball fell to the ground in a crowd of white uniforms. The celebration began with 43 seconds remaining, and it continued well after the final gun. Records set or tied by Mic Rose Bowl record . Tyrone Wheatley: Longest rua Tyrone Wheatley: Most touch Tony McGee: Most touchdow School records: Tyrone Wheatley: Most rushiy Elvis Grbac: Most completion Elvis Grbac: Most touchdovwn career: 7 Elvis Grbac: Most passing,. Elvis Grbac: Most completiomh Team: Most touchdowns, sda Alexarider 1 28 28.0 Kickoff Returns Player No Yds Avg La Hayes 3 49 16.3 23 Wheatley 1 22 22.0 22 Total 4 71 17.8 23 Defense Player Tac Ast Tot Ware 5 4 9 Brown 6 2 8 Morrison 7 0 7 Dyson 4 3 7 Henderson 4 3 7 Stanley 5 0 5 Law 4 1 5 Hutchinson 3 2 5 Aghakhan 2 2 4 Peoples 2 2 4 Powers 3 0 3 McThomas 2 1 3 Collins 2 0 2 Maloney 1 1 2 Steuk 1 1 2 Blankenship 1 0 1 Buff 1 0 1 Dudlar 1 0 1 Smith 1 0 1 Scoring Summary FIRST QUARTER: Elezovic 41-yd field goal, 7:11. U-M 3, Washington 0 McGee 49-yd pass from Grbac (Elezovic PAT), 2:07. U-M 10, Washington 7 SECOND QUARTER: Wheatley 56-yd run (Elezovic PAT), 11:12. U-M 17, Washington 7 THIRD QUARTER: Wheatley 88-yd run (Elezovic PAT), 14:44. U-M 24, Washington 21 Wheatley 24-yd run (Elezovic PAT), 1:48. U-M 31, Washington 31 John Niyo Long wait Seniors e x PASADENA - The Case of the Missing Leaders was a baffling one. Michigan fans first became aware of the mys- tery in early September, as they watched in agony as the Wolverines walked off the field at Notre Dame. Without a loss, but also without a win. The enigma disappeared, popping up now and again in the back pages of the daily newspaper until the snow flurries began in mid-November. Another tie, this time at home to Illinois. And then another, at Ohio State. Where had all our heroes gone? More impor- tantly, where had all our leaders gone? All the suspects gathered one more time Jan. 1 in Pasadena. One last chance to solve the puzzle. Consider it case closed. It was a youngster who won the game, really. Without Tyrone Wheatley, there would not have been any celebration in the Michigan lock- erroom this time. No helmets raised in triumph on the field under the lights after the game. This Rose Bowl would have been like the last one. Quick showers. Long faces. Long summers. Michigan's head coach, Gary Moeller, still would be hunting for a first Rose Bowl victory. Michigan's players still would be hearing how they were second-class citizens among the na- tion's top teams. And Michigan's fans still would be searching for new excuses. Wheatley, on one leg no less, made sure that didn't happen. Spurred by a motivational history lesson from backfield coach Fred Jackson, Wheatley galloped into the end zone three times and earned MVP honors in leading Michigan's charge to victory. "Tyrone," Jackson had told him weeks earlier, "for us to win this game you're going to have to gain over 200 yards." He did. And afterwards, the ones with the look of relief, the ones who let out the deepest sighs of contentment. were the seniors Thev had Stomping back and forth across the stage, Brown - the man who brought most of the emotional fire to the defense all year long - screamed into the microphone about what the game meant to him and the other fifth-year seniors. "IT'S TIME TO PAY THE PIPER!" he yelled, among other things. And the rest of the players, properly dressed in their suits, looked at each other and smiled and winked. If he's like this today, they thought to themselves, imagine what he'll be like tomorrow before the game. Leaders and best. That's what the 100,000 or so fans laud in triumphant sing-song at every Michigan home game. The several thousand Wolverine faithful in attendance in Pasadena sang it some more, while crossing their fingers and hoping for the best. Hoping they still would be singing "The Victors" when the final seconds ticked off the clock. They were. Washington, which matched Michigan step-for-step the whole way, exited to its lockerroom after the Wolverine defense stopped the final drive. Michigan stayed. Turned to the crowd, raised the hehnets and sang. And cried. Hutchinson, an all-American who will probably be in medical school at this time next year, simply broke down and cried. "If it's my last game (of football), I couldn't have finished on a higher note," Hutchinson said in the lockerroom after things had calmed down some. "It all came together when I heard every- one singing 'Hail to The Victors' in the Rose Bowl." Moeller felt much the same. "I couldn't be happier. The one thing. Michigan wanted to do... 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