Volleyball vs. Iowa State Friday, 5 p.m. Boulder, Colo. TS Women's Cross Country at Miami University Invitational Saturday, 10:15 a.m. Oxford, Ohio Th ihgnDilyTusdySetebe 1,* 99 Early stumble again ends title hunt for Wolverines 0 By ANDY DE KORTE DAILY FOOTBALL WRITER Two years ago, Florida State 51, Michigan 31. One year ago, Notre Dame 17, Michigan 17. Last Saturday, Notre Dame 27, Michigan 23. Early season disappointments and crushing blows to national hopes? Yes. The end of the line? Hardly. In the first two cases, the Wolverine football team rebounded to win its next eight consecutive games and an out- right Big Ten title. Coach Gary Moeller looks to continue the trend this season, and not to complain about what went wrong against the Irish. "You don't feel sorry for yourself. You don't feel sorry for your players," Moeller said. "We elect to play the game and we elect to coach the game. That is our responsibility. You try to analyze the situation and think what did we do wrong. I go back through the whole thing." Somehow, going back through that game was even moredisappointing than the original display. The day-after view of the game re- vealed a team that abandoned its funda- mentals. "I didn't see us playing smart foot- ball," Moeller said. "I thought we were kind of wild. We blew one coverage. Where we blew it was alignment. When you rotate you have to rotate through the next man's position. "Defense is like trapping something and squeezing it. If the ball gets outside and they get a big play you don't have a I didn't see us playing smart football. I thought we were kind of wild. We blew one coverage. Where we blew it was alignment. When you rotate you have to rotate through the next man's position. ... If the ball gets outside and they get a big play you don't have a very good defense.' - Gary Moeller 0 very good defense." The punt coverage gave up one of the biggest plays of the game. Notre Dame opened its first 14-point lead of the day when the coverage team al- lowed Mike Miller to return a punt 56 yards. While falling short of naming any guilty party, Moeller did say the squad would probably be changing. Speedy backups and freshmen, like Jon Ritchie and Pierre Cooper, were mentioned as candidates to join the special team. Cooper rated special praise for his play at the tight end position despite some blocking problems for the posi- tion as a whole. "The one I think is going to keep coming is Pierre Cooper," Moeller said. "I like Pierre Cooper. A lot of freshmen would have dropped the ball when they took him from the 10(yard-line)andput him in the endzone. He made a great catch on one where he was going to his left, jumped up and made the catch." The offensive line, including tight end, did not stand up to the continuous assault of Notre Dame's front four. When discussing the line, Moeller is hesitant to confess being unhappy with anyone in particular. Most likely be- cause he knows it would do little good. He obviously is already playing the best players he has at the positions. With this week off, Moeller has his last reprieve before next week's game against Houston and then the Big Ten opener against Iowa Oct. 2. He will be putting his team through heavy work- outs from today through Friday. While Houston is the next opponent he also will be planting the seeds to overcome Big Ten opponents, most of whom have later open dates pending. Another eight consecutive victories would be a solid recovery from the loss. The Wolverines would be 9-1,7-0 in the conference, with Ohio State coming to town -a scenario that could still end at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. INJURY UPDATE: Wide receiver Derrick Alexander (ankle) shouldmake his return to the lineup against Houston. While he was expected to return to action Saturday, his injury is more seri- ous than was previously thought. How- ever, a possible exterior cruciate injury in defensive lineman TrentZenkewicz's knee could keep him out for at least three weeks. EVAN PTIEHi/laily Steve Morrison and the Wolverines await Houston and the Big Ten season after Saturday's painful 27-23 loss toI Notre Dame. Hockey season ticket sales a success despite loss of key players from last year's squad By MICHAEL ROSENBERG DAILY SPORTS WRrER They say that those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it. But what of those who forget the present? That would seem to be the affliction affecting the 900 students who pur- chased season hockey tickets yester- day. Despite the loss of eight key per- formers from last year's Final Four squad, it appears that the team will not lose student support. The price hike to $70 per ducat apparently didn't deter many of the faithful. Last year, 1050 tickets were sold during the week that tickets were on sale. This year, the athletic department setaside 1200tickets forstudents. Since that quota was not reached on the first day, fans can still buy tickets at the ticket office. "We're going to keep them at least until theendofthe week,"'ticketdepart- ment official Brian Klein said. "Even- tually any leftover tickets will be sold for individual games." Ticket sales yesterday were approxi- mately equal to those on the firstday last year, Klein said. The difference, of course, is that last year's team wasrankedNo. I in the country in the preseason. This year's tem has been decimated by graduation WELCOME BACK "WE CUT HAIR TO PLEASE" 6 BARBERS " NO WAITING THE DASCOLA STYLISTS for Men and Women 668-9329 Liberty off State and the loss of players who left for the National Hockey League. "The fans seem to go more on the team's reputation than on this year's (prospects)," Kleinsaid. "It's not just the students - it's all of the fans. They seem to have confidence in the pro- gram. Butdo the students really know how different the team will look when it skates out onto the ice in October? Did they keep track of the team's losses over the summer? Can they even name any of the team's defensemen? The people at the front of the line would seem to be most dedicated. The die hards. They had waited since 11:30 a.m. Sunday for tickets. Surely they must know everything there is to know about Michigan hockey. How many defensemen could they name? "I don't think I can name any defensemen," said LSA junior Tanya Borgman. None? Then why wait almost 2z hours to get the best view in the house' "Hockey is the best sport," she said "and therefore hockey players are mor admired than basketball players ... an they're better looking." ' Aha. Most of the other students on lin also pulled an oh-fer when asked t name some Wolverine blueliners. Actually, many students named tw defensemen: Chris Tamer, who gradu ated in May, and Aaron Ward, wh signed with the Detroit Red Wings ove the summer. Only LSA junior Dan Weeks coul name these fourblueliners: Alan Sinclai Tim Hogan, Steve Halko and Mar 'Hockey Is the best sport, and therefore hockey players are more admired than basketball players ... and they're better looking.' -Tanya Borgman LSA Junior Sakala. And Weeks lives with three "Fiodorov just has kids," came the players. reply, referring to thebirthof the player's Some students were confident that daughter last winter. they could name several defensemen. "Fiodorov's the only one I can "Oh,Icannameawholebunchfrom name," said the first fan. "But I can last year's team," said one. name all the members of Bon Jovi!" How about this year's team? So if the students can barely name "This year's team? Jeez, that's any of the players, why did they come tough," he said. "Wow. Do they have to down so early to get tickets? Most re- bedefensemen?Thisyear?Wow.You're plied that they simply like Michigan evil. This year's team? You're really hockey. evil." Apparently, the hockey program has Some students tried a group effort. finally established itself on campus as "Is (Anton) Fiodorov a capable of recovering from the loss of defenseman?" one student asked his several top players. And that's defi- friend. nitely a positive sign. ?HOCKEY TICKET INFORMATION t, Orders for 1993-94 student season hockey tickets will be e accepted all week at the Michigan Ticket Office. The next 300 d students who apply will receive season tickets at the price of $70.. Payments must be made at time of application with cash or check' and all applicants must have a student ID. One spouse ticket will be e available for $70 with proof of maniage: o The package includes 13 regular season games and tickets 1 4h:: first round of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association ° Tickets will be distributed at the athletic ticket office - October 25-29, and students must present their numbered receipts in 0 order to claim their tickets. All sales are final. r d Oct. 30 Notre Dame Jan.25 Bowling Green r, Nov. 19-20 Ohio State Feb. 4 Kent State k Dec. 3 Western Michigan Feb. 5 Ferris State Dec. 17-18 linois-Chicago Fb1 im O) Jan. 7-8 lake Superior State Mar. 5Ferris State Jan. 21. Michigan State Mar.±1-13 CCHA 1st Rd. * denotes game not included in student ticket package PROGRAMMER /SYSTEMS ANALYST (Part Time) The Office of Orientation is accepting applications from students EVAN PETRIE/Daily The Michigan Women's Soccer Team enjoyed yet another shutout Sunday, blanking Miami (Ohio), 3-0. overcomes early jitersfor 3-0vicor } iT r @ ~ 1 ,. V Department of Recreational Sports INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM By TIM SPOLAR DAILY SPORTS WRITER The Michigan women's soccerteam felt like it was driving an old Mercedes last Sunday at Mitchell Field. It took a while to get things started, but once things got rolling, the performance was nearly flawless. In the season's home opener against Miami (Ohio), the Wolverines (4-1) stumbled through a scoreless first half before finally kicking into gear with three goals in the second stanza to de- feat the Redskins, 3-0. Newcomer Nicola Armster opened the scoring early in the half off a feed from Lisa Ashton. Ashton, a senior for- ward and one of the squad's deadliest scoring threats, notchedMichigan'snext 'We came in expecting to beat them by a lot more than we did, but the first half was just a nightmare. We knew we could beat them but we just didn't have any rhythm.... Once we got our first goal, though, we didn't have too much of a problem.' - Carrie Taylor M' soccer captain against a squad regarded to be far Michigan's inferior troubled the Wol- verines. "We came in expecting to beat them 0 WANTED!!!