iI.L ,

what is the single-game record for
net rushing yards by a Michigan
team?
(Answer, page 2)

AP Top 25,
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Michigan can run, Spartans can't hide

Wheatley, Biakabutuka
lead 'M' ground attack

By CHAD A. SAFRAN

-may- }


Daily Football Writer
In the game of craps getting a
seven is unlucky.
Against Michigan State, the Michi-
gan football team came up with a
seven, in the form of seven consecu-
tive scoring drives, on its way to a
convincing 40-20 victory over the
Spartans Saturday at Michigan Sta-
dium.
Beginning with Todd Collins'
touchdown pass to Tyrone Wheatley,
the No. 7 Wolverines went on an
offensive spree that saw them outscore
their intra-state rivals, 37-7, over
three-plus quarters.
"I'm very happy, very pleased and
very proud," Michigan coach Gary
Moeller said. "The key is getting the
old wooden trophy with Paul Bunyan
on top. It isn't pretty but it is to the
coaches and players and especially
the head coach."
Wheatley and fellow tailback
Tshimanga Biakabutuka ignited the
offense, which gained a season-high
560 yards. Wheatley gained 153 yards
and ran for two scores, while
Biakabutuka scampered for 141 yards
on only 15 carries. Adding the totals
of Ed Davis, Chris Floyd and Chris
Howard, Michigan totaled 349 yards

rushing.
Despite the yardage totals and fi-
nal score, the Wolverines found them-
selves behind in the first half for the
fifth consecutive game. Chris
Gardner's 37-yard field goal gave the
Spartans a 6-3 lead at 13:09 of the
second quarter.
Michigan then proceeded to keep
the scoreboard operator busy for much
of the game.
Beginning at their own 20, the
Wolverines countered Michigan
State's two field goals with the game's
first touchdown - a Collins-to-
Wheatley five-yard pass at 10:22 of
the second period.
From that point the only things
anyone counted were Wolverine
points and the yardage the Spartans
failed to accumulate.
The much-maligned Michigan
defense came up with, statistically,
its best game of 1994. The Wolver-
ines held Michigan State to 286 total
yards, only 17 of which came on the
ground.
"They just blitzed a little more
than they would have at the beginning
of the game." Michigan State coach
George Perles said. "They played an
inspired football game today - one
See STATE, Page 5

a

JONATHAN LURIE/Dail

The Michigan defense celebrates a sack of Michigan State quarterback Tony Banks. The Wolverines sacked Banks five times for a total loss of 54 yards.

Despite effort against Spartans, Blue
&fense lacks consistent toughness

i s the same thing every time out of the tunnel.
Michigan's defense plays tough, then gets soft. Or it
plays soft, then gets tough. Or sometimes it can
never quite figure out how a snarl is formed at all.
The Wolverine defensive unit started Saturday's
game with a hard-line stance, allowing Michigan State
just eight yards on six plays.
Tough.
On the following Spartan
possession, on third-and-eight,
Michigan's Chuck Winters failed
to wrap up wide receiver Nigea
Carter short of the first down.
Carter pedaled to the Michigan 16-
BRETT yard line with a 61-yard reception.
FREST Soft.
FOeRST "Teams have hurt us in the last
Forest three games with big plays,"
middle linebacker Steve Morrison
said.
Need we mention Colorado? And remember Iowa's
Scott Slutzker making last week's game a tight affair
with a fourth-quarter touchdown reception on fourth
down?
To its credit, the Michigan defense refused the
Spartans end zone entry after Carter's reception. And in

the first half, Michigan dominated the defensive side of
the ball, allowing Michigan State just six points before
the third quarter.
The defense has shown flashes of brilliance this
season, at times completely dominating teams. As
Morrison highlighted, Michigan put tremendous
pressure on Spartan quarterback Tony Banks, even out
of regular formations, and stopped the run.
When the teams went into the lockerroom at
halftime Saturday, the Spartans had managed just five
total yards on the ground. Five. And this is with an
offensive line that averages nearly 300 pounds per
starter.
The sound defensive effort continued in the opening
of the third quarter.
Michigan State's first possession of the second half
ended after three plays and a sack by Michigan's Jason
Horn.
Tough.
Meanwhile, the Wolverine offense was cruising, in
the midst of scoring on seven straight possessions. Late
in the third quarter, Michigan's Tyrone Wheatley
scored on an 11-yard run, which made the score 30-6.
Time to put the game in the books.
But Michigan gave up passing plays of 25 and 18
See FORREST, Page 5

DOUGLAS KANTER/D
Sophomore tailback Tshimanga Biakabutuka dives for end zone in the fourth quarter. The Spartans denied him on
this attempt, but Biakabutuka scored later in the quarter.

Right Wing Politics
Knuble postpones pro career to fulfill Michigan commitment

By MELANIE SCHUMAN
Daily Hockey Writer
The lure of professional sports - big bucks, big
, big decisions.
Sometimes kids 18 years of age must decide to
.proot themselves and move halfway across the
:ountry just to improve their marketability for the
2ros.
Then there are the cases in which kids go to
:ollege and sometime into their sophomore season,
egin weighing the pros and cons of going pro' -
rorsaking their final years of eligibility and
cademics.
s Mike Knuble, a senior right wing on the Michigan
'ckey team, was faced with such a dilemma earlier
his summer when the Detroit Red Wings, who
irafted him 76th in the 1991 draft, began eagerly
pursuing him.
Should he stay, get his degree, spend time with
:lose friends and enjoy his senior year, all while
pursuing that elusive national title? Or should he go

Knuble consulted with
family, friends and coaches,
seeding through the pros
and cons. One person
who stayed away from
the controversy was his
mother, Mara.
Although the two are
close, she does not give
him advice regarding his
hockey career.
Delighted with his
commitment to Michigan,
Mrs. Knuble believes since
her son has breathed hockey
for 17 years, his ultimate
goal to be in the pros will
eventually be fulfilled.
"When you're 22 years
of age and you're
offered big dollars, E

summer for us at home waiting. He has his
dedication to his team."
Life is cyclical and Knuble certainly knows the
internal struggles which accompany a big step such
as this. Back in 1990, Knuble passed up an
opportunity to play with the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings
of the North American Hockey League to play his
final year at East Kentwood High School. He did
join the organization the following season,
playing with current Wolverine teammate
Ron Sacka.
That was a big adjustment, both
mentally and physically.
Never having faced competition at that
level - compounded with Knuble's first
trip away from home - forced some
readjustment. Lifting his level of play,
Knuble made the All-Star team and
continued maturing as he skated into the
semifinals of the national tournament. In that
game, he hit a shot that caromed off the goalpost, a

Scrimmage
provides
plenty of
explosives
By BARRY SOLLENBERGER
Daily Hockey Writer
The annual Blue-White scrim-
mage resembled the Fourth of July
more than a hockey game Friday night
because of fireworks - provided
courtesy of the Michigan offensive
attack.
In the scrimmage at Yost Ice Arena,
the two Wolverine squads combined to
score 13 goals in the 8-5 Blue victory.
The Blue team's starting line of
Kevin Hilton, Brendan Morrison and
Mike Knuble was too much for fresh-
man goalie Marty Turco and company
to handle.
"On offense is the area in which
you usually shine in games like this,"

Am mme