12 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, October 26, 1994 CY YOUNG Continued from page 11 ing and winning Game four, then was the winner in relief in Game six as Toronto topped Atlanta for its first championship. Both Cone and Key left Toronto after the 1992 season. The right-handed Cone returned to his hometown of Kan- sas City, signing a three-year, $18 mil- lion contract with the Royals; the left- handed Key got a four-year, $17 mil- lion deal from the Yankees. In 1993, Cone struggled to an 11- 14 mark, his first losing record since becoming a full-time starter in the majors. And, for the first time in four years, the power pitcher did not lead the big leagues in strikeouts. Key went 18-6 with his soft stuff for the Yankees that same year. Cone, 31, lost his first decision this season, then reeled off eight straight victories. He had pitched three consecutive shutouts and gone 28 scoreless innings before he lost to Key and the Yankees, 5-2, on May 27 in Kansas City. In that game, Cone allowed five runs in the first inning, then went the rest of the way without giving up a run. WANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE? "I WISH I BEGAN WORKING AS AN ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE EARLIER IN MY COLLEGE CAREER. WHAT MORE COULDf I ASK FOR? THE DAILY IS' GREAT MONEY, A GREAT RESUME BUILDER, AND I GET TO WORK WITH CRAIG!" DINA VERNON, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE (SENIOR, COMMUNICATION MAJOR) GAIN VALUABLE ADVERTISING SALES EXPERIENCE! BE AN ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE . FOR WINTER TERM! PICK UP YOUR APPLICATION TODAY! APPLICATION DEADLINE: CRAIG COLLISTER, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE 10/28/94 (JUNIOR, POLITICAL SCIENCE & ECONOMICS MAJOR) STUDENT PUBLICATIONS BUILDING 9 DISPLAY DEPARTMENT 9 420 MAYNARD CHAD A. SAFRAN Safrancisco Treat The Big Ten has reached the midway mark and can boast the nation's top-ranked team - Penn State - this late in the season for the first time in years. But the Nittany Lions success is one of the few things most expected to happen. Biggest surprise: Purdue. The Boilermakers (2-1-1 Big Ten, 4-2 overall) were almost a consensus preseason pick to finish in the basement of the Big Ten, but Purdue coach Jim Coletto has done a masterful job of emphasizing the strengths of his team - running backs Corey Rogers and Mike Alstott. The duo is doing for Purdue what Brent Moss and Terrell Fletcher did for Wisconsin in 1993. Rogers and Alstott are the only rushers from the same team to appear in the conference's top 10. With four games remaining, each may be able to gain 1,000 yards. The Boilermakers are benefiting from a weak non-conference schedule, but they did come up with a big win at Illinois and a tie against Wisconsin. With three home games in their final four (Iowa, Michigan and Indiana) and a trip to Michigan State, a Hall of Fame Bowl bid is in reach. Runner up: Ohio State Biggest Disappointment: The whole conference could be a candidate for this one. After having as many as six teams in the preseason rankings, only three currently reside in the Associated Press and CNN/USA Today polls. However, the Spartans clearly get the nod here. Coach George Perles could be fired as soon as next week after leading Michigan State to a 1-3 conference record (2-5 overall). Michigan State president Peter McPherson demanded an "outstanding season" from Perles. What he's received in its place is inconsistent quarterback Tony Banks, a rushing offense ranked 10th in the Big Ten - despite running behind one of the largest offensive lines in the country - and a rushing defense that ranks last in the conference. Runner up: A tie between Wisconsin and Illinois. Offensive player of the first half: Ki-Jana Carter by just a hair over Penn State teammate Kerry Collins. He's the leading rusher on the nation's best team. He's averaging 7.8 yards a carry. He's second in the conference in scoring behind Michigan kicker Remy Hamilton with 54 points (nine touchdowns). And he's done it all in six games. While all the preseason hype went to Michigan tailback Tyrone Wheatley, Carter has been the Big Ten's best and most consistent runner. If there were people who didn't know about Carter earlier in the season, they found out how spectacular he can be when he burned the Wolverines for 165 yards on the ground with his thumb in a splint. What makes Carter all the better is his ability to catch passes out of the Mid-point of Big Ten means awards for some backfield. His elusiveness in the open field and strong legs makes him one of the toughest players to tackle in the conference. Runner up: Kerry Collins. Defensive player of the first half: Dana Howard, Illinois. He may not be as tall as other linebackers (6 feet) but no one has the ability to stop the run like Howard, although Michigan's Steve Morrison comes close. He leads the Big Ten in tackles with 95 (an average of 13.9 per game) and registered an astounding 20 against the Wolverines Saturday. Before the Fighting Illini played at Ohio State, Howard guaranteed a win. Plenty of players make boasts but then do not perform. However, Howard is not one of those players. He registered 14 tackles and two sacks while intercepting one pass as Illinois upset the Buckeyes, 24-10. He earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts. Already a semifinalist for the Butkus Award as the nation's best linebacker, Howard is all but a shoo-in as one of the three finalists. Illini coach Lou Tepper served as defensive coordinator at Colorado before coming to Champaign. He coached one Butkus winner in former Buffalo Alfred Williams. At the end of 1994, he will be able to make that two. Runner up: Steve Morrison Freshmen of the first half: Alex Smith, Indiana (offense) and Ike Reese, Michigan State (defense). Smith's performance this season must make Hoosier coach Bill Mallory scratch his head as to why he redshirted Smith in 1993. Smith ranks first in the conference and fifth nationally in rushing with 138.6 yards per game. He set a Big Ten freshman record for rushing yards in a game when he scampered for 221 against Kentucky. If he keeps his current pace, Smith will not only set the conference season rushing record for a freshman, but break Herschel Walker's national mark set in 1980. Smith earned the state of Indiana's first Mr. Football award two years ago after rushing for a state-record 3,024 yards as a senior. At the end of the season he'll be able to add another trophy to his collection. Reese has been the one bright spot on an atrocious defense that has given up 300 yards rushing twice this season. He is the only freshman in the conference's top 10 in tackles (tied for ninth at 65 with Northwestern's William Bennett). He is one of the quickest outside linebackers in the league. He weighs less than 220 pounds but will only get stronger with each year he plays for the Spartans. He has the ability to be as good as Illinois' Simeon Rice (the Big Ten's best outside linebacker). However, unless Michigan State switches to a 3-4 set or decides to blitz more, Reese will never be able to achieve the number of sacks Rice has totaled. 0 emrnrnrn o r m m~m~min DOEAN K PEE IS GO BLUE K BEAT WISCONSIN 715 N. University 761-CHIP * 1Mon-Thurs 8:30am-8pm Fri 8:30am-5:30pm Sat 10am-5:30pm ® We ship anywhere in the Continental U. S. hmm===m=m=mmminm====m=mmd L, O t- -. 3O4 S4. Stalin StwmmI 4 duurmwiSciuth ci 16ibtmrty SSS-34S0 '" .m. :,,,... ,, - 7 °"2: %y "f xg M,- ,nz --=W. u ~s-': N xw< F wt "z" .pu a x .*^ ,a x ^^tl e a+ i c t " , ,4 na,:a < ", 4<. : ^ x . i ^az1 x: .< r" r " . ' m ia >.§ a t :" ta "- " x "{ ;° f .a:." 9: Nr. - r s ".."P &i kk N I' I " "fi f L _ V t,{n4x N:kI 1"< "n x . 4 ' S. ;