Women's Volleyball vs. Michigan State Tomorrow, 7 p.m. Cliff Keen Arena S 'TS Men's Basketball vs. Polish National Team Tomorrow, 7:30 p.m. Crisler Arena Th ihgnDily Tu sa, Nvmbr15194Sag FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK Walter Smith stirs up caI media with comment about Ohio State coach's job By MICHAEL ROSENBERG Daily Football Writer Michigan wide receiver Walter Smith said he wanted to get Ohio State coach John Cooper fired. Or did he? That was the subject of much con- roversy at the Michigan football press onference yesterday at Weber's Inn. The Wolverine co-captain was asked about Cooper's shaky job secu- rity. A reporter mentioned that the coach could get the axe if he lost to Michigan for the seventh straight year. "I want to get coach Cooper fired," Smith said. Then, to clarify, he added, "If he stays there, we did not beat them. It's better than getting (Wol- *erine) coach (Gary) Moeller fired."' Does Smith really want Cooper to be unemployed? "I just care about Michigan," he said. "I don't care about another coach." Basically, Smith said he would rather see Michigan win than Cooper keep his job. So he does want Cooper fired. Sort of. "You and I both know Walter Smith didn't mean that," Moeller said. "That isn't what Walter Smith is made of. Walter is all shook up. He told me 'Coach, all I meant was that I cared more about coach Moeller than about coach Cooper."' Defensive lineman Tony Henderson also showed little concern for Cooper. "We want to beat Ohio State," he said. "And if he gets fired, 'Oh well."' Quarterback Todd Collins summed up "Waltergate" best. "I got letters and phone calls say- ing I was a traitor," Zenkewicz said. "It's weird when you pick up the phone and you expect a friend or a family member and it's some guy calling you a traitor. "That's another reason why it's 'You and I both know Walter Smith didn't mean that. Walter is all shook up. He told me "Coach, all I meant was that I cared more about coach Moeller than about coach Cooper. " - Gary Moeller Michigan football coach nice to beat them - so you can go home for Thanksgiving and enjoy it." In Michigan's last visit to Colum- bus, a 13-13 tie in 1992, Zenkewicz split playing time with Ninef Aghakan. NEWS FLASH: In a less-than-shock- ing development, senior tailback Tyrone Wheatley still does not regret his decision to stay in college rather than enter the National Football League draft after his junior season. "I think for me it was the best decision," Wheatley said. If he knew back in January how the season would turn out, would he have stayed? "Yes," said Wheatley, without hesitation. IT'S MICHIGAN'S BIGGEST GAME OF THE WEEKEND: Some say it's Michi- gan State. Some say Notre Dame. Some say Ohio State. So who is Michigan's biggest rival? "Maybe what I'll tell people is that in November Ohio State is our biggest rivalry," said Moeller, who usually ranks Michigan State first on the list. But in 1995, the Spartans and Wolverines battle in November. "Next year, I guess I can't say that," Moeller said. "I'll get Ohio State upset. But Penn State can't get upset (even though the Nittany Lions host Michigan in November of 1995). "They always get a week off be- fore they play us anyway." HERE WE ARE, HOME AGAIN: Moeller's trip to Ohio State also will be a homecoming. He earned three var- sity letters on the Buckeye football team and captained it in 1962. He was a member of Woody Hayes' 1961 na- tional championship team. Moeller "Sure he can say that -he doesn't have to play Saturday," Collins said. LOVE (THEN) HATE RELATIONSHIP: Michigan defensive tackle Trent Zenkewicz, a native of Cleveland, was heavily recruited by Ohio State. When he committed to Michigan, he was not exactly the most popular guy in the state. DOUGLAS KANTER/Daily Despite suffering a severe knee injury at the start of the season, captain Walter Smith has made his presence known on the Michigan footabll team. 'Men's soccer ready for national tournament Baylor, Weber State and Colorado State stand in Wolverines' path BY JOHN LEROI Daily Sports Writer As the Michigan men's soccer team boards a plane for Phoenix tomorrow, "t will have only one goal in mind - inning its first club national title. Af- ter dropping the regional crown to Illi- nois, Michigan is looking to wear some- thing atop its head. All season, the Wolverines have had their sights set on Phoenix. Even before the first game, the whole team knew what it wanted. "(The national tournament) has been a goal of ours from the start," coach Steve 3urns said. "This is our chance to prove that Michigan is a good soccer team." But for a team that struggled just to qualify for the four-day tournament, a national championship may still be a few years away. Burns fields a fast and aggressive but young team. At the peak of the season, Burns is counting on seniorco- captains Herschel Wancjer and Dave Nordwall and juniordefenseman Ryan Carriere to lead the youthful squad. The Wolverines have also had their share of injuries. Burns said yesterday that senior defenseman Rick Weinberg was very questionable after suffering a foot injury in last weekend's regional tournament. Starting forward RobHolt, who broke his left foot at regionals, is out for the remainder of the season. Goalkeeper Mike Milman is return- ing from a sprained knee and should be ready for action in Phoenix. However, Burns said that sophomore Andy Germakwillgetthestartin goal. Germak started two of the Wolverines' three games in the regional tournament. One problem Michigan shouldn't have this week is being ready to com- pete. Afterplaying downto other teams' levels all season, the Wolverines will face only the nation's best in Phoenix. The road to the finals will be espe- cially tough for Michigan. The Wol- verines were placed into a bracket which includes Baylor, Colorado State and last year's national runner-up, Weber (Utah) State. Michigan will open up with Colorado State Thursday morn- ing followed by an afternoon matchup with top-seeded Baylor. The Wolver- ines finish the first round against We- ber State Friday morning. Last year, the Wolverines cruised to a 2-1 record in the tournament's opening round, but finished in a second place tie and failed to make the quarterfinals. Brigham Young, the defending national champion, did not qualify for this year's tourney. Although the Wolverines haven't faced this level of competition all sea- son, the coach doesn't count them out of the national title hunt. "Everyone that's there deserves to be there," Burns said."Including Michi- gan." Here is how the top 25 teams in college football rank after this weekend: Team 1. Nebraska 2. Penn State 3. Alabama 4. Miami 5. Florida 6. Florida State 7. Colorado 8. Kansas State 9. Oregon 10. Colorado State 11. Virginia Tech 12. Southern Cal 13. Michigan 14. Virginia 15. Brigham Young 16. Ohio State 17. Boston College 18. Arizona 19. Duke 20. Utah 21. North Carolina 22. NC State 23. Mississippi State 24. Syracuse 25. Baylor Record 11-0-0 9-0-0 10-0-0 8-1-0 8-1-0 8-1-0 9-1-0 7-2-0 8-3-0 9-1-0 8-2-0 7-2-0 7-3-0 7-2-0 9-2-0 8-3-0 6-2-1 7-3-0 8-2-0 8-2-0 7-3-0 7-2-0 7-3-0 6-3-0 7-3-0 Next week Idle vs. Northwestern vs. Auburn at Temple at Vanderbilt at No. 22 NC State vs. Iowa State vs. Oklahoma State at Oregon State at Fresno State vs. No. 14 Virginia at UCLA at No. 16 Ohio State at No. 11 Virginia Tech at No. 20 Utah vs. No. 13 Michigan at West Virginia Idle vs. No. 21 North Carolina vs. No. 15 Brigham Young at No. 19 Duke vs. No. 6 Florida State Idle vs. Maryland Idle The Wolverines look to bring home a national title this week in Phoenix. Daily Sports. We're all you need. FREE LIVE SERVICE LOCAL GIRLS waiting to talk to you CALL 24 HOURS 305-430-3825 REG . 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