12- The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, September 10, 1996 SPORTS Bruin coach pleased despite tough defeat LOS ANGELES (AP)-- Bob Toledo wants to get one thing straight - as pleased as he was with many aspects of UCLA's performance in his first game as head coach of the Bruins, a loss is still a loss. Playing before a crowd of 106,297 at Neyland Stadium on Saturday night, the Bruins opened the Toledo Era by losing a 35-20 decision to No. 2 Tennessee. The game was televised nationally, and Terry Donahue, UCLA's head coach for the last 20 years, provided the color commentary on CBS-TV. "We're not satisfied with losing, there are no moral victories," Toledo said yesterday. "On the other hand, I want to say I'm extremely pleased with the effort and enthusiasm our team showed the other night. "The lights came on and (the UCLA players) played. They laid it on the line for us and that's all you can ask. I'm proud of them. I don't want them to accept losing, but I'm proud of them." The Bruins, who started just five seniors, all on defense, totaled 310 yards in offense to 357 for Tennessee. UCLA trailed, 14-10, with three min- utes left in the first half, and 28-20 with 10 minutes left in the game. "1 had an expectation (the Bruins) would play hard, they've done every- thing we've asked of them since I got the job," Toledo said. - "We played against a super football team. You'll see as the season goes how good they are. I felt like the game was over, we had a chance to win. (Tennessee) made the plays and they won it. "We've got a lot to learn. I think you'll see our team will improve and get better as we go. I feel good coming away from that game." Next on the docket is UCLA's home opener, against Northeast Louisiana at the Rose Bowl on Saturday night. Then comes a week off before the Bruins play at No. I1 Michigan, where another crowd of over 100,000 is like- ly. After that, starting on Oct. 5, UCLA plays eight Pac-10 games in as many weeks. If ever the time is ripe for a letdown by the Bruins, it's now. But Toledo said he's not going to let that happen. "That's not part of our deal," Toledo said. "We're not looking at anyone else. You all know, sometimes the best team doesn't win. I'll be very disappointed if we don't play hard. Kids need to know you can't just show up and play." UCLA quarterback Cade McNown, who completed 16 of 24 passes for 230 yards and one touchdown against Tennessee, called the upcoming game really important. "This could be our first win, that's why it's important," McNown said. "Lets' put it this way, (Northeast Louisiana) is the best team we're going to play this week. It's been proven, anybody can beat anybody on a given day." McNown said he thought the Bruins "showed signs of brilliance" at some points against Tennessee. "It wasn't as consistent as it needed to be," he said. "We're going to iron some things out this week. "I know we're a good team. A lot of people have been writing that we're not going to finish too high in the Pac-10. The Pac-10 is up for grabs. We want to start building some momentum." Blue women's rugby splits weekend games By Kevin Kasiborski - Michigan led, 7-5, at the half on a Daily Sports Witer try by Phillips and conversion by There was wind, there were clouds Campbell, and held on to that lead and there was rain. But none of that for most of the second half. But could take the shine off the perfor- Chicago scored in the closing min- mance by the Michigan women's utes to take the lead, and held on rugby team Saturday. the victory. The Wolverines routed Michigan Despite the loss, Melnycowycz State, 38-7, in their season opener at was pleased with the way her team Mitchell Field. played. "We have only had two practices," "In the past, they used to beat us Michigan coach Erica Melnycowycz 70-0," she said. "Before this game said. "But the play was excellent. we had only scored against them There was excellent support in the once, and Saturday we were leading back and lot of good work done by until the last two minutes. Their play the forwards." has gone down a little, but our play Katie Page, Lorien Wegner and has definitely become more intens Y 3 t z 1 5 Y Y , i Amy Copeland each had a try (five points) in the first half, and Flannery Campbell kicked two con- versions (two points), staking the Wolverines to a 19-7 half- time lead. "The condi- tions were really wet and muddy," Page said. "But we looked really With th s u cc e ss fu l Im e lopening week- end ' behind encouraged about then,the the are now eseasonpreparing for because of the a road trip to the Univerity way we dominated of Winds next Saturda. this game. "Windsor is a new team, s - Katie Page they are pretty Michigan rugby player weak," Page said. "Last UCLA quarterback Cade McNown's valiant effort fell short against Tennessee on Saturday, much to coach Bob Toledo's dismay. good. I'm really encouraged about the season because of the way we dominated this game." After the break the Wolverines con- tinued to roll, adding 19 more points while shutting out the Spartans. Brandi Outwin, Anu Shivargiu and Campbell had tries, and Angie Phillips added two conversions. "We played better in this opener than we ever have in the past," Wenger said. "We have a good chance to do well in the Midwest Qualifier and go on to nationals." Later on Saturday, the Wolverines dropped a heartbreaker to Chicago - traditionally a very strong team - by a score of 10-7. year we really pasted them. I don't remember the score, but it was a lot to nothing. We shouldn't have 'any problem with them." Michigan's real focus this season is to place in the top two at 0 Midwest Qualifier in Madison, start ing Oct. 19, which would earn them an invitational to nationals. "Last year they started taking two teams to nationals from the Midwest, which Penn State has always domi- nated," Page said. "They are kind of our nemesis, really tough to beat. Now we don't have to beat Penn State to advance, we just have to second. I think it is very possi that we will go to nationals." Wildcats dismayed after victorious expectations fail to materialize EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) - As Gary Barnett took his seat yesterday, the "Expect Victory" slogan he brought with him to campus was prominently displayed in a picture that hung over his left shoulder. Never did Barnett or his team expect victory more than in their 1996 season opener. And never, perhaps, have they been more disappointed, especially after coming off a Big Ten title and a trip to the Rose Bowl. The dismay and disbelief still lingered yesterday, less than 48 hours after a shocking one-point loss at Wake Forest. The Wildcats find themselves booted out of the polls and trying to figure how they could lose to a team that looked hauntingly familiar to the one Northwestern used to be. Wake Forest won only one game last season. "Our defense didn't respect Wake before the game," Barnett said yesterday. "We played totally unlike the defense that took the field a year ago. ... It's a tough lesson. Nobody is more disap- pointed in us than we are." Northwestern hopes to shake off the 28-27 loss that came when the Deacons connected on a last-second touchdown pass and go back to North Carolina's Tobacco Road this Saturday to play Duke. "Our leadership has to take over and make a move," Barnett said. "We're all to blame. I'm taking responsibility, too. So are our coaches." Last season after beating Notre Dame, Northwestern suffered one of its most agonizing defeats ever, a last-sec- ond loss at home to Miami (Ohio). The Wildcats responded and won their next nine games before losing in the Rose Bowl to Southern California. Can they do it again? "No doubt this one hurt more than the Miami game," linebacker Pat Fitzgerald said. "Internally we had high expectations, and to go out and play the defense we did is really disappointing. It's a sick feeling to let down your teammates. "One game doesn't make a season. We know that. It didn't last year and we're not going to let it this year." The Wildcats played without sus- pended defensive back Hudhaifa Ismaeli, who is expected back Saturday, and could not protect a 24-13 fourth- quarter lead. And the Wildcats had four turnovers after committing 13 all last season. "We've got to let this one go," said running back Darnell Autry, who gained 173 yards, his 14th straight 100-plus game. "We can't keep harping, 'Oh man, how horrible this is.' We've got to let it go." 'M' women's rugby schedule Date Opponent Sept. 14 University of Windsor-College Location Away Away Sept. 21 Kalamazoo-Club Kalamazoo-College Northshore-Club Home Away Home 40 Sept. 28 Oct. 5 Oct. 6 Columbus-College and Club CMU-College and Club Lansing select tryouts Midwest Qualifiers Illinois-Urbana/Champaign Away Away Madison, Wise. BOOK s AN D Oct. 19-21 Oct. 26 Nome ; PERRY ELLIS W E L C 0 M E EASTERN Continued from Page 11 atively successful campaign last season, they are not resting on their laurels this season. "We are not taking anything for granted," Belkin said. "Anything can happen." The Wolverines will look to junio Debbie Flaherty to provide some spark in the game. Michigan's forwards should also put in their two offensive cents' worth, with Belkin looking to sparkplug is freshman Amber Berendowsky as a potential sparkplug. Berendowsky scored her first collegiate goal Saturday against Wright State. Do you want the inside scoop on Colorado? Do you want the low-down on Boston College? Do you want the dirt on the rest of the Big Ten teams? For a complete preview of the Michigan football team's run for the roses, et UEM's Legendary 1993 Bsebwl MVP READ Kickoff '96" NEW-M -'M -M - 1 ' - U U t-I