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Spartans must travel the rough road
LINE
Continued from Page 5B
LeAundre Brown - both highly tout-
ed recruits - won't play much; though
Brown may return a few punts and
kicks.
- Nicholas J. Cotsonika
learn to play at this level."
- Ryan White
Nick Saban's first season as head
coach at Michigan State was hardly dis-
appointment-free.
The Spartans lost their opener by 40
(to Nebraska, 50-10), their Big Ten
home opener by 14 (to Iowa, 21-7) and
they won just half of their 12 games (6-
5-1). But Saban did lead Michigan State
to just its second bowl game over the
past five years (the Independence
Bowl), and he also grabbed some
important in-state bragging rights.
The Spartans beat Michigan, 28-25,
.Nov. 4 in Spartan Stadium.
Michigan State has now won two out
of three over its arch-rival. That means
a lot to most in East Lansing.
And it is no coincidence that Saban is
excited as his second season gets under-
way, even though the Spartans were
destroyed last weekend by the
Cornhuskers.
"We have more experienced return-
ing players, more confidence and more
maturity on the defensive side of the.
ball," Saban said. "It's just the opposite
of last year when the offense had the
majority of confidence and experienced
players."
The Spartans return seven starters on
defense and six more on offense from a
INTRAMURAL
SPORTS
GAPRO GRAM
team that finished fifth in the Big Ten.
At quarterback, Todd Schultz takes
over for Tony Banks, a second round
pick in last spring's NFL draft. Schultz
started three games last season while
Banks was injured.
"Todd has made a lot of progress in
terms of his confidence, his consisten-
cy, his decisions and his maturity,"
Schultz said. "After starting those three
games last year, he has been more
focused. He has taken the next step in
his development."
In the offensive backfield, Michigan
State loses husky fullback Scott Greene,
but welcomes back senior tailback
Duane Goulbourne. Goulbourne, who
has been a Spartan since Abe Lincoln
was in office, or thereabouts, missed last
season due to injury. He was Michigan
State's leading rusher in 1993 and 1994.
Freshman Sedrick Irvin rushed for four
touchdowns in Michigan State's opening
win over Purdue.
The Spartans are set at wide receiver
with senior All-American candidate
Derrick Mason and senior flanker
Nigea Carter. Mason, however, has
been hindered by a broken wrist.
Defensively, Saban's bunch should be
strong at linebacker with returning
starters Reggie Garnett and Ike Reese,
plus three other letterwinners who saw
significant action last season.
Although starters Chris Smith and
PNATIONS
"The biggest problem, in my view, a
year ago, was our kicking game," Carr
said. "We did not punt the ball with
any consistency. We did not establish
with our kicking game the kind of field
position for our defense."
Carr's words ring true for losses last
season against Michigan State and
Penn State, but nowhere was the prob-
lem more evident than in the
Wolverines' Alamo Bowl loss to Texas
A&M.
The Michigan defense gave up just
one touchdown, one that came off a
Tshimanga Biakabutuka fumble inside
T
---
Pos. No.
DE 6
DT 53
NT 96.
DE 81
Name
David Bowens
Ben Huff
William Carr
Glenn Steele
Yr./Elgi.
So./So.
Sr./Jr.
Sr./Sr.
Sr./Jr.
The backups
DE 5 Mike Elston Sr./Jr.
DT 91 Josh Williams So./So.
NT 58 Rob Renes So./Fr.
DE 90 Juaquin Feazell Jr./So.
DE 56 James Hall So./Fr.
The starters
SCB 23 W. Hankins Sr./Sr.
SS 29 Marcus Ray Jr./So.
FS 28 Daydrion TaylorSo./So.
FS 35 Chuck Winters Sr./Sr.
WCB 2 C. Woodson So./So.
The backups
SCB 38 B. Washington So./Fr.
SS 27 Steve King Sr./Sr.
SS 41 T. Hendricks Fr./Fr.
WCB 30 Andre WeathersJr./So.
WCB 18 LeAundre BrownFr./Fr.
son play, senior Paul Peristeris won the
starting job.
While Peristeris beating out Sargent
can only be considered'a mild surprise,
what was shocking was quarterback
Brian Griese's two pooch punts against
Illinois.
In Carr's view, Griese simply gives
other teams one more thing to think
about.
"Certainly we are able to throw the
ball out of that formation if the defense
dictates that," he said.
Unfortunately for Michigan, the
special teams problem has moved from
the punting
unit to the field
$gest goal unit.
T h e
inmy Wolverines had
two field goal
ar ago, attempts
reekingblocked
rick g against Illinois
- a major
problem, but
- Lloyd Carr one Carr has
foot ball coach had two weeks
to work on.
his own five-yard
line, but the
Aggies kicked
five field goals.
As a result,
Michigan actual-
ly went out and
recruited a
punter. Freshman
Cory Sargent
was brought in,
and while Carr
was pleased with
Sargent's presea-
i"The be
problem,
view, a ye
was our A
game."
Michigan
f
1996-97
SPORT/ACTIVITY
ENTRY DEADLINE
Jabbar Threats return, the defensive line
is a concern - only one other player
with any experience at the four posi-
tions returns.
The schedule-makers were not exact-
ly kind to Michigan State. The Spartans
have already been blitzed on the road by
Nebraska and face Big Ten contenders
Iowa, Michigan and Penn State all away
from East Lansing. -
Saban's squad could go bowling
again, but it likely won't be thinking
roses for very long.
- Barry Sollen berger
iL
,t
SOCCER
3-on-3 BASKETBALL
TRACK & FIELD
SOFTBALL
TENNIS - Sgls & Dbis
GOLF - Team Scramble
TENNIS - Team
WALLEYBALL
CROSS COUNTRY RUN
PRE-SEASON FOOTBALL
FLAG FOOTBALL
ICE HOCKEY
PRE-SEASON BROOMBALL
WRESTLING
PRE-SEASON BASKETBALL
Tuesday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Wednesday
Thursday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Thursday
Thursday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Thursday
Wednesday
Friday
Friday
Thursday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Thursday
Thursday
September
September
October 1
October 2
October 3
October 9
October 10
October 15
October 16
October 17
October 22
October 23
10 G
17 i
Pur-don't? Boilers in
for difficult season
November 12
November 14
December 5
ICE HOCKEY - Winter
BASKETBALL
RACQUETBALL - Team
BADMINTON - Team
SWIMMING & DIVING MEET
3-POINT SHOOTOUT
FREE THROW CONTEST
PRE-SEASON VOLLEYBALL
RELAYS MEET
VOLLEYBALL
MINI-SOCCER
BROOMBALL
RACQUETBALL - Sgls & Dbls
TABLE TENNIS - SgIs & DbIs
OFFICIATING OP
January 8
January 14
January 14
January 30
February 5
February 7
February 7
February 20
February 25
February 25
March 11
March 11
March 20
April 3
Let's pray for good weather, shall we?
It would be easy to say no one could
forget last year's Michigan-Purdue
game, but then, so few people were
there, few have any memories..
Let's review: It was very cold. It was
very wet. It was very, very bad.
Michigan beat Purdue, 5-0, in a
half-empty Michigan Stadium and was
outscored by the hockey team that day.
The field was so sloppy, it could have
been used for the Mud Bowl or -
heaven forbid - the home of the
largest crowd watching a mud
wrestling event in America that day.
The football was so sloppy,the
Wolverines would probably like to for-
get it.
Purdue, however, probably would
love another -mud, rain, snow and all.
That's because the Boilermakers aren't
very good, and they probably aren't
going to' beat Michigan.
Linebacker Chike Okeafor is their
marquee player. He made 103 tackles
- 76 solo - and had four sacks last
year.
But Okeafor is surrounded by gaping
holes, and on4he other side of the ball,
the Boilermakers are unlikely to put up
many points against the Wolverines,
who had the Big Ten's best defense last
year.
Quarterback Rick Trefzger threw for
1,521 yards and six touchdowns in
1995, but six touchdown passes aren't
very good when you play 11 games.
West Lafayette is probably already
preparing for basketball season. Purdue
might have as many as six losses when
Michigan comes to town, and that
means seven - unless, of course, light-
ning strikes.
So let's pray for some sun.
It might be the only thing pretty
about this one.
- Nicholas J. Cotsonika
The secondary wasn't supposed to
be a problem.
With two All-America candidates
returning - supported by a number of
experienced and talented players -
Michigan was to be a nightmare for
quarterbacks.
Well, it's still a bad dream, but
senior Clarence Thompson has made it
a lot less frightening. Thompson was
declared academically ineligible
before the season started, and with his
departure went much of Michigan's
intimidation factor.
Bad luck.
It was a strange coincidence for a
player who had just changed his num-
ber to 13.
"It's the number I've always wanted
since I got here," Thompson said in
early August, before being declared
ineligible. "Unfortunately, Jason Carr
had it, so I had to play with something
else. So I was just hoping and took the
chance to get it."
Thompson won't get his chance, but
the Wolverines still feel lucky enough
to bet on their group led by sophomore
Charles Woodson.
As a true freshman last year,
Woodson intercepted any worries
about the loss of Ty Law. He played
brilliantly, becoming a first-team All-
Big Ten selection and Big Ten
Freshman of the Year. Grabbing five
interceptions and recovering three
fumbles, he led the Wolverines in take-
aways.
But Michigan's opponents probably
won't throw away from Woodson too
much - as they did with Law -
because seniors Chuck Winters and
Steve King and sophomores Marcus
Ray and Daydrion Taylor await at safe-
ty. All are expected to see significant
action.
Don't forget Woody Hankins, either.
A senior, Hankins has begun to grow
out of his role as a special-teams play-
er, and Michigan coach Lloyd Carr has
been impressed.
"Woody Hankins, if he continues to
play as he has and work like he has this
summer, will be a starter in the sec-
ondary," Carr said.
Redshirt freshman Brent
Washington will have a tough time sur-
facing, but his skills won't allow him
to drown, even with the Wolverines'
potent lineup. He is expected to see
limited action at cornerback.
True freshmen Tom Hendricks and
-I
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AWARD W
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August press conference, Michigan
coach Lloyd Carr may have summed
up three of the Wolverines' four losses
last season.
w
IIII /
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VINNING
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Student Rates:
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Sept. 1, 1996 - Dec. 31, 1996
School Year $169
Sept. 1, 1996 - May 1, 1997
Michigan Ave.
Roundtree Village
: Ellsworth Rd.
°- Washtenaw Ave.
SPORT
Soccer
Ice Hockey
Softball
Pre- Flag FB
Flag Football
Pre- Broomball
Pre- Basketball
CLINIC BEGINS
Wed 9/4
Mon 9/23
Tues 10/1
Tues 10/15
Tues 10/15
Weds 11/13
Tues 12/3
PORTUNITIES
SPORT
Ice Hockey
Basketball
Pre-Season VB
Volleyball
Mini-Soccer
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CLINIC BEGINS
Weds 1/8
Weds 1/8
Weds 2/19
Weds 2/19
Mon 3/10
Tues 3/11
001es
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Hours
M-F 6 a.m.-10 p.m. " SAT 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
SUN 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
For Additional Information Contact: Intramural Sports Program IMSB 606 E. Hoover 763-3562 htip://www.recsports.umich.edu
Conveniently Located near 1-94 and Michigan Ave. in Roundtree i