10.- The Michigan Daily Footbal S- November 22, 1997 0 0 THE MAickups 0 0" 0. -FEAA RA Nimber 22, 1997 - r. H~ ~ What should be a close game won't be: Blue wil wm big usincurse Cc By John Level Daily Sports Editor Michigan vs. Ohio State. Bo vs. Woody. Good vs. Evil. There is no overstating the importance and the hatred of this rivalry. And with the Rose Bowl on the line, to say this game means everything wouldn't be stretching the truth. On paper the two squads are almost mirror images of each other: terrific defenses, solid offenses and veteran quar- terbacks (of course, Ohio State has two of them). The Wolverines' defense has been good enough to win ballgames all by itself for much of the season, but Michigan's offense has sprung to life in its last two games, rolling up 400-plus yards against Wisconsin and Penn State. Michigan's defense looked vulnerable against the Badgers and with starting free safety Tommy Hendricks and his backup Daydrion Taylor both probably out, the Wolverines might have a weak spot. Still, as Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said, "If you need something to get fired up for this game, you've got a problem" And with Michigan's Charles Woodson and Ohio State's David Boston exchang- ing pleasantries this week, this game should be as heated as any in the history of the rivalry. Breaking down a game this emotional ,position by position, is often a futile effort, but here's a glance. OHIO STATE PASSING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN PASSING DEFENSE: With Brent Washington likely to start for the injured Hendricks and Michigan looking suscep- tible against Wisconsin, the Buckeyes will probably try to exploit Michigan's secondary. Ohio State coach John Cooper rotates quarterbacks Joe Germaine and Stanley Jackson more often than Dennis Rodman changes his hair color. Germaine played most of last years game against the Wolverines and is the Big ten's leading passer this season. But Jackson has start- ed all of the Buckeyes' games this season and Cooper said it will stay that way. While Germaine possesses the better arm, Jackson may be more dangerous against Michigan because of his mobility. Wisconsin's Mike Samuel picked apart the Wolverines' defense running the option, a play Michigan hasn't stopped all year. Germaine has a strong and accurate arm and he has two great receivers to throw to - Boston, the conference's leading receiver, and Dee Miller. Boston ripped Woodson in the newspapers this week, much like former-Buckeye receiv- er Terry Glenn did two years ago, so look for Woodson to take it personally and cover Boston like a wet blanket. And even with a depleted secondary, Michigan's front seven should be able to get enough pressure on Germaine (or Jackson). After all, the Wolverines' are the nation's No. 1 pass defense. EDGE: OHIO STATE RUSHING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN RUSHING DEFENSE: Wisconsin ran for 154 yards against the Wolverines last week. While that's a great figure for most defenses, it is not accept- able in Ann Arbor. The Badgers ran an inside trap with a lot of success, but Ohio State doesn't utilize the play so much. Pepe Pearson is the Buckeyes' best running back with 724 yards on the ground this season, but that's a far cry from the 1,484 he ran for last season. In fact, Ohio State's most dangerous weapon could be Jackson, who runs the option well. But that's about it for the Buckeyes, and against a phenomenal run defense led by linebackers Sam Sword and Dhani Jones, the Wolverines should be able to bottle up the Buckeyes. EDGE: MICHIGAN PASSING OFFENSE VS. OHIO * A,.1 AP PHOTO Ohlo State wide rceier David Boston was al mouth this wee, claiming the Buckeyes would beat Michigan by "two or three touchdowns," today. - U RESTAURANT toI STATE PASSING DEFENSE: Ohio State boasts the nation's No. 2 passing defense behind - you guessed it - Michigan. Boston called Ohio State cornerback Antoine Winfield "better than Woodson and certainly faster." While that might be a stretch, Winfield is a phenomenal play- er, much in the mold of the Buckeyes' star corner a year ago; Shawn Springs. Add safety Damon Moore into that mix, and the Buckeyes secondary is almost as intimidating as Michigan's. While Michigan's offense isn't a jug- gernaut, it has played surprisingly well the last two weeks, thanks to quarterback Brian Griese and blocking by the line. The Wolverines receivers haven't been impressive, but Tai Streets had his best game of the season against Wisconsin' and everyone remembers how he burned Springs for a 69-yard score last year. But even though Griese does a good job getting the ball to tight end Jerame Tuman and his runningbacks, Ohio State is too good to give up another long score. EDGE: SPORTS DAN Sports Ba I The Michigan Daily Realership Poll 1995-191 -3 Big Screen TV's -8 additional large TV's MICHIGAN RUSHING OFFENSE VS. OHIO STATE RUSHING DEFENSE: Ohio State's Andy Katzenmoyer might be the° best player in the Big Ten. The sopho- more has been a starter since his first day on campus and has lived up to his top billing. But after the Big Kat and defen- sive tackle Winfield Garnett, the Buckeyes are thin against the run. With Michigan's Clarence Williams out of the lineup, fellow tailbacks Chris Howard and Anthony Thomas have. looked ste llar, especially Howard, who's rushed for more than 100-yards in two straight games. Michigan's young line has finally gelled, according to center Zach Adami, and the Wolverines have been dominating the line of scrimmage all year. EDGE: SPECIAL TEAMS: Never a bright spot for Michigan, the Wolverines have been pathetic recently. Lick and punt returners have been average, and although punter Jason Vinson hasn't been awful, he hasn't kicked as well as he did at the beginning of the season. The Wolverines' biggest liability, how- ever, is its field goal unit. Placekicker Kraig Baker botched a field goal and an extra point against Wisconsin prompting Carr to replace him with Jay Feely, who's been handling the kickoff duties. Ohio State, on the other hand, has a trio of explosive returners in Boston, Gary Berry and Michael Wiley. Woodson can hold is own for Michigan, but he hasn't broken one yet this year. EDGE: This game should be close ... but it won't be. Ohio State has looked great since dropping a close game in Happy Valley to Penn State, but against weak competition. Dreams of the Rose Bowl are enough for Michigan to take this game over in the second half. Pack your bags Wolverines, you're heading to Pasadena. PREDICTiON: Michigan624, Ohio State 7. I Football Saturday Staff Football t and SportsEditors: Editor In Nicholas J. Cotsonika Josh White Alan Goldenbach Photography John Leroi Sara Stillman Danielle Rumore Warren Zinn Production editor: Special sections Manager: John Friedberg Jamie Kribs The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the University of Michigan. Subscriptions for fall term, starting in September, via U.S. mail are $85. Winter term (January through April) is $95, yearlong (September through April) is $165. On-campus sub- scriptions for fall term are $35. Subscriptions must be prepaid. The Michigan Daily is a member of the Associated Press and the Associated Collegiate Press. ADDRESS: The Michigan Daily, 420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1327. 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PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS: Richard DiGeroriwno, Merkys Gomez. Ron White. AD PLACEMENT COORDINATOR Janme Cooley SPECIAL SECTIONS MANAGER Jamle Krb CIRCULATION MANAGER Christen Kinser NATIONAL AD COORDINATOR Steven Mitchell PROJECTS MANAGER Mark Thomnford SYSEMIS ANALYSTS Keulr Baker; Todd Brockldof, Kevin Chung Jonathan Witz Ohio State coach must think of M' everyday By Nicholas J. Cotsonika Daily Sports Editor C OLUMBUS - Revenge fuels most good rivalries, but at Ohio State, the bitterness bor- ders on obsession. It has hung over coach John Cooper's head for years now in the form of a sign, which stares down at him and his players as they train each day in the Woody Hayes Center: "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO BEAT MICHIGAN TODAY?" The Buckeyes were unbeaten and ranked No. 2 under Cooper the past two years before their annual season finale with the Wolverines, only to lose, ruining their national champi- onship hopes. Their situation mirrors the one they enjoyed from 1971-75, when they sullied an undefeated Michigan team's record five times. But that is no consolation here now, not with No. 4 Ohio State traveling to Ann Arbor this week with the Rose Bowl on the line again. Cooper wasn't coach in the '70s. The legendary Woody Hayes was, and Cooper's players said he will never creep from underneath Hayes's shad- ow in the eyes of Ohio State faithful until he can accomplish his mission - beating Michigan - which he has done just once in nine seasons. Nothing else matters. Cooper has been a finalist for the Coach of the Year Award each of the past three years, has finished first or second in the Big Ten each of the past five years, and has sent 12 first-round draft picks to the NFL since 1991. "But the fans would be happier if we went 1-11 - if that 1 was a win over Michigan," right tackle Eric Gohlston said. And Cooper has to live with that. "I'm 1-7-1 against Michigan - in case you guys don't know - in case it hasn't been in your paper yet this week," Cooper joked with the media Tuesday, before he turned serious. "I feel bad. Gosh, I ask myself what it's going to take to win that game. I know we're not the only school to go through something like this and that the cycle will turn. "But will it turn while I'm here? I can't answer that." Ohio State officials had planned it would. Cooper, ironically, was hired because of his demonstrated ability to Ohio State coach John Cooper h luck change this year or will Mh beat Michigan in big games. A at Arizona State in 1985, Coop his Sun Devils to a 22-15 victc the Wolverines in the 1986 Roy Bowl. So when Earle Bruce wa by Ohio State in 1988, Cooper seemed a logical choice. As it turned out, his selectio off handsomely. Cooper is amo nation's top recruiters. He bols the Buckeyes' prestige. He has been investigated by the NCA/ has taken his team to a bowl gE every season but his first, and earned hundreds of thousands lars for Ohio State by playing season games three of the past years. Buckeyes merchandise i top-five in the nation in sales, up there with Michigan. No wonder, then, that Ohio soon will have the finest athlet facilities in the world. A $150 renovation is planned for Ohio Stadium, and a new state-of-th arena is being built for hockey basketball. "It's really not fair what he's go through, when you look at % he's done," linebacker Kevin J said. "We -lose as a team. The 1 shouldn't go to one person, eve coach." Still, questions curse Cooper can do all that he does, why ca beat Michigan? Why is he 3-1. his final two games of the seas Cooper is left to defend himsel alone, denying any sort of mer block or jinx. "There's been a play made h play made there, that's determi outcome of the game," Cooper "I'm not one of these guys tha home every night with a heada I'm one of these guys who like feel like we've had a good yea We've won 10 football games, don't think many thought we'd We Deliver! New Hours Open Late Open Sun-Sat 1am-lam Inside g t 1 a d Late Night Delivery Wed-Sat I am-3am 1220 S. UNIVERSITY 665-7777 i i ' ,v _... '^ YAM ]L---& 'I