The Michigan Daily - Friday, October 10, 1997 -13 The Matchups: 'Uncouth 'Cats don't have winning look Staff Picks - ail picks made against the spread. * an O9nbmch Daily Spots Editor The first time, it was the law of aver- ages manifesting itself. The second time, it was just a stroke of luck. - What would it be called then, if mighty Michigan lost to questionably clad Northwestern for the third year in a row? Cataclysmic? At least for Ann Arbor folk. That label would be even more appro- jrite this season since the talent dispari- between these two teams is greater in recent years. Whether people ant to believe it or not, the Wildcats had the personnel on the field and the coach- '- that proved that they were one of the nation's top 10 or 15 teams. But now all that remains, more or less, from those back-to-back conference champion teams is the coaching. And unless Gary Barnett shows he can run the 40 in 4.2 seconds and has eligibility remaining, Northwestern's surprising erm of domination will come to an end. MICHIGAN RUSHING OFFENSE VS. NORTHWESTERN RUSHING DEFENSE: The Wildcats didn't rise to national promi- nence behind a strong defense. In fact, if there has been one aspect of their game that has prevented them from really step- ping into the nation's super-elite teams, it has been their inability to stop the run. Even with two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Pat Fitzgerald anchor- 'ing the Northwestern front seven, the W ildcats still allowed almost 140 yards per game on the ground. Now - with the departure of Fitzgerald, fellow linebacker Tim Scharf and nose tackle Matt Rice-- that number has jumped to 205 yards per game. How compatible. Behind Chris Howard. Anthony Thomas, Clarence Williams and Chris Floyd, Michigan is averaging 201 yards rushing per game. The numbers should play out just fine for Michigan. EDGE: Michigan MICHIGAN PASSING OFFENSE VS. NORTHWESTERN PASSING DEFENSE: If the Wildcats' defense has a strong suit, it is its secondary, spearheaded by a pair of safeties, Eric Collier and Mike Nelson, who are as good as any in the Big Ten. But going over the middle has not been characteristic of Michigan's passing attack the past few weeks, especially against Indiana, when quarterback Brian Griese turned dump-off passes to his backs in the flat into 20-yard gains. There's no reason why Michigan would turn away from that approach, considering Northwestern's defense, like Indiana's, tends to over-pursue, which often leaves the backs wide open. EDGE: Michigan Game (HOME TEAM IN CAPS) MICHIGAN (-24) vs. Northwestern Michigan State (-18 1/2) vs. INDIANA PENN STATE (-6 1/2) vs. Ohio State WISCONSIN (-13) vs. Illinois Purdue (-6) vs. MINNESOTA ARIZONA ST. (-2 1/2) vs. Southern Cal CLEMSON (-5 1/2) vs. Virginia Colorado (-3) vs. OKLAHOMA STATE Florida (-15 1/2) vs. LOUISIANA STATE TENNESSEE (-10) vs. Georgia Best Bet Last week Overall Overall best bet NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA Northwestern Michigan State Penn State' Wisconsin Purdue Arizona St. Clemson Colorado Louisiana State Tennessee Colorado 6-4 31-27 ALAN GOLDENBACH Northwestern Michigan State Ohio State Wisconsin Purdue Arizona St. Clemson Oklahoma State Florida Tennessee Michigan State 5-5 25-33 2-3 DANIELLE RUMORE LEROI Michigan Michigan State Penn State Wisconsin Purdue Arizona St. Clemson Oklahoma State - Florida Tennessee Tennessee 4-6 29-29 1-4 Nor thwester n Michigan State Penn State Wisconsin Purdue Southern Cal Clemson Colorado Florida Tennessee Clemson 7-3 26-32 1-4 As Colorado's Herchell Troutman and Notre Dame's Autry Denson will attest, a good resume is merely a good starting point against Michigan's front seven and nothing else. The Wolverines held both to less than 3.5 yards per carry and weren't the least bit intimidated by their usually overpowering offensive lines. Northwestern's line, contrary to its nickname, isn't very wild nor very good for that matter. Indiana's De'Wayne Hogan will get some company in those whose confidence has been destroyed by a Michigan run defense that has proven its preseason critics wrong. EDGE: Michigan NORTHWESTERN PASSING OFFENSE VS. Mf ic-1G NN PVSIsIG OFFENSE: Northwestern quarterback Tim Hughes should be seeing a lot of Michigan all- everything Charles Woodson. Not because Michigan has some secret corner blitz attack planned, but because Hughes is also the Wildcats' punter and should be sending a bunch of kicks Woodson's way. Northwestern's passing game has sur- prised many in light of the loss of quar- terback Steve Schnur to graduation and receiver D'Wayne Bates to season-end- ing knee injury in the preseason. Receiver Brian Musso has picked up Bates' slack and has proceeded to catch 34 passes, the most in the Big Ten. But after Musso, Hughes' options are limited, meaning that as long as Michigan sticks Woodson on Musso. Hughes will either become much more acquainted with his other receivers or his long snapper's rear end, which he'll see virtually every fourth down. EDGE: Michigan SPECIAL TEAMS: Northwestern kicker Brian Gowins earned All-Big Ten honors last season and seems to be on his way to repeating this year. At a time where relia- bility is paramount among kickers, Gowins has been just that, connecting on 12 of 16 attempts this season. But let's not forget about how far the Michigan kicking game has come since the beginning of the season. Kraig Baker has overcome early-season jitters and has settled into his role; Jay Feely has been almost automatic in getting touchbacks on kickoffs; and Jason Vinson has given everyone in Ann Arbor reason to believe that walk-ons are not bottom-of-the-bar- rel kids looking to get a cool unifornn. Vinson better get off some good k ich because Musso. the \Vildeats' return man. is averaging almost 13 yards each time he brings one back. ED(i: Even EVEN They said it couldn't be done the first time when the men in purple pants waltzed into Michigan Stadium with nothing to lose. They laughed when the proposal came up again the following year with Michigan holding a 16-point fourth-quarter lead. Barnett, though, 1 such a great coach that he alters the view of this game from an automatic Michigan victory to one Northwestern could steal Start doing those wind sprints, Garn because it isn't looking good for you oth- erwise: Michigan 30, Northwestern 10 NORTHWESTERN RUSHING OFFENSE vS. MICHIGAN RUSHING DEFENSE: Unlike Michigan's diversified backfield attack, in which any one of four backs could go for 100 yards, Northwestern puts all of its eggs in senior Adrian Autry's basket. Not related to former Wildcats All- American Darnell Autry. Adrian has turned out performances similar to those of his namesake, rushing past the century mark in three ofhis past four games. WILDCATS Continued from Page 11 vated its field adding extra seats to accommodate alumni. once ashamed of the program. who now want a piece of the action. And what have the Wildcats done on sparkling new Ryan Field -- for- mery known as Dyche Stadium - but disappoint their newly acquited "faithful" and drop consecutive home games to Rice and Wisconsin. Barnett even conceded the Big Ten title after only two conference games. "The Rose Bowl is certainly out of the question at this point." Barnett said. "You have to adjust a little bit. Rather than being down about it, we have to take something away from the" Wisconsin game last week. Barnett knew the Wildcats' offense wouldn't be anywhere near as potent as last year's . he loss of Bates made the situation even worse - but Northwestern's defense was expected to be solid. The Wildcats were ranked in most preseason top 25 polls. Everyone in Evanston expect- ed a bowl trip. But Northwestern's performance has been disappointing. 'Ihe loss to lowly Rice Wias reminiscent of the meek Northwestern teams of the past. Barnett said the Wildcats had lost their passion. The loss to Wisconsin last week was a heart-breaker a last-second field goal from 45 yards did the dam- age -- but Barnett said he saw some- thing that had been absent in the three weeks before. Unlike the debacle against Rice, the Wildcats played rather well, and they played with an intensity that hadn't been seen since last season. "We were more disappointed in the games that we won," defensive end Casey Dailey said. "If we had played the way we played against Wisconsin the whole season, we'd be 6-0." "I've never been around a team that has lost that feels so good about going to play the next game," Barnett added. "It's like we've bound ourselves. and we're back to playing the way that we have the last two years." Now Northwestern enters a treach- erous portion of the schedule that starts with Michigan. Barnett said the Wildcats are play- ing better now than in those two ugly loses, but even that might not be enough. Barnett said that this is the best Michigan team he has seen since entering the league five years ago, and he's even comparing Michigan quarterback Brain Griese's poise and leadership to Schnur's. Michigan is after the Big Ten title that was once Northwestern's, and while history is on his side, Barnett knows that this year's game may not end as well as before. The Wildcats season certainly won't be as successful. The Big Ten champions of yestery eir may be gone for quite some time "That was a special group of kids, but they had two years before they really understood what it takes to win the Big Ten title," Barnett said. "Right now, we're playing kids who watched those two seasons but di&n I play a whole lot." UNITED STUDE -Oil( A U TO " Wint( AND .Gene F .E TInsp FEET- . Forei2 R EPAIR - 2321 Jackson Ave. Ann Arbor 48103 NT SPECIALS Changes $17.95 erizations $39.95 ral Maintenance ection $22.50 gn and Domestics Serviced FILE PHOTO With receiver D'Wayne Bates out for -the season, Northwestern's offense has been stagnant at best. S5} (313) 665-7130 ----------- " Legendary coach hangs it up The University of Michigan Department of Recreational Sports INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM WHAT'S HAPPENING CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - He said he lost his enthusi- asm for a game he has loved a lifetime, and loves still. And in explaining it all, he lost his composure. - Dean Smith retired as basketball coach at North Carolina 'esterday, a job that lasted 36 years; produced two national itles and raised him to the pinnacle of his profession. His longtime assistant Bill Guthridge takes over with little time to waste: Practice for the upcoming season starts in nine days. The winningest college basketball coach of all time said he was 80 percent sure last week he wanted to step down; after the weekend, it was 100 percent. "This timing is something I believed in all along," said Smith, who broke Adolph Rupp's career victory mark of 876 last season during the NCAA tournament. "I certainly would- 't want to say I'll coach this year and resign after the season. tan you imagine how many rocking chairs at different places I would get and them all acting like they like you? I've seen that all too often." With students gathered outside, pressing against windows, his North Carolina team entered a packed room of about 300 reporters, former players, faculty, staff and friends inside the Smith Center (Dean Dome) just moments before the coach. His players were somber, shocked that Smith had chosen to retire so suddenly. Smith appeared at ease as he began to address the crowd, but began to cry when he talked about his players - all of them. "What loyalty I've had, from my players ...' Smith said, wiping away tears, then dropping his head for several moments while he tried to regain his composure. "I knew some day this would be my last team. Yes, there is guilt," Smith said. "I look at their faces and I just couldn't dandle that. I couldn't if I turned right now. But I still believe it's best for them unless I could give them what I want." He couldn't really pin down major factors in his decision, though he mentioned his 66-year-old body was out of shape and overweight. "I am going to try to exercise, and the doctor didn't tell me to do that," Smith said. "But when you're nearing 200 pounds at 5-10, it's time to do something." Mostly he talked about knowing when to go. Smith said he knew it was time to give it up when he saw former Tar Heel Larry Brown coaching the Philadelphia 76ers at training camp in Chapel Hill. "Larry Brown always fires me up, watching him out on the court, the enthusiasm," Smith said. "I said, I used to be like that and if I can't give this team that enthusiasm I said I would give it up. That's honestly how I feel." Chancellor Michael Hooker said he tried to talk Smith out of his decision, but didn't press the coach. "I didn't try as hard as I might have because I respect Dean too much," he said. "He knows what he wants better than I do, and it would have been selfish for the institution to impose on him an obligation that is not appropriiate for the circumstances." With a career record of 879-254, Smith won national titles in 1982 and 1993. His teams have finished in the top three of the ACC for a record 33 straight seasons, including last sea- son's second-place mark. He led the Tar Heels to an NCAA- record 27 straight, 20-win seasons. Smith's only losing sea- son came in his first, when the team was 8-9 in 1961-62. On this day of fond farewells and tearful goodbyes, Smith got a call from one of America's biggest college basketball fans -- President Clinton. "There is nobody like you," Clinton said. "But not just because you won, but because of the way you did it. We all respect and admire you so much." PO WERBAR CROSS COUNTRY RUN ENTRIES DUE: Weds 10/15, 4:30 PM, IMSB ENTRY FEE: $25 per team $5 per individual RUN DATE: Thurs 10/16 Mitchell Fields/Gallup Park ( ^" V 5'. 4000000", PRE-SEASON FLAG FOOTBALL ENTRIES TAKEN: Mon 10/13 to Thurs 10/16 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM, IMSB ENTRY FEE: $30 per team MANAGER'S MEETING: MANDATORY Thurs 10/16, 6:00 PM, IMSB TOURNAMENT BEGINS Sat 10/18, Mitchell Fields _______________________________________________4 WALLYBALL 0. ENTRIES TAKEN: Monday 10/20 ONLY 11:00 AM to 5:30 PM ENTRY FEE: $35 per team MANAGER'S MEETING: MANDATORY Weds 10/22, 7:15 PM, IMSB PLAY BEGINS: Thurs 10/23 IMSB FLAG FOOTBALL ENTRIES TAKEN: Monday 10/20 ONLY 11:00 AM - 5:30PM, IMSB ENTRY FEE: $65 per team MANAGER'S MEETING: MANDATORY Weds 10/22, 6 & 9 PM, IMSB PLAY BEGINS: Thurs 10/23 Mitchell Fields 2k' W~Ui~ U~t ., YAU ~t~ ~"~9- ~','5~fflf~ ~