10 - The Michigan Daily - Football Saturday - November 1, 1997 THE MATCHUPS Gophers have little chance against Big Ten's top defense ly John Lorol Daily Sports Editor Minnesota coach Glen Mason received a few encouraging e-mails after his Gophers almost upset No. I Penn State two weeks ago. One message read, "I just wanted to say what a great game your team played against Penn State. I am real- ly delighted I had a chance to talk to your dad at the game. Take care, your Aunt Gladys." Only problem is, Mason's father died 18 years ago. Must have been one excit- ing conversation. That's the kind of two weeks Mason has had. After a heart-breaking loss to No. 1 Penn State, Mason benched run- ning back Thomas Hamner, whose fum- ble cost Minnesota a huge upset. Then Mason received a call from the Big Ten offices apologizing for blowing a pass interference call that also would have secured the upset. Tuesday, Hamner said he didn't feel wanted in Minneapolis and announced he was transferring. Wednesday, he rescind- ed his statement. And things aren't looking up now: Minnesota (0-4 Big Ten, 2-6 overall) is still winless in the Big Ten and must face the nation's No. 3 defense today. To make matters worse, it's Homecoming for Michigan (4-0, 7-0). The Gophers haven't beaten Michigan and taken home The Little Brown Jug since when Chip Lohmiller kicked a 30- yard field goal as time expired to give Minnesota a 20-17 victory over the No. 2 Wolverines. And Michigan doesn't exactly take this game lightly. While the Brown Jug is just a smoky restaurant to some people, it means a whole lot more to the football team. Michigan has won 27 of the last 29 meetings and both of those Minnesota wins - in 1986 and in 1977 when the Gophers trounced No. 1 Michigan 16-0 - ruined an otherwise perfect season for the Wolverines. Mason may need his "surrogate" fam- ilies' support after this one, too. MICHIGAN PASSING OFFENSE VS. MINNESOTA PASSING DEFENSE: Lamanzer Williams, tops in the Big Ten and second in the nation with 10 1/2 sacks, is cele- brating a sort of Homecoming as well. Williams is from Ypsilanti and will have plenty of family in the crowd. The Gophers do a decent job getting pressure on the quarterback, but after that, the Minnesota defense has been hor- rible. The Gophers have the 98th rated pass defense in the country and have picked off just six passes all season - a number that Michigan equaled last week. Michigan signal caller Brian Griese has proved to be just what Michigan needs: a vocal leader and a smart player. As the Big Ten's sixth-rated passer, he has surpassed all expectations. The offensive line has done a terrific job of protecting him and there is no reason why it can't handle Williams. Wide receiver Rusell Shaw has been bothered by an ankle injury that kept him out of the second half against Michigan State. In his absence, the Wolverines rarely went to the air, which drew criti- cism from fans and the media. But Griese should have few problems picking apart Minnesota's secondary. Look for him to spread the ball around and connect with Tai Streets, who's had a disappointing year thus far, or Jerame Tuman on a long ball. Edge: MICHIGAN RUNNING OFFENSE VS. MINNESOTA RUNNING DEFENSE: Mason likes his chances here. Minnesota ranks 39th in the country in run defense and did a decent job holding Penn State's Curtis Enis under wraps. Strong safety Tyrone Carter (70 tack- les) and linebacker Parc Williams (67) have led the charge, but six other Gophers have at least 35 tackles. Michigan is averaging 192.1 yards on the ground per game - good enough for 26th in the nation. The Wolverines have a bunch of players nicked up in the back- field including starting fullback Chris What is Football Saturday? Football Saturday, to those who know the Michigan athletic tradition, is an institution unparalleled in excitement and spirit. From the action on the field to the flying marshmallows in the stands, the Big House becomes the center of life in Ann Arbor each fall, every time the Wolverines take the field. For the first time in its 107-year history, The Michigan Daily will try to cap- ture the feeling of Football Saturday at home games in 12-page special edi- tions. Each issue this season will feature coverage of the previous week's game, player features, a game-day preview, matchups, staff picks, rosters and statistics. Reports on Michigan sports other than football will be included, to provide a spotlight for those Wolverines whose performances aren't witnessed by more than 100,000 fans on a regular basis. Periodically, Athletic Department news and other relavent stories also will be reported. It is the Daily's hope that these issues will be fair, entertaining and informa- tive. They are not intended to be a forum for cheerleading. Rather, they should give students, alumni and fans a critical, unbiased look at the team and school they love, and the institution they revere: Football Saturday. --The editors Blue all LAST IDEEK Number 1, 1997 - WARREN ZINN/Daily Michigan nosetackle Rob Renes chases Spartan quarterback Todd Schultz. Renes sacked Schultz once and will be looking to do the same to Minnesota's Cory Sauter. I I ERESTAURANT S II ® Floyd who has a bum ankle, and starting tailback Chris Howard, who is playing with bruised ribs. Michigan is chugging along on the ground, especially when Michigan coach Lloyd Carr is able to rotate Howard, Clarence Williams and freshman Anthony Thomas in and out of the lineup and they always seem to be able to break a big run when they need it. EDGE: MINNESOTA PASSING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN PASSING DEFENSE: No need to say anything, really. Michigan wins this matchup with easily. The Wolverines sport the best pass defense in the country. And now players like Marcus Ray, Tommy Hendricks and Andre Weathers are getting credit instead of just All- Everything Chuck Woodson. Minnesota quarterback Cory Sauter is averaging just 119.2 yards per game through the air and has thrown as many interceptions (five) as touchdowns. If it weren't for Tutu Atwell, third in the con- PPORTS $AN I I Sports Br ference in catches, the Gopher passing attack would be barren. Sauter can't be looking forward to this game. EDGE: MINNESOTA RUNNING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN RUNNING DEFENSE: The Gophers are averaging 159.5 yards on the ground, but their leading rusher, Hamner, accounts for only 67.5 yards. Minnesota has had its difficulties moving the ball this year and have had trouble coming from behind. No matter, the Wolverines' defense hasn't allowed a touchdown after half- time all year and that streak should con- tinue tomorrow. Michigan is ranked fifth nationally against the run. Hamner may want to reconsider transferring. EDGE: SPECIAL TEAMS: Ah, special teams. The Wolverines haven't been very good at anything. Their punting is okay and Jay Feely has done a good job on kickoffs, but returns haven't been spectacular, though Woodson is due to break a punt return anytime. Minnesota on the other hand ain't too shabby. Most impressive is the Gophers kickoff returners, ranked No. 7 in the country. They should have plenty of chances to show their stuff tomorrow. EDGE: Michigan is very good. Minnesota is not. And while Minnesota is just another team to most of us, the Wolverines actu- ally care about the Little Brown Jug. Don't look for a letdown here. Mason is in a heep of trouble. Michigan wants to be 8-0 for next week's game against Penn State and there's no reason they won't be. . PREDICTION: Michigan 34, Minnesota 10. Football Saturday Staff Football Writers and Sports Editors: Editor In Chief: 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 fail 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. PHONE NUMBERS (All area code 313): News 76-DAILY; Arts 763-0379; Sports 647-3336; Opinion 764-0552; Circulation 764-0558; Classified advertising 764-0557; Display advertising 764-0554; Billing 764-0550. E-mail letters to the editor to daily. letterscumich.edu. World Wide Web: http://www.pub.umich.edu/daily/. NEWS Jodi S. Cohen, Managing Editor EDITORS: Jeff Eldrdge, Laurie Mayk, Anupama Reddy. Will Weissert. STAFF: Janet Adamy Reiily Brennan. David Bricker, Gerard Cohen Vrignaud, Rachel Edelman. Margene Eriksen. Megan Exey. Maria Hackett. Stephanie Hepburn, Steve Horwitz. Heather Kamigs Jeffrey Kosseff. Neal Lepsetz. Ken Mazur. Chris Metinko. Pete Meyers. William Nash. Chrstne M.Pak Lee Palmer. Katie Plona. Susan T. Port. Dba Rao. Alice Robinson.Peter'Romer-Friedman, Ericka M Smith. Mike Spahn, Sam Stavis. Heather Wiggmn. Kristin Wright. Jennifer Yachnin. CALENDAR: Katie Plona. EDITORIAL Erin Marsh, Editor ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Jack Schillaci. Jason Stoller. STAFF:Kristin"Aola Filen Friedman. Lea Frost. Eric Hochstadt. Scott Hunter. Jason Korb. Yuki Kuniyuki, David Lai. Sarah Lockyer, James Miller. Joshua Rich Megan Schimpf, Paul Senila. Ron Steiger, David Taub, Matt Winsatt. Jordan Young. SPORTS John Leroi, Managing Editor EDITORS, Ncholas J. 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As has been the case all season, Michigan's defense put a steel clamp on its opposition in the second half. What was a close 2 M; Mond 23 battle for 30 Tailback Chris Howard rushed for 110 yards and scored a touchdown to lea Defense stops Spec I 6: 6 6 6 6 6 6 Restaurant 333 E. Huron We Deliver! rQ!, New Hours Open LateV Open Sun-Sat 11 am-1am Inside Late Night Delivery Wed-Sat 1 am-3am c gn i Mk~gmSLi7n ut e s ~ Mlchlgan St. 7 turned into a lopsided 23- 7 victory for the Wolverines (4-0 Big Ten 7-0 overall) before a rambunctious con- glomerate of 79,687 at Spartan Stadium, most clad in green, but plenty in blue. In the week leading up to the game, Michigan State players were singled out for their loose chatter, which some Wolverines deemed excessive. But Michigan's stifling defense not only attacked the ball, but the Spartans' mouths as well. "They did some talking in the first quarter and a little bit in the second.' Michigan safety Marcus Ray said. "In the second half, what was there to talk about?" The talk in the second half was all about Michigan's defense, which held the Spartans (2-2, 5-2) to just 83 yards after halftime while intercepting six Michigan State passes. And the Spartans had difficulty mov- ing anywhere on offense after Michigan bottled up all-purpose threat Sedrick Irvin. After burning Michigan for 141 first-half yards both on the ground and in the air, Irvin could muster just 17 after the break as the Spartans turned primari- ly to a passing attack in an attempt to erase their expanding deficit. Shutting down Irvin allowed M to win the game on the ground. Tl with the most rushing yards has v of the last 29 meetings. Michiga that battle convincingly, 173-95. "It was a good defense," Irvin won't take any credit away Michigan. They played a great ga defense." Michigan State didn't even havi down in the third quarter, when Weathers and Charles Woodson off two Todd Schultz passes. Woodson's interception was tionally amazing, but the All-Ar cornerback said it only made up earlier oversight With Michigan up 3-0, late in t quarter, Michigan State lined up apparent 39-yard field goal. But Bill Burke took the snap and thre to Irvin who lined up wide left, ou view of any Michigan player. lobbed the ball up for Irvin who c a good 15 yards away from the Wolverine and galloped in for a touchdown. "Usually on field goals, I ch opponent's formation, Woodso "Today, for some reason, I didn' the guy coming in and they made play and caught us off-guard. "Those are the types of plays t take a team out of sync. But wi allowed that to happen to us." After the next six possessions e Spartan punts and a Marcus Ray ception, Michigan had the ball on five-yard line with 5:36 to go int half. The Wolverines promptly di yards in iI plays, culminating one-yard sneak by quarterback 1220 S. UNIVERSITY 665-7777 _ 111 v mL~- I