C4je 9llCi igtttt AT72tti[ff . Sports Desk: 647.3336 Sullivan runs to 4th Big Ten title By Rick Freeman D)aily Sports Writer COLUMBUS - Kevin Sullivan then John Mortimer. Or maybe Mortimer, then Sullivan. That's how the top two spots have looked in all but one of the Michigan men's cross country team's races this year. That's how the top two spots looked at Saturday's Big Ten championships held on the rolling terrain of the Ohio State Golf Course. But cross country is not an indi- vidual sport, it is a team sport, and the Wolverines needed strong performances from the entire team in order to hold off No. 5 Wisconsin, No. 6 Michigan State and the rest of the Big Ten. Michigan's dynamic duo finished first and second - as they have in every race McGregor wins women's title as Michigan finishes second Katie McGregor won her first conference title and the Wolverines took second place behind Wisconsin. See Page 88. but one this year. Sullivan captured his fourth Big Ten title, a feat matched by only two others. But they did not finish as close together as they have in recent meets. Sullivan finished 19 seconds ahead of his teammate and 48 seconds ahead of a seething pack of runners that threatened to tarnish his individual title by stealing the team championship out from under- neath his Nikes. Wisconsin, the second-place finisher, took the fourth, fifth, sixth, and ninth individual spots, but clutch performances by Sullivan and Mortimer's largely unher- alded supporting cast saved the day. Sophomores Steve Lawrence and Jay Cantin were able to overcome'their initial concern and muscle their way to the sev- enth and eighth spots, despite powerful performances from two Wisconsin run- ners. "I was surprised that Wisconsin put three guys in front of (Cantin) and Lawrence." Michigan coach Ron Warhurst said. While four runners turned in their usual solid performances, there are five runners that score, and Michigan needed them all to win Saturday. "In cross country, you're only as strong as your fifth runner," Warhurst said. Michigan's fifth runner produced per- haps the toughest effort of the day. Junior Todd Snyder turned on the burners in the last kilometer, passing several runners to secure I11th place for himself and more important, a Big Ten championship for his teammates. "fie saved us," Warhurst said. While Snyder's finish did not turn out to be absolutely crucial, at the time it seemed do-or-die to the Ann Arbor native. Unable to catch one last runner, Iowa's Chad Schwitters, Snyder carried a dis- gusted grimace across the finish line, two-tenths of a second behind Schwitters. "I thought that was it," Snyder said. "I See SULLIVAN, Page 8B LOUIS BROWN/Daily Kevin Sullivan (left) won his fourth Big Ten title on Saturday. John Mortimer (right) finished 19 seconds behind Sullivan. Stickers' .firsttite cause for celebration By Kurt New ally Sports Writer Big Ten Champions - in 25 years the Michigan field hockey team had never been able to lay claim to this title. But that all changed Sunday as the Wolverines trounced Michigan State 4-0 to capture their first-ever Big Ten title. Coming into this game Michigan knew it could clinch at least a share of the championship with a victory. The Spartans had beaten the Wolverines in heir first meeting this season, which set e stage for what seemed destined to be a classic battle between two fierce rivals. The afternoon started on an emotion- al note as the six Michigan seniors were recognized before the game for their contributions. Adding to the emotional nature was an appearance by the pep band for the first time all season. Right from the opening whistle See STICKERS, Page 6B Icture perfect Blue moves to 8-0 after rolling over Gophers By Nicholas J. Cotsonika Daily Sports Editor Without the emotion that energized East Lansing last week or the hype that will swirl soon around State College, Michigan r7 Michigan 24 lived on thoughts of Minnesota 3 golden rings and roses Saturday. The fourth-ranked Wolverines, flat but focused on the future, took a 24-3 victory from a Minnesota team notorious for deflating overstuffed egos. Twice in the past 30 years - 1977 and '86 -the Golden Gophers sullied the season of a previously unbeaten, highly ranked Michigan team. Knowing that, Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said he told his players they didn't want any part of that history. They then refused to suffer a letdown before 106.577 at Michigan Stadium, though Carr said "there was no emotion before the game, at halftime or after the game."R The Wolverines have captured the Little Brown Jug I I straight years and 28 of the past 30, but more important, they didn't fumble it at a critical time. With victories at Penn State and Wisconsin the next two weeks, the Wolverines (5-0 Big Ten, 8-0 overall) will go to the Rose Bowl for the first time since the 1992 season and could have a shot at the national champi- onship. "I want a ring," said Michigan two- way man Charles Woodson, who scored a 33-yard touchdown on' a See GOPHERS, Page 4B Win sets up match up of unbeatens next week end t was obvious that the emotion was- n't there. The Wolverines ran out of the tunnel onto the field Saturday with less swagger and fewer fist DANIEL CASTLE/Daily Helber shut out Michigan State, 40, Michigan a share of the Big Tentitle. wiceis 1iCC for pumps than usual. They barely jumped high enough to touch the 'Go Blue' banner waving above the 50-yard line. The crowd was rel- atively quiet, despite all of the alumni cel- ebrating Homecoming, And it was acceptable. . The Wolverines were somewhat emotionless on Saturday because they really didn't care about the game against Minnesota. It's that simple. Sure, Michigan wants to beat the Golden Gophers every year to keep the Little Brown Jug in Ann Arbor and sure, it wants to win every game it plays. They lacked a lot of their usual desire because they had something else on their minds, something much more important. The Wolverines' hearts and emo- tions were focused on this week's upcoming game at Penn State, and as football players with feasible dreams, it's normal to refocus energy where it really counts -- as long as there is enough left over to avoid letting another game slip away. See RUMORE, Page 58 DANIELLE RUMORE Rumore Has It and at times, it looked like the Wolverines wished they were some- place else. Michigan co-captain Jon Jansen holds up the Little Brown Jug, which the Wolverines won for the 11th consecutive time. ;ers n daska. Ray is unquestioned leader of Michigan's secondary By Pranay Reddy Daily Sports Writer Who would have thought that in Alaska's frigid climate, Michigan's cold offense would finally warm up? Michigan (2-1-0 CCHA, 5-2-0 over- all) doubled up Alaska-Fairbanks (0-4-0, 5-1) over the weekend, outlasting the Nanooks 4-3 Saturday, following a 6-3 victory on Friday. , Coming into the weekend, Michigan coach Red Berenson was concerned about his team's power play and penalty killing units. And coming out of the two games, his mind may be at rest - at lea-at (in the~ nffencnve e~nd o-f the. ice. By Alan Goldenbach1 [>aily Sports Editor eadership in the athletic arena is supposed to remain at a particular level.-Provide a lit- le bit of motivation, encouragement or a challenge. A simple pat on the back, a joking insult, or even a moment aside with a naive rook- ie will suffice. Rarely does leadership go further than that. Marcus Ray has taken the meaning of leader- ship to a new level. "Having him on the field is like having anoth- er coach on the field," Michigan secondary coach Vance Bedford said of his junior safety. "He's taken on a huge leadership role since (co- captain and linebacker) Eric Mayes went down for the season. He's just tremendous." In a secondary with no seniors, Ray has clear- son as the unofficial spokesman and on-the-field teacher of the group. This year, more than ever in recent years, Michigan's defense has been senior-deficient, with only five fifth-year seniors currently on the active roster, which means that many underclassmen are seeing valuable time on / the field, including some in starting roles. The secondary, although exception- ally talented, is not immune to this youth movement. Sophomore Tommy Hendricks has taken over at the start- r ing strong safety spot and injuries to Weathers (who even himself, has only seen rare backup action prior to this season) have meant crunch-time action for Michigan's trio of true the veterans. Although Woodson calls him the "best secondary coach in the country, Bedford can't teach these youngsters experience, Michigan expe- rience, in particular, espe- cially from the sidelines. "I have to be a leader with how I perform," Ray said, "We rotate in so many young players like Tommy Hendricks, James Whitley, William Peterson and DeWayne Patmon. I have to be a physi- cal presence out there and show that if I'm up to any challenge any of these guys should be able to also.'' Ray takes pride in watching these v,, nt a nl nv,-m .Am/pI nn h... .nt t*la c-ama making more plays every week and the more plays they make, the stronger a secondary we're going to have. "But we all have to keep this up. If they see that I lost faith in us being able to make it to the Rose Bowl, then they'll lose faith too. I can't let them do that." With Woodson, the All-American and media darling, occupying the same secondary as Ray, it is quite easy for young players to overlook the intangibles that Ray brings to the team, and instead seek to emulate Woodson's flair for the glitz and gab. But Ray's biggest fan on the team, and the one who certainly makes sure the rookies follow Ray's lead, is none other than his room- mate, Woodson. "Without a doubt, he knows our defense better than anybody else," Woodson said. "He is the c-mnrtc miv Pin, PI ~r a,. riaxs.,4, I 4 >,:- v.. i