20 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, April 21, 1998 I I1Loss of Howard will be Williams' gainw Thomas, Jackson also in backfield mix; recruits check out spring action from stands By Mark Snyder yards, Thomas established himself as he said after Saturday's game, "but ichigan lost a number of outstand DailyS ports Editor the leading returning tailback e Lc\rhodis expected back. We should leaders. Five Wolverines . .lo At Michigan, the backfield has despite possessing a fullback's frame at be a healthy team going ito training Griese Iowrd, Charles Wood ot i1 at always been a sacred domain. Bo Schembechler established Michigan as a running school when he arrived in Ann Arbor in 1969 and prid- ed himself on a grind-it-out, three- yards-and-cloud-of-dust style. And so it has continued. Last season, with an average receiv- ing corps for quarterback Brian Griese -----------.----- to fall back on, Football Michigan main- Fo taincd its heavy Notebook reliance on the -------------- --- run. At tailback, Chris Howard and Clarence Williams split the carries until Williams was sidelined for most of the second half of the season with a severe groin injury. Thankfully for Lloyd Carr, a safety net emerged. Anthony Thomas assumed a role rarely reserved for Michigan freshmen, and he compiled yards in a hurry, top- ping 100 yards twice during the season. Finishing second to Howard with 549 6-0ot-2, 229 pounds. Now, with loward's next carry com- ing for the Denver Broncos, Thomas needs to become a greater force. -ANithonv has had a vcry go0od spring and I believe he is a little bit quicker than he was back in the fall," Carr said last week. "Throughout the course of last year, he gained some valuable expe- rience." But for all of Carr's compliments, last Saturday's spring game did little to reinforce Thomas' ascension to the fea- tured-back status. Williams carried the ball early and often, keeping most of his runs to the outer edges of the field, due to the tight ends out with injuries. Nonetheless. he racked up 77 yards on 13 carries, burst- ing through holes early and often. The absence of the tight ends did not allow an accurate reflection of the rtin- ning game, Carr said, but that should change once August and two-a-day practices roll around. "We had four tight ends out today," caip: While the traditional fullback role was vacated by New England-bound Chris Floyd, Ray Jackson and Demetrius Smith should adequately fill the void, Carr said. "I like the guys we have even though we do not have a lot of people at that position right now:' he said. "Demetrius Smith has his weight down the furthest it has been since he arrived here. Another young guy is Ray Jackson, who I believe will be an outstanding football player at Michigan. At 217 pounds, Jackson can play fullback as well as run the ball effectively." Jackson's blocking talents slid to the background on Saturday as lie announced himself as a tailback con- tender wvith his running exhibition. Late in the fourth quarter, he scampered for a 64-yard run after a short pass, giving the offense an unexpected surprise and Carr yet another backfield option. GREAT EXPECTATIONS: If the NFL Draft results were any indication, Glen Steele - were selected in tile fi five rounds, leaving significant holes fill. And Carr said predicting an it based on the 15 spring practices ou be presumptuous. "At this point, it's way too early tell:' lie said. "You find out a lot ab your senior leadership and resolve dt ing the hot summer months. But the t will come. While captains for the fall haver been announced. Jon Jansen-- a captain last year - is returning for 1 senior season. THE NEVERENDING STORY: i only a few of the incoming recru were in attendance at the spring gar -- Detroit's Larry Foote among the -- prospects for the following recro ing year flooded the field before t game, some with their parents. "Recruiting is a ineverendi process," Carr said. "A number of t incoming guys were here so they c see who they're going to be corm i against" for playing time. JOHN KRAFT/Daily Clarence Williams got most of the work during Saturday's spring game, bouncing several runs outside for long gains. Purdue looms for Griffin, Wolverines this afternoon SOFBALL Continued from Page 19 series is that it's a different team for them and a different team for us," Griffin said. "But, when it comes down to it, we're going to be hyped up for it. It's going to be a sweet victory." The games against the lawkeyes are especially important because the winner of the regular-season crown hosts the Big Ten Tournament. While last year Michigan didn't need a home crowd advantage to win the tourna- ment, Griffin said it will be great to play at home. "Every time we've gone to lowa, the weather has been terrible"Griffin said. "So not only were we playing against them, we were playing against the weather, too. This year we have our best team ever, so I have a really good feeling." The final stretch of the 1998 regular season will be filled with milestones for various Wolverines. With today's games, Miclhigan coach Carol Hutchins will be coach- ing in her 800th game. Should Mlichigan win the first gname of the doubleheader, she'l Il have her 550th career victory. Griffin is currently sixth on the NCAA Division I consecutive w in list. She is 90-16 at M ichigan and 25- 0 this season. With wins either today or next weekend. she will clinch first place on the Big Ten all-time victor'v list. The record of 97 wins, held by Northwestern's Lisa Ishikawa, was set in 1987. After the weekend series with lowa,. the Wolverines will have the week off to refocus their energy toward finals. lThen, on Mav 2, they'll begin their final Big Ten series against Wisconsin. Griffin will be a noticeable absen- tee in Saturday's games in Madison. The pitcher will be walking with her fellow classmates at commencement. But Griffin expect,; to be back in the pitcher's circle SuInday for the final Hi g Ten aigame of her career. "We've had so many good teams since I've been here," Griffin said. "It's been really fun and competitie. Thhat's why I came to Michigan. All I have are great memories.- CLICHES Continued from Page 19 Wolverines swept Northwestern this past weekend. Michigan State "put things into perspective, Griffin said. "Maybe it was a good thing to lose so We could regain focus." The quest of'learning from a loss' is a theme in most cliches. While many teams claim to have learned lessons from defeats, much of what they "learn" doesn't show up on the field the next game. That can't be said for the Wolverines, and Northwestern can attest. Michigan held the Wildcats - Xw ho came into the series in sole pos- session of second place - to just fout' runs in the three-game sweep, Sara Griffin is 25-0 this seas on the mound and is nea the Big TeO" record for ' consecutive victories by a pitcher. LOUIS BROwI'Oady while scoring 17 runs of its o Lesson learned'? For now, yes. "I think we bounced back Hutchins said. "We got back tq I ing Michigan softball, whi invoes solid defense and a ilot hitting."' Being the second-ranked team the country helps a team avoid t reporters that cover it - a cliche two often keeps the media at bay. But are these cliches accurat Will Michigan take things one gat at a time? Learn valuable lei, each time out, etc. While cliches may be aborii' effortless way to avoid talking detail, a team that actually lives the often-used quotes is more like to be a champ - and not just chump. I I YoU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED 4$T Op 2RBO The University of Michigan-Dearborn invites you to be a guest student for the 1998 summer semester. We have three options to accommodate students who are home for summer vacation. Full Term Half Term I May I 1 -August 29 (14 weeks) May I 1 - July 3 (7 weeks) Half Term II July 7 - August 29 (7 weeks) ~~ii~u~'