1OA - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, February 5, 1998
football recruits
Doylestown, Penn./Central Bucks West
RECRUITS
Continued from Page 9A
reminded him of the goals from when he
came in here last summer (to visit).
"I reminded him of the things he told
me a week ago."
A state track champion in the 100-
meter dash last spring in California. it is
Fargas' speed that had coaches pounding
down his door.
"He has tremendous speed," Carr said.
"I told (Michigan defensive coordinator
Jim) Herrmann, I said, 'With Fargas, the
defense will be on the field a lot quicker
because when he scores, he scores fast."'
Michigan's backfield already contains
sophomore Anthony Thomas and senior
Clarence Williams, but that didn't stop
Carr from recruiting running backs.
His relentless pursuit of ballcarriers
has Walter Cross, a Maryland native, off
to the races in the competition for carries
in the Michigan backfield.
But it's not Cross' natural ability that
sets him apart from the other backs.
"Walter Cross - he doesn't care
who's here," Carr said. "Someone told
him, 'You won't play,' and he said, Yes I
will.' It's that kind of confidence you like
in an athlete."
The legendary Michigan defense,
which is losing Charles Woodson to the
NFL and fifth-year lineman Glen Steele
to graduation, was replenished with a
wealth of freshmen.
Among the most notable additions is
linebacker Larry Foote from Detroit
Pershing.
Foote's status remained in jeopardy
until late Tuesday when he was forced to
choose between national champions
Michigan and Nebraska. HFs final deci-
sion will keep him close to his Detroit
home - despite Carr's intent to change
Foote's position.
"Larry was a defensive back in high
school," Carr said. "He's probably 215
pounds and he's only going to get bigger.
From a position standpoint, it is a tcrnsi-
tion. He will play early and we're expect-
ing great things from him. He fits very
we lL"
Last season, Jay Feely and Kraig
Baker split kickoffs and field goals,
while Jason Vinson handled the punting
duties. In one fell swoop, Carr improved
upon both situations.
Hayden Epstein, a kicker and punter
from Cardiff, Calif., gives Michigan a
consistency his predecessors did not pro-
vide.
"Epstein has a great leg," Carr said.
"This guy is really something. We went
down to see Hayden the day after the
Rose Bowl. He's got tremendous confi-
dence."
"He's going to be a great kicker," he
said.
While many recruiting rankings list
Michigan No. 1, Carr is reluctant to
place his faith in outside sources.
"The truth is, there's a lot of really
good recruiting classes out there," Carr
said. "The results will be shown on the
field three or four years from now. It's
the nature of college football that fresh-
men are going to play."
Carr remained true to his values
regarding the Fargas situation, and he
offered a little commentary on the
recruiting practices of other schools.
"The worst thing a guy can do is make
a commitment and then change it," Carr
said. "What we try to do is, if a guy is
committed, we leave him alone."
SPRING ON THE SIDELINE: While
many of the current Wolverines will
return to the practice field after spring
break, there are a few players who will
have to maintain the hands-off policy.
Mark Campbell, Clint Copenhaver
and William Peterson all will undergo
procedures or surgeries to repair various
ailments and will miss spring practice.
Offensive linemen Chris Ziemann and
Steve Hutchinson also are doubtful to
return before the fall.
'Must-win' is most vital cliche for 'M' cagers
B0 Josh Kleinbaum
Daly Sports Writer
It's cliche time for the Michigan women's basket-
ball team.
The Wolverines' backs are against a wall. It's a
must win situation. They don't have any room to
breathe.
Take your pick. Choose either one. With just five
games left, a 6-5 Big Ten record and a 14-7 overall
record, Michigan's season-long goal of making its
first-ever NCAA tournament appearance is hanging
on by a thread.
Just four days ago, those hopes were alive and
kicking. All the Wolverines needed to give them-
-.--------- selves a comfortable cushion
Basketball was a home victory over
Indiana - a team they had
iommentary already beaten on the road.
------------ Pollyanna Johns, Michigan's
star center, was healthy again after missing one game
and sitting out most of two others with a knee injury.
Things were looking good for the Wolverines.
Then came the debacle in Crisler on Sunday. You
know, the one where the Hoosiers came to Ann Arbor
and, on the Wolverines' home court, dominated every
facet of the game in the first half. The Wolverines
were outrebounded, outshot, outmuscled, out-lucked,
and, most importantly, out-hearted.
The Hoosiers came out knowing they had to win
the game, knowing how important it was for their
NCAA tournament chances - something the
Wolverines should have realized themselves. By they
time Michigan woke up, it was too late.
Michigan coach Sue Guevara took the blame, say-
ing it was her fault for not preparing her team. But
she shouldn't be held solely responsible.
The blame lies on Stacey Thomas, the sophomore
guard who shot just 2-of-8 from the floor and com-
mitted three turnovers.
It lies on Anne Thorius, the freshman guard who
missed all six of her shots and committed four
turnovers. It lies on Tiffany Willard, the forward who
shot just I-of-5, including two poorly-chosen 3-
pointers that came closer to hitting me on press row
than any part of the basket.
Maybe the loss wasn't too disastrous. Maybe the
Wolverines learned something from the Hoosiers.
Maybe they saw the desire in Quacy Barnes' eyes as
she hit free throw after free throw.
Maybe they saw the sense of urgency painted on
Kameelah Morgan's face as she hit 3-pointer after 3-
pointer. And maybe, just maybe, Michigan will play
with that sense of urgency for the rest of the season.
So here they are. The Wolverines, down but not
out, are in desperate need of victories. And to make
matters worse, their remaining schedule is not kind.
The Wolverines face Purdue on Sunday. Forget the
fact that Michigan has already beaten Purdue, 67-59.
Forget the fact that Purdue, ranked in the top 25 all
season, just dropped out of the rankings for the first
time. This is the Wolverines' toughest game left this
season, and a victory could be the lift this team
needs. A loss could be the cue to call in the CPR
units.
It doesn't get much easier after Sunday, either. Of
the last four games, three are on the road - includ-
ing one at Penn State and one at Ohio State, two
teams that beat the Wolverines in Ann Arbor earlier
this year.
Should Michigan lose to Purdue, they might have
to win all four of those games to make the tourna-
ment.
To be considered for the NCAA tournament, the
Wolverines need 18 wins overall. They have 14, with
five games and the Big Ten tournament remaining.
But the last thing Guevara wants is to rely on the
tournament for victories.
And 18 wins still might not be enough. Normally,
a team coming out of a conference as strong as the
Big Ten with that many victories should make the
tournament, but because of a lack of quality victo-
ries, that might not do it for the Wolverines.
The Wolverines have come too close, too often. A
one point loss to Duke, a two point loss to Florida
International, a three point loss to Illinois. The only
top 25 team they've beaten is Purdue, and the
Boilermakers aren't ranked any more.
So take your pick. Choose your cliche.
I've chosen mine.
The clock is ticking. It's now or never.
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I1
WARREN ZINN/Dadiy
With just one home game remaining, Anne Thorius and the rest of the Wolverines
must get some key road victories if they want a chance to play in the postseason.
r
ome one
misses you.