1IL - i I I F W1111 IIt I 'r LJCII 3 UUU Lll *. ,rIE L- lLJF A ~ll~lf! \ i I J - I Z p f. %.r Lo ------ I IIV I11I{/IIIbull V{AIIJ - uVMVVE 7r Vl: /IyIIIWW LV iLr id JV JG lGf I lu l!'t 1.70 t i r ",? n ,tn ' r i _ _ _ _ _, _ I . 0 U. Big House reclaims No. 1 spot -- I I -I Revamped offense starts with inexperience in quarterback role By Jennifer Yachnin The dust around Michigan Stadium has settled just in time for the opening home game. ' Renovations totaling s6 million include 70 new restrooms, widened pathways around the stadium and near- ly 5,500 additional seats. New combi- nation scoreboards and videoboards also tower over spectators at both ends of the stadium. The new boards are part of a $7.9 million dollar project that also includes four new videoboards in Crisler Arena and a production facility. The new stadium screens will allow the athletic department to run replays and highlights from previous seasons. "If it is a controversial play, we'll run the replay one time," said Thomas Cecchini, associate athletic director. Michigan's Premier I Multi-tap Fans who attended the preseason football media day said they were gen- erally pleased with the improvements to the stadium. "I love the new boards," said Chelsea resident Don Haywood. "I was amazed to actually see (the images) so clearly" Haywood said the only thing that the Athletic Department may still need to do is "paint all the seats maize and blue." The dimensions of the boards, 40 feet x 78 feet and nine feet deep, surprised maiy spectators, who had mixed reac- tion to the increase in size. "I've never seen a big screen so clear- ly," said Steve DeDoes, an Ann Arbor resident. "It is a little obtrusive coming east on Stadium." "I'm kind of a purist, sports has become this multimedia thing now," DeDoes said. "The boards are great in here, but they're not great outside (the stadium)" Ed Hoeglund, was involved in selling the Sony system videoscreens to the University. "The reaction is they are as good or better than television sets at home," Hoeglund said. "These are the two largest pair of boards installed at a University stadium anywhere." - Outstanding list of the best domestic and imported beers and microbrews available . Live Jazz every Tuesday evening 10-12 No Cover - Happy Hours and Lunch specials * Over 60 beers on tap Over 50 scotch single malts Kitchen open late ADRIANA YUGOVICH/Daily With renovations complete, Michigan Stadium now holds around 108,000 - making it the biggest stadium in the country. Nancy Lein, mother of a Michigan football player, said she heard about the renovations and videoscreens from her son. "My son told me he was really impressed," said Nancy Lein. "It just adds a new dimension. I'm not a foot- ball expert and it helps me to figure out what's going on. "Sometimes you miss things when you're sitting in the stands;' Lein added. The scoreboards, which do not have I ,V40140aw 338 S. State - 996-9191 - http://www.Ashleys.com) RESTAURANT e " SPORTS $AN Corner of Washington & Pearl 9 Ypsilanti * 487-2110 any advertising, have rotating displays with the phrases "Hail to the Victors" on one side and "National Champions" along with the game dates on the other. "We noticed the boards when we were coming in," said Julie Boumaroun, a Livonia resident. "The men working on the (scoreboards) are no bigger than the letters" The additional seats have been added in six rows around the top of the stadi- um, except on the east side and around the press box. "I like how they put the seats in because they can keep their name - the Big House," said 10-year-old Matt McMillian, a Plymouth resident. McMillian's mother, Pamela, said they came to see the stadium because her son "wants to play here some day and we're big fans." "The pictures are nice and clear. The National Champions on the (boards) are a great," Pamela McMillian said. A few fans said the additional seating would detract from the game. "It's kind of funny how everybody is trying to be bigger than everyone else," said Shawna Aalbregtse. a Saline resi- dent. "It's taking away a little from the whole atmosphere." By Sharat Raju The best thing the Michigan offense has going for it is the Michigan defense. "We're very fortunate as an offense to be able to practice against what I feel is the best defense in the country," offensive lineman Jon Jansen said. "I hope by the end of the year or sometime along the year that we can give them as good of a look as they give us." As is the case with nearly every foot- ball season, the focus for the Wolverines is the defense. And while defense wins championships - as the saying goes - the success of the offense is critical to this year's team. Who else is going to put the ball in the end zone? So, six starters return for the Wolverines. That is more than half of the offense. But the main area of con- cern is at the skill positions, where Michigan will have to find consistency primarily in the offensive backfield. The success of last season brought in an abundance of youthful talent. Talent is one thing. Being able to successfully utilize it is another issue. Here's the offensive breakdown, position by position. Quarterbacks Griese only threw three others away. Now, it's junior Tom Brady's turn to guide the Michigan offense. "Tom Brady is much like Brian Griese," Carr said. "He has paid his dues. He has worked extremely hard." As hard as he has worked in training camp, Brady is still quite inexperi- enced. Notre Dame was his first start and prior to that, he had only thrown 20 passes in his career - with 15 comple- tions. "I never thought that I would get an opportunity," Brady said. "I think everyone who is at this school is here for a reason and everyone is talented." (See page 11 for quarterbacks fea- ture.) Tailbacks back last season. He caught 22 passes last season and probably would have had more receptions had it not been for a hamstring injury that prevented him from playing in the final three regular- season games. After Thomas and Williams, there are no experienced running backs for the Wolverines. Freshman Justin Fargas, however, received significant playing time against Notre Dame and is consid- ered the top running back prospect by several recruiting magazines. The 6-1, 185-pound Encino, Calif., native can fly, having run a 10.55 100-meter dash. "Fargas is extremely quick with a great burst," Carr said. Walter Cross, 6-0, 205 pounds, is the other freshman tailback recruit likely to see playing time although he didn't carry the ball against Notre Dame. See OFFENSE, Page 6B Senior running back Clarence Williams an bers of the Michigan backfield who have Starter Tom Brady 'Key reserme Scott Dreisbach Drew Henson Possible starters Justin Fargas Anthony Thomas Clarence Williams Elig, Ht. Wt, Fr. 6- 185. So. 6-2221 Sr. 5.9 189 Elig. Ht. Wt. Jr. 6-5 213 Sr. 6-4 214 Fr. 6-4 221 Michigan's inexperience in the offen- sive backfield isn't limited to the quar- terback position. The running backs are also untested, with two exceptions. Last season's Big Ten freshman of the year, Anthony Thomas, proved that he can run over pretty much anyone he wants. "You never expect something like (winning the national championship) your freshman year," Thomas said. "But now we have something to shoot for." At 6-foot-2, 229 pounds, Thomas is a tough guy to tackle, as opponents have already found out. He played in every game last season, averaging four yards a carry and rushed for more than 100 yards twice last season. Pretty good considering he was the No. 2 tailback behind Chris Howard. While Thomas is a punishing runner, senior Clarence Williams is a shifty, quick-cutting back who was invaluable to the Wolverines as a third-down slot Relive the Memories! Classic Wolverine Games from 1 970s & 1980s on VHS Video. Complete Network Broadcasts, Most of Excellent Quality. Cali.Tom at (410) 309-0395. danyluk@erols.com i An WIDEWORLD SPORTS CENTER Indoor Soccer Registration Deadline: Team Processing: Schedules Posted: Season Begins: Season Ends: 10/12 10/15 10/16 10/22 12/19 I Sports Bar Voted by The Michigan Daily Readership Poll 1995-1998 -5 Big Screen TV's -7 additional large TV's -Satellite Coverage of College & Pro Football Games { -14 Beers on Tap - Come join us for all the excitement of the game and much more! 100's of Beautiful Girls Coast to Coast Texas Style Couch Dances Executives Lounge Shower Shows Amateur Contests National Competitions Adult Super Star Features Totally Nude Showgirls Before the 1997 season, no one in their right mind would say that once Brian Griese graduates he will have left behind a legacy for all Michigan quar- terbacks to follow. Well, here we are in 1998 and Griese has set the standard of consistency. 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