4 - The Mibhigan Daily - Footbal y - November 7, 1998
November 7, 1998 - Footbal Saturday - The Michigan Daily - 9
a
a a * a
Faced with must-win situation,
Wolverines will upset Lions
By Mark Snyder
Daily Sports Editor
For a football game in the always
predictable Big Ten, tomorrow's
Michigan-Penn State affair is any-
thing but easily read.
Visiting Penn State is favored by
three points.
And now for the matchups. Drum
roll, please ...
(WHAT'S LEFT OF THE) MICHIGAN
RUSH OFFENSE: VS. PENN STATE RUSH
DEFENSE:
This isn't too difficult. Michigan
lost 23 yards on the ground last week
- for the entire game. So instead of
running on speedy turf, like in the
Metrodome, Michigan will run on
slow grass. Yeah, that should help.
There's a reason Penn State's
called Linebacker U. Between
Butkus Award semifinalists Brandon
Short and LeVar Arrington, the Penn
State defensive line is stifling.
EDGE: PENN STATE
MICHIGAN PASS OFFENSE VS. PENN
STATE PASS DEFENSE:
With three defensive backs stand-
ing 5-foot-9 or shorter and the third
towering at 5-11, Tai Streets' eyes
are widening. His current advantage
- that he's better than anyone else
he faces - is only secondary to the
height advantage at 6-foot-4 inches.
a The only thing working against
Michigan is that Penn State's strong
safety is called the "hero." Yeah,
that's not pressure.
Regardless, the one thing Tom
Brady can do really well is connect
with Streets. If that's shut down,
Michigan will be shut out.
EDGE: MICHIGAN
PENN STATE RUSH OFFENSE VS.
MICHIGAN RUSH DEFENSE:
Last season, Curtis Enis was the
workhorse for the Penn State
offense. He carried the ball early and
often until Michigan stuffed him for
the first three quarters last year. But
Enis is no longer around and Cordell
Mitchell is carrying the load. He's
improving, but definitely no Enis.
Sam Sword is well on his way to
another tackle title for the Wolverine
defense and the return of Ian Gold
has been a pleasant surprise.
EDGE: MICHIGAN
PENN STATE PASS OFFENSE VS.
MICHIGAN PASS DEFENSE:
Last week, Penn State wide receiv-
er Chafie Fields caught only three
passes against Illinois. But as
Michigan has seen on the game film,
they were bombs, totaling 115 yards.
With such big play potential, fields
is a major threat, but Michigan's sec-
ondary is finally fortified with
Marcus Ray's return.
EDGE: EVEN
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Fumbling a punt into the end zone
for a Minneosota touchdown last
week was the worst thing Jason
Vinson could have done at that
moment. But he rebounded in out-
standing fashion, nailing important
kicks late in the game to set up
Michigan's game-winning safety.
Vinson is normally solid on awkward
snaps and should return to form.
See MATCHUPS, Page 5
THE MATCHUPS
MICHIGAN PASSING OFFENSE VS. PENN STATE PASSING DEFENSE
Tai Streets is 6-foot-4 inches. Penn State's tallest starting
defensive back is 5-11. What does that mean? A lot of
alley-oop passes to Streets from Tom Brady.
Edge: Michigan
----------------------------------------------------_
MICHIGAN RUSHING OFFENSE VS. PENN STATE RUSHING DEFENSE
With the Michigan rushing game sputtering in recent N
weeks -- it lost 23 yards last week - Linebacker U
should have a field day.
Edge: Penn Statef
PENN STATE PASSING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN PASSING DEFENSE
The Penn State passing combination of
quarterback Kevin Thompson and wide-
out Chafie Fields have been lethal lately.
But Michigan returns safety Marcus Ray
from a six-game suspension.
Edge: Even
PENN STATE RUSHING OFFENSE VS. MICHIGAN PASSING DEFENSE
If Curtis Enis would have stayed in Happy Valley, this
would be a pretty good matchup. However, Cordell
Mitchell doesn't have the skill to match up with an
aggressive, rugged Michigan defense.
Edge: Michigan
SPECIAL TEAMS
Jason Vinson made up for his end zone
fumble with timely punts last weekend.
Jay Feely has settled the placekicking}
situation. Penn State's kickers are
pretty similar to Michigan's in skill and
execution.
Edge: Even
Michigan is undefeated in the Big Ten. Penn State is the
ninth-ranked team in the country. The Nittany Lions are also
favored at Michigan Stadium, something that is quite rare.
Edge: Penn StateL
PREDICTION: MICHIGAN 18, PENN STATE 13
No.
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4
5
6
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10
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as
as
31
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36
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40
41
42
43
45
1998 PENN STATE
ROSTER
Piayer
BranchBruc e
Fields, Chafie
Graham, Ron
Fox, Derek
Scioli, Brad
Boyd, James
Jones, corey
Pettigreo, Titcus
Jue, Bhaoh
Arrington, Lavar
Casey, Rashard
crenshaw.S am
M"enryDasid
Forney, Travis
Ward, George
Thompson. Kevin
Kroeii, Chad
Adams, Askari
King, Anthony
lezzi, Sam
Nastasi, Joe
Gummo, Joe
Watson. Kenny
Eberly, Chris
Lee, Shawn
Hiars, Aaran
Joyner, Matt
Macklin, David
Dawkins, Joe
Primanti. Ryan
McFre, Marcus
OHara, Kvin
Morrison, Mac
Mitchell, Cordell
Biomgrer, Travis
Kennis, Greg
Easy,Somar
Cerimele, Mike
Kurpeikis, Justin
Gattin, Aaron
Pidgeor, vat
Seese, Ryan
Slosser, Mick
Short. Brandon
Sandusky, Jon
Pos. Hi. Wt. Erig.
WR 5-11a Fr
WR 6-1 197 Jr.
LB 6-2 257 Fr.
Hero 5-11 200 Jr.
DE &3 263 Sr.
Hero 60 208 So.
wR 5-10 168 Jr.
we 6-a 204 Je.
Ca 6&1 189 no.
OLB 6-3 226 So.
QB 61 205 So.
we 62 204 So.
S 64 205 Jr.
K 5-9 161 Jr.
DB 5-11 183 So.
QB &5 215 Jr.
QB &1 197 So.
Hero 6-0 184 Jr.
CB 5-8 173 Jr.
FB 6-0 242 So.
WR 5-11 190 Sr.
CB 5-8 563 Sr.
TB 6-0 198 Jr.
TB 5-11 216 Sr.
S 5-7 175 Sr.
FS 5-11 231 Jr.
S 60 1921S.
CB 5-9 197 Jr.
CB 5-8 180 So.
K 5-11 205 So.
FB 5-10253 So.
We 6-0 109 Jr.
OLB 6-1 236 Jr.
TB 6-0 199 Jr.
5 6-0 192 Fr.
P 6-3 198 So.
TB 6-1 243 Fr.
FB 5-0 237 So.
DE 6-4 241 So.
OLB 6-5 226 Jr.
P 5-10 202 Jr.
DB 5-9 170 So,
FB 6-0 224 Fr.
ILB 6-3 246 Jr.
Hero 5-9 175 So.
46
47
45
45
49
5
51
52
53
54
54
55
56
57
58
60
61
62
vs
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
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80
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98
Manney, RussrT
Mivinney, Jon
Bose, Joe
Smitr Stee
Ceaory., 0thn
Tincher, Gabe
Coie, Eric
Danils, Maurice
iater, Ryck
Gint, Nate
Sessions, Leon
Ransom. Greg
Stryker, GeoRh
BeniKmani
Sturdion, Eric
Fagan, eyan
Wright. Mac
Spano, Francis
Stankgsoi 8ich
Bright, ance
McKenzie, Kareem
Bisson, Jason
Wedderburn, Fiovd
Parme, Brandon
Hartings, Joe
bierdorf, Mike
Grant, Basim
Argiriadi, Tim
Carso, Jordan
Michnll, Josh
Ames, Craig
Blick. John
Stewart, Andrea
Buzin, Mike
Oron, Condo
Morgan. Marc
Watkins. Garrett
Gimore, John
Brian, Courtnev
Brozeski, Orion
Wallace, Jason
Stewar. Tony
Oslad, dJef
Boiinsky, nick
Benfacci, Gain
Kielmeyer, Marc
Fieischhauer, lavid
Jones, Bcb
Stee.eOBrndon
Glen, Chris
TB
DE
LB
FB
Fe
G
G
SLB
DL
LB
DT
G
OL
DT
LB
G/T
G
C
C
T
T
0
SE
SE
DT
SE
ST
DT
GL
KS
IT
SE
TE
s-i0 194 So,
6-2 239 Fr.
s-si 203 Jr.
s-1 228 So.
6.1 248 So.
6-2 294 Jr.
6.5 302 Jr.
6-0 222 Jr.
6-1 250 Fr.
6-2 208 So
6-6 252 Jr
6.2 291 So.
6-1 290 Fr.
6-4 302 Jr.
6.2 225 So.
6-7 287 Sr.
6-3 269 Sr.
6-1 288 So.
6-3 286 Jr.
6-7 304 Jr.
67 313 So,
6-7 293 Fr.
6-5 335 So.
51 1802 So.
6-4 259 Fr.
6-1 249 Jr.
6-3 31 Jr.
6-0 272 Sr.
6-4 309 So.
6-4 282 So.
s-io son so.
6-6 314 Jr.
6-1 s90 So.
6-3 264 So.
6.4 268 So.
6-3 173 So.
6-3 233 So.
6-4 259 Fr,
6.5 261 Jr.
6.6 222So.
6-4 272 Sa.
6-5 256 So.
6-2 180 Fr.
651 292 So.
s-si 215 Fr.
6-A 243 So.
6-3 274 Jr.
6-5 260 Fr.
5-ii 252 5o.
6-3 234 So.
o.....-.. . :M "- -.. ca
Ohm
Catch the AATA Foot
-s e*
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your future we're
ta kin ab Out.
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www.kaplan.com
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- 9 .* 0~3'
At this point, Tai
Streets Is the pri-
mary offensive
option for the
Wolverines. In
factr last week
he was the only
option, setting a
Michigan road
record with 192
receiving yards.
LOUIS BROWN/saify
The 1998 Penn State schedule
Date Team Site Oct. 17 Purdue Happy Valley
Sept. 5 So. Miss. Happy Valley Oct. 31 Illinois Happy Valley
Sept. 12 Bowling Green Happy Valley Nov. 7 Michigan Ann Arbor
Sept. 19 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Nov. 14 Northwestern Happy Valley
Oct. 3 Ohio State Columbus Nov. 21 Wisconsin Madison
Oct. 10 Minnesota Minneapolis Nov. 28 Michigan State Happy Valley
WANNA SCORE?)
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