Fcoreboard.
*MEN'S NCAA (18) OKLAHOMA ST. 90,
-BASKETBALL Northwestern St 65
(23) UMASS 87, UNC-Wilmington at
Niagara 73 (14) WASHINGTON, inc.
(11) N. CAROLINA 65, WOMEN'S NCAA
Florida International 44 BASKETBALL
(16) PURDUE 77.
llinois-Chicago 61 (16) G. WASH. 72,
Georgetown 54
(1) TENNESSEE 108
St. Joseph 63
(20) Florida 70,
BAYLOR 58
NFL FOOTBALL
Denver 30,
KANSAS CITY 7
SPO£RTS~a kI~
5fpckng 'M' winners
After much discussion, the Daily football writers picked a
winner in the movie title contest - Dawn Harris, for
"That's Still Not How You Played Last Season." Harris
wins a copy of College Football '99 for Sony Playstation.
Tuesday
November 17, 1998
9
M' decides not to
play insult game
Not
n the Cards
I
By Marc Snyder
Daily Sports Editor
Packed with print, radio and television
edia, Weber's Inn hosted its weekly
football press luncheon yesterday under
the intense glare of the media spotlight.
But after two hours of sitting, listen-
ing and watching, nothing of signifi-
cance occurred. The orchestrated parade
of Michigan players cautiously strolled
to the podium one by one, trembling at
the thought of making news.
The irony of the "questioning" was
astounding. Nearly every media member
ed their instrument of destruction to
elicit a damaging comment. Print
reporters extended tape recorders, televi-
sion reporters protruded wireless micro-
phones and the rest of those in atten-
dance inflamed the situation merely with
their inquiries.
But the Michigan players - all
upperclassmen efficiently skilled in
political correctness - weren't biting.
With the Ohio State game creeping
er closer, no player - from either
W'am - wanted to have his quote give
the opponent any type of fuel.
"You never want to give anyone any-
thing to put up on a bulletin board," said
senior co-captain Jon Jansen, an 1-time
all-press conference team member this
season.
At least Michigan made an effort to
avoid confrontation by steering the inter-
action in a different direction. The ploy,
markably consistent in its message
trom first speaker Jansen to Lloyd Carr,
who spoke last, was a focus on how the
Wolverines "respect the opponent"
That's not to say that reporters weren't
digging for that inflammatory nugget
anyway. In an interview with Rob Renes,
one television reporter pounded away
War for the Roses
Michigan contrlw t tiny. With a vic-
tory, the Wolvernerhead to the Rose Bowl.
Read The Daily's special section Friday pr-
viewing Saturday's showdown at The
Horseshoe.
Nov. 21. 1998 " Noon O Ohio Stadium
I
with six nearly identical questions
before succumbing with a "Don't you
realize what I'm trying to do here?"
The unusual nature of the discourse
could be expected. Columbus media
drove more than three hours to elicit a
reaction for the big game, while their
Michigan counterparts were sent in the
other direction.
None of this would occur if the game's
implications weren't so huge.
Jansen called Ohio State "the best
team in college football" and Renes
pointed out that "Ohio State is still same
team that was rated No. 1" for most of
this season.
Even fans west of the Mississipp,
have a vested stake in the outcome. The
Las Vegas oddsmakers opened the bet-
ting line with the Buckeyes as 10 1/2-
point favorites, but the Wolverines were
quick to dismiss such extraneous ele-
ments asa factor.
"For this game, I don't know if you
can put a point spread," Jansen said. "So
many things go into (the game). You
can't gauge those emotions."
FEELING IT: Michigan placekicker
Jay Feely was recognized for his three
field goal effort against Wisconsin as he
won the Big Ten special teams player-of-
the-week award.
Ball State
rolls past
Blue, 7-6
By Pranay Reddy
Daily Sports Editor
Last night at Crisler Arena, the worst-case sce-
nario unfolded for the Michigan men's basketball
team. The Wolverines (0-2 overall) - a team low on
depth and heavily dependent on the play of guards
Louis Bullock and Robbie Reid - were victimized
by poor execution and incon-
sistent guard play in their
home opener, losing 75-64 tod Ball State 75
Ball State (1-0).-Michgan 64
After finding themselves
down after the first half, the
Wolverines came out firing after intermission, cut-
ting an 12-point deficit to one by scoring the first I1
points of the half.
Keying Michigan's surge in the second half were
forwards Brandon Smith and Josh Asselin, who
came out of their first-half shells and scored four
points apiece during the run. But that's where it
ended for the Wolverines.
"You don't want to dig a big hole, spend your ener-
gy coming back, get there, and then not have enough
to get over the hump," Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe
said. "That's what we did. We dug ourselves a hole
and weren't able to get out."
Ball State held off the Michigan onslaught, main-
ly through fundamental play and a defensive stand
where the Wolverines were held to four points in five
minutes during the second half.
"Down the stretch, when we had to, we played
with great poise," Ball State coach Ray McCallum
said. "We knew Michigan would come out after the
half and get (its) wake-up call.
"We got the stops that we needed to, we moved the
basketball, and then we made enough free throws to
hold onto the win."
Michigan's first half started off slow, as Reid and
Bullock faltered on the majority of their early scor-
ing opportunities, especially 3-point attempts. Reid
See CARDINALS, Page 10
I
DAVID ROCHKIND/Daily
Josh Asselin tried to be a physical presence last night against Ball State, and in a way he was, commit-
ting five personal fouls. But his six points weren't enough to push the Wolverines past the Cardinals.
Rebuilding or not, teams put bullseye on Blue
S omewhere on the banks of the
Hudson River, David
Letterman is smiling.
The red-haired comedian's alma
mater, the Ball State Cardinals, top-
This play on
Saturday
resulted in -
season-ending
surgery for
Justin Forges
yesterday. The
freshman tall-
back had two.
bones In his
lower leg.
fused together. -
WARRENZINN/Daily "
Farashas surgery
pled the
Wolverines,
75-64,
pulling off an
upset on par
with David
vs. Goliath,
or, well,
K e v i n
Eubanks vs.
P a u l
Schaeffer.
Forget the
fact that
mighty Michigan
JOSH
KLEINBAUM
Apocalypse
Now
are usually the butt of jokes on his
talk show - to Ball State fans, even
to the Cardinals themselves, this was-
n't just another victory.
"These guys grew up watching the
Fab Five," Ball State coach Ray
McCallum said, his voice almost as
big as his smile. "It's a great thrill,
and a great win for a program."
For the second time in as many
games, the Wolverines found them-
selves playing the Schaeffer/Goliath
role as images of Traylor, Chris
Webber, Glen Rice and Cazzie
Russell danced through opponents'
heads.
Last Friday, the Wolverines' trip to
Florida International drew the largest
crowd in Golden Panther Arena histo-
ry. Everyone was given pom-pons,
commemorative cups were made up
and the upper section of the arena was
opened for the first time in years.,
Fans had to harken back to a 1984
game versus Georgetown to remem-
ber a similar atmosphere.
And after the Panthers pulled off
the 69-62 upset and the packed house
stormed the court and mobbed its
heroes, Florida International
President Modesto Maidique
declared it the greatest athletic victo-
ry in the school's history.
Last night, the Wolverines didn't
have the benefit of a packed house.
Crisler Arena hosted a fair number of
fans - 9,932 to be exact - but was
about as intimidating as, well, David
Letterman.
With seven new players on their
roster, including one freshman starter,
an intimidating crowd could have put
the Cardinals on their heels from the
get-go - that's what Florida
International did to Michigan.
Instead, it was the Wolverines
backpedaling, playing like they didn't
belong on the same court as their
opponents.
"We've got to go out and put bod-
ies on people, and that starts with the
big men getting physical," Michigan
guard Louis Bullock said. "Right
now, we don't do that until our backs
are against the wall."
By the time the Wolverines decided
to play, they were trailing 28-9 with
the game more than a quarter done. If
they were looking for inspiration
from the hallowed tradition of their
school, they picked the wrong sport.
Fielding Yost's great point-a-minute
team played football, not basketball.
And the Wolverines aren't done
playing the Goliath role. When
Detroit-Mercy comes to Crisler
Arena on Thursday,
Perry Watson will bring a team
made up largely of players who
weren't recruited by Michigan. Then,
after a three-day jaunt in Hawaii,
Towson and Bradley,y a pair of teams
who gave the Wolverines fits last sea-
son, awaits.
It doesn't matter that Michigan is
young and inexperienced. As far as
most of its nonconference opponents
are concerned, Michigan is a power-
house with a big bullseye right on the
block-M.
David Letterman, enjoy it while
you can. I'm watching Leno tonight.
- Josh Kleinbaum can be reached
via e-mail at jkbaum n@umich.edu.
y Mk nyer
Daily Sports r
3 Michigan freshman tailback
Justin Fargas underwent a surgical
procedure yesterday to fuse two
bones in his lower leg that were
broken in Saturday's victory.
Initially, the injury suffered against
Wisconsin was thought to be a
knee dislocation, but Michigan
coach Lloyd Carr clarified his
.postgame comments at yesterday's.
media luncheon.
"Paul Schmidt, our trainer, and
mnyself, I swore I saw him put his
knee back into place and it was
dislocated, but in fact it was the
ankle," Carr said.
"The tibia and the fibula were
both broken just above the ankle.
They did not think there was any
damage to the knee this morning
(when they re-examined it), which
is really a blessing. They're doing
surgery, (associate team physician)
Dr. Ed Wojtys is doing the surgery
to reset the broken bones in the
legs.'
Until the final five minutes of
the victory over Wisconsin, Fargas
only saw the field on the special
teams.
But with the outcome firmly in,
hand and two other Michigan
backs over 100 yards, he got a few
garbage-time carries. On his final
rush, when he was dragged down
for a two-yard loss, his leg twisted
in an unusual manner, causing the
injury.
Michigan's dominant frontcourt of
Robert "Tractor" Traylor, Maceo
Baston and Jarod Ward are all gone.
Forget the fact that they're replaced
by Josh Asselin, Brandon Smith and
Peter "I'm allowed to dunk?" Vignier,
none of whom played more than five
minutes a game last season.
To Letterman - whose Cardinals
JUST THREE MORE DAYS UNTIL THE
DAILY'S WAR FOR THE ROSES.
L* r rr i
--~1
, JV W £ NGL. NA
, , ] I,17E7CATU'RE
The Michigan Union Program Board and Mortar Board proudly present:
Faculty Wednesdays
at the University Club
THE PANHELLENICASSOCIATION, INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL, UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICE,
UM ATHLETICS, AND STUDENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM COUNCIL PRESENT
ONE NIGHT OF DRINKING,
A LIFETIME OF CONSEQUENCES
ALCOHOL AWARENESS PRESENTATION
"He uses both humor and real
life stories to provide a fun
and educational program
on the dangers of
alcohol abuse."
- Bradley Holcman,
IFC President
SPRI.NG C'y