12A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, January 28, 1999 Crippled 'M' to tackle Hoosiers Michigan gets advance look at Big Ten Championships venue The Grind Mark Snyder FA By Jon Zemke and Josh Kleinbaum Daily Sports Writers Sports that include racing in one form or another are the closest thing to scripted drama in the athletic world. Coaches use this to their advantage to see where swimmers should race in order to give their team the best chance to win. According to the numbers, the Michigan men's swimming and diving team shouldn't be too worried about the upcoming meet at Indiana tomorrow at 7 p.m. The Wolverines should win 12 out of 21 events, including several sweeps. "We should be able to win," Michigan men's swimming coach Jon Urbanchek said. "We have the better team on paper, we just have to perform." But there's a more important issue in this meet than just winning it. Indiana will host the Big Ten Championships a month from now, and this meet gives Michigan the opportunity to scout out the venue. "Mentally, it's better if you've been there before," Urbanchek said. "You get familiar with the area. Even the pool is a little different - the ways the walls are shaped, the lighting ..." But the Wolverines aren't looking ahead too much - despite having the better team on paper, they're going to have their hands full with this meet. With his team plagued by injuries, Urbanchek expects it to be exciting. "Any time you go down there it's like war," Urbanchek said. "It's always a stressful meet, and without some of our top swimmers, it'll be exciting." Normally, Michigan would expect to dominate the distance freestyle events. But the Wolverines will have to do it without Olympic silver medalist Tom Malchow, who is suffering from pneu- monia. "Tom Malchow is not going to accompany the team," Urbanchek said. "And John Reich is staying home with an illness." And when you throw freshman Jason Mallory into the injury mix - Mallory is out for the season with a knee injury (see Page 10A for story) - the Wolverines will have to go without three of their top swimmers. But Michigan swimmers Werner and senior Andy Potts should make up for the loss of Mallory in the 200- and 400- meter individual medley. Indiana's best chance to score in this meet is sopho- more Joe Trent, whose best time is just below that of Michigan's third-best time in each event. In the 50- and 100- free sprints, Indiana has a strong swimmer in sopho- more Bryan Stryker. The young swim- mers'times are only two tenths ofa sec- ond better than Michigan's top swim- mers in the 50- and 100- free, Scott Meyer and Jordan Watland. The 100 and 200 breaststroke seems to be a little bit tighter competition for the Wolverines, with Indiana senior Tom Davis bringing Indiana its best chance at scoring points. But Michigan sophomore Scott Werner should win both events - his times have already earned him consideration for the NCAAs. Indiana looks its strongest in the relay and diving competition. Indiana has better times than Michigan in the 200 - and 400- free relay and the 200- medley relay. Normally, the Wolverines would look to dominate the 800- free relay, but without Malchow and Mallory, it could be difficult. In the diving competition, Indiana boasts senior Mike Colleir, who is one of the Big Ten's best divers in the one- and three- meter springboards. Michigan senior Brett Wilmot, also one of the conference's premier divers, will look to score some points for the Wolverines, while facing his stiffest competition so far this year. This yar'sv crop offootball blue- ckh5pers brings about exected hoopla Right now, Section 29, Row 42, Seat 11 is blanketed in a layer of white. So is the rest of Michigan Stadium, for that matter, but my main concern lies with that painted number on that seat and the one to its left. That's where my roommate and I sat freshman year at our first Michigan football game. Amazingly enough, our seats got progressively worse as the years went on, and now we're left with no seats at all as our final home football game is three months in the past. He's one of those guys who picks up the paper daily (no pun intended) usually in search of a quick crossword but more often to see what's going on in the Big House. He's interested in the information - even when the Wolverines won't play for months. But the more you think about it, the more the dates, com- ments and ugly incidents circle about, the more you realize Michigan football has no offseason. From the end of the bowl game on Jan. 1 until the first game on Labor Day weekend, the Michigan football team is a contradiction. Few see it practice, even fewer know what happens inside Schembechler Hall, but it remains in the spotlight - for better or for worse. Though recently we've been besieged by the worst the program has to offer - accusations of theft, violence and the reminders of previous sexual assaults - the better is on the way. Six days from now we'll see that next big news day. But unlike the episodes thrust into the spotlight by Jason Brooks and William Peterson, next Wednesday's announce- ment is planned and well-orchestrated. National letter-of-intent day falls on Feb. 3 this year and Michigan coach Lloyd Carr - despite spending this past weekend in Maui coaching an all-star team - will stand in front of a horde of media to announce the new players who will dress for his football team in seven months. While to a normal bystander such announcements may seem absurd for the arrival of 20 players (presumably) still in high school classrooms, many fans live for this day. Both Detroit newspapers ran sections last week preview- ing the big day and where all the local players will be tak- ing their talents. There was analysis, discussion and even profiles on the profilers, the recruiting gurus who feed the frenzy with their analysis of each school's crop. A year ago, Carr was amazed by the media attention the announcement received. He had been up until the wee hours of the previous night, coaxing Justin Fargas to sup- plement an incredible recruiting class. Fargas and line* backer Larry Foote were the final commitments, with Foote coming through hours before the press conference. Traditionally after such success, the next year would experience a lull. The next class is often in sharp decline because nobody wants to play backup to a stellar group like the year before. But once again, Carr and recruiting coordinator Bobby Morrison have dumbfounded the experts. Michigan is expected to reel in as many skill players as last year - including six running backs - and some blue-chip line men to match. Texas is drawing raves as the top class in the country, headlined by the son of former New York Giant great Phil Simms, Chris, an all-everything quarterback touted as being better than his father, but Michigan is in the thick of the hunt for a top-five class. Evidently, success breeds suc- cess. Before anyone starts making Sugar Bowl plans, though, remember this season. Even with the best recruiting class in the nation, very few of them played. Fargas ran solid in just one game (at Northwestern}, Drew Henson was relegated to mop-up duty on the fe occasions he played and David Terrell caught an occasion- al third-down pass. With the notable exception of place- kicker/punter Hayden Epstein, this freshman crop barely played, let alone made an impact. They'll get their chance, there's little doubt about that, but the frenzy over the mere possibility that they might be All-Americans is amazing. Few can predict the future and Carr will readily admit that come Wednesday. He'll talk about how these area Michigan men, good character people and how they'l enhance the Michigan program. With the incidents of late, the program's image could use any positive publicity it can scrounge up. My only question for these new guys: Can they get my seats back? - Mark Snyder can be reached via e-mail at msnyder(ajumich.edu. i New rankings stick 'M' at No. 6 KELLY McKINNELL/Daily Senior Andy Potts and the rest of the Michigan men's swimming team will have to cope with the loss of freshman upstart Jason Mallory to a knee injury as they face Indiana tomorrow.5 k1 A UI d you lIqUO job you N'teven k~nw maoor ed in. SCORE! Educational Centers give you the opportunity to contribute and learn in ways you never knew existed. We're doubling in size every year, which means we can guarantee you entrepreneurial challenges. At SCORE!, you will lead, manage, and market a 4 growing business, and get the development opportunities you'll need to jump start your career. In as little as 2 to 3 years, you will be leading teams of 5 to 10 people while managing the financial performance of a half-million dollar business. We're looking for people with entrepreneurial spirit, proven leadership ability, and great communication skills. Join our Team. Drop off your resume at your Career Center Now. Stephen A. Rom gymnastics coach Beverly Plocki said. For the Daily "This is good for our team, because we After it seemed like it might only be a have been consistently scoring in the bad dream, the Michigan women's gym- 194-range." nastics team soon realized its early sea- And when the smoke cleared, like after son loss to Minnesota, by the tiniest of one of the many high-fives by Michigan margins (193.050-193.550), was enough teammates this season, these scores were to awaken the beast - also known as the good enough to land the Wolverines in NCAA ranking system. quite an enviable position. The women To their dismay, the same Wolverines currently find themselves ranked sixth in who once enjoyed a lofty, pre-season the nation, first in the region and first in ranking of seventh in the nation, were the Big Ten. , immediately dropped to No. 12 overall. This Saturday, the Wolverines look to Yet each day brings a new dawn. And defend these newfound honors. today, Michigan awok'e to find itself sit- Michigan welcomes conference rival ting comfortably atop the Big Ten. Ohio State, and first-time opponent Before today, the rankings were based Rhode Island to Cliff Keen Arena. on each school's highest team score each With both visiting schools at 2-1 to school had. begin the 1999 season, some would con- "As of this morning, the rankings go sider No. 22 Rhode Island to be a not- to total averages," Michigan women's too-worthy opponent for the Wolverines. { Iyou STI Lbhaven'T roun WhaT you' e Lookinq rol Campus Chapel CRC ExploiaTIons in Fairh ana Reason Noub op SouTh U. and FoxeST Sunday SeivicC 10:30AM Open Discussion: We). 9PM This, perhaps, could be due to the fact that their only two victories have come to unranked foes Brown and Kent. Plocki explained the circumstances of such a matchup at this point in the year. "Some smaller schools want to com- pete against us for their own experi- ence," she said. And as Rhode Island is in competition with the Wolverines fog the top spot in the fifth Region, the Rams are certainly going to be looking to butt heads. No. 16 Ohio State is a different story. "They have made a lot of strides in the- last three years," said Plocki. And with their only loss on the season. coming to No. 5 Alabama, in which they got rolled by the Tide - 195.075- 190.275 - the Buckeyes have shown- some hops. They already bounced Michigan State and No. 10 Bowlin" Green.: SAnd although Michigan got the better of the Buckeyes by taking them in both. meets last season - as well as closingi the gap in the all time record to 20-18 in favor of Ohio State - the Buckeyes are 'ooking to spring to new heights. They're off to a good start and are sixth in the nation with a score of 48.500. Despite such notable competition, Plocki wants to attract attention to issue9 closer to home. "Our key focus is that we: need to be more consistent," she said. All in all, with its strong early seasoA. rebound, Michigan has displayed enough promise to keep the Wolverine faithful loyal. And with the progress they've made in practice, they have hopefully honed their skills to razor sharp. At least sharp enough to Rauv some Buckeyes this Saturday. YOUNG J UDAEA Israel Pro rates th4Ao' t4 Great Job Opportunities in Israel Staff Young Judaeas summer or year-long programs! He'p shape the way high school students and recent high school grads experience Israel. Get to know Israel in a new way yourself. Young Judaeas Israel Discovery and Year Course programs offer unique ways for teens to experence IsLe., while providing a comprehensive look at the countr's stes, nature, hstory, potics and society. As counselor teacher friend and programmer, you will obtain lfe and professiora! experience to enhance any future career choice you make! If... 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