12 - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, January 7, 1999 Harder than it looks,... As the Daily football writers have proved throughout this season, it is very-difficult and sometimes downright impossible to forecast the wacky, wacky world of college football on a weekly basis. But if there's one thing harder than making the weekly picks, it's trying to predict outcomes before the season even begins. Consider this: Tennessee, which finished the season as undefeated national champions, wasn't even in the top five at the beginning of the season. And Arizona State, which finished a laughable 5-6, was considered a national title contender in early September. Here's a look at the Daily football writers' preseason prognostications and how they compare with the actual results. 0 0 Ulre£tfitiijzm &zt Staff Picks in'lEtN CONFERENCE SHARAT RAJU JIM RI i ACTUAL RESULT Big Ten order of finish 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. National Champion National Player of the Year* Ohio State Wisconsin Michigan Purdue Penn State Michigan State Minnesota Indiana Illinois Iowa Northwestern Tennessee Ricky Williams, Texas Ohio State Michigan Wisconsin Penn State Purdue Northwestern Michigan State Iowa Minnesota illinois Indiana Ohio State Ohio State Michigan Penn State Wisconsin Purdue Iowa Northwestern Michigan State Minnesota Illinois Indiana Florida State MARK SNYDER Michigan Ohio State Wisconsin Iowa Purdue Penn State Michigan State Northwestern Indiana Minnesota Illinois UCLA Tim Couch, Ky. r Daunte Culpepper, Cent. Fla. Williams Nat'l Def. Player of the Year^ Dat Nguyen, Tex. A&M Dre Bly, North Carolina Andy Katzenmoyer, OSU Katzenmoyer Heisman Trophy winner Big Ten Coach of the Year B * Denotes Maxwell Award winner Williams Williams J.R. Redmond, ASU Donovan McNabb, Syr. arry Alvarez, Wise. John Cooper, OSU Cooper Alvarez ^ Denotes Chuck Bednarik Award winner if Stowe's departure means more playing time for others 4 By Stephanie Offen Daily Sports Writer She was the first player that Sue Guevara brought to Michigan, and she would be the first to leave. The winter semester brought not only the Big Ten season, but also the loss of sophomore Mandy Stowe to the women's basketball team. Stowe cited displeasure with the pro- gram as the reason for her departure. That displeasure came from a lack of playing time and an unfulfilled desire to be a starter. Stowe had been unhappy last year, coach Sue Guevara said. She found her- self competing for time with former Wolverine and current WNBA player Pollyanna Johns, as well as former play- ers such as Tiffany Willard and Molly Murray. "This had been something that I had been seeing for a while", Guevara said. "Everyone has bigger aspirations, and their role changes are sometimes hard to accept. If you're not happy, you do what you can to go somewhere else and be successful" And that is exactly what Guevara told Stowe. Guevara knew of Stowe's dissatisfac- tion, and she also heard a rumor that Stowe might leave. Guevara presented Stowe with what she knew, and the rumor was confirmed. Stowe then chose not to make the trip with the team to Bowling Green, remaining here to think about her deci- sion. When the team returned, Stowe had decided to leave. "I probably could have talked her into staying," Guevara said. "But I could not promise her what she wanted. You earn playing time in prac- tice and I was going on who was doing what in practice." With four fresh- men performing incredibly well, and the experience from Stowe last year's NCAA tournament team, there were just not enough minutes to go around. And Stowe, who Guevara thinks has a chance to find a starting role in the post position for another team, seemed to be a victim of what may have been too much depth. So, how will Stowe's departure affect the team? Since her playing time was limited, her absence won't have a major effect on the Wolverines. Stowe was not the first or even the second post player on the depth chart. "The loss of Stowe doesn't necessari- I ly affect our depth because she was not playing." Guevara said. "Everyone is getting more playing time now." So far this season, that playing time has been pretty well dispersed. The Wolverines have gone through many starting lineups, finding that one of experience seems to give the team its most energy. All of the freshmen are seeing signif- icant minutes and Guevara said that the will be seeing even more beginning wi the team's crucial games this weekend. She added that if more playing time is wanted, the players know what to do. "My players know their roles," Guevara said. "If they want more play- ing time, all they have to do is come talk to me." But for Stowe those needs were not able to be met. Stowe will stay at Michigan and take classes this semest* and then transfer next year. NCAA rules require her to sit out for the first year at the school she chooses. And this weekend, everyone will be able to see those extra minutes that Stowe left behind. The Wolverines have back-to-back games this weekend as they face their toughest competition yet this season against Louisiana Tech on Saturday, and then against Big Ten foe Minnesota on Sunday. RAJU Continued from Page 11 Sammy Sosa is elected 'el presi- dente' of the Dominican Republic and mayor of Chicago at the same time. Marcus Ray is drafted in the sixth round. By the CFL. The crew teams continue to be a4 good as other schools' varsity pro- grams. And that they continue to tell the Daily about how great they in fact are. Louis Bullock takes 45 shots in a single game, but nOt a single one of them from inside the 3-point arc. Ohio State embarrasses Michigan in the Quiz Bowl, but losses miser- ably in a battle of two undefeated football teams, en route to the Rose Bowl. The Varsity Tennis Center moves closer to campus. Notre -Dame doesn't join the Big Ten. Kansas doesn't choke in the Final Four. Ron Dayne doesn't win the Heisman Trophy, losing it to Georgia's cornerback/wide receiver, Champ Bailey. Tom Goss gives the nod to women's hockey and men's soccer to become varsity sports, further angering men's crew, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's rugby and ultimate frisbee teams. m A Aw w 4 ,:1 .