8A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, February 25, 1999
Men's gymnasts look
MARK
SNYDER
Mark My Words
for No. 1
Hanison skbzes lkkCt
on Robeson s legacy
Keith Harrison isn't sure when the
lightning struck him. It probably
n't his in his birth year of
1968 - this century's most racially
charged year.
It may have been when he graduated
and put the initials on the side of his col-
lege ring.
But the odds are, what Harrison says
he was "meant to do" arose for real in a
meeting with the former Dean of
Kinesiology Dee Edington.
It was when he worked out the details
of his University employment that he
popped the question.
"Could I name the center after Paul
Robeson?" he asked, fearful that
Robeson's communist leanings of the
1950s would slander him again.
Didn't happen.
Edington loved the idea of naming
Harrison's lab environment - a cultural
center for the study of race and gender
in sport - after Robeson.
Every professor in the Division of
Kinesiology is afforded a certain amount
of lab space for their personal research,
projects, etc. but Harrison wanted to
share his with the masses.
THE HERO OF HEROES:
In February, Black History Month,
names and accomplishments are looked
upon as heroes.
Robeson, though, stands tall above the
rest. His status receives little mention
but his numbers loom large in the sphere
of African-American history.
He's a legend that deserves to be hon-
ored with a month of his own - or a
center of research.
Robeson graduated Phi Beta Kappa
from Rutgers in 1918 and he captivated
the masses with a rousing valedictory
speech on graduation day.
The scene will be re-enacted by
Michigan linebacker and future neuro-
surgeon Dhani Jones at the one-year
anniversary of the Robeson Center's
opening on April 9.
Despite his ambitious goals, Jones
will be hard-pressed to capture the cre-
ativity, imagination and aura of invinci-
bility that surrounded Robeson.
His four-year career at Rutgers fin-
ished with 15 varsity athletic letters and
All-America status in football. He
became a professional football giant for
the Akron Pros and played for another
black hero, Fritz Pollard.
Robeson earned his respect the first
day he tried out for football and faced
racial slurs. His own teammates beat
him physically, separating his shoulder
and breaking everything but his will.
He got up time and again and made
the varsity. Harrison's center celebrates
the feat with a painting. Soon that paint-
ing will be a part of the Curt Flood art
gallery within the center.
There is someone quietly celebrating
African-American achievement on
Michigan's campus.
THE CENTER OF rr ALL:
Harrison's Center plans to use nine
separate walls to hang images and testi-
monials in the three-room center located
in the basement of the CCRB.
These images are from Michigan
Athletic Director Tom Goss, University
President Lee Bollinger and student-ath-
letes everywhere.
Therein lies the focus of Harrison's
mission - he wants to recognize the
academic achievement as much as the
athletic side.
That's why he named the center for
Robeson, not only a great athlete but an
exceptional scholar. Harrison, whose
educational journey has taken him
around the country, played college foot-
ball so he knows the "dumb jock"
stereotype. He also knows that having a
doctorate and working in his field places
him among only 40 people in the nation
pursuing similar subjects.
"The Center is an agent of social
change,' he said, using expressive ges-
tures to emphasize his point. "We do it
because it's important. If we don't do it,
the light won't be shown."
Former Michigan football players Eric
Mayes and Jarrett Irons are among 23
people who have joined Harrison.
On April 9 when Jones gives his
speech at the center's one-year anniver-
sary, a panel of student-athletes - of all
races and various sports - will ponder
the issues of race, sport and academia.
CASH FLOW:
Robeson is currently being honored
by a Smithsonian exhibit celebrating his
life and a PBS special - athletic, acad-
emic and as an actor. But for a man
whose full life as a role model ended
with his death in 1976, Robeson would
be most honored by the movement
Harrison has put forth.
The small lab space is beginning to
draw national acclaim and even noted
sociologist Harry Edwards is assisting in
Harrison's plans. Harrison says the
Center will grow as funds and time
allow. For now, it's just Harrison's mes-
sage getting louder.
- Mark Snyder can be reached via e-
mail at msnyderaumich.edu.
By Dan Dingerson
Daily Sports Writer
Many Michigan students will be
relaxing in places like Mexico, the
Bahamas and Florida next week as the
University takes its annual spring break.
The Michigan men's gymnastics
team, on the other hand, will not have
the week off. Instead they will compete
twice during the vacation from classes.
The Wolverines will first travel to
Iowa on Saturday. The meet features
two of the top four teams in the country
this year.
No. 2 Michigan, although ranked
ahead of the fourth-ranked Hawkeyes,
hasn't beaten Iowa this year.
The Wolverines fell to the Hawkeyes
when the two faced off in the season-
opening Windy City Open.
The Hawkeyes will also host the Big
Ten Championships in March.
This weekend is vital to the
Wolverines because it gives them a
chance to see if they can beat the
Hawkeyes in their gym.
Although Iowa is ranked fourth in the
Softball he
By Chris Grandstaff
Daily Sports Writer
The No. 5 Michigan softball team will
have to substitute its umbrella drinks and
sandals for Gatorade and spikes this
spring break.
Michigan heads down south to
Georgia and Florida for a full ticket of
games over the vacation.
The first challenge for the Wolverines
will be in Columbus, Ga. where
Michigan will compete in the prestigious
NFCA Leadoff Classic.
The tournament, which regularly pits
some of the best teams in college soft-
ball, will bring together six of the eight
teams in last year's college world series.
In addition to the Wolverines, the Classic .
will showcase defending national cham-
pion and No. 1 Fresno State, No. 4
ranking
country this season, the team finished
second in the nation at last year's
NCAA Championships.
Michigan comes off a performance in
which it recorded the best score in the
nation to date:
But the team's two top scores this
year have both come at home, which is
a concern for Michigan coach Kurt
Golder.
"For the team, we have to prove that
we can turn in a big score on the road,
because none of the championships are
at home:' Golder said. "Can we do it on
the road, and more importantly can we
do it in the championships? I feel very
confident that these guys can step into
those situations and succeed"
The Wolverines have tried to keep the
focus on themselves, and improving
their scores rather than looking at the
teams that they are facing.
The goal in recent weeks has been to
achieve a score, and then hope that vic-
tory resulted from that score.
After competing in Iowa, the team
will travel to California to compete in
ids south fo
Washington, No. 8 Nebraska, No. 10
Massachusetts, and No. 15 Oklahoma
State.
The defending champion Wolverines
won the tournament after defeating
Oklahoma State, 8-1, in last year's
championship. But don't tell them that.
"There are two words that I've told the
team not to talk about," Hutchins said,
"And they are 'last year."'
Michigan's first opponent, Arizona
State, will be a reunion of sorts. The
Wolverines trounced the Sun Devils last
year in the opening round of the Classic
largely behind the pitching of All-
American Sara Griffin. In this year's
tournament, Griffin will once again look
for a victory, only this time she'll be sit-
ting across the diamond in the opposite
dugout. Griffin now works as a graduate
SATURDAY
Who:
Michigan at Iowa
Whe
Iowa City
the Santa zV pl.
Barbara The Latest:The
Invitational second-ranked
on March Wolverines and the
6 fourth-ranked .
T h e Hawkeyes. Enough
meet will
feature five
t e a m s,
headlined by top-ranked Penn State.
Washington, California and the host
school, UC-Santa Barbara, will also
compete.
The invitational will be the last out-
of-conference event for the Wolverines
before they compete in the NCAA's.
It will also give the Wolverines a
chance to face Penn State at a neutral
site, similar to the situation that the
teams will face at the Big Ten
Championships and the NCAA
Regional competition.
"The more times that we can go
through an event similar to the champi-
onships - like this invitational - the
better off our team is going to be,"
Golder said.
ir bre
assistant coach for the Sun Devils.
After the NFCA the Wolverines will
head further south for a March 2 meeting
against a couple of Big East opponents
in Tampa, Fla. Michigan will first face
St. John's and then Providence - its
first meeting against both schools.
Michigan will finish their Spring
Break romp March 4-7 at the Speedline
Invitational in Tampa, Fla. The
Wolverines are scheduled to meet
Florida Atlantic, Georgia, Mississippi
State, Florida State and Hofstra before
moving on to the later rounds.
The week could be cause for some
extra celebration should the Wolverines
have moderate success. Hutchins can
reach the 600 win plateau with ten vic-
tories. She currently sits as the 26th
winningest coach in NCAA history.
r4
Women's
tennis
Sparties
on, 5-4
SPARTANS
Continued from Page 5A
Boylen, Michigan found themselves
down 4-3 going into the final tw
matches.
Sophomores Szandra Fuzesi and
Allison Sinclair willed victories out
of near defeat. First, Fuzesi came
back from a 5-2 deficit in the thir
set and even fought off four matcW
points. She finally beat Nikki
Skogerboe, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5.
"I could see the tables turn," Ritt
said. "The Michigan State player
started to lay off her shots a bit and
Szandra started to make winners
and control the match."
Then, in a long match played
almost entirely in the backeourt,
sophomore Allison Sinclair fi
ished off Michigan State senior
Brook Townscend 6-4, 6-7, 7-5.
Five hours after the dual competi-
tion started, neither the opponent,
the fatigue, or the pressure could
best Sinclair.
"Allison realized it all came
down to her court," Ritt said. "I
think she won because she wanted
to be in that situation."
Next up for the Wolverines is a
road trip to Penn State and Ohi*
State this weekend.
FINALE
Continued from Page 5A
national prominence it once enjoyed,
everyone will likely talk about the
rough 1999-2000 season, not this
one, the one in which the true seeds
of Ellerbe's program were planted.
This season, Ellerbe began t*
make this program his own. He
worked with the athletic department
to bring the notoriously quiet Crisler
Arena fans into the game more. He
recruited his
first class of high-school seniors
A class that, even without the com
mitments of Jason Parker and LaVel
Blanchard, is ranked near the top 1
in the country.
But that could be lost in the shuf
fle along with the two record
Bullock set last night. His 25 points
vaulted him to No.4 on the all-time
Michigan list, and his 487th free
throw was more than any player has
ever made at Michigan. He tied the
Big Ten record for 3-pointers, with
his 332nd, but couldn't get his last
one to fall for the outright mark.
There might still be more memo-
ries to be made from this seaso
Ellerbe doesn't coast to the finish o
anything he does, and he wants his
team to be the Cinderella of the Big
Ten Tournament.
It's happened before - last sea-
son. And don't think anybody
around the Michigan basketball pro-
gram has forgotten about that.
M' looks to bite Bulldogs
By Stephen A. Rout
Daily Sports Writer
Fresh from posting its highest team
score of the season, the No. 5 Michigan
women's gymnastics team find itself
with little time to rejoice. This is
because last week's opponent, No. I
Georgia, is currently planning its spring
break itinerary.
What does this have to do with
Michigan? Well, the Bulldogs will begin
their vacation in Ann Arbor.
To complete the tail end of a home-
and-home series, the Wolverines will
get a rematch against Georgia. This
time, the Bulldogs will play the role of
visitor, as they are welcomed to Crisler
Arena on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Last week, the Wolverines had to go
into hostile and unfamiliar surround-
ings, and perform against the best team
in gymnastics. They did that pretty well
- only losing by .875 points to the
defending national champions.
Now, Michigan is expecting greater
things - like a victory.
"It's time to take it to the next step,"
Michigan coach Bev Plocki said.
One thing the Wolverines had to con-
tend with on their recent trip to Athens
was more than 7,000 rabid Georgia fans.
As hospitable as they were to Michigan,
a return favor from the Michigan faith-
ful is surely in order.
"Having a No. 1 ranked team in here,
I'm hoping we can get a big crowd. I'm
hoping for an upset," Plocki said.
Taking into account Michigan's
steady improvement since Feb. 6 at the
State of Michigan Classic - where the
Wolverines registered six total falls
compared to last week's zero -
Michigan is definitely capable of top-
pling a strong Georgia team.
Crisler arena will also provide a per-
fect backdrop for this finally. And
Plocki is
h op e ful
that the
t e a m 's
p e rfo r-
mance in
Athens
will carry
over to
this week.
" T h e
confi -
dence, the
SUNDAY
Who:
Michigan vs. Georgia
Where:
Cliff Keen Arena
When: 2:00 p.m.
The Latest The
fifth-ranked Wolverines
hope to improve their
national ranking when
they battle the top-
ranked Bulklogs.
momentum that we gained in Georgia
will get our kids fired up. Get them
believing that much more,' she said.
A win at home against the No. 1 team
in the country, whom Michigan has
never defeated before, will also fire
them up - and so will having as many
fans as possible there to see it happen.
The entire meet will be taped live and
televised at a later date.
Oideas Gael Summer 1999
IRISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM
a three week summer program
at the Ulster Cultural Institute
Gleann Cholm Cille, IRELAND
UW-Milwaukee
Overseas Programs Office
PO. Box 413
Milwaukee, WI 53201
1-800-991-5564
EMAIL: overseas@uwm.edu
Wrestlers to take down Big Ten
BIG TENS
Continued from Page 5A
weight class features nine wrestlers ranked in the top 20 in the
country.
"It's saying a lot to say that he's going to win," Bahr said.
"It's such a tough weight class, and people are going to be gun-
ning for him."
Damion Logan, at 141 pounds, is also going to face loads of
difficult competition. Iowa's Doug Schwab, who pinned Logan
in a dual meet earlier this year, is ranked fourth in the country.
Also presenting a challenge for Logan will be Illinois' Carl
Perry and Northwestern's Scott Schatzman.
The key for Michigan will be the performance of veterans
Chris Viola, Joe Warren and Corey Grant.
Bahr said that Viola and Warren could win a Big Ten title -
but only if they wrestle their absolute best.
"Viola can win if he wrestles to his ability and doesn't have
a bad match," Bahr said. "Warren's weight class is so packed it
will come down who's wrestling their best that weekend."
Grant will not necessarily be aiming for a title, not with
Iowa's T.J. Williams in his weight class.
Williams, who is ranked first in the country at 149 pounds,
has not lost a match all season. Bahr, though, is optimistic
about Grant's chances.
"He's been one of the real surprises this season," Bahr said.
"He could sneak into the winner's circle."
If Michigan has any chance of pulling off the unthinkable
and winning the Big Ten championship, it rests on the shoul-
ders of guys like freshmen Andy Hrovat and Matt Brink.
"Andy has always done well in the post-season in high
school," Bahr said. "Brink needs to be really aggressive to do
well."
Regardless of how Michigan's wrestlers do, there is one
thing for certain about the meet.
When everyone is packing their bags and going home on
Sunday afternoon, Bahr will be standing on the side of the
match, drenched in sweat, running his fingers through his now
grey hair.
PENN STATE (78)
FQ FT REB
MIN H-A *A 0-T A IF P18'
Jackson 23 5-8 0-0451310
Booth 37 7-20 2-3 2-11 1 1 16
Crispin 27 6.11. 2-2 3-4 2 1 17
Earl 30 3-8 0-01-4 5 2 9
Ivory 25 0.5 6-6 24 52 6
Cine-Heard 16 0-2 2-2 1-2 0 5 2
Grays 28 5-13 0-0 1-2 2 0 12
Smith 9 1-1 0-0 1.1 0 1 2
Witkowsky 5 2-2 r00 2-3 0 3 4
Totals 200 29;70 121320411618 78
FG%:.414. FT%:.923. 3-point FG: 8-24 333
(Crispin 3-7, Earl 3-4, Grays 2-6, Ivory 0-5, Booth
0-2). Blocks: 3 (Booth 3) Steals: 7 (Grays 2,
Jackson 2,drispin, Ivory, Smith). Turnovers: 9
(Booth 2. Cine-Heard 2, Ivory 2, Crispin, Grays,
Witkowsky). Technical Fouls: none
MICHIGAN (72)
FO FTESs
MIN UA3-A 0T A F PT5
Asselin 15 4.6 1-3 3.5 1 5 9
Smith 29 2-3 0-1 0-2 3 2 4
Vignier 35 2-7 1-2 2-8 0 1 5
Reid 38 6.15 4-4 2-5 4 0 18
Bullock 35 7-14 8-8 0-1 1 2 25
Jones 11 0.1 00 0.1 0 2 0
Oliver 13 1-1 2-2 1-3 2 3 4
Young 24 3.5 1-2 1-3 0 0 7
Szyndlar 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Totals 200 2552 17.22 9-29 115 72
FG%: .481. Fr%:.773. 3-point FG: 5-14, .357.
(Bullock 3-7, Reid 2-6. Jones 0-1). Blocks: 5
(Vignier 2, Young 2, Asselin). Steals: 3 (Asselin,
Oliver, Smith). Turnovers: 11 (Reid 4, Bullock 2,
Vignier 2, Jones, Young, Smith). Technical Fouls
none
Penn State..........45 33 - 78
Michigan............................35 37 - 72
At- Crisler Arena
Attendance: 11,376
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