The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - November 8. 1999 - 5B
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Leg hurt, but Williams' playbook still contributes
ByRick Freemn
y Sports Editor
Just because Brandon Williams' left leg kept him
out of practice last week didn't mean that his play-
book had to sit on the sidelines. Which is why he
and Ron Bellamy studied it together after dinner in
their West Quad room. On the Sunday after
Williams hurt his left leg against Indiana, Bellamy
came back to his room. Williams had a message for
him.
"Coach wants to see you down at Schembechler
W all," he told Bellamy. "I think they want you to
play DB"
They did. And all week, he prepared. After din-
ner, he tried to digest a season's worth of defensive
plays, too. He skipped the receiver's meetings and
sat in with the secondary. After practice every day,
James Whitley and Todd Howard, Michigan's start-
ing cornerbacks, spent 10-20 minutes lining him
up, teaching him hands on. And he still had to learn
his plays at receiver.
And Saturday, in the second half, they got to
*dmire their results.
"He did real well," Williams said. "No one beat
him deep."
And as a receiver, Bellamy just missed a spec-
tacular play, leaping up and out to snare a ball with
just his fingertips, before it squirted loose on land-
ing. Bellamy is the third member of Michigan's
deep wideout corps to shore up the cornerback spot.
Marcus Knight saw limited action against Purdue,
and ever since that game, sophomore David Terrell
has been regularly employed as a nickel back and as
a backup.
Bellamy's promise as a two-way player is still
uncertain. Unless you ask Todd Howard.
As Bellamy signed autographs for a crowd of
fans in the parking lot after the game, Howard
noticed that the true freshman was talking to a
reporter, too.
"Ron Bellamy for Heisman!" he shouted.
Maybe not yet. But Michigan's thin secondary
will take any warm body it can get. Especially if
they play like Bellamy did on Saturday.
IS IT BACK?: So what if Michigan's defense sur-
endered ground and big plays like nobody's busi-
ness in its last three games. Northwestern coach
Randy Walker said he noticed something different.
He called it a "killer instinct" Carr called it "inten-
sity.
Whatever it was, Michigan's defense seemed to
have a bit of the swagger it hadn't since it held
Purdue to 12 points Oct. 3.
"They came after us for four quarters," said quar-
ter back Zak Kustok, who was sacked twice. "All
good teams have killer instincts and they showed it
today."
Two wAYS ABOur IT: Slimeball move or chance
of a lifetime? If you're Zak Kustok, Brandon
Kornblue's field goal with II seconds left in
Saturday's game was a bit questionable. It's possible
he didn't know that for Kornblue, a walk-on senior,
it was his first game action ever. As Lloyd Carr
emptied his bench late in the fourth quarter, third
string quarterback Jason Kapsner drove the
Wolverines deep into Northwestern territory. On
fourth down, Brady came back on the field. Not to
go for the first down - as Carr had tried several
times with Drew Henson playing mop-up action -
but to hold on Kornblue's field-goal attempt, which
was good from 26 yards.
"He can die now," said fellow kicker Jeff Del
Verne of his teammate's field goal. Kustok suggest-
ed that the Northwestern coaching staff might not
have done something like that.
Kornblue is glad his did, even if he was first
announced to the thinning crowd as safety Cato
June. The error was soon rectified.
"This is the greatest feeling of my life," Kornblue
said. "I've worked so hard for this but I wasn't sure
that this ever was going to happen. This made all the
work worthwhile; this made every practice worth-
while."
And, for the record, Northwestern coach Randy
Walker said he had no problems with the decision.
Walker said Saturday's blowout was the worst
he's seen in this, his first season as the Wildcats'
coach.
"It's hard to find anything positive in this," he
said. "We'll find out who in this program has some
pride. We've never been through this. We've been in
every game before this one."
CUPCAKE CITY: Next season, Michigan could
play an unranked non-conference schedule for the
first time since 1976. Last week, Michigan agreed
to open the season against Bowling Green on Sept.
2, which will be the first time the two schools a 45-
minute drive apart play each other.
UCLA and Rice are Michigan's other opponents,
and neither is likely to be ranked. Michigan's oppo-
nents the last time their non-conference foes were
unranked? Stanford, Navy and Wake Forest.
GAME RECAP
FIRST QUARTER:
Taking the ball at his own 17-yard line, quarter-
back Tom Brady hits wide receiver David Terrell
on a series of passes to move Michigan down
wthe field. The drive concludes when Brady finds
Terrel behind Northwestern cornerback Shegun
Cummings-John for a 26-yard touchdown
strike. Hayden Epstein misses the extra point
wide left.
Michigan 6, Northwestern 0
SECOND QUARTER:
Michigan gets the ball after a Northwestern
punt and drives to the Northwestern 45 behind
a 12-yard run by running back Anthony
Thomas.
On the next play, Brady fakes a reverse and
throws deep to wide receiver Marcus Knight,
who makes a finger-tip catch and is dragged
down in the end zone.
Michigan 13, Northwestern 0
Northwestern puts together an ugly series, with
quarterback Zak Kustok fumbling a snap on sec-
ond down and tripping while dropping back on
third down. On a fourth-and-33 from their own
45, the Wildcats punt the ball away.
On Michigan's next possession, Thomas takes a
pitch around the left side, breaks a tackle and cuts
upfield. He eludes Northwestern defenders and
scampers down the left side for a 60-yard touch-
down.
Michigan 20, Northwestern 0
Backup quarterback Drew Henson, who played
for one series in the quarter, lines up in shotgun
formation on fourth-and-nine, but pooch punts
the ball inside the five-yard line. Terrell hustles
downfield and downs the ball at the
Northwestern three.
Seeing time at cornerback on third-down situa-
tions against the Wildcats, Terrell gaugeska
Kustok pass and intercepts it for his first pickoff
of the season.
With less than a minute remaining in the sec-
ond quarter, a DiAllo Johnson reception puts
the ball at the Northwestern one-yard line,
Thomas plunges over left guard for a one-yard
touchdown on the next play.
Michigan 27, Northwestern 0
THIRD QUARTER:
Michigan continues its push after halftime,
using rushes by Thomas and fullback Aaron
Shea to move the ball down to the
Northwestern 11-yard line. On the next play,
Brady rolls right and finds tight end Bennie
Joppru for an 11-yard score.
Michigan 34, Northwestern 0
The Wildcats put together their best drive of
the day - a 11-play, 72-yard effort. They get
on the board with a 37-yard field goal by Tim
Long.
Michigan 34, Northwestern 3
FOURTH QUARTER:
On a second-and-10 from the Northwestern 37,
Henson rolls right and and lobs a pass for
reserve wide receiver Ron Bellamy: The pass just
grazes Bellamy's fingertips near the goal line as
the freshman narrowly misses a spectacular div-
ing catch.
On the next play, a Henson pass intended for
wide receiver Kevin Bryant is deflected toward a
wide-open Bellamy at the five-yard line, but it is
just out of reach of the diving receiver.
With reserves in for most of the fourth quarter,
many other Wolverines get their first chance to
shine as well. Piacekicker Brandon Kornblue
kicks the first field goal of his career. Kornblue's
26-yard boot ends the game's scoring.
MCn'lgan I.Nortwestern s
AUSON CANTOR/Daily
Northwestern coach Randy Walker said he noticed a "killer instinct" from linebacker Victor Hobson and
the rest of the Michigan defense.
STAFF PICKS
All picks made against
the spread.
Home teams in CAPS.
Correct picks in bold.
MICHIGAN (-25) vs. Northwestern
PURDUE (-1.5) vs. Wisconsin
MICHIGAN STATE (-6) vs. Ohio State
PENN STATE (-14) vs. Minnesota
illinois (-7) vs. IOWA
NEBRASKA (-13.5) vs. Texas A&M
Arkansas (-1) vs. MISSISSIPPI
Virginia Tech (-19) vs. WEST VIRGINIA
TENNESSEE (-95) vs. Notre Dame
FLORIDA (-29.5) vs. Vanderbilt
FRESNO STATE (-2.5) vs. Rice
SYRACUSE (-17.5) vs. Temple
KANSAS STATE (-16.5) vs. Colorado
Georgia Tech (-7) vs. VIRGINIA
Best Bet
This week
Overall
T.J Berka Rick Freeman
Northwestern
Purdue
Ohio State
Minnesota
llinois
Texas A&M
Mississippi
Virginia Tech
Tennessee
Vanderbilt
Rice
Syracuse
Kansas State
Georgia Tech
Virginia Tech
5-9(0-1)
67-56-3 (1-8)
Michigan
Purdue
Michigan State
Minnesota
Illinois
Texas A&M
Arkansas
Virginia Tech
Tennessee
Vanderbilt
Rice
Syracuse
Colorado
Georgia Tech
Tennessee
7-7 (1-0)
62.61-3(5-4)
Josh Kleinbaum Andy Latack
Northwestern Michigan
Wisconsin Purdue
Michigan State
Penn State
Illinois
Texas A&M
Mississippi
Virginia Tech
Tennessee
Vanderbilt
Fresno State
Syracuse
Kansas State'
Georgia Tech
Illinois
7-7(1-0)
61-62-3(4-5)
Ohio State
Minnesota
Illinois.
Texas A&M
Arkansas
Virginia Tech
Tennessee
Florida
Rice
Syracuse
Kansas State
Georgia Tech
Illinois
4-10(1-0)
63-5&3(54)
LATACK
Continued from Page 18
a little fire under Carr. If he thinks
there's some competition for the wide
receiver's services, he might start going
to the sophomore more than he does.
Which is what needs to happen if
Michigan is going to win its remaining
two games and assert itself in the sud-
denly wide-open Big Ten bowl picture.
I am confident that the Wolverines can
beat Penn State next week, but they
need a big game from Terrell to do it.
When Saturday's contest was still in
doubt - and it was, for a short while
Michigan went to Terrell with steady
efficiency. On its first scoring drive of
the game, Michigan quarterback Tom
Brady threw to Terrell four times for 72
yards, including a 26-yard strike for a
touchdown. Terrell also snagged his
first career interception in the game.
Against the lowly Wildcats,
Michigan didn't need Terrell for long.
But to beat Penn State and Ohio State,
Michigan has to go to the wide receiv-
er early and often.
There have been many instances this
year when Terrell was the best player on
the field, and he knows it. He exhibits
that thrilling combination of someone
who is admittedly cocky but talented
enough to justify being so.
As much as Terrell has carried the
receiving load this season - he has 53
catches, 22 more than anyone else -
Michigan should be going to him even
more. Throw him some jump balls,
because he'll come down with them.
Get him the ball on a reverse; you saw
his touchdown run against Wisconsin.
Let him throw a few passes.
Terrell just has too much ability not
to be used more frequently. If he sticks
around, he could be one of the better
receivers in school history. But
Michigan has to start using him as
much as humanly possible.
Penn State can't stop him. Neither
can Ohio State. In fact, I haven't seen
any team that has been able to lock up
Terrell for a sustained period of time.
Michigan's success this season rests
largely in his agile hands.
And Dave, if Carr doesn't start get-
ting you the ball more, you know where
you can find me. We play on Sundays,
so there's no reason why you can't
make it. I'll be holding your spot for
you.
-Andy Latack realizes that there are
regulations prohibiting David Terrell
from playing IA!flag football. But he
0 figured it was worth a shot. E-mail
him at latackjumich.edu.
Top 25
Virginia Tech survives Mountaineers, stays undefeated
Tennessee, Florida keep pace in rankings with victories, Georgia Tech shocked by Virginia'
FINAL SCORE: Michigan 37.,Northwestern 3
BIG TEN STANDINGS
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. -
Shayne Graham kept Virginia Tech in
the national championship picture.
Graham's 44-yard field goal as time
expired lifted the third-ranked
Hokies (4-0 Big East, 8-0) to a 22-20
victory over West Virginia on
4aturday.
"I was on the sidelines saying,
'Give me a chance, give me a
chance," Graham said. "I had an
opportunity like that last year against
Miami and I didn't convert. I had the
confidence in myself this time that I
would."
Coupled with Minnesota's 24-23
upset of No. 2 Penn State, Virginia
Tech's lackluster victory could throw
}me Bowl Championship Series
""tandings into a free-for-all. The
standings determine which teams
will meet for the national champi-
onship in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 4.
No. 4 TENNESSEE 38, No. 24
NOTRE DAME 14: Unlike last year,
No. 4 Tennessee needs some help in
which teams play for the national
championship.
No. 5 FLORIDA 13, VANDERBILT 6:
A Florida quarterback dropping back
to pass used to be one of the most
feared sights in college football.
It was scary as usual Saturday, but
for all the wrong reasons.
On a day when their quest for the
national title got a boost, the talk
seemed out of place as the fifth-
ranked Gators had to fight to the end
against Vanderbilt for a victory.
No. 6 KANSAS STATE 20,
COLORADO 14: After so many easy
victories, No. 6 Kansas State got
what it probably needed most the
week before Nebraska - a big scare.
For worried players and white-
knuckled fans, Saturday's victory
over Colorado brought back haunt-
ing memories of last year's double-
overtime 36-33 loss to Texas A&M,
when Kansas-State wasted a 13-
point lead in the fourth quarter of the
Big 12 title game and lost a shot at
stunning victory.
"It's what you dream of," the
junior from Augusta, Ga., said, "just
given the chance to come out and
play against Georgia Tech. And it's
icing on the cake that they were the
seventh-ranked team in the country.
It's amazing."
No. 9 NEBRASKA 37, No. 21
TEXAS A&M 0: Nebraska avenged
last year's loss to Texas A&M in a
big way.
The No. 9 Cornhuskers scored
four touchdowns in the second half
and used a dominating defensive per-
formance to hand Texas A&M its
first shutout in I 1 years.
No. 11 TEXAS 34, OKLAHOMA
STATE 21: Big games from Hodges
Mitchell and Major Applewhite are
difficult enough for Texas opponents
to handle. When the Texas defense
also plays well, it can make for a
long afternoon.
Oklahoma State found that out
Saturday.
Mitnnllranfnr 1,10laO ~c and.~
three touchdown passes and ran for a
fourth-quarter score Saturday as the
Thundering Herd extended the
nation's longest major-college win-
ning streak to 13 with a victory over
Kent.
No. 13 BRIGHAM YOUNG 30, SAN
DIEGO STATE 7: Thanks to guys like
Hans Olsen and Rob Morris,
Brigham Young's defense is starting
to get some notoriety.
Olsen, a nephew of Hall of Famer
Merlin Olsen, returned a fumble 24
yards for a touchdown and Kevin
Feterik threw for two touchdowns as
Brigham Young beat San Diego State
30-7 Saturday night.
No. 14 ALABAMA 23, LOUISIANA
STATE 17: When it was finally over,
Alabama was looking for a medic
and Louisiana State was looking for
an explanation.
Tyler Watts threw two touchdowns
and Alabama stopped Louisiana
State at the 1-yard line on the final
play to beat the Tigers 23-17
Kenny Kelly ran for a touchdown
and threw for one and the Hurricanes
pulled away with a 23-point fourth
quarter in a blowout victory Saturday
over Pittsburgh.
The Hurricanes (3-0 Big East, 5-
3) rallied from deficits of 28 points
and 13 points to win the previous
two weeks, but another comeback
wasn't needed after Kelly's one-yard
sneak put them ahead 10-3 in the
second quarter.
No. 23 Mississippi 38, No. 24
ARKANSAS 16: Inspired by the mem-
ory of Walter Payton, Deuce
McAllister had another all-around
game and No. 23 Mississippi got
revenge against Arkansas.
McAllister returned the opening
kickoff 100 yards and rushed for 125
yards and two more touchdowns as
Ole Miss (4-2, 7-2) Southeastern
Conference) beat Arkansas 38-16
Saturday.
Before the game, Ole Miss coach-
es challenged the players to envision
nnp .n,nr thpv n ,ntnrItitonl'nv likfn
Team
Wisconsin
Penn State
Michigan State
Michigan
Ohio State
Minnesota
Indiana
Purdue
Illinois
Northwestern
Iowa
Big Ten
6 1
5 1
4 2
4 2
3 3
3 3
3 3
3 4
2 4
1 5
0 6
Overall
8 2
9 1
.7 2
7 2
6 4
6 3
4 5
6 4
5 4
3 6
1 8
THIS WEEKEND'S RESULTS
Michigan 37, Northwestern 3
Minnesota 24, Penn State 23
Illinois 40, Iowa 24
Michigan State 23, Ohio State 7
Wisconsin 28, Purdue 21
NEXT WEEKEND'S GAMES
Michigan at Penn State
Illinois at Ohio State
Indiana at Minnesota
Iowa at Wisconsin
Michigan State at Northwestern
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