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14 - The Michigan Daily - Kickoff '99 - Thursday, September 9, 1999
Thursday, September 9, 1999 -
Young Bucks face growing
pains in conference, quest
Illini looks to surprise Big Ten
IL L INOI
F I G H T I N G
2-6 Big Ten, 3-8 overall
Michael Wiley
and the Buckeyes
found that life
without players
such as David
Boston and Joe
Germaine -
along with the
Miami (Fla.)
defense - can
be pretty painful.
AP PHOTO
By Rick Freeman the Buckeyes found themselves 0-1
Daily Sports Editor for the first time since 1986 - and
Oops, so much for those "presea- for the first time since 1994, a team
son" games Buckeyes' coach John from a state other than Michigan has
Cooper likes so much. derailed the Buckeyes' national title
After Ohio State lost, 23-13, to hopes.
Miami, Fla. in the Kickoff Classic, Cooper has said before that he
. . ................................................................. . ................................... . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .
OHIO
STATE
B U C K E Y E S
,
7-1 Big Ten, 11-1 overall
defeated Texas A&M, 24-14,
inthe Sugar Bowl
I - 6ovmbr0.annarbo noo, AB
OFFENSE
QB Austin Moherman
LT Tyson Walter
LG Mike Gurr
C Kurt Murphy
RG Ben Gilbert
RT Henry Fleming
TE Steve Wisnewski
TB Michael Wiley
FB Matt Keller
SE Reggie Germany
FL Ken-Yon Rambo
DEFENSE
DE Rodney Bailey
DT Ryan Pickett
DT Joe Brown
DE Brent Johnson
BLB Na'il Diggs
ILB Jason Ott
WLB Courtland Bullard
SS Donnie Nickey
FS Gary Berry
CB Nate Clements
CB Ahmed Plummer
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Dan Stultz
P B.J. Sander
KR
PR
LS
Rambo
Berry
Kevin Houser
----------- -- ..-- --------... - ......._________________ -- ---- ---
DAILY SPECIAL: C'mon, his name is Rambo. Expect lots
of over-the-top action - if his QB's can find him.
GRADE: Some thought the Bucks would flourish with
the pressure off - well, if it wasn't before, it is now.
B
likes to play an early game because
it allows an early start to practice.
"It also helps in the accumulating
of stats," Cooper said at his weekly
media luncheon before the Miami
game.
"In the end of a season, if we are
pushing for one of our players to be
all-Big Ten, that extra game can give
them better stats.
The Buckeyes' bonus: Junior
quarterback Austin Moherman com-
pleted 10 of his 22 passes for 107
yards.
Michael Wiley tore off 72 yards
on his nine carries, but that figure
includes a 69-yarder.
And their quarterback situation
isn't firmed up just yet. Moherman's
bland performance has by no means
made him a lock for the job.
Ohio State's quarterback situation
is similar to Michigan's except for
one small detail - talent. Before the
Buckeyes' season, sophomores
Austin Moherman and Steve
Bellisari had combined to throw less
than five passes in a game. Cooper
named Moherman his starter the
week before the Miami game.
Now, Cooper has a mess on his
hands, and UCLA on the schedule
next week.
After their loss, several Buckeyes
voiced their displeasure with the
amount of effort they saw from their
teammates.
But starting the season with a loss
means Ohio State will be playing for
just the Big Ten title, and a measure.
of respect.
On Nov. 20 this year, the
Buckeyes can redeem their season
by beating Michigan, something
Michigan did by beating the
Buckeyes in 1995 and 1996.
(Incidentally, Ohio State's pro-style
offense hadn't scored so few points
since they lost to Michigan 13-9 in
-that 1996 game.)
And don't forget Ohio State's visit
to East Lansing Nov. 6, in which the
Buckeyes look to take revenge on
the team in Michigan that did beat
them last season.
The Buckeyes still have hope for
this season. Their Big Ten record, of
course, is still unsullied. They have
another fearsome linebacker in Na'il
Diggs.
And if Moherman or Bellisari
suddenly start clicking with the
offense, they have a pair of fleet,
venomous receivers. Ken Yon
Rambo and Reggie Germany have
been touted by teammates.
There's still plenty of potential in
Columbus - just because the
national title rug has been yanked
out from beneath the Buckeyes' a lit-
tle earlier than usual doesn't mean
their season's over.
There's plenty of opportunities to
take satisfaction out of this season.
And a different team in Michigan for
revenge.
By T.J. Berka
Daily Sports Editor
Illinois' second home game against
San Diego State is Salute to Education
day in Champaign. But the Illinois foot-
ball team has failed the first two semes-
ters of Winning 101 under Ron Turner.
Turner hasn't had too much to work
with in his first two seasons as the
Illinois coach. With a 3-8 record last
season and a woeful 0-11 mark in 1997,
expectations for the Illini in 1999 aren't
exactly high.
But don't tell Turner that. Although
winning four games in a season -
HoOsilerS
are hungry
By Rick Freeman
Daily Sports Editor
The professors of Indiana
University's English department want
him to return for graduate school. The
NFL just plain wanted him.
And Adewale Ogunleye wanted to
smash heads in the Midwest for another
year. So Indiana's 6-foot-4, 265-pound
defensive end returned to play for a
school where football is second fiddle.
A Dom DiMaggio in the school's athlet-
ic lineup.
Cain Cameron, a former Michigan
quarterbacks' coach, wants to change all
that and make Indiana a football school.
The Hoosiers have grim odds against
them for a Big Ten title this year. A bowl
will be just fine. Make it on New Year's
Day, and those crimson and cream taith-
ful that aren't simply biding time until
hoops season will be pleased that the
profs and the pros had to wait.
"The team's excited about it,"
Cameron said before the beginning of
the season. "He thinks some things are
going to happen with Indiana football
this year."
Maybe it's the location. Central
Indiana may not have all the attractions
of Gotham, but the folks sure are nice.
Ogunleye has lost his wallet twice --
and had it returned each time.
"No money missing. No credit cards
used," Ogunleye said. "Driver's license
still where I left it."
Of course, with the height and wieght
listed on that license, would you touch
it?
Antwaan Randle El is a different
story. Those in Ogunleye's line of work
would love to touch him - hard, with
both arms and a shoulder.
Tough to do. With Ogunleye on
defense, Randle El is the other prime
mover of this Indiana team that has its
sights set high this year.
He can shake, too. His talent is under-
estimated when people apply the "ath-
letic" label to him. He's Teflon lightning
in a bottle.
Hence, Cameron is thinking about
playing him at tailback, and use 6-4
freshman Tommy Jones at quarterback.
"We sneaked up on some people with
our different style with the option, but
you don't sneak up on people more than
once," Cameron said.
something Illinois hasn't accomplished
since 1995 - could be considered a
great feat, Turner thinks the Illini can do
more.
"I sense a different level of confi-
dence going into this season," Turner
said. "We have lots of players who have
played a lot of games."
If playing a lot of games wasn't
enough, the whole Illinois team has
been in Champaign working out togeth-
er since June 1.
The Illini is hoping that the practice
translates into an improved passing
attack.
INDIANA
H O O S I E R S
2-6 Big Ten, 4-7 overall
October 30 bloomington TBA
"We want to throw the ball more and
spread people out more," Turner said.
That would mean improved play out
of the wide receiver, a problem during
Turner's reign.
Illinois shouldn't have as much of a
concern on defense, a perenial strength
for the Illini. The secondary, led by
sophomore Muhammad Abdullah, is
what is causing the most of the excite-
ment in Champaign.
But will this excitement get the Illini
to the elusive four-win barrier? It's hard
to tell.
OFFENSE
QB
LT
LG
C
RG
RT
TE
HB
FB
WR
WR
Kurt Kittner
Marques Sullivan
Jay Kulaga
Luke Butkus
Ray Redziniak
Chip Nicastro
Josh Whitman
Steve Havard
Elmer Hickman
Greg Lewis
Lenny Willis
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
QB
T
G
C
G
T
TE
RB
FB
WR
WR
Antwaan Randle El
Pita Elisara
Matt Snyder
Chad Miller
James Broyles
Craig Robeen
Craig Osika
Levron Williams
Jason Spear
O.J. Conner
Versie Gaddis
DE
DT
DT
DE
MLB
SLB
WLB
SS
FS
CB
CB
Adewale Ogunleye
Paul Mandina
Jason Czap
Kemp Rasmussen
Devin Schaffer
Justin Smith
Joslin Goodman
Greg Yeldell
Mike McGrath
Maurice Tucker
O.J. Spencer
SPECIAL TEAMS KR Derin Graham
K Andy Payne PR Graham
P Drew Hagan LS Trevor Abbs
--------------------------------------------------------------------
DAILY SPECIAL: Tommy Jones, a redshirt freshman quar-
terback, could play with Randle-El moving to tailback.
GmDE: Hoosiers still need more big-time talent. B-
S
I Oer23 anabo
SPECIAL TEAMS
K Neil Rackers
P Steve Fitts
----------------------
DAILY SPECIAL: Abdulla
his secondary this seasor
why. The sophomore pla
freshman, compiling 26 1
GRADE: Illinois should bE
hard not to improve whe
games in the past two SE
..
" Short term and sei
" Free Aerobics, spir
* Free racquetball ai
" Free child care
" Friendly and helpf
* Tai-boxing and car
" Area's top persona
" Less than 2 miles I
" Effective weight k
Call or stop-
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i
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PrT'ies A OODLFE
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OMIE o
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