The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - December 11, 2000 - 7B
SOt~stANsLCotton Bowl
} Tennessee(5-3 SEC-
C;East, 8-3 overall) vs.
-r Kansas State(10-3 Big
f 12, 6-3 overall)
Jan. 1, 11 a.m., FOX
Naweed Sikora
ilV Sports Writer
The Tennessee football program
ceived good news on Dec. 7 when
efensive lineman John Henderson, win-
er of the Outland Trophy for the nation's
est interior lineman, announced that he
would return next year to play his senior
season at Tennessee.
In the meantime, Henderson will pre-
pare to lead the Volunteers into Dallas on
New Year's Day to face Kansas State in
he Cotton Bowl.
The Volunteers, who seemed to be
heading nowhere after a 2-3 start, came
n strong to win theirfinal six games.
Kansas State, champion of the Big 12
North Division, is coming off a 27-24
loss to Oklahoma in the conference
championship game. Although the
Wildcats have three losses on the season,
two have come against top-ranked
Oklahoma.
The Volunteers feature seven players
with All-SEC recognition. Defensively,
the team will be led by Henderson. Along
with the Outland Trophy honors,
Henderson was named SEC Defensive
Player of the Year by the Associated
Press.
Offensively, the Volunteers showcase
standout running back Travis Henry.
Henry is Tennessee's all-time leading
rusher, with 3,078 career rushing yards.
The Wildcats have three first-team All-
America members. Placekicker Jamie
Rheem finished runner-up for the Lou
Groza Award, given annually to the
nation's best placekicker.
Both teams were offensive threats
throughout the season, but defense will
be the deciding factor on New Year's Day.
Tennessee comes in with the third-
ranked defense in the SEC. Meanwhile,
Kansas State boasts the top-ranked over-
all defense in the Big 12, allowing just
270.5 yards per game.
This will be the Volunteers' fifth
Cotton Bowl appearance and sixth con-
V
Players to watch:
Tennessee:
John Henderson, DT
Travis Henry, RB
Kansas ,State:
Jamie Rheem, K
Quincy Morgan, WR
Why Tennessee can win t
With their run defense, they will
halt Kansas State's runners.
Why Kansas State can win
By passing to Morgan, Kansas
State mig ht will be able to win.
secutive New Year's Day bowl appear-
ance.
Kansas State will be looking to even its
Cotton Bowl record at I - I after losing 19-
15 to BYU in 1997. The Wildcats' stellar
defense will make it difficult for
Tennessee's Henry to get things going on
the ground.
Complete bowl schedule
Bowl
Mobile Alabama
Las Vegas
Oahu
Aloha
Motor City
Galleryfurniture.com
Humanitarian
Music City
Micronpc.com
Insight.com
Liberty
Sun
Peach
Holiday
Alamo
Silicon Valley
Independence
Outback
Cotton
Gator
Citrus
Rose
Fiesta
Sugar
Orange
Matchup Date
Texas Christian (10-1) vs. Southern Mississippi (7-4) Dec. 20
UNLV (7-5) vs. Arkansas (6-5) Dec. 21
Georgia (7-4) vs. Virginia (6-5) Dec. 24
Boston College (6-5) vs. Arizona State (6-5) Dec. 25
Cincinnati (7-4) vs. Marshall (7-5) Dec. 27
East Carolina (7-4) vs. Texas Tech (7-5) Dec. 27
Boise State (9-2) vs. Texas El-Paso (7-4) Dec. 28
Mississippi (7-4) vs. West Virginia (6-5) Dec. 28
Minnesota (6-5) vs. North Carolina State (7-4) Dec. 28
Pittsburgh (7-4) vs. Iowa State (8-3) Dec. 28
Louisville (9-2) vs. Colorado State (9-2) Dec. 29
Wisconsin (8-4) vs. UCLA (6-5) Dec. 29
Georgia Tech (9-2) vs. Louisiana State (7-4) Dec. 29
Texas (9-2) vs. Oregon (9-2) Dec. 29
Northwestern (8-3) vs. Nebraska (9-2) Dec. 30
Air Force (83) vs. Fresno State (7-4) Dec. 31
Mississippi State (7-4) vs. Texas A&M (7-4) Dec. 31
Ohio State (8-3) vs. South Carolina (7-4) Jan. 1
Tennessee (8-3) vs. Kansas State (9-3) Jan. 1
Clemson (9-2) vs. Virginia Tech (10-1) Jan. 1
Michigan (8-3) vs. Auburn (9-3) Jan. 1
Purdue (8-3) vs. Washington (10-1) Jan. 1
Notre Dame (9-2) vs. Oregon State (9-1) Jan. 1
Florida (10-2) vs. Miami (10-1) Jan. 2
Oklahoma (12-0) vs. Florida State (11-1) Jan. 3
Time Network
8 p.m. ESPN2
8 p.m. ESPN2
8:30 p.m. ESPN
3:30 p.m. ABC
4 p.m. ESPN
8 p.m. ESPN2
1:30 p.m. ESPN2
4 p.m. ESPN
7 p.m. TBS
7:30 p.m. ESPN
1:30 p.m. ESPN
2 p.m. CBS
5 p.m. ESPN
8:30 p.m. ESPN
8 p.m. ESPN
7 p.m. FOXSPORTS
8 p.m. ESPN
11 a.m. ESPN
11 a.m. FOX
12:30 p.m. NBC
1 p.m. ABC
4:30 p.m. ABC
8 p.m. ABC
8 p.m. ABC
8 p.m. ABC
Alamo Bowl
Northwestern (6-2 Big Ten,
8-3 overall) vs. Nebraska
IIIBQ (6-2 Big 12, 9-2 overall)
Dec. 30, 8 p.m., ESPN
y Seth Klempner
iily Sports Writer
This year's Alamo Bowl is between two teams
oing in different directions. Nebraska started
:he year ranked first in the nation with dreams
f Oranges dancing in their heads. But after
asses to Oklahoma and Kansas State, the
aornhuskers finished in fourth place in the Big
ranked ninth in the
tion and on their way to
An Antonio.
Northwestern started
1ff the year competing
'ith Iowa for the doormat
rize of the Big Ten cellar
5int finished co-champi
iis. By upsetting then-
No. 6 Wisconsin on the
oad in overtime, 47-44, Anderson
*d No. 15 Michigan
state, the Wildcats demonstrated that their
pread, no-huddle offense should be taken seri-
usly.
Both teams also bring high-powered offenses
o this game. Northwestern will look to entice
ebraska into abandoning its defense and get
ing caught in a dogfight.
The strength of the Nebraska offense is the
4ning game, which leads the nation with 349
yards per game. Running-back-turned-quarter-
back, Eric Crouch, has nearly a thousand yards
rushing and leads the team with 20 rushing
touchdowns while 245-pound running back Dan
Alexander averages 6.4 yards per carry.
Their weakness on offense is their passing
game which makes them one-dimensional.
Crouch, who has a marginal arm, threw for just
over 1,100 yards on the season with I1 touch-
downs and seven interceptions. While their top
three receivers average over 13 yards per catch,
none have played with any consistency.
Northwestern's offense is equally high-pow-
ered but possesses the balance that Nebraska
lacks.
The Wildcats use a no-huddle offense, high-
lighted by running back Damien Anderson.
Anderson, who rushed for nearly two thousand
yards and 22 touchdowns, will create problems
for the Nebraska defense. Quarterback Zak
Kustok has an accurate arm and threw for 2,251
yards this season with 18 touchdowns and seven
interceptions.
Even though Nebraska has several weeks to
study film and analyze the Northwestern
offense, Michigan had two weeks to study the
Wildcat offense and then allowed 54 points.
The closest team Nebraska has seen to the no-
huddle spread offense is Oklahoma, which
passed for 300 yards and rushed for over 100
more. In that game;Nebraska's offense was held
to its lowest output of the year with 195 yards.
But Northwestern's defense is not good enough
to hold the Nebraska running game to fewer
than 200 yards.
While both these teams have outstanding
offense the game will be decided by whose
VS. I
Players to watch:
Northwestern:
Zak Kustok, QB
Damien Anderson, RB
Nebraska:
Eric Crouch, QB
Dan Alexander, RB
Why Northwestern can win
Northwestern's offense will outlast
Nebraska's offense.
Why Nebraska can win
The Nebraska front seven will contain
Northwestern running back Damien
Anderson, forcing quarterback Zak Kustok
to beat them.
defense can limit the other teams offense.
Nebraska has a quick defensive line, but their
secondary is questionable. Further, they lost to
Oklahoma because Josh Heupel was able to read
Nebraska's blitz schemes and get rid of the ball
before being sacked.
Zak Kustok is a smart quarterback and with
time to prepare should be able to read the
Cornhuskers' defense which has played spotty
when spread thin. Northwestern, who gave up
199 yards to Anthony Thomas, hopes to contain
the Nebraska running game.
If neither team is able to limit the other team's
offense this game will be a greater debacle than
the current political situation.
Outback Bowl
Ohio State (5-3 Big
Ten, 8-3 overall) vs.
South Carolina (5-3
SEC, 7-4 overall)
jan. 1, 11 a.m., ESPN
By Swapn Patel
For The Daily
This season's Outback Bowl features a
matchup between Ohio State and South
Carolina, two teams that did not even play in a
bowl game last year.
Having lost their last five bowls games, the
Buckeyes hope to reverse the losing trend as
they prepare to face the recently struggling
Gamecocks. Ohio State will look to rebound
from its 38-26 loss to Michigan.
"We made a lot of progress from last year to
this, but we are not close to being satisfied,"
coach John Cooper said. "This game, as well
as the practices, will help make us a better
team both for the bowl and for next year"
Having snapped a 21-game losing steak to
post a 7-4 mark this year, South Carolina's
reappearance in a New Year's Day bowl game
is remarkable.
Though South Carolina lost its last three
games, the electrifying running of Derek
Watson coupled with the new spread offense
make the Gamecocks a formidable opponent
for Ohio State.
Watson, who missed three practices last
week to deal with family and personal matters,
took time out following the Gamecocks 90-
minute workout to address rumors that had
Players to watch:
Ohio State:
Steve Bellisari, QB
Derek Combs, RB
South Carolina:
Phil Petty, QB
Derek Watson, RB
Why Ohio State can win
Ohio State boasts the best running
defense in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes
also want to stop a five game bowl
losing steak.
Why South Carolina can win
Spread offense and great running
game. Beside, a °W' in a bowl game,
should be the only way to end a
cinderella season.
been circulating.
"One of the wildest rumors I heard was that
I was in New Orleans with a rap group called
Cash Money Millionaires. That's how crazy
some of the rumors were," Watson said.
Interestingly, while South Carolina averages
157 yards per game on the ground, the
Buckeyes rushing defense holds teams to an
average of 91 yards a game - which is best in
the Big Ten and seventh in the nation.
Look for the Outback Bowl to provide
sonic early morning entertainment, mainly
serving as an appetizer prior to the feast of
prime time New Years Day bowl games,,
N..:
'~ *
-Sun Bowl
Wisconsin (4-4 Big
Ten, 8-4 overall) vs.
UCLA (3-5 Pac-10, 6-
5 overall)
Dec. 29, 2 p.m., CBS
By Nathan Unsley
Daily Sports Writer
What is another word for sun? This
year, it's disappointed. Both of the Sun
Bowl teams, Wisconsin and UCLA, had
early-season national title aspirations.
The Badgers were ranked in the top
five of almost every preseason poll, and
the Bruins were the No. 6 team in the
nation following their win over
Michigan on Sept. 16.
But both teams had difficulties during
the conference season, as the Badgers'
well-documented shoe scandal took its
toll, and the Bruins struggled to a 3-5
mark in the Pac-10.
Wisconsin's defense features corner-
back Jamar Fletcher. Fletcher, who won
the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top
defensive back, will neutralize UCLA
All-America receiver Freddie Mitchell.
UCLA has the worst rush defense in
the Pac-10, and will struggle containing
Wisconsin running back Michael
Bennett.
The Bruins have the passing game
Ve.
Players to watch:
Wisconsin
Jamar Fletcher, CB
Michael Bennett, RB
UCLA
DeShaun Foster, RB
Freddie Mitchell, WR
Why Wisconsin can win
The Badgers have the best punting
team in the country, and will win
the all-important battle for field
postion.
Why UCLA can win
UCLA has already crushed the
seasons of many teams, beating
Alabama to open the season and
Michigan, both ranked third at the
time. The Bruins also defeated
Arizona, which had early Rose
Bowl aspirations.
needed to defeat the Badgers.
Wisconsin's losses have come to
Northwestern, Michigan, Purdue, and
Ohio State - teams which all have solid
air attacks.
1TWO& of Spending the
hSat
Celebrate the holidays in a different
culture next year!
Visit U of M's own Office of International
Programs (OIP) to investigate the study abroad
opportunities that await you. We offer over
70 international academic programs that can
be paid for with financial aid, scholarships, and MET.
Application deadlines for most programs during
the 2001-2002 academic year are in
January and February of 2001.
- U
AP PHOTO
Coming off his best game of the season, sophomore quarterback Chris Simms still
may be looking over his shoulder as senior Major Applewhite may get the call.
Lessons That
Will Last
A Lifetime.
7 '1 " Office of International Programs
G513 Michigan Union
"OI " 764-4311
Check us out on the Web at:
www.umich.edu-i~net/oip
Office hours:
Mon, Tues,
Thurs, Fri
8 am to 5 pm
Wed
noon to 6 pm
SHoliday Bowl
Texas (7-1 Big 12, 9-2
overall) vs. Cregon (7-
1 Pac-10, 9-2 overall)
Dec. 29, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
SSteve Jackson
yx Sports Writer
No bowl played before New Year's
Day -can match the appeal of the
Holiday, which pits two 9-2 teams with
high-powered passing games against
each other.
Each team took a different path to
San Diego. The 12th-ranked Longhorns
sprinted to the postseason by winning
t r final six games. No. 8 Oregon led
i4 Pac-10 until the final day, before a
road loss to its in-state rival Oregon
State killed its Rose Bowl dreams.
Texas (7-1 Big 12, 9-2 overall) is
coming off a huge 43-17 win over Texas
A&M in which sophomore quarterback
Chris Simms had a breakout game with
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/vs. ~
Players to watch:
Texas:
Casey Hampton, DT
Roy Williams, WR
Oregon:
Maurice Morris, RB
Joey Harrington, QB
Why Texas can widf Texas has
the hosses across the front.
Hampton leads the defense and
offensive tackle Leonard Davis is a
certain first-round selection in the
NFL Draft.
Why Oregon can win
Oregon has the to p passing
defense in the PA C 10 and an
explosive attack led by QB Joey
Harrington.
consecutive year. Despite missing out
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