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4B - The Michigan Daily - KIcKOFF 2000 - Thursday, September 7, 2000

Thursday, September 7, 2000 - KicKO

FORWARD MARCH!

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PENN STA
SATURDAY, NOvi MBIER I 1, TBA

OFFENSIVE
LINE
By David Den Herder
Dailv Sports Editor
Who wants to run the Michigan
offense?
It hasn't come to guest contestants,
but it's easy to get the feeling that with
Michigan's line this season, just about
anybody could look good behind it.
Not to take anything away from
John Navarre. But the Wolverines
return two All-American linemen in
Jeff Backus and Steve Hutchinson -
both of whom could end up playing on
Sunday afternoons next season.
For now, Hutchinson is busy playing
Michigan co-captain.
"There's no excuse for not knowing

what we are doing out there."
Hutchinson said.
No need to use a lifeline, either.
Hutch and Backus tend to feed off
each other on the left side. Carr recalls
movine Hutchinson to center for a
game against Notre Dame two seasons
ago. but said he thinks the chemistry
between the two All-Americans "side-
by-side" is more effective.
If we can stay healthy," said Carr,
"we can have the line you dream about
having."
Anchoring the right side will be the
task of senior Maurice Williams, who
started all 12 games last year at either
right tackle or,. occasionally, right
guard.
He'll probably play to the outside of
junior Ben Mast who, with 1I starts,
would be the least experienced mem-
ber of the line.
"I expect a lot from our offensive
line," said tailback-turned-fullback
B.J. Askew, who got plenty in the sea-

son opener. "Out of all of them -
they're really good."
Expect fifth-year senior David
Brandt to start at center. He has the
potential to be the next in what is
becoming a tradition of excellent
Michigan centers.
And Carr says past success at the
position has inspired higher expecta-
tions over the whole line.
Jon "Jansen was a great leader, and
these guvs were around when he
played," Carr said.
Around long enough to remember
the feeling of roses between their teeth
and the smell of Michigan at the top
of the mountain.
"We like the battle, we have one of
the toughest schedules in the country.
We have the opportunity to be one of
the best teams in the country, but we
can't slack off," Hutchinson said.
"With this conference. every team can
win the championship."
Final answer?

QUARTERBACK:
HOW IT SHAKES DOWN

OUT

For the first "
time in three off-
seasons, the
starting quarter-
back was a non-
issue. It was time
for Michigan's
Golden Boy, Drew,
Henson.F
His speed and
quick release°
would bring the(
Big Ten title back -%
to Ann Arbor.;
But on Aug. MARJORIE MARSHALL/Daily
23, he heard a
snap. No contact, just a misstep with his right foot in a standard drill.
Henson underwent surgery the next day, which required a screw in
his fifth right metatarsal - the bone leading to his pinky toe.
University doctors said that if the healing process is flawless, he could
be back for the Sept. 16 game at UCLA.
But a better bet is Sept. 30 against Wisconsin.
The book on this injury is 6-12 weeks, but Golden Boy - who spent
the summer being traded from the New York Yankees to the Cincinnati
Reds - should have it licked in five at the most.

SATURDAw, NOVEMBER 4, 12:10 P.M.,
ESPN-PLUs
Riddle me this: If The Joker's favorite
color is purple, does that make
Northwestern's 2000 football team a
joke'?
"I think we're capable of being very
competitive," Northwestern coach
Randy Walker said. "Our number one
goal is to have a winning program."
Fair enough, maybe the logic doesn't
hold. But neither will the Wildcats'
defensive secondary, which allowed for
more than 200 yards passing per game
in 1999.
"We need to get bigger and stronger
and faster to compete and play well,"
Walker said. "We have to improve our
skills."
One might say that last season left
Northwestern in a decent position
nowhere to go but up.
The problem is, the Wildcats did
manage to win one Big Ten game -
homecoming against Iowa -- in 1999.
Which means, conceivably, there is the
possibility of going down even further.
Junior quarterback Zak Kustok led
the charge in that lonely victory over the
Hawkeyes, and will likely take the nod
under center this season.
Watch him for the scramble when
Michigan travels to Evanston . in
November. Kustok beat Iowa on a 2-
yard rush with four ticks left on the

Sept. 4
Sept. 11
Sept. 19
Sept. 26
Oct. 2
Oct. 9
Oct. 16
Oct. 30
Nov. 6
Nov. 13
Nov. 20

.1-7 Big Ten, 3-8 overall
did not play in a bowl game
unranked after 1999
1999 results:

Miami (Ohio) 28, N'WESTERN 3
N'WESTERN~ 17. TCU 7
N'western 15. DUKE 12 (OT)
PURDUE 31. N'western 23
Minnesota 33, N'WESTERN 14
INDIANA 34, N'western 17
N'WESTERN 23, Iowa 21
Wisconsin 35, N'WEsTERN19
MicHiGAN 37. N'western 3
Michigan St. 34, N'wEsTRN 3
ILLINoIs 29. N'western 7

Number-crunching;

Statistic

Big Ten Rank

141.4 rushing YPG
143.4 passing YPG
12.8 points per game
187.6 YPG allowed rushing
27.4 points per game allowed
-.64 turnover margin

8th
11th
11th
9th
9th
10th

Rashard Casey may have enjoyed sit-
ting this one out.
The Penn State quarterback who
allegedly assaulted a police officer felt
the brunt of an assault himself, along
with the rest of his teammatetes as the
Nittany Lions blew their first two games
of the season.
Casey, now the premier starter after a
co-star performance last season, has
failed to assume more than half the role.
Not that he's had help from his
offense. The offensive line, which strug-
gled last season due to injuries, hasn't
protected Casey well enough.
Still, talk of the quarterback being
replaced by Matt Senneca may become
a reality soon, as the offense has been
unable to click with Casey, notching
only I1 points in two games.
Junior tailback Eric McCoo needs to
step up the rushing attack, especially
after Penn State gained only six yards
on the ground against Southern Cal.
"I know this much: We haven't
played a decent offensive football game
in two weeks," coach Joe Paterno said.
"It's a combination thing; last week we
had people open and we didn't get the
ball to them or we dropped it. If we were
open we could get a better running
game going and a couple of our kids
just couldn't handle people up front. We

1999 results:


Aug. 28
Sept. 4
Sept. 11
Sept. 18
Sept. 25
Oct. 9
Oct. 16
Oct. 23
Oct. 30
Nov. 6
Nov. 13
Nov.20
Dec. 28

PENN STATE 41, Arizona 7
PENN STATE 70, Akron 24
PENN STATE 20, Pittsburgh 17
Penn State 27, MIAMI (FL.A.) 23
PENN STATE 45, Indiana 24
Penn State 31, IOWA 7
PE STATE 23, Ohio State 10
Penn State 31, PuRDUE 25
Penn State 27, IlNoLs 7
Minnesota 24, PENNi STATE 2v
Michigan 31, PENN STAE 27
MICHIGAN ST. 35, PENN STATE2f
Penn State 24, Texas A&M C

5-3 Big Ten, 10-3 overall
defeated Texas A&M in Alan
AP No. 11, coaches No. 11

Wolverines Fans Connect On
mlCive.com

I

Starters returning/lost: offense 6/ 5,
diefense 9/2
Remember thin: Northwestern's
offense is put rid, but the offensive
line is sound, allowing under two
sacks a game last season.
CourtesyNu:.NorestenAitfetics
clock, and he finished the year averag-
ing more than 13 carries per game for
30 yards.
But that made him the second-leading
rusher on the season for the Wildcats.
Somehow the word "upset" seems more
and more like a faded memory.
- David Den Herder

knew we had problems in a couple of
spots and were hoping we could gel
some improvement (but) it didn't work
out.
The offensive troubles come as a sur-
prise after the Nittany Lions entered the
season with huge question marks on the
defensive end - losing nine starters.
including the No. I and No. 2 picks -
Courtney Brown and LaVar Arington.
A first-year defensive coordinator
hasn"t helped either. The Nittany Lions
have allowed an average of 27 points in
losses to Southern Cal and Toledo.

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INSIDE
U-M SPORTS
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U-M Basketball . ol legs sport

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injury, he was
jump to light
110,585.

For now, anyway
- redshirt fresh-
man John Navarre is
the man.
After Henson's
asked to make the
speed in front of

-;'I;

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MARJORIE
MARSHALL/Daily

Navarre is more often compared
to Brian Griese and Tom Brady.
Poised, but competative. At 6-6,
228, Navarre is built, and was even
recruited by some colleges as a
linebacker - one of two positions
he played at Cudahy High School in
Cudahy, Wis.
After Gary Barnett jumped ship at
Northwestern, Navarre bailed from
his verbal and landed in Ann Arbor.
How HE FARED: Navarre was 15-19
with 265 yards and a Michigan
record-tying four touchdowns. He did
have plenty of protection and a lot of
time to throw the ball, but Navarre
showed poise and didn't force any-
thing - save a circus pass to Ron
Bellamy in the second quarter.

wolvulnrs are a#1.I A .. ,
p 'a "" ~. (MUve Sports oM -o o
Date Tue 06 Aug 2000 14:4:23 GMT
~' jFrom' Big Blue -unimovmw>
I predict that UofM will win the Big Ten this year. Hands down. With Drew
Henson at he helm tey also have a great shot at the national
j championship.i Anyone want to disagree'?

:r

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-a

ANDY MIGNERY
was to be
competing for
the second-string
position with
Navarre, but ax
bad ankle last
fall limited his
practice time.-
Carr said the
fact that he
hasn't been play- Mignery
ing quarterback
as long as Navarre also factored
into the decision that gave
Navarre the nod.

JERMAINE
GONZALES, a true
freshman, is also
in the mix.
Carr said that he
handled all that
has been asked
of him incredibly
well.

The Orchard mA
Lake St. Mary's Gonzales
grad broke every
passing record set as his high
school. He did not throw an inter-
ception his senior year.

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