Good Knight lIefore leaving the IU campus, Bobby Knight addressed the student body. (o online to see the transcript of his michigandaily.com /sports ax MictwIg mita? SPRTS FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2000 Michigan returns to Rosy memories in L.A. By Chris Duprey Daily Sports Editor It's easy to distinguish this Pasadena trip from the others. No Disneyland. No morning parade. No Lawry's Beef Bowl - which is unfortunate considering Michigan's offensive line is one of its best ever on the field, and would have a ,chance at earning that title at the din- ncr table. .Yet emotional remnants of previ- ous trips can't help but exist. Whether you won the Big Ten and the right to play in the Rose Bowl, or had the pure fortune of scheduling a regular-season road game with UCLA, the setting is the same. Keith Jackson will be in the broad- cast booth for ABC, as he's always been on New Year's Day. Everything, from the stadium itself to the San Gabriel Mountains in the back- ground, contributes to an atmosphere Michigan running back Justir. Fargas said is "bigger than a regular game." For Fargas and the sight other Californians on Michigan's roster, the game is primarily a homecoming. Brady Hoke, the assistant on if he could round up every ticket allotted to Michigan players "they would all be used." That's how important Saturday is Lloyd Carr's staff scouting California Saturday's game as; rot throughout the past three years. West Coast play- ers like Fargas were a little more willing to leave home knowing they would have their one moment in the sun, their chance in front of the home fans. That's part of the reason why California (nine) trails only Ohio (13) and Michigan (35) in supplying players toward Michigan's current roster. Hayden Epstein seemed to speak for responsible for talent, has used a recruiting car- to these nine. For everyone War on the 4%i Tomorrow,Mkichigan andUCLAwilmeet at te Ro.e Ba totier the firttime ,tcc Neu Yar\ aRv.1 I9, H3. F ereare tilevitai >1 atrilrthe due''eween he =3WolveriFne andte14 Bruin.: Tie:3: 30 pam. Tex "itni A 1W:(Ch. 7) So far this season... Alabama Bowling Green W, 35-24 W, 42-7 Lre" ps . 37:'9 i ton t p4g,. 3.303 Fresno St. Rice W, 24-21 W, 38-7 rus v Yads1351 t6 h'"6 yards 230 pas : < Yrs .5 ssn yrs C '"eofos""89 Hreofps. $4 :lse on the roster, the game is a pilgrimage out of the ordinary. The time and the place don't seem quite right for the trip, yet it must be made - like going to the Baseball Hall of Fame in winter or vis- iting Punxsutawney, Penn., in the middle of July. Most will be making their first trip to Pasadena, hoping it won't be their last. For oth- ers, it's a return to past glories. "It's a little bit different for the been there," Carr redshirt juniors. Michigan's seniors were mere freshmen when Michigan secured the national championship on New Year's Day 1998. This trip will return them to the same locker room where Carr gave his now-legendary "You just won the national championship" postgame speech. "It was probably the biggest game in Michigan history," senior offen- sive lineman Jeff Backus said. "Going back there will bring back a lot of good memories." The meaning of the trip almost smothers the opponent itself. As is tradition in the Rose Bowl, Michigan is traveling out west to play a Pac-14 team in its own backyard and in its own time zone. Intangibly, that puts the Wolverines at a disadvantage -one that must be overcome for them to emerge from Saturday without the stain of defeat. And if they can win high-caliber games like these, maybe they'll return for a crack at the Beef Bowl after all. all of his fellow guys who have Californians when he said that even admitted, referring to his seniors and Wolverines' victory bid goes up in Flames, 2-0 I'ap . . o-2gr3 ,7 DAVID KArz/aay B.J. Askew rumbledrthrough the Rice defense with relative ease, but thertask will be much tougher for all of the Wolverines when they take on UCLA tomorrow. 'M', Bruins square off in intriguing skirmisfi By David Mosse Daily Sports Writer The Michigan men's soccer team suf- fered its second defeat of the young sea- son, falling 2-0 to Illinois-Chicago in a scrappy affair at Elbel Field last night. Facing arguably their biggest test to date, the Wolverines played the visiting Flames to a standstill for most of the night. but two defensive breakdowns in the latter stages of the second half did Michigan in. The first came moments after a con- troversial non-call. As Flames forward Eric Lukin penetrated through S % Michigan's defense. he appeared to be ", taken down inside the box. No penalty wvas called, much to the chagrin of Illinois-Chicago head coach Sasha Begovic, who berated the official. Minutes later the Flames once again threatened to score when the official, in a transparent attempt to appease Begovic, awarded them a penalty kick. Lukin, who tormented Michigan's defense all night long, coolly converted .he penalty for the 1-0 lead. "You can't ever blame an official for a loss" Michigan coach Steve Burns said. "Especially since we probably got away with a call right before that." The goal forced Michigan to stray fi om their trademark .counter-attacking style and push forward towards a tying goal. As a result the Wolverines left themselves vulnerable at the back and the Flames took advantage. A beautiful exchange between Lukin and freshman forward Nathan Way sprung Way out of the midfield and his blistering shot beat Michigan goalkeeper Pat Murphy for the Flames' second goal. The defeat was especially disappoint- ing for the Wolverines, whose record dropped to 2-2 on the season, because Michigan had several good chances to score. Early in the first half midfielder Ian Hirschfield had his left-footed shot deflected over the crossbar by Flames goalkeeper Chris Jamal and freshman Mike White's cross sailed across the goalmouth. Reserve forward Robert Turpin got behind the Illinois-Chicago defense 15 minutes in, but his shot was deflected away by a lunging Jay DeMerit. Michigan's best opportunity came in the dying moments of the first half. A corner kick from the left side found White, whose powerful header was stopped by a sprawling Jamal. The rebound squirted directly in front of the net but several Wolverines were unable to pounce on it. SAM HOLLENSHEAD/Day Michigan defender Matt Niemeyer duels with an Illinois-Chicago player for posses- sion of the ball last night at Elbel Field. The Flames defeated the Wolverines, 2-0. By Stephanie Offen Daily Spors Editor This is the one everyone's been wait- ing for. Forget Bowling Green. Forget Rice. Those were easy. Now its time to bring on the real test. Before the season began everyone was.looking past UCLA also. But an upset of No. 3 Alabama scared the Michigan faithful. And now that the sixteenth-ranked Bruins have crept into the top 25, they've gained back the respect they lost after finishing last sea- son, 4-7. Now that the Wolverines nonconfer- ence schedule isn't a joke, the team needs to prove that the past two games weren't either. Michigan blew out the weak teams, now its time to bring on the real competition. Bring on The Rose Bowl. With a win, Michigan is that much closer to return- ing to Pasadena later in the season. Michigan passing vs. UCLA pass- ing defense: David Terrell, Marquise Walker, Ronald Bellamy even... James Whitely ? Take your pick. But while Michigan is stocked at wide receiver, the Bruins only returned one corner- back, sophomore Ricky Manning. The statistics for UCLA's victory over then-No. 3 Alabama are deceiving. There may have been no passing touchdowns, and that stirs up memories of a similar situation last season. Remember the Orange Bowl? "If we could have scored a goal in the first 65-70 minutes it would have been a far different game:' Burns said. "We just couldn't capitalize on our opportu- nities." In the second half Michigan began to tire and Illinois-Chicago asserted control over the game. Defender Joe Morelli's rocket forced an acrobatic save from Murphy and moments later, Way broke behind the Wolverine defense only to be stopped by the Michigan keeper. Despite the loss, Burns expressed optimism regarding his young squad. "We got a chance to work on a few things tonight" said Burns. "I think we are really coming along as a team." Burns' sentiments were echoed by his captain, senior midfielder Jack Stead. "Illinois-Chicago is a top 30 team in the nation and we hung with them," Stead said. "If we face a team like this in a couple of weeks, I think we'll pull it out. Alabama doesn't win its games in the air. Alabama running back Shaun Alexander may have rushed for three touchdowns in the Wolverines overtime victory, but Michigan barely allowed the Crimson Tide over 100 passing yards. UCLA did just the same. A more telling statistic would be from last weekend. In Fresno State's almost upset of the Bruins, UCLA allowed the Bulldogs 249 passing yards - uncovering a weak, inexperienced UCLA backfield. Look for Michigan's 'experienced receiving core to run all over the Bruins. Advantage: Michigan Michigan rushing vs. UCLA rush- ing defense: This one may be close. While Michigan has more running backs than I can count on one hand, the Bruins' defense is - in the words on running back Justin Fargas - "huge and mean." Led by senior Denyon Colemai e UCLA defensive line boast three play- ers over 300 pounds. And while Anthony Thomas and Chris Perry may be large, they have not matched up against anyone that large this season - including in practice against their own squad. But having five talented backs this season will allow the Wolverines to avoid tiring any one player out - tak- ing too many hits from a 300 pou r. So while the Bruins may havhe size, the Wolverines have the talent and the versatility. The Wolverines take this one by a hair. Advantage- Michigan UCLA passing vs. Michigan s- ing defense: Don't get too excite or this one. Two teams - two backup quarterbacks. See MATCHUPS, Page 13 i FULBRIGHT PROGRAM FOR STUDY & RESEARCH ABROAD The IE Fulbright programs support study abroad in over 100 countries, providing grants for research, study and travel for selected countries, and various other opportunities such as teaching assistantships.