How they stack up 24 "EiI JI UI
With the release of the BCS poll, the
strength of Michigan's opponents is on
the minds of football fans. Go online
to see how the Big Ten has done
against nonconference teams. TUESDAY
michigandaily.com/sports OCTOBER 24, 2000
Williams complaining about officiating
CHRIS
DUPREY
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By Mark Francescutti
Daily Sports Editor
Michigan State coach Bobby
Williams said in his weekly press confer-
ence yesterday that Big Ten Director of
Officials Dave Perry admitted several
poor calls in Michigan State's 14-6
shutout loss to the Wolverines.
"I had a chance to talk with Dave
Perry this morning," Williams said. "He
concurred on the calls that were made
and not made against us. The biggest was
the fumble. The guy who recovered the
fumble was out of bounds. The play
should have been dead"
The questionable call came in the third
quarter with Michigan up 7-0 and the
Spartans on the Wolverines' two-yard
line, poised to tie the contest. Michigan
linebacker Victor Hobson knocked the
ball out of running back TJ. Duckett's
arms, which trailed near the sideline.
Linebacker Larry Foote slapped at the
ball to keep it in, and defensive lineman
Eric Wilson recovered for the
Wolverines. Replays showed Foote's arm
might have been out of bounds.
Both Foote and Michigan coach Lloyd
Carr could not ascertain if the play went
out of bounds after the game.
After Michigan was ruled to have pos-
session of the ball, the Wolverines
marched down the field and scored their
second touchdown to make it 14-0.
Williams did not say whether he called
Perry, or Perry called him saying, "We
called each other."
Williams did criticize two personal
foul calls.made by the officials that cost
the Spartans dearly on two drives.
"The first part of the game, I thought
(the personal fouls) were called evenly,"
Williams said. "Later in the game they
went against us, and most of those were
our guys retaliating."
The latest incident brings into ques-
tion whether college football should
Po position
The first BCS poll was released
yesterday.
1. Nebraska 7-0 3.61
2. Oklahoma 6-0 5.43
3. Virginia Tech 7-0 6.66
4. Miami 5-1 9.76
5. Florida State 7-1 12.14
6. Florida 61 16.20
7. Clemson 8-0 16.24
8. Oregon 6-1 18.10
9. Washington 6-1 19.89
10. Kansas State 7-1 21.75
11. Ohio State &1 24.56
12. Georgia 6-1 29.46
13. Texas Christian 60 31.65
14. Southern Miss 5-1 3387
15. Purdue 6-2 34.69.
move toward instant replay. Last month,
officials said they goofed on two late
calls in the Michigan-Illinois game.
Those calls were the crucial ingredi-
ents in Michigan's 35-31 win.
"I don't know if we can have that;"
Williams said of instant replay. "It's a
cost issue. If there was a way we could
do it that is cost effective I would support
it.:
The Big Ten itself has made no official
statement regarding Saturday's game.
The Spartans (0-4 Big Ten, 3-4 overall)
need to win three of their last four games
to become bowl eligible.
DUcKETr QUESTIONABLE: The
Spartans' big, burly back may not play
against Illinois on Saturday after he left
the Michigan game following his third
quarter fumble.
Duckett suffers from a variety of nag-
ging injuries, the most severe a sprained
shoulder.
"He's day-to-day," Williams said. "It's
really bothering him. If he improves in
time, he'll play"
The Spartans will rotate rushing duties
between backs Dawan Moss, Tyrell
Dortch and Little John Flowers.
DUES CO
Play and personal.
fouls cost Spartans
AP PHOTC
Big Ten Director of Officials Dave Perry admitted to Bobby Williams that mistakes were
made in Michigan's 14-0 win over Michigan State.
HONORABLE FOOTE: Michigan's
Foote, who continues to perform well
recently at linebacker for the Wolverines,
earned the Big Ten Defensive Player of
the Week award for his efforts against
Michigan State.
Besides the fumble recovery save, the
junior had a career-high 14 tackles (eight
solo) against the Spartans. The biggest
was a stop on Michigan's goal-line stand
in third quarter. Foote leads the
Wolverines with 45 tackles (35 solo).
The Big Ten gave the offensive award
to Indiana's Antwaan Randle El, who
had 473 yards of total offense in a 51-43
victory over Minnesota.
Randle El became the first Big Ten
player, and only fifth in the NCAA, to
rush for 200 yards and pass for 200 yards
in the same game.
The special teams award went to the
Purdue duo - Craig Terrill and Ashante
Woodvard - who combined for the
game-winning field goal block and
return for a touchdown to beat
Wisconsin in overtime, 30-24. 1
L oking back on Mi
Michigan State ga
the past 10 years, s
credit is given to individi
cal feats -- the Woodson
tion, for instance.
There's nothing wrong
It just undermines the im
of sound mental play in t
games. Perhaps the Daily
to this by putting the
top 10 Michigan-
Michigan State plays
of recent history in
Football Saturday last
weekend.
Either way, it's not a
stretch to say that
Michigan won this
game with its head.
There's no better
example than Larry
Foote, Victor Hobson
and Julius Curry -
who have all emerged
as key members of the
Michigan defense.
Michigan State was po
the game at seven in thet
ter. It had first-and-goalI
Michigan 2. Two stuffedi
plays gave the Spartans a
down at the 2.
Then Foote made the p
day.
Hobson hit running bac
Duckett and forced a fum
ball was headed for the s
which would have retaine
sion for Michigan State a
the opportunity to try a f
- until Foote slid front-I
tapped the ball to keep it
Eric Wilson cleaned up
on the football, Michigan
the ensuing possession, a
had been averted.
The speed at which Fo
flying to the ball made th
physically impressive. Bu
knew he wouldn't be able
the fumble himself. He h
in inbounds for a teamma
"I knew I was out of ci
I just tried to tip it back i
said after the game. His c
Lloyd Carr, said that hev
"amazed" by the play.
The play was risk-free.
Michigan State player ret
instead, there was no way
to advance the ball. Ther
the play would have been
had Duckett been tackled
fumble had skittered out
fourth down, and a field-
chigan- attempt
mes over Credit must also be given to the
o much Wolverines for their restraint
ual physi- throughout the afternoon. Often,
intercep- when scraps break out between
players in games, referees use the
with that. old "offsetting penalties" routine,
portance which has as much effect as a srs-
hese pended sentence. No team is effec-
has added tively penalized, no one changes hi.
behavior.
- When Michigan
Either way, faces Michigan
's not a State, personal
fouls do come into
stretch play.
to sa that The officials
know emotions on
M ic higan their highest level
n tare involved, and
wonti s they do a much bet'
game with its ter job of keeping
head. things in check.
A 15-yard penal-
ty can do quite a bi
to calm down an
overzealous line
ised to tie backer.
third quar- Twice on Saturday, the Spartans
from the were punished for their aggressive-
running ness with personal fouls.
third Michigan never drew a personal
foul that wasn't offset with one
lay of the against Michigan State.
Worse for the Spartans, their
ck T.J. flags came at inopportune times,
ible. The hampering any efforts to get back
ideline - in the game.
d posses- The first moved Michigan into
nd given it position for Anthony Thomas 30-
ield goal yard touchdown run, extending its
first and lead to 14-0.
in play. The second came after
by falling Michigan's Ron Bellamy fumbled a
scored on punt at his own 28, the Wolverines
nd crisis still up by 14. It was the Spartans'
best opportunity of the day to
ote was punch one in and keep things clo .
is play After Eric Brackins stopped
it Foote Michigan State's Herb Haygood on
to recover an end-around for a loss of three
ad to keep yards, the Spartans drew their see-
ate. ond personal foul.
ontrol and Instead of first-and-10 - the sit-
in," Foote uation just seconds earlier -
coach, Michigan State was faced with sec-
was ond-and-28, the continuation of its
sinking-ship "season ensured.
Had a Carr always says he wants the
covered Wolverines to match the opponent's
for him intensity. Saturday, they managc@
result of to do that while staying mentally
the same focused. And it won them the
1, or if the game.
of play - - Chris Duprev can be reached a,
goal cdiiprcet'(umic/.edu
Nothing to lose:* Michigan
hosts No. 1 Notre Dame
By Rohit Bhave
Daily Sports Writer
Tomorrow's women's soccer natchup against
No. I Notre Dame (16-0-I) provides Michigan
(7-3-1 Big Ten, 9-6-1 overall) an opportunity
unique to college athletics - the chance to
redeem a disappointing season with one shock-
ing, glorious performance against a top-ranked
team.
"The Notre Dame game is extremely impor-
tant," Michigan coach Debbie Belkin
Rademacher said. "We always get fired up' to
play the No. I team in the country. We have
nothing to lose."
Despite squandering its chance at a Big Ten
championship by failing to win three out its
final five Big Ten games, Michigan still harbors
NCAA Tournament prospects either by winning
the Big Ten Tournament or by earning an at-
large bid.
While the Wolverines have posted a solid
conference record, Michigan has fared poorly
outside of the Big Ten (2-3). An upset over pow-
erful Notre Dame could do much to improve
their hopes of earning an NCAA bid.
The mighty Irish bring a imposing unbeaten
record into Ann Arbor as well as a little anger-
they lost their 16-game winning streak last
Saturday to Connecticut in a 0-0 tie. Despite
that blemish, the dominating Irish defense has
only allowed five goals all year, and boast the
best goals-against average in their history -.31
goals per game. In addition, their prolific
offense is averaging over 25 shots a game.
Notre Dame midfielder Anna Mikkanen is
easily the Irish's most dangerous weapon. A
national - player-of-the-year candidate,
Mikkanen has scored or assisted on half of
Notre Dame's goals this season.
"Thev have a center midfielder (in Mikkanen)
that can really run the show," Rademacher said.
"She is dangerous on free kicks, so we need to
avoid committing fouls near our goal."
While Notre Dame undoubtedly has game-
breaking talent, Michigan boasts a few impact
players as well. Kacy Beitel, Abby Crumpton,
See SOCCER, Page 14
Michigan's women soccer team has the opportunity to redeem its
season with a win today against No. I Notre Dame.
I -.
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