The Michigan Daily - SportsIhursday -Thursday, January 4, 2001- 76
Fun in the sun for Blue
swimmers, Hawaii-style
MICHIGAN TRACK HOSTS JACK HARVEY INVITATIONAL
SATURDAY, MICHIGAN INDOOR TRACK BUILDING
e
'M' running into start of track season
ByNaweed Sikora
Daily Sports Writer
Not many Michigan students can say they
4ke up at 6 a.m. every morning during their
winter break and went surfing. But sophornore
Erin Abbey of the Michigan women's swimming
team did just that. Abbey, along with the rest of'
the Wolverines, spent winter break surfing,
rdlaxing and swimming in Ilawaii.
Although it was in paradise, the trip was not all
fun and games. The main focus was an intensive
two-week training program that included at least
four hours of practice each day. It also included a
one-day exhibition meet against Eastern
Michigan.
*Coach Jim Richardson felt that the time spent
Hawaii was very beneficial for the team.
':We went to Hawaii with some specific goals
in mind," Richardson said. "We had great train-
ing sessions at the pool, and I feel that our fitness
level improved significantly"
Richardson also saw individual improvements
in many of his swimmers.
"Andrea Kurrie performed very well in the
pool, Lisbeth Gobel swam some excellent sets,
1d Traci Valasco is improving everyday,"
Wchardson said.
Amidst all the practices, the swimmers did
find some time to enjoy themselves. Before each
morning practice, the team was taught to surf by
Eddie, a friend-of Richardson.
"I went out the first two mornings and it was
fun," Abbey said. "But after I dropped the surf-
board on my foot two days in a row, I stopped"
After its morning practice, the team had free
time to rest, shop or see the sights.
"I liked to lay on the beach in the afternoons,
but lots of girls visited tourist attractions like
.marl Harbor or climbed the Diamondhead,
which was a small mountain nearbv" Abbey
said.
Although they were tired out after their two-
hour evening practice, the Wolverines managed
to, sample the nightlife.
On New Year's Eve, we went out to a couple
of the local clubs to dance" Abbey said. "I had a
wonderful time."
The team also got a great deal accomplished
the pool.
feel that things went really well for us." cap-
tatn. Melissa Sugar said. "We swam a lot of great
team sets, and some people had their greatest
practices of the season."
BCS
Continued from Page 113
tunities. Three times in the last five years, the
Seminoles lost a bowl game that could have given
them a championship.
it was a good season, but we were lousy
tonight," Bowden said.
After the game, Stoops thrust his fist in the air
and hugged players and assistants after Oklahoma
clinched its seventh national title.
"It's easy to say Oklahoma is back!" Stoops
said.
Surprisingly for two high-scoring offenses; the
mistake-filled first half endWd with the Okahoma
ahead 3-0 on Duncan's 27-yard field goal 7:44
'M' SWIMMING IN
HAWAII
"We had an ant problem in
our room. We kept calling the
hotel to get rid of them, but
they never did anything."
- swimmer Erin Abbey
Despite minor problems, Abbey and the
Wolverines enjoyed their two-week
Hawaiian practice getaway.
A typical day
6 A.M. Each morning, Eddie, a friend of
Richardson's, takes the team out for a surf-
ing lesson
9 A.M. After the surf, the Wolverines had a
two-hour morning practice
12 P.M. Following lunch, the team had six
hours of free time. Some of the most popu-
lar activities were:
- Relaxing on the beach
- Local sightseeing (Pearl Harbor)
- Shopping at local merchant stores
- Climbing the Diamondhead, a small near-
by mountain
7 P.M. The Wolverines hold a two-hour
evening practice
9 P.M. Although most nights the Wolverines
were exhausted, they did
sample the nightlife on New Year's Eve,
going dancing at a few local clubs
Looking ahead to the second half of the sea-
son, Sugar feels that the team should perform
better in longer events.
"We have a lot of yardage under our belts, and
our endurance has gotten better' Sugar said.
"We should be able to finish strong in longer
events in the second half'
The second half begins on .an. 12 with the
Wolverine Invitational.
Richardson feels that the team's biggest chal-
lenge will continue to be its consistency.
"This team does not have great natural chem-
istry," Richardson said. "Our biggest challenge
will be finding the chemistry that will allow us to
excel in the future."
into the game.
The opening 30 minutes featured three
turnovers, a missed 30-yard field goal by Florida
State's Brett Cimorclli - wide right, naturally
and eight penalties.
Florida State, averaging 42.4 points per game,
was shut out in the first half for just the second
time this season. Miami led Florida State 17-0 at
halftime en route to a 27-24 win over the
Seminoles on Oct. 7.
In the weeks leading to their game against
Florida State, the Sooners were given little chance
of winning.
"We've been underestimated the whole sea-
son"V Williams said before the game. "We're used
to it. We're not worried about it. It's motivation.'
By Kareem Copeland
"aly Sports Witer
Today marks the beginning of the end for
many Michigan students. Seniors returning to
campus are embarking on the end of their col-
lege careers. It's their time to knock out those
last few electives and cruise to the end of the
year.
The rest of the student body still has work to
do, and the track team is no exception. Saturday
will kick off the 2001 indoor track season. The
Wolverines host Eastern Michigan, Toledo and
the Athenian Track Club at the second annual
Jack Harvey Invitational.
Previously named the Michigan Invitational,
the meet was renamed to honor the former
coach who was active with the team -- as an
athlete and then coach - for 30 years. The invi-
tational will be the second and final meet before
the Big Ten season gets under way at Indiana.
"We'll see who's walking tall and trained over
the break," Michigan coach Ron Warhurst said
after practice yesterday. "The meet is a warmup
to see where to put people for Indiana."
Over break the sprinters took a trip to Florida
to practice and should be ready to run. The fea-
tured event should be the 3000-meter. Assistant
coach and Olympian Kevin Sullivan will be par-
ticipating in the event.
Distant runners "Mike Wisniewski and Mark
Pilia are going to have to be on their toes"
Warhurst said. "Pole vaulter Charles DeWildt
also should have some competition."
The team will be without former football
player Justin Fargas, who is expected to transfer
fIom the university. Fargas came out of high
school rated the No. I running back in the coun-
try with eye-opening speed.
A lesser-known accomplishment was the fact
that he was also the top 100-meter sprinter in
California. He was expected to run track in the
offseason, following the path of Iowa's Tim
Dwight and Wisconsin's Michael Bennett.
After breaking his leg late in his freshman
season, Fargas took nearly two years off from
football to fully recover. In November of 1999
he began working out with the track team, but
dropped out to prepare for spring football prac-
tice.
Looking to regain form this season, Fargas
struggled to find playing time behind Anthony
Thomas and Chris Perry. A midseason switch to
defensive back did little for his playing time.
Before the holiday break he announced his plans
to transfer closer to home in California.
Southern Cal, UCLA and California are all pos-
sible destinations
"We're going to miss Austin," Warhurst said.
Even without the speedster, the squad plans to
heat things up this weekend. If nothing else, it
will be warm inside the track building as the
Wolverines begin what looks to be a -very
Spots still up in air for women s track opener
By Rhonda Gilmer
Daily Sports Writer
After months of hibernation, the Michigan women's track team will
compete in its season opener.
Michigan plays host to the Jack Harvev Invitational, which takes
place Saturday. The Wolverines face off in a dual meet against Eastern
Michigan with field events starting at 10 a.m., and runnmig events at
noon.
Serving as the first meet of the season, the invitational will give the
Wolverines a chance to get used to the highs and lows of competition.
As of yet, the dynamics of the team are undetermined. "It's our first
meet of the season," coach James Henry said.
"I want to make sure everyone is eligible, in good academic stand-
ing and healthy."
Until now, the Wolverines have trained long and worked hard to pre-
pare for the indoor season. "We've been practicing since September so
many of the runners are over anxious and antsy to get out there and
.onpete," Henry said.
There are some runners who have experienced much more than just
training this past season. Having competed during cross-country sea-
son, senior Katie Jazwinski should be a strong runner during
Saturday's competition.
"Jazwinski is someone we expect to contiuuc to shine . Henry said.
She also currently leads the distance program, is a two-time All
American, and was last year's Big Tem champion for the 3000-meter
outdoor event. Sophomore Jane Martineau follows in Jazwinski's foot.
steps.
"Martineau had an outstanding cross-country season," Henry said.
Returning from last year are two sprinters whose strong perfor-
mances during track-and-field season. Sophomore Carly Knazze made
her mark by becoming the first Wolverine to win the 400-meters out-
door. Knazze was also Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Senior Regine Caruthers may also play as a key factor in the Harvey
meet. Last year Caruthers showed strength during best the 00-meter
dash - placing fourth at Big Tens.
Men say goodbye Hawaii, hello Stanford
By Mike Bloom
Daly Sports \ritcr
After bringing in the New Year on beaches
and eating coconuts, the Michigan men's
swimming team wrapped up its training camp
on Hawaii's main island yesterday.
But before coach Jon Urbanchek returns
his team to the blistering winds and frigid
temperatures of Ann Arbor, they will have
one more chance to bake in the Pacific sun.
This weekend the ninth-ranked Wolverines
tour the West Coast with dual meets at No. 3
Stanford and No. 5 California.
It will be the last competition before their
standard Big Ten schedule, but the annual
Stanford-Michigan matchup is as common-
place as a road trip to East Lansing.
"Stanford has a 12-year arrangement, alter-
nating home and away since 1987," said
Urbanchek. "Last year Stanford came over
here and this year we return the favor."
When Michigan hosted No. 1 Texas at
Canham Natatorium in November, it was a
benchmark to gauge the improvement needed
to reach the top. Swimming against consecu-
tive top-five teams will be vet another mea-
suring stick to how beneficial it was io
exchange its Christmas for palm trees.
When focusing on this weekend's head to
head matchups, the California team's advan-
tage lies in shorter distance events -- sprints
and relays.
"In some events Michigan will fare
extremely well. But in the relays, we're going
to be inferior," Urbanchek said. "Same thing
with Cal-Berkeley. Thev have strength in the
sprints but we have strength in the middle-
distance and distance so it will ba*ance oua
quite a bit."
In an attempt to maintain their superiority
in longer events, the Wolverines recently
received a National Letter of Intent from
Brendan Neligan.
"Brendan is an awesome distance talen(ind
incredible student. "He already won the U.S.
Nationals in the 800-meter freestyle and is
definitely going to make an immediate impact
on the NCAA level," said Urbanchek.
Neligan's achievements in the classvoon,
may be even greater than what he is done iiin
the water.
"Ils academics are as attractive as- his
swimming abilities," 'aid Urbanchek. "He's
the number one high school scholastic All-
American, meaning he has the highest GPA. of
all high-schooi recruits
COOPER
Continued from Page 1B
"Does there need to be more disci-
pline on this football team?
Absolutely," Cooper said Tuesday at
the facility named after Ohio State
coach Woody Hayes. The late Haves is
the only Ohio State coach to serve
l ager (28 years) and win more games
5-61-10).
Cooper disputed the concerns men-
tieded by Geiger, saying he could not
think of an off-the-field problem that
affected his team. Yet in the weeks
leading up to the bowl game, team-
mates criticized each other, the team
MVP showed up late and missed the
team's first practice in Tampa and one
offensive lineman sued another for
*,000 because of a fight on the field
4ist spring.
Ohio State will pay Cooper S 1.8
Mjillion to buy out the last three years
of his contract, which paid him more
than SI million per season.
The fall was precipitous for Cooper,
,63, whose teams went 111-43-4 and
finished second in the final AP poll in
}97 and again in 1999.
But Cooper's Buckeyes also strug-
g&ed -in big games. Cooper was just 2-
01. against archrival Michigan, and
.bowl record was 3-8. Five times in
hlis 13 years, the Buckeyes closed out
tyeir season with consecutive losses
against Michigan and in a bowl game.
Ironically, Cooper was hired because
a win over Michigan while coaching
Arizona State in the 1987 Rose Bowl.
Cooper could not lead the Buckeyes
to a national title - its last one was in
1968 --- but he came close.
"About 95 percent of these people
have been great to me," Cooper said.
"There's some people in this town that
nobody's going to please. Coach Hayes
didn't please them and coach Bruce
didn't please them. And the next coach
is not going to please them."
The heat was turned up after a 6-6
season in 1999 in which the Buckeyes
closed with three consecutive losses
and then failed to make a bowl trip for
the first time since-Cooper's first sea-
soin.
This year, the Buckeyes won their
first five games to climb as high as No.
6 before losing four of their last seven.
Despite losses to Minnesota and
Purdue, Ohio State still had a chance at
a share of the Big Ten title in the annu-
al regular-season finale against
Michigan. But Ohio State blew a 9-0
lead and failed on a 4th-and-I late in
the game as Michigan took a 38-26
victory.
Geiger said he had no answers for
what went wrong with the program.
"I wish I could explain it, but there
has been a slide, and it's why we're
here," he said.
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