The Michigan Daily - SportsThursday - September 6, 2001- 9B Chandler or Vick? Take your pick Chandler is Atlanta's starter, but the former Hokie will get a chance FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - Michael Vick wants to put a ple of issues to rest. He doesn't care whether he's. Mike or Michael - and Chris dler is the quarterback for the A Falcons. "I don't think I'm going to this week," the NFL's No. 1 draf said. "Chris is the starter. It team. My time is up now that th season is over." Well, that's not how coach Reeves looks at the situatio' made it clear that Vick will p Sunday's opener against San Fr co - the only question is how r "We will definitely use himi game," Reeves said. "I have an but we won't talk about it." When told of Reeves' com Vick smiled. "Oh, well, never The only thing I can do is pr myself for whenever I go i game, do the things I'm capat doing." Reeves, one of the league's open coaches, doesn't want the to know what the rookie might4 he took the unusual step of re ing the media of the rules for ing practice. "You guys can watch practic what you see in practice, don't it," Reeves said. "Whatever yc in practice, just keep it that way. Certainly, the coach is floatip idea that while Chandler i starter, Vick is going to play a role before this season is do with a few trick plays thrown ir mix. "What we want to do is hop increase that learning curve o being able to get on the field he is more comfortable and yi disrupt the flow of the game being fair to Chris so that Chris n't lose the flow of the gz Reeves said. "That is a difficult to do, but we are going to try it. The Falcons have too much i ed in Vick - a $62 million c and hope for improving the chise's sorry image - to let hi guish on the bench all year. "We're going to see how it because 1 do think that he can op faster that way," Reeve "Also, his skills present dif problems for a defense?' Chandler rarely scrambles,i hanging in the pocket until tl possible second. That stylec has made him one of the more -plagued quarterbacks in the N *Vick, on the other hand, ha timed at 4.24 seconds in the 4 dash - faster than most re( (AP) cou- called Chan- tlanta play t pick 's his e pre- Dan n. He lay in ancis-- nuch. in the idea, ment, mind. epare n the ble.of most 49ers do, so :mind- and backs. During the preseason, he averaged 12.4 yards on seven carries, a tantalizing change of pace to. the slow-footed Chandler. "Michael is learning the system and I'm sure there's a possibility he's being taught a few special plays," San Francisco coach Steve Mariucci said. "We've got to prepare for both." Reeves scoffed at the idea that Vick will be given a bunch of new plays for his pro debut. "If you're a rookie and the biggest thing you have to do is know what to do, then I'd say the chances of us doing something he didn't ado in the preseason are slim," the coach said. "He has enough things going through his mind without us all of a sudden putting in something he is totally unfamiliar with." Chandler, who was in the same sit- uation at Houston in 1995-96 when the Oilers drafted Steve McNair, is a bit uncomfortable. about the idea of having to sacrifice playing time. "I never want to come off the field, but Dan will do what he thinks is best for the team," Chandler said. "I've been in this game long enough that it takes an awful lot to disrupt me." The rest of the Falcons are eager to see how it all plays out. "Everybody wants to see Michael Vick," cornerback Ray Buchanan said. "I'm not just talking about his teammates, the organization, the fans. People outside the state want to see him, too. The pressure is on Dan Reeves to utilize this kid and get him on the field with all the ability he has." When Vick does get on the field, should he be called Mike or Michael? The issue has gone back and forth throughout the preseason, with Vick at times expressing a preference to be called Mike. Now, he says, either name will do. "It doesn't matter," he said. "Call me anything you want. People will know who I am." QB Pride: The last five QB's taken No. 1 Tim Couch, 1999 - The Kentucky graduate was taken by the expansion Cleveland Browns and has taken over as the starter. Peyton Manning, 1998- The gun-slinging quarterback from Ten- nessee was selected by the Indianapolis Colts, and has already been to two Pro Bowls. Drew Bledsoe, 1993 - Took the Washington State passing attack to new heights before being drafted by the New England Patriots. He still starts for the Patriots and has been to three Pro Bowls. Jeff George, 1990 - Also drafted by Indianapolis, George will start for the Washington Redskins this season. Troy Aikman, 1989 - Became a hero in Dallas after taking over a mediocre team following his signing. Went to six Pro Bowls and won three Super Bowls before retiring. Atlanta fans can hardly wait for the electric Vick. PHOTO cover- e, butwr t writ Th Bet Jb o Capus u see rgth s the mjor ne - Ito the I::> efully k. > where ret not YJ*: .:.:":.:.}::*f >does- a m e,... tthing im lan- works devel- ssaid. [ferent anu o$ e orApynn usually he last . t~ s~M tp~ )f play ": nand:lrit nd:"':wor sk :: 41: :: :}. . C.:.:::h:t:;E:::::::::::::::::.::h:::::":::t : -injury elt~mr as been ......... 40 yard... . ceivers t'2t ... .......... n c F M g Come to nivrsity Michilgan VMeet Cleve Moler, the original author of MATIAB®, see iive, interactive product demonstrations, and find out what's new from The MathWorks! Dearborn Campus: Tuesday, September 11, School of Management, Lecture Hall B Ann Arbor Campus: Wednesday, September 12, Pierpont Commons, East Room %ho should attend: acuity members, researchers, and students interested in learning more about the 4ATLAB and Simulink' family of products. Schedule: 9:30-10:15 MATLAB: Past, Present, and Future Cleve Moler, Chief Scientist, The MathWorks 10:15-11:00 Integrating Measurement and Analysis with MATLAB Scott Hirsch, Application Engineer, The MathWorks 11:15-12:00 Model-Based Development Tools for Design, Analysis, and Implementation Murali Yeddanapudi, Development Engineer, The MathWorks 12:00 LUNCH provided by The MathWorks Followed by a Q&A session with the presenters ster TODAY online at'ters wtmathworks.com/michigan must register to attend.V Regi wwI You . : :.. :