Uabe sItd~geu 3&iIg POcRTrS michigandaily.com/sports sportsdesk@umich.edu TUESDAY OCTOBER 23, 2001 10 After bye,'M' hopes to keep momentum By Jon Schwartz Daily Sports Editor A little over a week ago, the Michigan football team was on a tremendous emotional surge. Having just beaten Purdue and sitting alone atop the Big Ten, the Wolverines were ready for any challenge. But Michigan's problem was a significant one - there was no enemy to attack this past weekend. At 3-0 in the Big Ten and advancing closer a Bowl Championship Series game berth, Michigan had to watch college football on television Saturday, waiting out the end of a bye week. In some senses, the week off was good - Michi- gan got a chance to rest up and heal injuries. But at the same time, there is.a significant concern for the loss of momentum that had been building since Michigan fell to Washington in its second game. Coach Lloyd Carr had no answer for how the week off would affect this team. "How we're going to play in a bye week?" he said. "I have no answer for that. We kept our players on basically the same schedule that we would in a nor- mal week." In the last two years, Michigan has suffered critical losses in the game following the bye week. Last year, Michigan rode two shutouts into the off week, seem- ingly ready to take on Northwestern's powerful offense. But the Wolverines failed to contain the Wildcats, falling 54-51. The year before, Michigan lost in East Lansing before the bye, and needed a win in its next game to regain the momentum. Again, though, the Wolverines lost, this time to Illinois. This year, the Wolverines control their own fate in the Big Ten, and understand the importance of the Iowa game. "In a bye week, you can't move back and you can't stay where you are," quarterback John Navarre said. "You have to move forward." NOT GETTING BETTER: Michigan wanted to heal its injuries this past week. But one Wolverine is too hurt to suit up in the maize and blue anymore. Fifth-year senior tight end Eric Rosel suffered his third career concussion in the Penn State game. After sitting out against Purdue, a decision was made to avoid any further harm. "Based on everyone's advice, he will not play any- more," Carr said. "There's no question it's the right decision." Rosel was hit hard while faking a reverse against the Nittany Lions. This season, he caught one pass for nine yards. JON SCHWARTZ 0 Yost s improvements' BRENDAN 0'DONNELL/Daily Junior defensive lineman Dan Rumishek has helped Michigan put itself in position to play in a Bowl Championship Series game this season. Rumishek leads the Wolverines with five sacks this season. "Eric's a great guy," said defensive lineman Dan Rumishek. "He was a guy that gave us everything he had on every play and you really appreciate that." ROLLING TO THE TOP: The Bowl Championship Series rankings were released last night for the first time this season. The Wolverines are ranked seventh, the second- highest position of any team with a loss. But the relatively young Michigan team under- stands the dangers that can come with investing too much faith into polls. It knows that it can't afford a a letdown. "You can't be thinking about that," Rumishek said. "You can't be thinking about the BCS or the rankings. If we lose, it doesn't even matter what the BCS says." Despite its No. 1 position in both major polls, Miami (Fla.) is in fourth place on the BCS' list, behind Oklahoma, Nebraska and UCLA. Between the Wolverines and Hurricanes stand Texas and Virginia Tech. Oklahoma plays Nebraska this week, and Miami will face the Hokies on Dec. 1. First BCS Rankings Team Points Rec 1. Oklahoma 3.06 7-0 2. Nebraska 6.40 8-0 3. UCLA 8.34 6-0 4. Miami (Fla.) 12.01 5-0 5. Virginia Tech 13.38 6-0 6. Tex as 15.35 6-1 7. Michigan 15.91 5-1 8. Maryland 21.29 7-0 9. Tennessee 22.07 4-1 10. Washington State 23.05 7-0 11. Florida 23.48 5-1 12. Washington 26.90 5-1 13. Oregon 28.6 6-1 14. Stanford 29.86 4-1 15. South Carolina 35.31 6-1 aren 't worth it T he professor in my English class don't help likes to criticize the University started on for changing its course-registra- cheer requ tion procedure. on a post, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Pro- (it's becau fessor Bauland says about the change ing) but a from phone registration to a ne com- frustration puterized version. I'm a b He's right - the system causes the only r absurd problems, a point I learned very because o clearly when I was trying to get off sev- game at Y eral waitlists earlier this year. surrounds But it doesn't bother me too much - happens o it's something that becomes a hassle ence is go twice a year. I can deal with that. Its repl What I can't deal with is the so- fans screa called "improvement" that my darling certainly Yost Ice Arena has found since the last from the b time I watched a game there. trying to s Of course I'm talking about the new The sit luxury boxes that hang over the student sandwich' section. I'm not going to talk about the I sit with. rest of the $1.4 million project - the that the at center-ice scoreboard - because it the Yost e means nothing to me. The luxury boxes enough to completely block my view. It gets I don't ask much of my University. seats rem But one thing that I will not waver on is luxury bo the that the school, and all its depart- being bloc ments, understand the value of my seats! money. The dei I don't feel that request is being sated about this in this case. at the situ I didn't complain when Athletic to those w Director Bill Martin raised prices for I think tha football tickets - I applauded the shoes sho decision. The department needs around wi money, and the Michigan football team Yost's att is one of the most marketable entities money to that I know of. I gladly paid the extra right to ge money. else, don' And I didn't complain on Sept. 4, I spoke 1999 when I saw my first Michigan he gave m football game. Sure, my seats (row 92 tion - th in front of the south scoreboard - the "teething visitors' section) were closer to the to give the field at Spartan Stadium than Michi- He heard gan Stadium, but I kept my mouth and agree shut. But my This time, though, I'm furious. In the games September, I cut a check to the Michi- in Iowa Ci gan Ticket Office for more money than seat to Bil hockey tickets had ever cost in the past. high posit Like I've said, I don't mind paying the game, more - but I won't accept giving more me that he money for less of a product. - that m I know that I'm not the only one out- money as raged by the situation. Nor should I be. - I'll dro The athletic department knew that the Here's t addition would cause a problem. But it umn was did little to alleviate the issue. the brand- There are television sets hanging off video cap the overhang which are supposed to ing that I' represent a scoreboard for the fans whose views are blocked. But in the case of my seats, the screens are point-J ed in the opposite direction - they forfans at all. Don't even get me the fact that standing up to ires risking hitting my head not the fault of renovation se Yost is a 77-year old build- n added annoyance in a sea of a. ig hockey fan, but that's not eason I buy tickets - I do it f the experience of seeing a bst, the knowledge that what the ice is as enticing as what n the surface. That experi- ne now. acement is a muffled echo of ming, an inaudible - and unappealing - sound coming and and a neck cramp from .ee everything on the ice. ation reeks - like a "shit in the words of a friend that He's right - it's just not fair hletic department has ruined xperience for those unlucky be seated near me. worse - there are still a lot of aining to be sold in the new xes. That means that I'm ked by nothing but empty partment has to do something mess. Maybe it should look ation and refund some money 'hose seats are just worth less. t, if nothing else, those in my uld be allowed to move thout being harassed by ndants. If I'm paying good be at a game, I have every t as much out of it as anyone t I? to Mr. Martin last night, and e an understandable explana- e department is experiencing pains" in his words. We need ,m time to iron out the issues. every one of my complaints d to look into them. feeling is this: I can't be at this weekend because I'll be ity. So I'm willing to give my 1 Martin or anyone else in a ion in the department. If after that person can honestly tell or she didn't see a problem y ticket is worth as much those five rows in front of'me p my complaint. he irony: Originally, this col- going to be about the fact that new scoreboard should have abilities. Now, I'm just hop- 11 be able to see it. Jon Schwartz can be reached at jlsz@umich.edu. Icers call on young and old defensemen .W By J. Brady McCollough Daily Sports Writer Four experienced defensemen returned to the Michigan hockey team this fall, and with six freshman forwards on the Wolverines' top four offensive lines, the defense was expected to carry the team through the early stretch of the season. Allowing three goals in each of its first five games, Michigan (1-1-1 CCHA, 2-2-1 overall) is still looking for its defense to show up and play to its full potential. "The veterans have to take the freshmen under their wings," said Michigan's associate head coach Mel Pearson. "The young guys are making some mistakes right now but we know that's going to happen. We have to play better team defense. It's not just the defenseman - (goalie Josh Blackburn) has to play a little better than he has, too." To try and find the best combinations on the blue- line, the sixth-ranked Wolverines are planning on making some changes in their defensive combinations, pairing senior Jay Vancik with sophomore Mike Komisarek, and freshman Eric Werner with sopho- more Andy Burnes. During the first month of the season, Werner and Vancik were paired together, forming one of Michi- gan's most consistent defensive combinations. A 5- foot-10 freshman and a 6-foot-2 senior may seem like an odd combination, but Werner and Vancik had been two of the bright spots in the midst of a disappointing start to the season. "They've been a really solid pair," Pearson said. "They complement each other well. You'd like to have three pairs like that. Jay is very strong, physical and experienced, then you have a guy like Eric who can handle the puck and make nice plays." In last weekend's action against Western Michigan, Vancik's performance was one of the main reasons Michigan was able to earn a split in the series.. His tough, intense attitude was exemplified over the week- end, especially in Friday night's loss in Kalamazoo. "Jay Vancik was outstanding this whole weekend," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "You talk about a See DEFENSEMEN, Page 11 --- -------------------------s U Earn your MPA in Earth Systems Science, Policy, and Management and become one of tomorrow's environmental leaders. 1 1 1 1 1 Even with inexpenenced Spartans, Izzo expects another title run ' T he Master's Program in Earth Systems Science, I Policy, and Management combines Columbia ' University's hands-on approach to teaching public ' policy and administration ..with pioneering thinking I about the environment. This twelve-month pro- gram takes place at Columbia University's Biosphere 2 campus in Oracle, Arizona-a state-of-the-art earth systems By Joe Smith Daily Sports Editor Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo said he would be handling a totally different animal with his Spartans this season. He wasn't kidding. Losing 10 players in the past two sea- sons - five of whom were NBA draft picks - the Spartans will most likely have three or four walk-ons on their ros- ter to start the season. Inside the paint MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS 2000-01 RECORD: BIG TEN PREVIEWS As the college basketball season approach- es, the Daily basketball writers will give you the inside scoop on every Big Ten team as they count down the days until they release their CONFERENCE special section "Tipoff" in November. While Izzo said that his team is "not as good as Illinois and Iowa right now, maybe a few other teams," he hasn't changed his expectations. "It's going to be done differently," Izzo said. "But we expect the world. We expect to win another championship." This past season the Spartans lost seven letterwinners that accounted for over 75 percent of their points, "We have to be more patient and understanding," Izzo said. "Now we need to walk every single guy through every single thing - which is a negative. But it's fun because we get to teach again." The team is so different that Izzo and his coaching staff are looking back to the 1997-98 season for an ideal compar- ison on how they should run things with so many underclassmen playing big AM;