4B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - November 12, 2001 6
MICHIGAN 31, MINNESOTA 10
GAME STATISTICS
Team Stats
First Downs
Rushes/Yards
Passing Yards
Offensive Plays
Total Offense
Return Yards
Comp/Att/Int
Punts/Avg
Fumbles/Lost
Penalties/Yards
Time of Poss
MINN
12
30/150
140
55
290
67
12/25/0
10/38.4
0/0
10/96
24:23
MICH
26
56/300
153
82
453
151
14/26/1
4/47.3
0/0
3/22
35:37 .
Disgruntled M' fans should look
at Gophers for some perspective
M I N N E SOT A
PASSING
Player
Abdul-Khaliq
Totals
RUSHING
Player
Redmon
Abdul-Khaliq
Barber Ill
Tapeh
Totals
RECEIVING
Player
R. Johnson
Burns
Baugus
Patterson
0. Johnson
Barber III
Henderson
Redmon
Totals
C-A
12-25
12-25
Att
11
9
8
2
30
No.
4
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
12
Yds
53
47
46
4
150
Yds
73
32
11
6
6
5
4
3
140
Yds
140
140
Avg
4.8
5.2
5.8
4
5.0
Avg
18.3
16.0
11.0
6.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
11.7
TD
Lg
17
24
O
3
24
Lg
35
19
11
6
6
'5
4
3
35
Int
O
0
TD
O
O
O
0
0
TD
1
TO
0
O
O
O
0
1
By Arun Gopal
Daily Sports Writer
Contrary to what they might
believe, fans of the Michigan foot-
ball team are actually quite spoiled.
Each year, Michigan's fans are
sepure in the knowledge that the
Wolverines will, at worst, have a
decent football team. The last time
Michigan had a losing record was
1968, the year before Bo Schem-
bechler arrived in Ann Arbor.
Now, Michigan fans are probably
saying to themselves,"Why should
we be satisfied with trips to the Cit-
rus Bowl, where we beat up on
mediocre SEC teams like Auburn
and Arkansas?"
The answer is quite simple - all
the Wolverines' supporters have to
do is imagine what it would be like
to root for a team like Minnesota.
Minnesota had suffered through
almost two decades of losing before
Glen Mason took over in 1997.
Mason - who resurrected awful
programs at Kent State and Kansas
- was exactly what the Golden
Gophers needed. After two losing
seasons, Mason took Minnesota to
back-to-back bowls in 1999 and
2000.
With nine starters returning on a
high-powered offense - including
Ron Johnson, who was arguably the
nation's best receiver at the start of
the season - the Golden Gophers
had high hopes for this year.
But those hopes have come crash-
ing down in a blaze of futility. After
Saturday's 31-10 beating at the
hands of Michigan, the Golden
Gophers (1-5 Big Ten, 3-6 overall)
will not be eligible for a bowl game
this year.
"It's very frustrating," Minnesota
quarterback Asad Abdul-Khaliq
said. "It's actually terrible to the
football team's spirit. To come out
here and lose the season like we did
today is just ridiculous."
A big part of Minnesota's prob-
lem this year has been its young,
inexperienced defense. When the
Golden Gophers were torn apart by
Toledo, 38-7, in their first game of
the season, it should have been an
indication that this was going to be
a rough season.
Sure enough, Minnesota's defen-
sive shortcomings have haunted the
Golden Gophers in virtually every
game they have played.
Against Michigan, Minnesota
seemed completely incapable of
stopping the run. The Wolverines'
ground game - which has been
inconsistent all season - racked up
300 yards against the Golden
Gophers.
"Michigan's hard to defend,"
Mason said. "They've got a big
offensive line, big running backs,
and you knew they were going to
try to establish the run going into
this game; they haven't been happy
with the way they're running the
ball."
Following the loss, Johnson's
frustration exemplified the mood of
the entire Minnesota team. Johnson
is a Detroit native, but he was in the
same high school senior class as
David Terrell and Marquise Walker,
who were generally regarded as the
top two receiver recruits in the
country.
So, while the Wolverines signed
the aforementioned duo, Johnson
went to Minnesota, where he estab-
lished a reputation as one of the
country's elite wideouts.
With numerous family members
in attendance, Johnson had been
pointing to Saturday's game as a
chance to make a statement to the
nation.
Instead, he caught only four pass-
es for 73 yards, with one touch-
down. After the game - with his
dreams of a third straight bowl trip
dashed - he only answered three
questions before abruptly turning
around and walking out of the inter-
view room.
Going to a bowl game "is every-
body's goal," Johnson said. "Some
people are going to come up short,
and we're one of those teams right
now."
PUNTING
Player
Gruening
Totals
KICKOFF RETURNS
Player No.
Barber Ill 2
Redmon 1
Total 3
PUNT RETURNS
Player No.
Redmon 2
Totals 2
No. Yds Avg Lg
9 384 42.7 53
9 384 42.7 53
DEFENSE
Player
Brewver
Archer
Isom
Vance
Sims
Dozier
Henry
Harston
White
Reid
Fraley
Osei
Domin
Kwapinski
Utecht
Dupree
Duffy
Fitzpatrick
Lehan
Yds
26
15
41
Yds
26
26
Solo
17
12
7
7
3
5
3
2
3
2
2
0
1
1
1
1
0
Yds
O
0
Avg Lg TD
13.0 14 O
15.0 15 0
13.9 15 0
Avg Lg TD
13.0 24 0
13.0 24 O
Asst Tot
1 18
3 15
2 9
0 7
3 6
0 5
1 4
2 4
O 3
O 2
0 2
2 2
0 1
0 1
0 1
0 1
0 1
0 1
1 1
Lng Brk-up TD
O 1 0
O0 O
0 1 0
0 3 0
6
DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily
Minnesota lost the battle for the Little Brown Jug for the 13th straight time on
Saturday. The loss ensured that the Golden Gophers will not make a bowl game.
Gonzales spells Navarre
in Blue rout of Gophers
PASS DEFENSE
Player
Isom
Breweer
Lehan
Totals
ant
0
0
1
M I C H I G A N
PASSING
Player
Navarre
Gonzalez
Totals
RUSHING
Player
Perry
Askew
Bell
Cross
Underwood
Walker
Gonzales
Navarre
Totals
RECEIVING
Player
Seymour
Walker
Joppru
Askew
Bell
Totals
C-A
12/22
2/4
14/26
Att
20
14
2
6
5
6
2
6
No.
5
4
2
2
14
Yds
91
81
30
27
26
18
14
13
300
Yds
47
60
25
13
8
153
No.
4
4
Yds
144
9
153
Avg
4.6
5.8
15.0
4.5
5.2
18.0
2.3
5.5
5.4
Avg
9.4
15.0
12.5
6.5
8.0
10.9
TD
O
0
0
Lg
25
13
19
5
20
18
23
11
25
Lg
23
24
17
14
8
24
Int
1
TO
1
2
0
O
O
0
0
4
TD
O
O
O
0
0
0
By Raphael Goodstein
Daily Sports Editor
After inconsistent play at quarterback for
much of the year, Michigan coach Lloyd
Carr sat down starting
quarterback John Navarre FOOTBALL
to see what Jermaine
Gonzale could do. Gonza- Notebook
les quarterbacked Michi-
gan to a touchdown, and led Michigan down
the field for a field goal attempt, which was
blocked.
He finished the game with 20 yards rushing
and 2-for-4,passing, good for only nine yards.
While these numbers aren't very impressive,
Minnesota altered its defense and looked con-
fused when he was in the game.
"When he came into the game, I thought
they were going to do that double pass (that he
ran against Illinois)," Minnesota coach Glen
Mason said.
Said running back B.J. Askew: "He brings a
lot to the table with his ability to move. When
he's in there, there's more focus on him and
what he can do. You don't want him running
loose."
Gonzales looked bad on his two incomplete
passes - tight end Bill Seymour was open on
both plays. Carr chalked the incompletions up
to nerves.
"He's a littfe bit nervous," Carr said. "But
overall, I'm impressed with the way he played."
ONE-GAME SEASON?: Michigan (5-1 Big Ten,
7-2 overall) and Ohio State (4-2 Big Ten, 6-3
overall) seem destined for a November 24-
showdown that would settle the Big Ten title
and automatic BCS bowl bid.
Michigan plays at Wisconsin this weekend.
The Buckeyes have a home game with Illinois
(5-1 Big Ten, 8-1 overall) this Saturday.
After a 4-3 start to open the season, the
Buckeyes bowl prospects looked dim, especial-
ly considering the hardest portion of the season
remained. But wins over Minnesota and Pur-
due - and Michigan's loss last week has the
Buckeyes back in the Big Ten title contention.
If the Fighting Illini win out, they win at
least a share of the title as well.
The Michigan-Ohio State game last year was
for a portion of the Big Ten championship.
SHARP CRITICISM: Before Carr addressed
teh media about the game, he addressed. for-
mer Michigan Daily writer and current
Detroit Free Press columnist Drew Sharp's
column last week.
Sharp wrote that sophomore cornerback
Jeremy LeSueur had a "brain freeze;' following
Michigan's 26-24 loss at Michigan State last
week.
With about one minute left, the Spartans
faced fourth-and-16, and ultimately threw an
incomplete pass which should have all but
guaranteed a Michigan victory. But LeSueur
drew a personal foul and automatic first down
on the play.
LeSueur's play drew ridicule from the media
all week.
"Mr. Sharp should know that Jeremy has a
13-year-old brother who was born with a
severe brain injury," Carr said. "And he should
know his inexcusable use of 'brain freeze' has
resulted in ridicule and made Jeremy's life this
past week a living hell.
"His vicious, mean spirited attack is also an
embarrassment to a great newspaper. Mr.
Sharp should apologize personally and pub-
licly."
Sharp responded in The Detroit Free Press:
"I had no idea about his family."
O' CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN: Fifth-year senior
Jeremy Miller was the honorary captain Satur-
day. Shawn Thompson and Eric Brackins are
the team's two weekly captains, and every
week, a special team's player is honored by the
coaching staff to captain the team as well.
"It was a goal of mine at the begining of the
year to be a captain," Miller said.
Miller was honored by the coaches for his
consistent play and leadership ability.
6
0
PUNTING
Player
Epstein
Totals
KICKOFF RETURNS
Player No.
Howard 2
Totals 2
PUNT RETURNS
Player No.
Walker 3
Butler1
Totals 4
DEFENSE
Player
Hobson
Jackson
Drake
Lazarus
Williams
Heuer
Orr
Diggs
Foote
Howard
Shaw
June
Rumishek
Stevens
Bowman
Manning
Dudley
Epstein
Casseus
Dubuc
Yds Avg Lg
189 47.3 59
189 47.3 59
Yds Avg Lg
111 55.5 57
111 55.5 57
Yds
22
18
40
Solo
7
6
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
O
Yds
0
0
Avg
7.1
18.0
10O.0
Lg
17
18
18
TD
O
O
TD
TO
0
0
Asst
2
2
O
0
0
0
0
0
:0
1
0
0
O
O
0
0
1
1
Tot
9
7
5
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
DAVID KATZ/Daily
Michigan's running game found new life against Minnesota. The Wolverines rushed for 300 yards on the Gold-
en Gophers' defense, and B.J. Askew scored a pair of touchdowns.
GOPHERS
Continued from Page 11B
The heavy running tone of the game was set from the first
drive when eight of Michigan's first eleven plays were rush-
es, culminating with Askew scoring from five yards out
untouched.
This methodical, ball control approach was seen in each of
Michigan's scoring drives. No trick plays were needed - two
Calvin Bell reverses, including one for a score, were as tricky
as it got - and the longest play from scrimmage was a 25-
yard Perry run.
The Wolverines did surprise the Gophers by bringing out
quarterback Jermaine Gonzales. He showed his mobility by
running the draw for two first downs and rolling out to escape
the Minnesota pass rush.
His play was not without mistakes as Gonzales overthrew a
wide-open Bill Seymour on two occasions.
But Carr isn't worried about it.
"The opportunity to get him in there was good for him and
good for our team," Carr said. "Based on what he did today, I
gained confidence in him. And our team gained confidence in
him:'
Michigan's defense played admirably in returning from one
of its worst games of the season. It held the Big Ten's third-
leading rusher Tellis Redmon to just 58 yards. The defense
looked shaky on just one drive a nine-play, 80-yard push after
a Navarre interception. The drive finished with a blown cov-
erage on Ron Johnson for Minnesota's only touchdown of the
game.
With the victory, Michigan retains possession of the Little
Brown Jug for the 13th consecutive meeting. As tradition,
captains Eric Brackins and Shawn Thompson symbolically
carried the Jug off the field.
The loss means Minnesota cannot become bowl eligible.
The Gophers had attended a bowl the past two years.
Next week Michigan will face another team with its back
to the wall in Wisconsin. The Badgers need to win their final
two games to become bowl eligible. The Wolverines remain
in control of the Big Ten and their BCS hopes, needing to
win out in order to earn a tie with the Illinois. The tiebreaker
is head-to-head competition.
1
PASS DEFENSE
Player
Foote
Howard
Totals
Int
O
O
0
Lg
0
0
Brk-up
2
TD
0
0
E....E......................................... .........
PLAYvERS O HE sAM:
GOODSTEI N
Continued from Page 11B
became a two-game losing streak when
Penn State handled a down Michigan
team.
lethargic in the lockerroom before the
game.
"The kids responded to as tough as
difficult a situation as I can remember,"
Carr said. "It was like being at a game at
(Westland) John Glenn (High School)".
ning attack.
And while Michigan's passing attack
struggled at times, only recently has it
become such a passing-oriented offense.
The defense - the unit that gave up the
fatal, last-second touchdown last week
n
-. :::a: as ,:
,