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2B - The Michigan Daily - KICKOFF 2002 - Thursday, September 5, 2002
The Michigan Daily - KIcKoFF 2002 -
Table (
A Q&A with ESPN College
Gameday's Lee Corso Is it time for
the Wolverines to return to Pasadena?
Cornerback Marlin Jackson
overcomes adversity to become the
main man in the Michigan secondary
Linebacker Victor Hobson leads a
6 defense of hungry veterans.
Columnist Joe Smith gives John
Navarre his due A look at Terry
Malone's revamped Michigan offense
8 Ohio State and Michigan State got the
rbest of the M' in 2001. Will Blue
reclaim its pride in the rivalry games?
ontents
be £kbtigjau DaiI
Kickoff 2002
Brabbs kicks off '02 in dramat
Everybody has a story about the
natural athletic ability of defensive
end Shantee Orr
Position by position analysis of
Michigan's offense, defense and
special teams
A look back at last year's ups and
downs, including dramatics in Seattle
and disappointment in the Big House
Staff picks MA preview of what
to watch for on the national scene
in 2002
We look back at the incredible
Washington win and look ahead to
Western Michigan's visit to Ann Arbor
10
11
15
14-
1$
By David Horn
Daily Sports Editor
Emerson, Lake and Palmer put it so
well: "Welcome back my friends
to the show that never ends, we're
so glad you could attend, come inside,
come inside."
The Michigan Daily wants to be your
guide into and through the 2002 Michi-
gan football season. Our coverage will
bring you the victories, the defeats, the
personal triumphs and the journey of a
storied team that makes autumn in Ann
Arbor such a special time and such a spe-
cial place.
Join us on Saturdays when our Foot-
ball Saturday highlights the week that
was and the day that will be. And enjoy
our comprehensive day-to-day coverage,
which promises to keep you up to date
with the goings on of the Wolverines.
In this Kickoff 2002, we evaluate a
team - one that some may label a
"rebuilding" team. But this is Michigan;
there is no rebuilding. The past seasons
have been below expectations, but after
an amazing opening game against Wash-
ington, people inside and outside the pro-
gram believe this team can be something
special; a group of veterans that believe
in themselves and may turn some heads
on the national stage.
Welcome back.
David Horn J. Brady McCollough
Jeff Phillips Joe Smith
Football writers
A Slice of
Chicago...
right here in
2002
AnnA~ibor!
a
e Chicago Deep Dish
& Traditional Pizza
e Pasta e Wings
" Burgers * Chipatis
* Lunch Specials
* Kids' Menu
" Reservations Taken
for Large Groups
Good Food & Great
No. Name
2 Cato June
3 Marlin Jackson
4 Darnell Hood
5 Dave Underwood
6 Victor Hobson
6 Alijah Bradley
7 Spencer Brinton
8 Jason Avant
8 Matt Wilde
9 Tyrece Butler
10 Troy Nienberg
12 Brandon Williams
12 Matt Gutierrez
13 Larry Stevens
13 Jeff Kastl
14 Andy Mignery
15 Jonathan Borden
15 Steve Breaston
16 John Navarre
17 Carl Tabb
18 Jermaine Gonzales
19 Ronald Bellamy
20 Pierre Rembert
21 Jeremy LeSueur
22 Jon Shaw
22 Ross Kesler
23 Chris Perry
24 Charles Drake
25 Ernest Shazor
26 Julius Curry
27 Calvin Bell
28 Matt Kernen
28 Jacob Stewart
29 Greg Cooper
30 Markus Curry
31 Zia Combs
32 Kevin Dudley
33 Charles Young
33 Willis Barringer
34 Philip Brabbs
35 B.J. Askew
35 Brian Thompson
36 Brian Lafer
36 Scott McClintock
37 Zach Kaufman
38 Blake Nasif
39 Adam Finley
40 Obianna Oluigbo
41 Tim Bracken
42 John Spytek
43 Carl Diggs
44 Sean Sanderson
45 Phil Brackins
46 Nick Upchurch
49 Kirk Moundros
49 Dave Harris
50 Joe Sgroi
50 Jeremy Van Alstyne
51 Mike Kolodziej
52 Ross Mann
52 Kolby.Wells
53 Shantee Orr
54 Mark Bihl
55 Andy Christopfel
55 Jeremy Read
56 LaWrertceReid '
i
t
e
Pos. Ht.
FS 6-1
CB 6-1
RB 5-11
RB 6-0
OLB 6-1
RB 5-6
QB 6-5
W R 6-1
QB 6-2
WR 6-3
PK 6-2
CB 5-11
QB 6-4
DL 6-3
QB 6-3
TE/P6-3
LB 6-1
WR 6-1
QB 6-6
WR 6-2
WR 6-2
WR 6-0
RB 6-1
CB 6-1
FS 6-0
WR 6-2
RB 6-1
SS 6-2
DB 6-4
SS 6-1
WR 6-1
DB 6-0
DB 6-0
DB 5-11
CB 5-11
CB 6-0
FB 6-1
WR 5-11
DB 5-11
PK 6-2
FB 6-3
LB 6-2
WR 5-11
LB 6-2
ILB 6-1
CB 6-0
P/K 6-4
LB 6-0
R B 5-1C
OLB 6-4
ILB 6-1
FB 6-3
T E 6-4
WR 5-7
FB 6-2
LB 6-2
LS 5-11
LB 6-4
TE 6-7
LS 6-1
LB 6-2
DL 6-1
OL 6-4
OL 6-3
LB 6-1
L a ,6- 1
Michigan roster
Wt. Year/Elig. 57 Dave Pearson OL 6-3 291 Sr. Jr.
217 5th Sr. 58 Roy Manning OLB 6-2 238 Jr. So.
189 So. So. 59 Joey Sarantos LB 6-3 217 So. Fr.
1188 Fr. Fr. 60 Grant Bowman DL 6-1 290 Sr. Jr.
220 So. So. 62 Courtney Morgan OL 6-3 298 Sr. Jr.
243 5th Sr. 63 Derek Bell OL 6-5 267 So. Fr.
152 Fr. Fr. 64 Stephen Baker DL 6-1 261 5th Sr.
224 Sr. Jr. 64 Jeff Gaston OL 6-5 287 Jr. So.
206 Fr. Fr. 65 Leo Henige OL 6-4 318 So. Fr.
191 Fr. Fr. 66 Andrew King LS 6-1 245 So. Fr.
213 Sr. Jr. 66 Paul Sarantos LB 6-4 252 Fr. Fr.
171 Sr. Jr. 67 Matt Lentz OL 6-6 301 So. Fr.
1186 Sr. Sr. 68 John Wood DL 6-4 281 5th Sr.
212 Fr. Fr. 69 David Schoonover OL 6-3 274 So. Fr.
261 Jr. Jr. 70 Dan Simelis OL 6-7 283 So. Fr.
208 Fr. Fr. 71 Tom Berishaj OL 6-4 313 Fr. Fr.
250 Sr. Jr. 72 Rueben Riley OL 6-3 318 Fr. Fr.
222 Sr. Jr. 73 Joe Denay OL 6-8 303 5th Sr.
169 Fr. Fr. 73 Kyle Ealey OL 6-7 277 So. Fr.
228 Sr. Jr. 74 DemeteriusSolomonOL 6-6 297 Sr. Jr.
171 Fr. Fr. 75 David Baas OL 6-5 320 Jr. So.
210 Jr. So. 76 Dave Petruziello OL 6-4 297 5th Sr.
202 Sr. Sr. 77 Tony Pape OL 6-6 305 Sr. Jr.
203 Fr. Fr. 78 Gabriel Watson DL 6-4 358 Fr. Fr.
199 Sr. Jr. 79 Adam Stenavich OL 6-5 302 So. Fr.
202 Sr. Jr. 80 Braylon Edwards WR 6-3 206 So. So.
200 Jr. So. 81 Brent Cummings WR 5-11193 Sr. Jr.
220 Jr. Jr. 83 Bennie Joppru TE 6-5 249 5th Sr.
201 Sr. Sr. 84 Kevin Murphy TE 6-5 240 Fr. Fr.
218 So. Fr. 85 Dave Spytek TE 6-7 250 So. Fr.
195 5th Sr. 86 Jim Fisher TE 6-5 249 Jr. So.
197 Jr. Jr. 88 Tim Massaquoi WR 6-4 231 So. Fr.
184 Jr. So. 89 Deitan Dubuc TE 6-4 248 5th Sr.
204 Fr. Fr. 90 Norman Heuer DL 6-5 288 Sr. Jr.
1179 Fr. Fr. 91 EmmanuelCasseus LB 6-2 244 Sr. Sr.
1181 So. So. 91 Rondell Biggs DL 6-2 261 Fr. Fr.
182 Jr. So. 92 Dan Rumishek DL 6-4 273 5th Sr.
232 Jr. So. 93 Alex Ofili DL 6-3 262 So. Fr.
1195 Jr. So. 94 Patrick Massey DL 6-8 260 So. Fr.
1198 Fr. Fr. 94 Matt Studenski TE 6-4 190 So. Fr.
200 Sr. Jr. 95 Alain Kashama DL 6-5 259 Jr. Jr.
233 Sr. Sr. 95 Mike Mandich TE 6-3 241 So. Fr.
212 Fr. Fr. 96 Chris Matsos W R 6-0 206 So. Fr.
1190 Jr. So. 96 Larry Harrison DL 6-3 321 Fr. Fr.
243 So. Fr. 97 Shawn Lazarus DL 6-4 288 5th Sr.
234 Jr. Jr. 97 Luke Perl PK 6-0 206 Jr. So.
194 5th Sr. 99 Andy Stejskal WR 6-4 198 Jr. So.
206 Jr. So. 99 Pierre Woods DL 6-5 238 So. Fr.
224 Fr. Fr. KjcKoFF 2002
0207 Jr. So. KR"" FF200
240 Sr. Jr. PRODUTIQN CREW
247 Sr. Jr. 0 A nDaily
289 So. Fr. Joe Smith
231 Sr. Jr. J. Brady McCotfough
180 Sr. Jr. Jeff Phillips
David Horn Football writers
234 5th Sr. Jon Schwartz Editor in chief
226 Fr. Fr. Steve Jackson Managing Editor
1214 5th Sr. David Katz Photo Editor
Danny Moloshok Cover Photos
235 Fr. Fr. Jeff Valuck Business Manager
300 Fr. Fr. Lesley Olenik Display Sales Manager
220 Jr. So. Julie Lee Special Sections Ningr.
229 Jr. So. Maggie McGovern Ad Design Manager
255 Sr. Jr. Display Sales Account Executives:
278 Fr. Fr. Jeffrey Braun, Lashonda Butler, Lindsay Ott,
295 Jr. So. Anne Sause, Tarah Saxon, David Soberman.
227 Jr. So. Special thanks to: Courtney Lewis, Jim
2 C. Fr, Webe rlarles Paradis, Reuben Wolfson
DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily
Kicker Troy Nienberg missed a 27-yard
field goal Saturday with 1:30 left.
MICHIGAN STADIUM
Who: Michigan (1-0) vs. Western Michigan{(1-0)
When:Noon
Latest: Goliath is taking David seriously, or at
least he says he is. This year's contest, sand-
wiched between nationally spotlighted
games against Washington and Notre Dame,
could catch the Wolverines by surprise. Last
year they won easily though, 38-21.
"That's what I'm talking about
Brabbs! That's what I'm talking
about!"
Michigan receiver Tyrece Butler's
barks at the end of Saturday's win at
Michigan Stadium were perhaps in
reference to something the Wolver-
ines have gained a keen appreciation
of early in this 2002 campaign: Sec-
ond chances.
Saturday's rematch with Washing-
ton (0-1), in which the Wolverines
looked to avenge last season's spec-
tacular 23-18 loss in Seattle, was the
first of three opportunities the team
has to make up for the 2001 season's
failures. One Wolverine in particular
- kicker Philip Brabbs - learned
about second chances (third and
fourth chances, actually) when he
kicked the game-winning field goal
with no time remaining to give
Michigan (1-0) a 31-29 win in its
first game of the season.
Brabbs, a junior walk-on from
Midland, had already missed twice in
the game, from distances of 36 and
42 yards. His friend and teammate,
Troy Nienberg, had missed from 27
yards away less than 90 seconds
before in Nienberg's own game-win-
ning attempt. But after the Nienberg
miss and subsequent Washington
three-and-out, the Wolverines were
back in position to win the game dra-
matically, trailing the Huskies by
one. Preceding Brabbs' heroics,
Michigan junior quarterback John
Navarre completed a fourth-down
pass to sophomore Braylon Edwards,
who coughed up the ball while being
tackled. Edwards believed the pass to
be incomplete, but Tyrece Butler
heard no whistle, and fell on top of
the ball to give the Wolverines a first
down with 32 seconds left, and no
timeouts. But the fumble recovery
was actually the second fortunate
turn for Michigan on that play. After
a third down draw to running back
Chris Perry on third and two, Wash-
ington safety Greg Carothers
cramped up, causing an injury time-
out and an opportunity for Navarre
and Co. to regroup for that fourth
down attempt. Between the Carothers
injury and the Butler recovery,
Michigan could sense that things
were somehow going to work out.
"The hustle that Tyrece Butler
made won the game for us," Michi-
gan coach Lloyd Carr said matter-of-
factly after the game.
After Butler's heroics and two
incomplete passes, Navarre threw a
third - this one on third and 10
from the Washington 42. But before
Carr had to give too much thought
as to whether he would take one last
shot at the endzone from 42 yards
out or ask one of his underachieving
kickers to attempt what would be
nearly a 60 yard field goal, the ref-
eree penalized Washington for hav-
ing 12 men on the field. That set up
the Brabbs 44-yarder from the left
hash.
Brabbs received words of encour-
agement from Carr and special teams
coach Jim Boccher (both of whom
have faith in the claim that Brabbs
could have knocked it in from 60,
had that been needed), but none from
holder Navarre (who claimed that he
"looked in Brabbs' eyes and saw he
was ready") and marched out on the
field for his shot at redemption.
"It was all really just a blur,"
Brabbs said after the kick. "I think I
got tackled right away. There were
like 50 guys on top of me."
The field goal ended an intense
day at Michigan Stadium, which saw
seven lead changes and more than
800 yards of offense. Late-game dra-
matics overshadowed an important
day for a Michigan team trying not
just to take one back from the
Huskies, but a team trying to regain
its pride and competitive spirit after a
miserable end to the 2001 campaign.
Navarre threw for 268 yards, includ-
Service.. .Your Place or Ours!!!!
"Of all the pizzas we tasted, Pizza House was the only one
that actually drew raves. I would definitely order this."
-Ann Arbor Observer
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