The Michigan Daily -- SportsMonday - September 23, 2002 - 5B "A HORRIBLE WIN IS BETTER THAN A PRETTY LOSS." -- JUNIOR RUNNING BACK CHRIS PERRY WEEKEND'S BEST HOW THE AP TOP 25 FARED THE LAST STRAW FOR BOBBY?: Things can't get much worse for Michi- gan State coach Bobby Williams. His Spartans lost their second straight game at Spartan Stadium Saturday, losing to Notre Dame, 21-17. Michigan State looked to be in control after an amazing touch- down grab by Charles Rogers. He was able to catch the ball with Notre Dame cornerback Shane Walton all over him, and then plant his back foot into the end zone for a score that lifted Michi- gan State to a 17-14 lead with 1:45 left to play. But the Michigan State defense crumbled against freshman quar- terback Pat Dillingham, who hit Arnaz Battle for a 60-yard touch- down pass to win the game on the ensuing drive. ESCAPE FROM CINCY: After steam- rolling Washington State last week in Columbus, the Buckeyes probably didn't expect upstart Cincinnati to be much of a test. But without freshman standout Maurice Clarett playing for Ohio State, the Bearcats were able to jump out to a 9-0 lead which turned into a 12-7 lead at the half. Ohio State fought back to take the lead when Craig Krenzel rushed for a six-yard touchdown with 3:44 to play. In a last-ditch effort to win the game, two Cincinnati receivers dropped passes in the end zone from quarterback Gino Guidugli. NEW AP TOP 25 (first-place votes in parentheses) Associated Press Poll for week of September 9. Games updated through September 15. Team: 1. Miami (Fla.) 2. Oklahoma 3. Texas 4. Tennessee 5. Florida State 6. Ohio State 7. Virginia Tech 8. Georgia 9. Oregon 10. Florida 11. Southern Cal. 12. Notre Dame 13. Washington 14. Michigan 15. Penn State 16. Washington State 17. N.C. State 18. Nebraska 19. Texas A&M 20. UCLA 21. Iowa State 22. Wisconsin 23. California 24. Louisiana State 25. Kansas State Last week: beat Boston College 386 Bye This Bye Sout beat Houston 41-11 at Ti lost to No. 10 Florida 30-13 Rutg beat Duke 48-17 at Lc beat Cincinnati 23-19 India beat No. 19 Texas A&M 13-3 at W beat Northwestern State 45-7 New beat Portland State 41-0 Bye beat No. 4 Tennessee 30-13 Kent lost to No. 25 Kansas State 27-20 Oreg beat Michigan State 21-17 Bye beat Wyoming 38-7 Idaho beat Utahl10-7. atlIll beat Louisiana Tech 49-17 lowa beat Montana State 45-28 at CE beat Texas Tech 51-48 (OT) Mas lost to No. 17 Southern Cal 40-3 at UC lost to No. 7 Virginia Tech 13-3 Louis lost to Colorado 31-17 at S beat Troy State 42-12 Nebr beat Arizona 31-10 Bye lost to Air Force 23-21 Wash Bye Miss beat No. 11 Southern Cal. 27-20 Bye week: h Florida ulane gers ouisville ana estern Michigan Mexico State ucky on State 10 inois alifornia sachusetts CLA siana Tech an Diego State aska bington State sissippi State TEAM 1. Miami (Fla.) (69) 2. Oklahoma (3) 3. Texas (2) 4. Florida State 5. Virginia Tech 6. Ohio State 7. Florida 8. Georgia 9. Oregon 10. Notre Dame 11. Tennessee 12. Penn State 13. Washington 14. Michigan 15. Kansas State 16. Washington State: 17. N.C. State 18. Southern Cal. 19. Iowa State 20. Nebraska 21. Wisconsin 22. Louisiana State 23. Oregon State 24. Texas A&M' 25. Colorado State 4-0 3-0 3-0 4-0 4-0 4-0 3-1 3-0 4-0 4-0 2-1 3-0 2-1 3-1 4-0 3-1 5-0 2-1 4-1 3-1 5-0 2-1 4-0 2-1 3-1 PTS 1,845 1,717 1,699 1,661 1,501 1,436 1,369 1,312 1,213 1,170 1,070 998 887 805 732 668 657 528 485 477 470 255 228 207 189 PVS 1 2 3 5 7 6 10 8 9 12 4 15 13 14 25 .16 17 11 |21 18 22 24 19 Dropped Out:.No. 20 UCLA, No. 23 California Notre Dame's Amaz Battle i AP PHOTO Michigan State wide receiver Charles Rogers makes an acrobatic fourth quarter touchdown catch to give the Spartans a 17- 14 lead. But the Irish marched down field on the ensuing drive to perform their own dramatics, and win the game 24-17. SCOUTINC THE NATION THE DAILY'S PLAYERS OF THE WEEK The week's edition features three players that had to prove themselves this season - North Carolina State's T.A. McClendon, Colorado's Chris Brown and Florida's Rex Grossman. While Brown and Grossman were expected to help their team compete for the national title, heralded freshman McClendon was expected to take some of the offensive weight from Philip Rivers' shoulders. On Saturday, all three proved that they can play how they are expected to. T.A. MCCLENDON, NORTH CAROLINA STATE Why McClendon?: As analysts go ga- ga for Ohio State freshman Maurice Clarett, North Carolina State's T.A. McClendon is not ready to give Clarett the title of "Best true fresh- man running back." McClendon rushed for 150 yards and an amazing five touchdowns in the Wolfpack's 51- 48 victory over Texas Tech in Lub- bock. McClendon had been splitting carries with Gregory Golden, but he made the most of his opportunity to be the featured back against the Red Raiders. McClendon won the game for North Carolina State in overtime with a bruising 10-yard run for the game's final score. N.C. State's T.A. McClendon CHRIS BROWN COLORADO Why Brown?: Colorado and running back Chris Brown had been a disap- pointment entering Saturday's game against UCLA. All that changed as Brown rushed for 188 yards and three touchdowns in the Buffaloes 31-17 vic- tory over the Bruins in Los Angeles. Before Saturday, Brown and Colorado had underachieved, losing to Southern Cal. and Colorado State. But in typical' Colorado fashion, it quelled its naysay- ers with Saturday's empahtic win after. two early losses. Although the Buf- faloes can find solace in the win, a for- mindable Big 12 schedule is just around the corner, and in order repeat as champions, Colorado will need Brown to continue his terrific play. Colorado's Chris Brown REX GROSSMAN, FLORIDA mf, q Why Grossman?: A preseason Heis- man trophy candidate, quarterback Rex Grossman had yet to show his < chops until a rain-soaked day in Knoxville, Tenn. While the Volunteers suffered from miscues and four first half turnovers, Grossman and the Gators built up an insurmountable 24- 0 first half lead. Grossman ended the game with 324 yards passing and three touchdowns. With his performance he partially redeemed himself, his team and new coach Ron Zook, by proving that Florida can play against top-ranked opponents. He also threw his name back into the wide-open Heisman race. With the help of wide receiver Florida's Rex Grossman Taylor Jacobs, Grossman should con- AP PHOTOS tinue his incredible play. GAME PROGRESSION First Quarter: The Wolverines miss a golden opportunity to score when Chris Perry fumbies in the end zone, turning the ball over. The play was set up by a 27-yard interception return by safety Julius Curry and a 7-yard rush by kicker Phil Brabbs on a fake field goal attempt at the Utah 10-yard line. The Wolverines finally capitalize on good field position as John Navarre connects with Braylon Edwards on two big pass plays, including a 12-yard touchdown with 1:36 left in the first quarter. Brabbs makes the point after touchdown. Michigan 7, Utah O Second Quarter: Two lengthy runs by fullback B.J. Askew and tailback Tim Bracken set up a 37-yard field goal attempt for Brabbs. Brabbs connects for his only make on the day to extend Michigan's lead with 4:24 to go before half. Michigan 10, Utah O Thanks to an impressive punt return by Julius Curry, Michigan is left with solid field position at Utah's 43 to start a drive late in the half. But after an 18-yard scamper by Navarre, the Wolverines squanders another opportunity to break the game open. An unsuccessful run by Bracken and a 3-yard screen pass to Askew set up a bad snap from shotgun. Navarre fell on the fumble, but the Wolverines lose 11 yards on the play and are taken out of field goal range. Finley punts 37 yards into the end zone, resulting in a touchback. Michigan 10, Utah O Third Quarter: Another lengthy drive for Michigan results in zero points for the Wolverines. Starting at their own 20, the Wolverines drive 45 yards on 13 plays, taking the ball to the Utes' 35-yard line. But the drive stalls after two straight incomple- tions by Navarre, setting up Brabbs' pooch punt that roiled harmlessly into the end zone. Michigan 10, Utah O Fourth Quarter: After 51 minutes of action, Utah's offense finally crosses midfield - and it pays off. The Utes cap off a seven-play, 80-yard drive with a 29- yard touchdown pass from Lance Rice to receiver Travis LaTandresse. The score put Utah in striking dis- tance with 5:58 remaining in the game. Borreson made the extra point. Michigan 10, Utah 7 A defensive stand by Utah forces. Michigan to punt. The Utes get the ball at their own 26-yard line with just under two minutes to go. But two straight holding calls force Utah into 1 st and 29 from their own 16-yard line. Rice hits two completions to get Utah back to the original line of scrimmage. But the drive falls short when Julius Curry intercepts a fourth- down pass by Rice. Navarre kneels and runs out the clock. Michigan 10, Utah 7 NEWS AND NOTES Michigan State wide receiver Charles Rogers made what might have been the most memorable play from this young season Saturday when he caught an improbable touchdown pass that gave the Spartans a 17-14 lead. But he also made some college football history. Rogers tied an NCAA record by catching a touchdown pass in his 12th straight regular-season game. The record is shared by Marshall's Randy Moss, Michigan's Desmond Howard and Pacific's Aaron Turner. Including last year's Silicon Valley Bowl, Rogers has caught TD passes in 13 consecutive games. The NCAA does not count postseason games toward records. Bowling Green quarterback Josh Harris and running back Joe Alls were among 22 Falcons who were stuck in a hotel elevator for 20 minutes before a 39-16 victory over Kansas. Brigham Young tailback Marcus Whalen, the No. 6 rusher in the country, left Saturday's game against Georgia Tech with a pulled groin. He went to the lockerroom midway through the second quarter, and he didn't expect to return. Alabama senior running back Ahmaad Galloway's career is ending sooner than he expected. Galloway tore ligaments in his knee Saturday in Alabama's 20-7 win over Southern Mississippi. Galloway is a senior who already has one redshirt year, and he's played in too many games this season to apply for a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA. Under NCAA rules, players can use the waiver to seek an extra year of eligibility only if they have played in 20 per- cent or fewer of their team's games. Galloway has played in four games, 31 percent of the Crimson Tide's 13-game schedule. WHAT THEY'RE SAYING Colorado earned its first big win of the year Saturday with a 30-17 victory at UCLA, but Buffaloes' coach Gary Barnett was not exactly on cloud-nine, "At least this week, I'm not going to go home and kick my dog," he said. In the third quarter of Saturday's 30-13 Florida win, Tennesse public relations agent Bud Ford lost track of how many fumbles his beloved Vols had tallied. "Was that the eighth or the ninth" he said. Wisconsin earned its fifth win of the young season against Arizona 31-10. After a couple of ho-hum show- ings, the Badgers looked good enough to quarterback Brooks Bollinger. "There's been some concern about not playing our best football, yada, yada, but right now we're sit- ting 5-0," he said. Wyoming (0-4) surpassed its school record for most con- secutive losses, set during the 1930 season. "I think everybody has sold us out for dead," said Wyoming linebacker Tyler Gottschalk, who led the team with 16 tackles against Washington. "But I don't think we're dead." Kansas State quarterback Ell Roberson came off the bench to lead the Wildcats to a 27-20 upset over Southern Cal. But coach Bill Snyder was not impressed. "As of right now, he's one of our quarterbacks," said Snyder, who graded Roberson's performance "some- where between average and C-minus." AP PHOTO Illinois' Brandon Lloyd. WHO'S NEXT: ILLINOIS Illinois, the defending Big Ten champi- ons has fallen on some hard times with a 1-3 start. The Fighting Ililini were embarrassed at home in a 38-35 loss to San Jose State on Saturday. But the Kurt Kittner-less Illini hope to bounce back against the Wolverines this Satur- day and avenge their 45-20 loss at the Big House last season. BIG TEN STANDINGS 9 Crowded at the top Now three weeks into the sea- son, there is finally some sepa- ration between The Michigan Daily football writers. Horn lost his stranglehold on first place after Phillips dropped an 11-4 showing this week. They are now tied for the lead at seven games above .500. The difference was made when Phillips was the only writer to pick Utah against Michigan and an underrated Kansas State team against an overrat- ed Southern Cal. team. Smith and McCollough both able tchgatt lativg STAFF PICKS WEEK 3 SELECTIONS ALL PICKS MADE AGAINST THE SPREAD. CORRECT PICKS IN BOLD. MICHIGAN (-9.5) vs. Utah WIsCONSIN (-5.5) vs. Arizona PENN STATE (-14.5) vs. Louisiana Tech PURDUE (-10) vs. Wake Forest MiCHIGAN STATE (-2) vs. Notre Dame ILLINoIS (-23) vs. San Jose State Ohio State (-17) at CINCINNATI IowA (-21.5) vs. Utah State David Horn Michigan Wisconsin Penn State Purdue Michigan State San Jose State Cincinnati Iowa J. Brady McCollough Team Wisconsin Minnesota Ohio State Penn State Michigan Iowa Michigan State Purdue Northwestern Indiana Illinois Big Ten 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Joe Smith Jeff Phillips Michigan Utah Mchigan Arizona Wisconsin Wisconsin Penn State enn State Louisiana Tech Purdue Purdue Purdue Notre Dame Mkchigan State Michigan $tate Illinois Illinois Illinois Ohio State CIn InnatI Ohk: St.e Iowa Iowa Utah State THIS WEEKEND'S RESULTS MICHIGAN 10, Utah 7 OHIO STATE 23, CINCINNATI 19 Notre Dame 21, MICHIGAN STATE 17 PENN STATE 49, Louisiana tech 17 WISCONSIN 31, Arizona 10 MINNESOTA 41, Buffalo 17 IowA 48, Utah State 7 Wake Forest 24, PURDUE 21 NORTHWESTERN 49, Navy 40 INDIANA 39, Central Michigan 29 San Jose St. 38, ILLINoIS 35 Overall 5 0 4 0 4 0 3 0 3 1 3 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 3 I ............... ................................:.................