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8B - The Michigan Daily - FOOTBALL SATURDAY - October 12, 2002

The Michigan Daily - FooTBA

Penn State
r
By J. Brady McCollough
Daily Sports Writer
It was hard to forget the ending of
the last matchup between Penn State
and Michigan in the Big House -
especially for the Nittany Lions.
With one second left in the fourth
quarter and the Wolverines winning
by a comfortable margin of 27-11,
Michigan elected to run the ball with
then-freshman Chris Perry, who
scored from one yard out to make the
final score 33-11.
"Yeah, I remember," said Penn
State defensive tackle Anthony
Adams, a Detroit native. "It was (on
our minds) at the time, and during
last season, but we're a different team
now. At the time, I don't think that
was necessary for them to do that."
And that was just loss No. 4.

ias plenty 0:
Including last season's 20-0 Michi-
gan victory in State College, the
Wolverines have reeled off five
straight wins over legendary coach
Joe Paterno and his Nittany Lions.
"Why have they kicked our ears
in? Because they have really kicked
our ears in," Paterno said. "They
have been better physically and better
coached."
Said defensive end Michael
Haynes: "I definitely think the main
difference is whenever we play
Michigan, the games are a lot more
physical. They'll be a lot more physi-
cal this week."
Adams, who was also recruited by
Michigan, is waiting to see how
many tickets he can get for his family
and friends from Detroit to come
watch the game. He said that being
from the Motor City and playing at

f motivation
Penn State hasn't been the easiest
combination the past four years.
"A lot of people say Penn State's
good, but they can't beat Michigan,"
Adams said. "If you don't beat
Michigan, people (in Detroit) are
going to have something to say
about it.
"This is the last time I get to play
them, to get to go to Michigan Stadi-
um wearing that blue and white."
Not only will Saturday's clash be
the last Michigan-Penn State game
for the seniors, but also for both
teams' sophomores and juniors.
Thanks to the Big Ten's bi-yearly
rotation, Penn State is off Michigan's
schedule in 2003 and 2004.
Is that a good thing for the Nittany
Lions, given their recent track
record?
"I don't like them rotating off of
the schedule," Paterno said. "I think
the Penn State versus Michigan game
is a big game for our fans. I think it
is something that is, maybe, exciting
for the whole country. I am not crazy
about that part of it."
While Penn State players are fac-
ing the possibility of a sixth
straight loss to ponder for the next
three years, the Wolverines are also
wary of how big the game is for
bragging rights.
"That two years off is definitely
something that the juniors and sen-
iors are talking about," Michigan
senior safety Julius Curry said.
Said Michigan captain Victor
Hobson: "You don't want the
younger guys to not be able to get
that revenge if we do happen to
lose."

PROCRASTINATION
STATION

Joppru calls out
Smith

TF Midiudi
STAFF PICKS

PENN STATE
MICHIGAN

10
17

Before every football game this season, two of the Daily football writers will
take the weekend's matchup to the Playstation 2.
For this week's matchup, coach Joe Smith led the Nittany Lions and J. Brady
McCollough took the helm of the Wolverines.
Play of the game - After plodding through three quarters of action with
nothing to say for himself, Michigan RB No. 23 found a hole in the middle of
the big uglies and left the Penn State secondary in the dust for a 30-yard
touchdown run to tie the game at 10.
Most unrealistic play of the game - With the Nittany Lions ahead 7-3 in the
third quarter, the artificial intelligence of Penn State WR No. 83 - or lack
thereof -took over. Penn State QB No. 7 saw Michigan FS No. 2 cheating
in to stop the run, and threw over the top into the back of the end zone to a
wide-open WR No. 83. Needless to say, he didn't-make an effort to get his
feet in, and the Nittany Lions had to settle for a field goal.
Player of the game - Michigan RB No. 23. He stayed patient, and in the
fourth quarter, he found the holes in the defense for two touchdowns on two
consecutive runs.
Michigan key stats
Passing: QB No. 16 -10-of-17, 166 yards, 2 1INT
Rushing: RB No. 23 -10 carries, 53 yards, 2 TD
Receiving: TE No. 83 - 4 receptions, 48 yards; WR No. 9 - 2 receptions,
49 yards, 0QTD
Defense: LB No. 37 - 5 tackles, 1 sack; CB No. 3 - 1 INT
Penn State key stats
Passing: QB No. 7 - 7-of-17, 162 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: RB No. 5 - 5 carries, 21 yards
Receiving: WR No. 24 - 3 receptions, 92 yards; WR No. 83 - 2 recep-
tions, 38 yards, 1 TD
Defense: DT No. 98 - 4 tackles, 2 tackles for loss

This week is filled with amazing
games. Unfortunately, we can-
not pick many of them due to
injuries to key players, which
puts the game off the board.
They will likely have lines set by
game time, but we needed to
get this picks to the printing
press before then. So instead of
picking the other two Big Ten
games and a couple interesting
SEC games, the writers moved
to the Pac-10 and Big 12, where
the lines were avaliable in a few
mediocre games and the Moun-
tain West conference, where Air
Force vs. Brigham Young could
be the conference game of the
year.
The expectations are high for
McCollough this week, who
needs to prove thatahe is not
just a flash in the pan after his
huge week forced a three-way
tie atop the standings. Horn and
Phillips are still above .500, but
are slipping and Smith is still
stuck in last place. Smithsgot
advice from tight end Bennie
Joppru: "Man, you've got'to do
better on your picks."

WEEK 5SELECTIONS fLL. a ; mm
ALL PICKS MADE AGAINST THE SPREAD. David J. Brady Jeff
HOME TEAMS IN SMALL CAPS. Horn McCollough Philli
IowA (-6) vs. Michigan State Michigan State Iowa
MIAMI (FLA.) (-13) vs. Florida State Miami (Fla.) Miami (Fla.) Mis
North Carolina State (-6.5) at NORTH CAROLINA North Carolina State North Carolina State North C
NEBRASKA (-8&5 vs. Missou4 Nebraska Nebraska I
GEORGIA (-3.5) vs. Tennessee Tennessee Georgia G
UCLA - 5).v7' ,egon - UIt..A
TEXAS (-3) vs. Oklahoma Oklahoma Texas Ok
KASA SAE 44.}vs Okhoma State ,Kansas Stte >ORahma $tt Ka
SOUTHERN CAL. (-12.5) vs. California Southern Cal. California Ce
AIR FORCE (-4.5) vs. Brigham Young Air Force Air Force Ai
WAsmNGToN (43.) vs. Aizona WasNnton fArizona. A
Best bet Michigan Miami (Fla.) CE

Record last week (Best bets)
Overall record (Best bets)

5-10 (1-0)
38-35-2 (2-3)

11-4 (0-1)
38-35-2 (3-2)

6-'
38-3

Revived Penn State not able to end 1

By Jeff Phillips
Daily Sports Editor

FILE PHOTO
Former Michigan running back Anthony Thomas rushed 35 times for 171 yards
against Penn State the last time the two teams met in the Big House in 2000.

E U

PRESS

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CONFERENCE QUOTES:

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Michigan head coach J. Brady McCollough: Things are right in the universe.
This is the way things are supposed to go when J..BradyM cCollough and
Joe Smith face off. And you can quote me on that...
I think the neutral site really helped our team today. I mean, it's a shame
that our society is so corrupt that your PlayStation2 gets stolen twice in
the span of two months andyou can't play in front of your home fans, but I
really think the players benefited from the new setting on the whole...
As far as RB No. 23's performance in the fourth quarter ... in a word, outstand±
ing. Wait, no, tremendous. Whatever, the bottom line is that he knew this team
needed a lift and he did what a Michigan running back does. No fumbles
either...
The fake field goal in the first quarter can be put on my shoulders. If I
could do it again, I would have let K No. 34, a.k.a. "Slash," either throw,
run or pass, instead of running the traditional fake field goal pass...
CB No. 3 made a huge interception with Penn State up 10-3. This guy is a
tremendous athlete and a prime-time player. I think he was on another level
today going against some of his Pennsylvania brethren...
Also, I'll give any of you a parking spot outside Schembechler Hall if you
buy me a new PlayStation2...
Penn State head coach Joe Smith: We just got worn down by all of coach
McCollough's whining in the first half about his "inept" offense, only to watch
him jump on the bandwagon - and off the couch - in the fourth quarter...
All I can say is that while we were beating Wisconsin in a tremendously
tough road game on Saturday, coach McCollough and his Wolverines were
eating Wendy's and celebrating at the frats. Must be nice...
We had the game in the palm of our hands (if I only had a nickel for every
time I've said that against these guys). But we threw it away in the fourth
quarter. Guess we're not a fourth quarter team...
Man, that No. 3 for Michigan is an amazing talent. His interception really
turned the tide, and he's a difference-maker. Wish we had those kind of
kids in Pennsylvania. Oh wait, he is from Sharon. I thought I owned this
state?
Other than adjusting to the "neutral" site, I had to make the adjustment
from the Madden 2003 controls to NCAA. Not realizing I didn't have to
push X to pull up the passing windows cost us a touchdown on our opening
drive. These damn contraptions...
I was surprised No. 53 and No. 90 played for Michigan. I know McCollough
said "day-to-day" in his press conference, but hey, who's kidding who here?

Before the Michigan-Penn State
rivalry takes a two-year hiatus, the
10th meeting between the two
teams could be one of the best as
both teams are off to a good start
this season.
The Nittany Lions have come
back with a vengeance at 4-1, which
equals their win total in a disap-
pointing 2001 campaign. The
Wolverines are again battling for the
Big Ten crown with a bulls-eye on
their chest. Michigan shutout Penn
State 20-0 at Beaver Stadium last
season, and the Nittany Lions are no
doubt looking for redemption.
MICHIGAN PASSING OFFENSE VS.
PENN STATE PASSING DEFENSE: There
are three teams in the Big Ten allow-
ing more passing yardage than
Michigan, one of which is Penn
State. The Nittany Lions have a hit-
or-miss style. On one hand, Penn
State is atop the conference in sacks
- led by Big Ten player of the week
Jimmy Kennedy. But it ranks ninth in
the conference in passing yardage.
With big play receiver Braylon
Edwards and an emerging Ron Bel-
lamy, Michigan has the weapons to
take advantage of this type of
defense. The only question is
whether quarterback John Navarre
will get rid of the ball when he is
under pressure, as he will have to do
it quickly for the Wolverines to win
Edge: Michigan

Nittany Lions have a formidable
defensive front that feature two of
the top defensive linemen in the Big
Ten in Michael Haynes and
Kennedy. The pair helped Penn
State hold Wisconsin's star running
back Anthony Davis to less than 50
yards last week.
Michigan has quality backs in
Chris Perry and B.J. Askew, but
they are not the same threat that
Davis and the Badgers' running
game presents. The key will be
whether or not Michigan's offensive
line can contain the Nittany Lions'
defensive tackles.
Edge: Penn State
. a
PENN STATE PASSING OFFENSE VS.
MICHIGAN PASSING DEFENSE: Penn
State quarterback Zack Mills
injured his shoulder against Wis-
consin but finished the game to earn
win. This is the kind of gritty play-
ing that the Nittany Lions have
recieved all year from Mills, who
leads the conference in most pass-
ing categories.
But he also has the kind of mobil-
ity that gives the Michigan defense
fits. If Penn State wins the game, it
will be on Mills' shoulders - or
shoulder.
Michigan cornerback Marlin
Jackson should stop Penn State's
Bryant Johnson; but the Wolverines
will need more than that to stop this
attack.
Edge: Penn State-

PENN STATE RUSHING OFFENSE VS.
MICHIGAN RUSHING DEFENSE: Like
Mills, versatile running back Larry
Johnson is also a bit banged up for
Penn State. He is expected to play
with an injured hamstring, but will
not be 100 percent. This should
come as a relief for Michigan, as
Johnson is second in the nation in
all-purpose yards and is averaging
more than 100 yards per game on
the ground. Quarterbacks Mills and
Robinson could also pose a threat
on the ground.
-But Michigan has fared well
against most rushing attacks, and
Penn State's broken backfield
should not fare better than any other
team. If the Nittany Lions were
healthy, it might be a different story.
Edge: Michigan
SPECIAL TEAMS: Penn State fea-
tures one of the top-placekickers in
the Big Ten in Robbie Gould. Last
week, Gould was named Big Ten
special teams player of the week
after he nailed four field goals
against Wisconsin.
Michigan has its own former Big
Ten special teams player of the
week in Philip Brabbs, who nailed
the game winner against Washing-
ton, but has since lost his job to
kicker Troy Nienberg. Nienberg's
biggest accomplishment thus far is
a 21-yard field goal last week
against Illinois.
Edge: Penn State

INTANGIBLES: Michigan has wo
five consecutive games agains
Penn State and leads the all-tim
series, 6-3.
This must, frustrate the Nittan
Lions to no end, but it also did whe
the Wolverines win streak was onl
and three and four in a row - whe
Michigan won by 19 and 20, respec
tively. The difference this season i
that Penn State finally has the taler
to compete. Yet, Michigan alway
plays better at home and that i
enough to get the slight edge.

MICHIGAN RUSHING OFFENSE VS.
PENN STATE RUSHING DEFENSE: The