The Michigan Daily - SportsWednesday - October 16, 2002 - 5B
"I ASKED IF SOMETHING WAS WRONG OR IF I COULD DO SOMETHING FOR HIM, BUT HE JUST
SAID, 'COACH, THEY'RE JUST TEARS OF JOY."'
- MICHIGAN COACH LLOYD CARR ON HIS EMOTIONAL HOSPITAL MEETING WITH THE INJURED ZIA COMBS
WEEKEND'S BEST
HOW THE AP TOP 25 FARED
NEW AP
TOP 25
WIDE LEFT I: With one second
left, Florida State coach Bobby'
Bowden was fearing Wide Right
IV, courtesy of kicker Xavier
Beitia. So, for a change, Beitia
pushed the 43-yard field goal
left, giving the win to No. 1
Miami, 28-27.
Florida State appeared to be in
control when running back Greg
Jones scored to give the Semi-
noles a 27-14 lead with 11:44
left in th.e game.
But Ken Doresey led the Hurri-
cane offense right back, first on
a 70-yard touchdown drive, and
then after a Florida State punt,
Miami took the lead on just two
plays - a 68-yard screer pass
to Willis McGahee and a 11-yard
run by Jason Geathers.
SIMMS SIMMERS DOWN: Last Satur-
day was Texas quarterback
Chris Simms' last chance to
beat Oklahoma, but he threw
three interceptions and cement-
ed his reputation as a poor play-
er against good competition.
Simms now has zero touch-
downs and 14 interceptions
against top-10 teams.
BIG SCORES IN BIG TEN: Wisconsin
was labeled overrated at 5-0
and the last two weeks have
proved as much. After the 34-31
overtime loss to Penn State last
week, the Badgers lost to Indi-
ana in Bloomington, 32-29 ...
After getting pummeled 44-16
by Iowa, Michigan State fell to
1-3 in its last five games, with
its only win coming against
lowly Northwestern.
Associated Press Poll for week of October 8.
Games updated through October 15.
Team: Last week:
1. Miami (Fla.) beat No. 9 Florida State 28-27
2. Oklahoma beat No. 3 Texas 35-24
3. Texas lost to No. 2 Oklahoma 35-24
4. Virginia Tech beat Boston College 2&23
5. Ohio State beat San Jose State 50-7
6. Georgia beat No. 10 Tennessee1813
7. Oregon beat UCLA 31-30
8. Notre Dame beat Pittsburgh 14-6
9. Florida State lost to No. 1 Miami (Fla.) 2&27
10. Tennessee lost to No. 6 Georgia 1813
11. Iowa State beat Texas Tech 31-17
12. Washington State beat Stanford 36-11
13. Michigan beat No. 15 Penn State 27-24
14. North Carolina State beat North Carolina 34-17
15. Penn State lost to No. 13 Michigan 27-24
16. Florida lost to No. 18 Louisiana State 26-7
17. Iowa beat Michigan State 44-16
18. Lousiana State beat No. 16 Florida 26-7
19. Kansas State beat Oklahoma State 44-9
20. Southern Cal. beat California 30-28
21. Air Force beat Brigham Young 52-9
22. Washington beat Arizona 32-28
23. Wisconsin lost to Indiana 32-29
24. Auburn lost to Arkansas 3&17
25. Mississippi beat Arkansas State 52-17
(first-place votes in parentheses)
This week:
at West Virginia
Iowa State
at Kansas State
Rutgers
at Wisconsin
Vanderbilt
Arizona State
at Air Force
bye
bye
Oklahoma
bye
at Purdue
Duke
Northwestern
Auburn
at Indiana
South Carolina
Texas
Washington
Notre Dame
at Southern Cal.
Ohio State
at Florida
at Alabama
TEAM
1. Miami (Fla.) (65) 6-0
2. Oklahoma (9) 6-0
3. Virginia Tech 6-0
4. Ohio State 7-0
5. Georgia 6-0
6. Oregon 6-0
7. Notre Dame. 6-0
8. Texas 5-1
9. Iowa State 6-1
10. Washingon State 6-1
11. Michigan 5-1
12. Florida State 5-2
13. North Carolina State 7-0
14. Louisiana State 5-1
15. Iowa 6-1
16. Tennessee 4-2
17. Kansas State 5.1
18. Air Force 6-0
19. Southern Cal 4-2
20. Penn State 4-2
21. Mississippi 5.1
22. Washington 4-2
23. Colorado 4-2
24. Alabama 4-2
25. Bowling Green 5-0
PTS
1,841
1,776
1,675
1,608
1,555
1,463
1,403
1,235
1,146
1,116
1,114
1,032
980
914
830
639
619
583
506
435
358
354
213
165
83
PVS
1
2
4
5
6
7
8
3
11
12
13
9
14
18
17
10
19
21
20
15
25
22
NR
NR
NR
Florida State's Xavier Beitia
Others receiving votes: Florida, UCLA, Marshall,
Nebraska, South Carolina, Arkansas, Colorado
State, Minnesota, Louisville, Auburn
..:.
AP PHOTO
Lousiana State quarterback Matt Mauck led his Tigers to a 36-7 upset victory over Florida, but suffered a foot injury in the game.
SCOUTI NG THE NATION
THE DAILY'S PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
This week's edition contains three players that might not be getting the
respect they deserve. Oklahoma's Quentin Griffin, Air Force's Chance Harridge
and Indiana's Gibran Hamdan all don't play for good teams - Hamdan, we're
looking at you here - but they all led their respective teams to big-time victo-
ries this week, and with the exception of Indiana, could lead their teams to a
BCS bowl.
QUENTIN GRIFFIN,
OKLAHOMA
Why Griffin?: Chris Simms' worst
nightmare might look something like
Quentin Griffin. The senior running
back from Oklahoma made it extraor-
dinarily difficult for Simms to over-
come his tendency to lose big games.
Griffin carried the ball 32 times for a
whopping 248 yards against the
Longhorns, helping the Sooners to a
35-24 win over their Big 12 rival. Grif-
fin added two touchdowns to the
effort, both coming in the high-scor-
ing fourth quarter. He caught a two-
yard pass from quarterback Nate
Hybl, and ran one in from 17 yards
out. The second touchdown gave the
Sooners a 35-17 lead, effectively put-
Oklahoma's Quentin Griffin ting the game away.
CHANCE HARRIDGE,
AIR FORCE
Why Harridge?: After being demolished
63-33 (the most points ever conceded
by Air Force) by Brigham Young last.
season, the Falcons have been waiting -
for another crack at the Cougars. Air
Force took advantage of the opporotu-t x
nity, behind Harridge's incredible per-
formance that included four rushing
touchdowns. Harridge has been putting5
up the same numbers all season, and
leads the nation's top rushing team.
But this week's game was the most
important - that is, until next week's
home clash against Notre Dame.;
Should Harridge and Air Force knock
off the Fighting Irish, they will be
knocking on the BCS's door at the end
of the season. Air Force's Chance Harridge
GIBRAN HAMDAN,
INDIANA
Why Hamdan?: A fifth-year senior
quarterback with no starting experi-
ence prior to this season, Hamdan
pulled out one of the biggest wins the
Hoosiers have had in years. Thanks to
Hamdan's 310 yards passing and four
touchdowns, Indiana scored the final
22 points of the game and beat No.
23 Wisconsin, 32-29, in Bloomington.
The win was new coach Gerry DiNar-
do's first in Big Ten play. Hamdan led
the Hoosiers on a,10-play, 76-yard
drive that finished with a 20-yard pass
to junior Glen Johnson. Hamdan and
Johnson connected again on the two-
point conversion to give Indiana the
32-29 lead with just 2:16 to play. If
Hamdan can continue to play like
Indiana's Gibran Hamdan this, Indiana fans might stop lament-
AP PHOTOS ing the departure of former quarter-
back Antwaan Randle El.
GAME PROGRESSION
First Quarter:
Michigan punter Adam Finley booms
a 51-yard punt after the Wolverines'
first posession. The ball bounces
within the 5-yard line, but in trying to
down it Michigan's Zia Combs and
Ernest Shazor collide, and Shazor's
helmet hits Combs hard in the chest.
Combs is carted off the field and
brought to the University Hospital.
On the ensuing Penn State drive, the
Nittany Lions also punt, but are able
to down the ball on the Michigan 1-
yard line. The Wolverines can't move
the ball out of their own territory, and
another Adam Finley punt is returned
25 yards by Bryant Johnson to the
Michigan 17. A Larry Johnson run
from the 17 to the endzone puts the
Nittany Lions on the board.
Robbie Gould converts the extra
point.
Penn State 7, Michigan 0
Second Quarter:
After a drive from its own 36 to the
Penn State 14, Michigan stalls out
and faces a 4th-and-6. Kicker Phil
Brabbs lines up to take the kick, but
instead is on the receiving end of a
fake field goal pass from John
Navarre. Michigan does not convert
for the first down.
At the end of the half, Navarre throws
passes to running back Chris Perry,
fullback B.J. Askew and tight end
Bennie Joppru as the Wolverines
march down the field to the Penn
State one-yard line. Navarre punches
it in with a sneak to tie the game.
Troy Nienberg converts the PAT.
Michigan 7, Penn State 7
Third Quarter:
On a drive that started on their own
16, the Nittany Lions make big plays
to move downfield. Quarterback Zack
Mills engineers two successful third-
down conversions - each coming on
3rd-and-long - including a 53-yard
completion to Bryant Johnson. The
drive was completed with an eight-
yard touchdown reception by tight-
end Mike Lukac.
Gould fails to convert the PAT.
Penn State 13, Michigan 7
On the ensuing posession, Michigan
moves the ball 80 yards in less than
three minutes. An 18-yard Navarre
pass to Joppru and passes of 14 and
16 yards to Ronald Bellamy highlight
a drive capped by a fade to Braylon
Edwards for a touchdown.
Nienberg converts the PAT.
Michigan 14, Penn State 13
Fourth Quarter:
Mills again moves the ball effortlessly
against the Michigan secondary, with
the benefit of multiple Larry Johnson
screens for first downs. A Bryant
Johnson touchdown reception and
two-point conversion give Penn State
a seven point lead.
Penn State 21, Michigan 14
Michigan responds on the strength of
a 37-yard kickoff return by Jeremy
LeSueur, and Navarre's precision
passing. Navarre finds Edwards again
to tie the game.
Nienberg converts the PAT.
Michigan 21, Penn State 21
Two controversial calls on third-down
receptions - one called complete,
one incomplete - highlight a last-
ditch effort for Penn State. The Nit-
tany Lions punt and Navarre runs the
clock out for the first-ever overtime at
Michigan Stadium.
Overtime:
Penn State's first field goal attempt
sails wide right, but Michigan is
penalized for jumping offsides. Gould
converts his second try.
Penn State 24, Penn State 21
A nine-yard Edwards reception sets
up three Chris Perry runs, the last
of which gives Michigan the win-
ning score.
Michigan 27, Penn State 24
WHO'S NEXT:
PURDUE
The Boilermakers have struggled with
close games this season, as they
have lost four games by a total of 20
points. Purdue will look to a talented
defense to give its young offense a
chance to upset Michigan in Ross-
Ade Stadium. The Wolverines are try-
ing to end a two-game losing streak
at Purdue.
NEWS AND NOTES
Louisiana State quarterback Matt Mauck might have
played the best game of his career last Saturday in the
Tigers' 36-7 win at Florida. But thanks to an injury
suffered in the middle of the fourth quarter Mauck's
right foot is in a cast and it is unclear whether he will
play this week against South Carolina.
X-rays show no break, though more tests will be taken
because of the swelling in the foot. If Mauck hasn't
practiced by tomorrow, backup quarterback Marcus
Randall would probably play against the Gamecocks.
Mauck's counterpart in Gainesville, Florida
quarterback Rex Grossman, left practice early on
Monday to receive treatment for an unspecified injury.
The injury came just a day after Florida coach Ron Zook
said that he would consider benching Grossman for
backup Ingle Martin if his play didn't improve.
Grossman, originally a Heisman Trophy frontrunner, has
thrown just 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in the
first seven games.
Nebraska quarterback Jammal Lord had a little bit too
much fun celebrating his team's 24-13 win over
Missouri last Saturday. The junior was ticketed for
disturbing the peace later that night, as the 21-year-old
appeared to be drunk and was taken to a detoxification
center early Sunday.
He was not arrested, and coach Frank Solich said that
the citation does not require suspending Lord from any
games. Lord practiced Monday, and his status for the
game against Oklahoma State will be determined later
this week.
Maryland running back Bruce Perry, who has sat out
every game of this season because of a torn groin, is
still doubtful for tomorrow's game against Georgia Tech.
His status for the rest of the year also remains in ques-
tion.
Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said that Perry's
endurance isn't where it should be. The Terps have run
the ball well recently in Perry's absence, as senior Chris
Downs and freshman Josh Allen combined for 183 yards
rushing in Maryland's 48-17 rout of West Virginia.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Nebraska's DeJuan Groce took it upon himself to
make sure his team didn't lose its third game of the
season. Ahead 14-13 in the third quarter, Groce
returned a Missouri punt 89 yards to put the Huskers
up 21-13.
"DeJuan should be a Heisman candidate," safety Philip
Bland said. "To be out there every single play on defense
and then to do that is amazing. There's few people in the
country who can go out and do the things he does.
Florida State coach Bobby Bowden was in a familiar
place Saturday afternoon: Watching his field goal kicker
sail a potential game-winning kick wide of the uprights.
In three other contests in the past 11 years, Seminole
kickers didn't capitalize on a chance to help Florida
State beat Miami. Saturday, kicker Xavier Beitia missed
a 43-yard field goal as time ran out, and his team lost,
28-27, to No. 1 Miami (Fla.).
"I simply can't believe we lost the game like that
again," Bowden said. "I've had that picture so many
times before in my career. I can't stand it."
e Texas quarterback Chris Simms still hasn't thrown a
touchdown pass against a top-10 team in his four-year
career. Simms threw three interceptions in a 35-24 loss
to Oklahoma last Saturday in Dallas.
"I don't know if anyone in this room wanted to win this
game more than me," Simms said.
Staff and wire reports contributed to this report.
BIG TEN STANDINGS
Smith fails to
respond to Joppru
Despite being called out by
Michigan tight end Bennie Joppru
for his season-long struggles,
Daily Sports Editor Joe Smith
continued to settle for medioc-
rity. While his 8-7 record this
week is his strongest yet, Smith
still languishes 11 games out of
first place.
Speaking of first place, the three-
way ti6 between David Horn, J.
Brady McCollough and Jeff
Phillips was broken this week. A
10-5 week from Phillips and a 6-9
week by Horn separated the for-
STAFF PICKS
WEEK 5 SELECTIONS
ALL PICKS MADE AGAINST THE SPREAD.
CORRECT PICKS IN BOLD.
MICHiGAN (-4.5) vs. Penn Stat
IowA (-6) vs. Michigan State
OHIO STATE (-28,5) vs. San Jose State
MIAMI (FLA.) (-13) vs. Florida State
Clemson (.5) at VIRGINIA
NORTH CAROLINA STATE (-6.5) at NORTH CAROLINA
eNaEASKA .1vs. MISSanri
David
Horn
Micigan.
Michigan State
Ohio State'
Miami (Fla.)
Clemson
North Carolina State
NAraka
4( i
J. Brady
McCollough
Penn State
Iowa
San Jose State
Miami (Fla.)
Clemson
North Carolina State
Nebraska
Team
Iowa
Ohio State
Michigan
Minnesota
Michigan State
Indiana
Penn State
Purdue
Illinois
Wisconsin
Northwestern
Big Ten
3 0
2 0
2 0
2 1
1 1
1 1
1 2
1 2
1 2
0 2
0 3
Overall
6 1
7 0
5 i
6 1
3 3
3 3
4 2
3 4
2 5
5 2
2 5
Jeff Joe
Phillips Smith
Michigan
Iowa
San Jose State
Miami (Fla.)
Virg|nia
North Carolina State
Misnuri
Michigan
Iowa
Ohio State
Miami (Fla.)
Virginia
North Carolina State
Nebraska
THIS WEEKEND'S RESULTS
MICHIGAN 27, Penn State 24 (OT)
MINNESoTA 45, Northwestern 42
OHIO STATE 50, San Jose State 7
IowA 44, Michigan State 16
INDIANA 32, Wisconsin 29
Purdue 38, ILLINOIS 31 (OT)
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