10 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, October 22, 2002 Freshman Olson earns first c By Courtney Lewis Daily Sports Writer Look next to Reilly Olson's name on the stat sheets for Michigan's games against Merrimack last weekend, and you'll find a string of zeros. No goals, no assists, not even a shot on net. But the fact that his name appeared on the stat sheets at all was enough to make it a huge weekend for the redshirt freshman. After watching last season HOCKEY from the stands, unable to crack the lineup, Olson finally earned Notebook the Michigan coaching staff's trust and played his first collegiate game Friday night, filling in for an ill Andy Burnes. Olson came to Michigan last year expecting to compete for ice time with the rest of his highly- touted class, but had trouble adjusting to college hockey. Olson lost confidence and could never get comfortable, but tried not to get too frustrated. "Obviously it was pretty tough at times, waiting so long, but I just had to keep believing in myself," he said. "I just came into this season with a new game plan, I guess. I just decided to start all over, and the coaches let me start all over, too." With high-scoring freshman Danny Richmond arriving on the blue line, it looked like Olson's new start had come too late. The beginning of the 2002- 03 season found Olson in a familiar place - in the stands, watching. So when Burnes came down with mono, Olson was more than ready to step in. Sophomore Eric Nystrom, who roomed with Olson last year, was almost as happy as the young blueliner. "I was excited just sitting across the room and looking at him put his jersey on," Nystrom said. Olson said he was nervous before the game, and he looked tentative on the. ice, but he played well enough to earn a second start Saturday night. Burnes is expected to miss at least two more weeks, but coach Red Berenson hasn't decided who the sixth defensman will be this weekend. Olson will have to compete with David Wyz- gowski to hang on to the open spot, and he knows he has to concentrate on playing solidly in his own zone. "I have to make sure to keep the puck out of the hance to play net, not worry so much about offense," Olson said. "If I do that, I'm sure offensively, some production will come. My No. 1 goal is I just have to make sure I'm always focused on defensive play." ON THE MEND: Forward Jason Ryznar practiced yesterday for the first time since separating his shoulder October 12. Alternate captain John Shouneyia, who has a fractured right wrist, isn't ready to play yet, but Berenson said he is progress- ing "really well." Shouneyia had the stitches removed from his wrist yesterday afternoon. HORSING AROUND: Ryznar had a new linemate when he returned to practice. Freshman Andrev Ebbett centered Ryznar and Jed Ortmeyer, replac- ing Milan Gajic. Berenson said he is still searching for the right line combinations and uses an eques- trian metaphor to convey his objective to the Wolverines. "If one horse can pull 5,000 pounds, but twc horses can pull 20,000 pounds, what's the best of the two?" he said. "The message is, if the two work together, they're much better than the sum of their parts. I want to find the combinations that can be more productive." Reilly Olson saw his first action as a Wolverine last weekend. The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan presents The Walter H. Annenberg Professorship in Education Policy Inaugural Lecture Resources, Instruction, and Research by David K. Cohen Dr. Cohen, a nationally recognized expert on K-12 education reform, has been named the first Walter H. Annenberg Professor of Education Policy at the Ford School. He is also Professor of Education at the UM School of Education. Tuesday October 22, 2002 4:00 p.m. Anderson Room in the Michigan Union 530 South State Ann Arbor, MI Reception following the lecture. Additional information on the Ford School website: http://www.fordschool.umich.edu or by calling 734-764-8593 or emailing sppalum@umich.edu Showdown at the Horseshoe By Sharad Mattu Daily Sports Writer For Ohio State to keep pace with the winner of the Michigan-Iowa game, it will have to beat a balanced Penn State offense. Meanwhile, the six Big Ten teams with sub .500 records in confer- ence games will battle it out in a race for the Motor City Bowl berth. No. 18 PENN STATE AT No. 4 OHIO STATE, SATURDAY 3:30 P.M., ABC: Ohio State has the Fiesta Bowl in its sights; and the schedule in AROUND its favor. Ohio State TheB Ten is looking ahead, but Penn State is look- ing back at overtime losses to Iowa and Michigan and wonder "what if?" Penn State's offense is loaded with talent. Running back Larry Johnson is rushing for 125 yards a game, and quar- terback Zach Mills is averaging 240 passing yards per contest. Ohio State's offense revolves around freshman sensation Maurice Clarett. He is averaging 140 rushing yards and is creeping into Heisman contention. When forced to pass the ball, the Mills to Johnson connection is reliable. Ohio State quarterback Craig Krenzel, though very efficient so far, will not be able to carry the offense, and Penn State will pull off the upset. Penn State 30, Ohio State 27. WISCONSIN AT MICHIGAN STATE, SATuR- DAY 7:05 P.M., ESPN2: Wisconsin entered its Big Ten schedule 5-0 but untested. Three consecutive losses later, the Badgers need a win, and Michigan State will give them an excellent chance. The Spartans are coming off an embar- rassing 28-7 home loss to Minnesota. When the Spartans have the ball, expect them to pass to standout wide receiver Charles Rogers, who has been kept out of the end zone two straight games, and the Spartans need their star to break out. Rogers ratio, perhaps? Wisconsin running back Anthony Davis was effective last week against Ohio State with 144 yards on 25 carries, and Wisconsin will rely on him again this week. Wisconsin's ball control, rushing attack and Spartan turnovers will sway the game Wisconsin's way. Wisconsin 30, Michigan State 17 PURDUE AT NORTHWESTERN, SATURDAY Noow: Purdue will likely start freshman Brandon Kirsch at quarterback after Kyle Orton's poor showing off the bench last week. Expect running back Joey Harris to have a career day against the Wildcats, who have allowed an average of 350 yards rushing through four Big Ten games. Purdue will score easily against the cellar dwellers, who have allowed 160 points in conference action. Purdue 38, Northwestern 20 INDIANA AT IwNOIS, SATURDAY 2 P.M.: Surprisingly, quarterback Gibran Ham- dan of Indiana is leading the Big Ten in passing yards. But his team is just 3-4 and he has 10 interceptions to go with his eight touchdown passes. Leading Illinois' offense will be Dustin Ward, whom coach Ron Turner chose over the more talented Jon Beut- jer. Ward and running back Antoineo Harris will lead a balanced attack, while Indiana's reliance on the passing game will cost them the game. Illinois 27, Indiana 24 BCS Standings Team Total 1. Oklahoma 3.92 2. Miami (Fla.) 6.41 3. Notre Dame 7.07 4. Virginia Tech 8.63 5. Georgia 8.69, 6. Ohio State 8.89 7. Washington State 19.44 8. Michigan 19.83 9. Louisiana State 20.71 10. Texas 21.37 11. North Carolina State 22.52 12. Florida State 26.79 13. Iowa 29.09 14. Southern Cal. 31.16 15. Oregon 35.02 PHILLIPS Continued from Page 9 solid foundation for the Buckeyes with a win over Michigan last sea- son, and has followed it up with a sterling season thus far. Similarly, Notre Dame coach Tyrone Willingham keeps winning after squeezing by Michigan this season, and all of it is done with the same players that former coach Bob Davie went 5-6 with last season. Neither Notre Dame nor Ohio State has the most talent in the nation, but find themselves near the top of the polls due to good coach- ing. By the same token Michigan State - which has arguably just as much talent as Notre Dame and Ohio State - finds itself at the bot- tom of the Big Ten due to poor coaching. And when Michigan State Athlet- ic Director Ron Mason finally real- izes this, Williams may find himself out of a job. Jeff Phillips can be reached at jpphilli@umich.edu. . 1 *I THE EFFECT OF A ABED A-BASAT UDA'S MARCH 27TH SUICIDE ATTACK 161 ON HIS PALESTINIAN FAMILY: $25,000 IN CASH 0 0 FURNISHED APARTMENT R a c PENSION FOR LIFE CELEBRITY STATUS s (TIME. APRIL 15. 2002 AND FOX NEWS APRIL 4. 2002) A:I