0
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U
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V V
6B - The Michigan Daily - FOOTBALL SATURDAY - September 27, 2003
The Michigan Daily - FOOTBALL
KEY STATISTICS
STAFF PICKS
Predictions against the
spread for 9/27/03
Indiana at No. 11 MicfUGAN (-34)
Ball State at BOSTON COLLEGE (-22)
Notre Dame at PURDUE (-10)
Louisiana State (-14) at Miss. STATE
North Carolina at NORTH CAROLINA STATE (--18)
Washington State at OREGON (-4)
Iowa (-7) at MICHIGAN STATE
Stanford at WASHINGTON (-13.5)
Southern Cal. (-13.5) at CALIFORNiA
Wisconsin (-2.5) at ILLINOIS
Florida (- 95) at KENTUCKY
Florida State (-30) at DUKE
Tennessee (-16) at SoUTH CAROUNA
Missouri (-10) at KANSAS
Cincinnati at MIAMI (OHIO) (-7)
Minnesota (-2) at PENN STATE
Northwestern at OIo STATE (NO LNE)
Connecticut at VIRGINIA TECH (NO LINE)
Best bet
Total season record
Courtney
Lewis
Michigan
Boston College
Purdue
Mississippi State
N.C. State
Oregon
Iowa
Washington
California
Illinois
Kentucky
Duke
Tennessee
Missouri
Miami (Ohio)
Minnesota
Ohio State
Virginia Tech
Iowa
28-26 (2-1)
J. Brady
McCollough
Indiana
Ball State
Purdue
Mississippi State
North Carolina
Oregon
Iowa
Stanford
Southern Cal.
Wisconsin
Kentucky
Florida State
South Carolina
Missouri
Miami (Ohio)
Penn State
Ohio State
Virginia Tech
South Carolina
27-27 (1-2)
Kyle
O'Neill
Michigan
Ball State
Purdue
Louisiana State
N.C. State
Washington State
Iowa
Stanford
Southern Cal.
Wisconsin
Florida
Florida State
South Carolina
Missouri
Miami (Ohio)
Minnesota
Northwestern
Virginia Tech
Florida
28-26 (3-0)
Naweed
Sikora
Michigan
Boston College
Purdue
Louisiana State
North Carolina
Oregon
Iowa
Washington
California
Wisconsin
Kentucky
Florida State
South Carolina
Kansas
Miami (Ohio)
Minnesota
Ohio State
Virginia Tech
Miami (Ohio)
26-28 (1-2)
Faz Hussain, owner
of Hello Faz Pizza
Michigan
Ball State
Notre Dame
Louisiana State
North Carolina
Oregon
Iowa
Washington
Southern Cal.
Wisconsin
Florida
Florida State
South Carolina
Missouri
Miami (Ohio)
Minnesota
Ohio State
Virginia Tech
Iowa
22-32 (1-2)
IND
18.5
i 143.5
205.5
72.5
349
109.5
3 58/112/2
1.75/1.25
5 6.25/52.75
29:20
Season Averages
First Downs
Rushing Yards
Passing Yards
Offensive Plays
Total Offense
Return Yards
Comp/Att/Int !
Fumbles/Lost
Penalties/Yards 5
Time of Poss
MICH
24.25
229.75
257
79
486.75
108.5
81/146/
1.75/1
.25/44.7
31:28
M I C H I G A N
A NEW SHOW
AFTERA DISAPPOINTING LOSS TO OREGON, MICH
NOW DOWN TO WHAT IT CAN ACCOMPLISH IN
By Kyle O'Neill Daily Sports Editor
PASSING
Player
Navarre
RUSHING
Player
Perry
Underwood
Rembert
J. Jackson
RECEIVING
Player
Edwards
Avant
Perry
Breaston
PUNTING
Player
Finley
Spencer
C-A Yds TD int
74-139 381 7 3
Att
91
31
12
10
No.
26
12
12
10
Yds Avg
575 6.3
193 6.2
52 4.3
86 8.6
Yds Avg
326 12.5
177 14.8
81 6.8
181 18.1
No. Yds
15 577
1 45
Lg
63
35
18
41
Lg
48
31
17
36
TD
7
2
3
O
TD
3
1
1
2
Avg Lg
38.5 50
45 45
I
Hello fans! Pizza
Most of you have probably seen
the famous Faz around campus. In
fact, he's probably said hello to
most of you. But how much do you
really know about the man who
considers himself the luckiest per-
son in the world?
Faz was born in India inside a
famous museum where his grand-
father was the curator. There he
lived for eight years, before his
family moved. In 1966, at the age
of 14, Faz moved with his parents
to Ypsilanti, where he attended
man tries his luck
high school, college and began his
pizza business.
Hello Faz has been operating in
Ann Arbor for the past nine years.
Ever since he came to America
and saw Robert Kennedy, Faz has
made it a point to take pictures with
everyone he meets.
On his wall of fame, Faz has pic-
tures of himself shaking hands with
everyone from Richard Nixon to
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Now, he has decided to take on the
Daily football writers.
Hoosiers what the doctor ordered
KICKOFF RETURNS
Player No. Yds
LeSueur 5 143
PUNT RETURNS
Player No. Yds
Breaston 13 239
Curry 4 36
Avg Lg TD
3 28.6 45 0
By Courtney Lewis
Daily Sports Editor
Indiana's visit to the Big House could
be the perfect therapy for Michigan.
The young Hoosiers have managed just
one win this season and haven't won a
road game since 2001.
Indiana has been in this position
before, and it wasn't pretty. In 2000, the
Hoosiers came to town the weekend
after the Wolverines suffered a disap-
pointing one-point loss at Purdue.
Michigan took out all of its anger on
Indiana, trouncing the Hoosiers 58-0.
Tomorrow, upset-minded Indiana
will hope that it finds a Michigan team
still reeling from a defeat in Oregon and
that it can give Michigan an even more
shocking loss. But the game is more
likely to be a repeat of 2000.
MICHIGAN PASSING OFFENSE VS.
INDIANA PASSING DEFENSE: Michigan
quarterback John Navarre took control
of the Wolverines' offense last week
and threw for a solid 360 yards and
three touchdowns. But it's the over-
thrown passes and the failed final drive
that will probably stick in his memory.
Redshirt freshman Steve Breaston
showed last week that, when he's
healthy, he can be a major receiving
threat as well as a return specialist.
Combine Breaston's skill with that of
Braylon Edwards and Jason Avant, and
the Wolverines' passing attack should
spell trouble for Indiana's damaged sec-
ondary. The Hoosiers lost safety Will
Lumpkin for the year when he injured
his knee against Washington, and safety
Joe Gonzalez, one of Indiana's eight
seniors, has missed three games. Fresh-
man Will Meyers has been an excellent
fill-in, making 29 tackles and forcing
four fumbles in his last three games.
But Meyers won't be able to handle the
w
lverines by himself Advantage: Michigan
Advantage: Michigan
INDIANA RUSHING OFFENSE VS.
MICHIGAN RUN OFFENSE VS. INDI- MICHIGAN RUSHING DEFENSE: The
ANA RUN DEFENSE: Michigan rushed
for an embarrassing minus-three yards
last weekend, and the Wolverines
should have a chip on their shoulders.
Running back Chris Perry took respon-
sibility for last week's dismal running
game and will need to bounce back in.a
big way to keep himself in the running
for the Heisman Trophy. Michigan's
much-talked-about offensive line will
also have something to prove.
Indiana's defense has had better luck
on the ground than in the air, holding its
first four opponents to 200 yards or
less. But those weren't exactly offensive
juggernauts that the Hoosiers were
stopping. The Hoosiers will have to
hold Michigan early and hope it can
keep Perry and the line frustrated.
Advantage: Michigan
INDIANA PASSING OFFENSE VS.
MICHIGAN PASSING DEFENSE: Quarter-
back Matt LoVecchio is one of the few
Hoosiers with considerable experience.
The junior took Notre Dame to the
2001 Fiesta Bowl, but he didn't bring
much luck of the Irish with him to
Bloomington. LoVecchio has thrown as
many interceptions as touchdowns this
season - two. Cortney Roby leads the
Hoosiers in receiving with 190 yards,
but has yet to catch a touchdown pass.
Michigan's secondary looked soft
against Oregon, especially in the first
half, but it shouldn't have as much trou-
ble with the Hoosiers. And the Wolver-
ines' defensive line is always a threat.
Hoosiers' offense has shown a little
more life on the ground than in the air,
particularly in the last two games.
Freshman BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran
for 107 yards against Indiana State, and
Brian Lewis put up 116 yards against
Kentucky. Chris Taylor completes the
trio of backs that the Hoosiers use regu-
larly. Six of Indiana's eight touchdowns
have come on the run this season.
Michigan's defense gave up big num-
bers against the rush in its season opener
versus Central Michigan, but the
Wolverines have tightened up since then.
Advantage: Michigan
SPECIAL TEAMS: This was Michigan's
downfall last weekend. The Wolverines
still have kicking issues -Adam Finley
missed an extra point and had one
blocked against Oregon. Breaston was
electric on punt returns in the first three
games, but was quieted last week.
Indiana's Bryan Robertson has nailed
13 of his last 16 field goal attempts,
dating back to 2002, and all three miss-
es were at least 45 yards. He has not
missed an extra point this season. Red-
shirt freshman Tyson Beatie handles
punting for the Hoosiers, and last week
Kentucky started at its own 3-yard line
three times.
Advantage: Indiana
DEFENSE
Player
Curry
Reid
Jackson
Woods
Diggs
Solo
16
14
16
14
9
Yds
27
0
0
Avg Lg
18.4 55
9 17
Asst
2
4
3
8
TDO
5 O
Tot
18
18
17
17
17
TD
O
0
0
SEPT. 27: "THE RUNDOWN"
Record/ranking: 1-3/NR
The plot: With 20 less scholarship players than
other teams in the NCAA, Indianaican ho e to
match Michigan's depth. For that matter, the
Hoosiers can't match the W-lverines' starters. But junior quar-
terback Matt LoVecchio, a transfer from Notre Dame, looks to at
least provide some challenge to the supposed frontrunners for
the Big Ten crown. Three Indiana running backs have more
than 10yards thus far (two over 200), but the Hoosiers have
faced the likes of Indiana State and Connecticut to boost those
stats. On defense, the Hoosiers return fifth-year safety and cap-
tain Joe Gonzales, who is making his first Big Ten appearance
since 2001 after a hernia kept him sidelined last season. Gon-
zales made his return last week against Kentucky and had four
tackles.
OCT. 4: "THE EVENT"
Record/ranking: 4-0/No. 13
The plot: Brad Banks who? And for that matter,
.Dallas Clark who? Iowa, supposed to be decimat-
ed by the loss of its startin quarterback and
ti ht end from last season, has flourishe on offense four games
inqo the season. Running back Fred Russell - quietly putting
together a Heisman-like senior season - has 494 yards rushing
this season behind a nearly brand new offensive line. Iowa's
sophomore linebackers, Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge, each
average more than 10 tackles a game and are partly responsible
for the Big Ten's best scoring defense, which allows just 8.2
points a game. Iowa also boasts the best turnover ratio in the
conference at plus-six and is great at special teams with more
than 30 yards per kickoff return and two punt returns for
touchdowns. Kicker Nate Keading is also perfect on the season
(4-for-4).
OCT. 11: "THE BEST TWO YEARS"
Record/ranking: 4-0/No. 24
The plot: Michigan, welcome back to Minnesota!
Despite the fact that the Wolverines played at the
Metrodome last year, Michigan will be heading
back to the land of 10,000 lakes for a second straight season.
Because the Minnesota Twins are likely to make the American
League Championship Series, the Twins are taking over the
Metrodome on Saturday. The Wolverines will square off withthe
Gophers Friday night, and Michigan will be going against the
Big Ten's best offense and third-best defense. Minnesota has
been playing nothing but cupcakes like Troy State, but scoring
points is still scoring points. One thing that ma go in Michi-
gan's favor has been the Golden Gophers' inability to effectively
stop the run against lesser teams - they're giving up 122.8
yards a game.
OCT. 18: "RUNAWAY JURY"
Record/ranking: 1-3/NR
The lot: Illinois quarterback Jon Beutjer came
into Phis season with a new running back and an
entirely new receiving crew (one career reception
between them all). Apparently none of that mattered, as Beutjer
is currently leading the Big Ten in assing yards. But even with
the 1,137 yards he has thrown for this season, Beutjer has
managed just eight touchdowns to five interceptions. Finding
the endzone has been a problem for the young Illini, who are
fourth-worst in the Big Ten in scoring offense. But Illinois will
provide a challenge for Michigan's offensive line, having record-
ed 12 sacks thus Tar. The Illini are also very discipline, with
just 40 yards of penalties called against them a game - good
or second-best in the conference. Should this game come down
to the trenches, though, it is the Illini that willbe at a big dis-
advantage, being second from the bottom in both offensive and
defensive red-zone situations.
OCT. 25: "SCARY MOVIE 3"
Record/ranking: 2-1/No. 22
The plot: Yeah, Purdue lost to Bowling Green,
but who hasn't lost to a Mid-American Conference
team this season? Besides, with the wide receiver
combo of Taylor Stubblefield (26 receptions, 230 yards) and
John Standeford (14 receptions, 260 yards), Michigan would be
nuts to not think of this team as a serious threat to its
Su ar/Rose Bowl run. An overlooked portion of coach Joe
Tiler's offense is the Boilermaker rushin attack. With 4.8
yards a carry and 167.7 yards per game, the rushing attack is
partly resposible for why Purdue has the fourth-best third-down
conversion rate in the conference. After a game in which Oregon
won the time of possession battle pretty easily against the
Wolverines, expect Purdue to do the same as it averages just
under 33 minutes of ball control a game. The Boilermakers
haveallowed just one sack - a tribute to the offensive line and
mobile quarterback Kyle Orton.
Record/rankin
The plot: After
will be known w
or if Notre Dam
ning 22-16 win
people are beginning to believ
artists are starting to come to
tions. Coach John L. Smith do
has rebuilt once-troubled Jeff
back in the conference in tern
Dave Rayner is also averaging
this team knows how to put p
spread offense. But Michigan
points on the board, because
in the foot (see Louisiana Tec
ized the most in the Big Ten,
they must overcome.
ARb
ELs
I Record/rankin
The plot: Well,
are still the cha
wins resemble a
Buckeyes arethe villain that r
defunct offense (last in the coi
yards less than Michigan), Oh
itself on the play of its defensi
front four. Defensive linemen
been responsible for the leagu
just 24 yards a game on 0.9 y<
up the pass defense for lineba
interceptions.
Y :..
NON
Record/ rankin
The plot: North,
All-Big Ten runr.
well, i has that
Wright, who is averaging 118.:
the Vildcats are young and snr
where they must turn to play
McGarigle (10.3 tackles a gam
ence status along with Wright
kind to Northwestern, either,
goal attempts, is averagin 2.,
averaging net punts of us 33
man, quarterback Brett Basar
- generally keeps his team in
son's 1 1-point loss to Ohio Sta
PASS DEFENSE
Player
LeSueur
Curry
Shaw
Shazor
Stewart
Int
1
1
0
Lg
27
0
0
Brk-up
3
3
1
NOV. 1: "St
I n d iana
PASSING
Player
LoVecchio
RUSHING
Player
Taylor
Green-Ellis
Lewis
LoVecchio
RECEIVING
Player
Roby
Johnson
Halterman
Haney
C-A Yds TD Int
58-110 822 2 2
Att Yds Avg Lg TD
53 220 4.2 39 2
44 154 3.5 22 2
39 180 4.6 38 1
36 24 0.7 25 1
No. Yds Avg Lg TD
16 190 11.9 24 O
12 154 12.8 30 1
8
6
94
153
11.8
25.5
27
44
0
0
PUNTING
PlayerI
Beattie
KICKOFF RETURNS
Player No.
Roby 10
Bennett 3
PUNT RETURNS
Player No.
Johnson 7
DEFENSE
Player
Killion
Moore
Meyers
Jones
No. Yds Avg Lg
22 825 37.5 50
Yds Avg Lg
193 19.3 24
110 36.7 70
TD
0
0
Yds
37
Solo
18
20
22
20
Yds
12
11
0
Avg Lg TD
5.3 14 0
Asst
18
16
14
12
Brk-up
0
3
2
Tot
36
36
36
32
PASS DEFENSE
Player
Moore
Killion
Jones
Meyers
Int
0
0
TD
TO
0
0g
Prediction: Michigan 42, Indiana 6