Tuesday
October 7, 2003
www.michigandaily.com
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SPORTS

9


Blue defense
looks to force
more turnovers
Carr unhappy with officials
By Naweed Sikora
Daily Sports Editor
There's not much more the Michigan defense
can do to keep the Wolverines in games. But the
way things are going, it seems like it might have to.
The unit, which is currently ranked third in the
nation in points allowed, has been the one constant
throughout the first half of Michigan's season.
Through all the special-teams
mistakes and offensive troubles,
the defense has been there, stand-
ing tall.O
But that's still not enough for $
senior linebacker and captain Carl
Diggs.
"It's good to be third in the nation, but I feel like
we need to make more plays and cause more
turnovers," Diggs said. "We are never satisfied,
especially with two losses."
The unit was relentless on Saturday afternoon
in the losing effort. Iowa started with the ball
past its own 40-yard line six times. And in the
third quarter, the Hawkeyes got the ball deep
inside Michigan territory on back-to-back pos-
sessions after a turnover and a blocked punt. But
the defense kept Iowa to only six total points on
those two drives.
"You have to be fired up as a defense after a
sudden change and the ball is in your end," senior
Grant Bowman said. "When your backs are
against the wall in that situation, and you give up a
first down, they are in scoring position. It is tough,
but championship teams thrive in that situation
with their backs against the wall."
But even the toughest defenses can't hold on
forever, and the Hawkeyes finally were able to
break through in the fourth quarter with a touch-
down.
Still, after its physically draining third-quarter
performance, it's difficult to fault Michigan's
defense for giving in a little. After completely
dominating time of possession against Notre
Dame (37:47 to 22:13), the Wolverines have lost in
this area three straight times, putting more pres-
sure on the defense to hold up.
But Diggs and the rest of the bunch still feel
there is room for improvement, and their first tar-
get is causing more turnovers.
"We get a lot of people to the ball, but what we
have to start doing is once we have the tackle
secured, we have to go in and start trying to strip
the ball," Diggs said. "If we are in proper technique,
getting better breaks on the ball and doing the little
things, that's when you cause more turnovers."
Whether the defense can accomplish this goal or

NCAA should let athletes
opt out of academics

KYLE O'NEILL
The Daily Janitor
W ait, it's been how long? Twen-
ty-eight seconds since ... oh,
dear lord. I better act fast.
Maurice Clarett. Maurice Clarett.
Maurice Cla-freakin-rett.
There. I've done my part. I had
almost let Ohio State's No. 13 go
unmentioned in this world for more
30 seconds. Heaven forbid I let that
happen, as you won't find a more
diverse story out there other than
Clarett. I mean, who else can alleged-
ly break three different rules under
three different governing bodies in
such a short time?
The possibilities of academic cheat-
ing, accepting improp-_
er gifts and insurance r
fraud have Ohio State, Professors
the NCAA and federal to waste
authorities in an uproar athletes wl
over the only person reand
resembling an offen- ca
sive player from last athletes cot
year's national champi- about pert
onship team. dyfora
And it all could bodyfra
have been avoided on cal
Clarett's first day in
Columbus. Here's how it should have

't
ire

CURTIS HILLER/Daily
Michigan captain Grant Bowman and linebacker Roy Manning combine to sack Iowa quarterback Nathan
Chandler in Saturday's 30-27 loss to the Hawkeyes.

not, there are more glaring issues that need to be
addressed right now, and Diggs feels it is time for
all of the Wolverines to get serious.
"It's time for us to step up to the plate," he said.
"If we don't do that, it's going to be a disappoint-
ing season. It's time to show people that we are
ready to go."
CARR NOT PLEASED WITH OFFICIATING: Lloyd Carr
didn'thesitate to let people know about his frus-
tration with the officiating in Saturday's game. His
biggest gripe was the holding call on Steve Breast-
on, which occurred late in the fourth quarter and
negated a run by Chris Perry that would have put
Michigan inside the Hawkeyes' 20-yard line.
He also felt the officials missed several block-

in-the-back calls during Iowa's long punt returns,
which led to excellent field position for the
Hawkeyes throughout the game and put pressure
on Michigan's defense.
Carr also mentioned that he was not planning on
acting on his disappointment with any official
complaint, but he thought the calls made had a
major impact on the outcome of the game.
INJURY UPDATE: Carr said he is hopeful that cor-
nerback Jeremy LeSueur and defensive end Jere-
my Van Alstyne will be ready to go this weekend
against Minnesota. LeSueur injured his left arm
early in the Iowa game and was forced to sit out.
Van Alstyne, who injured his left knee against
Indiana, did not travel to Iowa.

gone:
"Okay Maurice, in front of you is the
NCAA's intention of enrollment policy.
If you check the top box you will be
accepting the terms of the NCAA, you
will be a full-time student of THE Ohio
State University and you will be subject
to all reviews and penalties of the team,
school and NCAA.
"If you check the bottom box, your
only responsibility will be to the ath-
letic team of your choice - in this
case, THE Ohio State University foot-
ball team and its rules, and you
will not be under the subject of the
NCAA's policies of accepting gifts.
"But you will not be able to parakb'
in any of THE Ohio State University's
classes or academic programs, and
you will not leave THE Ohio State
University with any sort of degree.
You will be subject to the NCAA's
rules on substance abuse, but that is it.
"And do not worry about your liv-
ing situation, as THE Ohio State Uni-
versity will treat you as it treats all of
its athletes who are regular students."
(Pause, and a smile from Clarett.)
"Oh, you chose the second box,
meaning we are your stepping stone
to the NFL. I'm sure you are aware of
the risk, as there is no going back.
And if you get injured ... well, we'll
cover your medical bills, as long as
you have eligibility here at THE Ohio
State University.
"Well, though I am disappointed
you don't want to take classes here at
THE Ohio State University, there is a
room of boosters next door who want
to shake your hand as many times as
possible."
Well, the technical aspects aren't

written out - I'm not claiming to
be a lawyer - but the point is
clear: Either you're here for an edu-
cation and to play a sport, or you're
here to prepare yourself for a career
in athletics.
Professors wouldn't have to waste
time with athletes who just don't care,
and those same athletes could just
worry about perfecting their body for
a professional career.
Former Michigan runner Alan
Webb could have stayed here at the
University, used Michigan's facilities
free of charge, trained with his own
coach outside of Michigan practices
and not have had to worry about
accepting endorsements from any
company.
Ed Martin - though his laundering
was illegal no matter how it's looked
at - would have been a non-factor
for any basketball player that checked
box 'B' in order to have a sweet ride
to drive into the NBA. Who knows? If
all had been given the
oudn't have chance, maybe the Fab
Five would have been
ime with a booster-driven four-
D just don't year journey instead of
a two-year embarrass-
iose same ment.
d just worry Boosters, in general,
Cting their would become a
rofessional team's greatest asset in
producing four-year
er. seniors and keeping
unpolished, but raw
talent, from entering the NBA draft.
As a purist, even mentioning some-
thing like this makes me sick.
Although I am sure nothing about my
proposal would change the tutelage of
those like Michigan women's swim-
ming and diving coach Jim Richard-
son. His swimmers are either as good
in the classroom as they are in the
pool (and they're damn good), or they
won't swim for him.
But even I can realize when a
change has to be made.
The NFL should not have to adjust
it ae of entry for Clarett or anyone'
fresh out of their prom tuxedo - if
only for the safety of the 18- or 19-
year-old.
Even Michigan freshman LaMarr
Woodley - ungodly built in terms of
college freshmen - is not ready for
the pros and the mature and vicious
players he would have to face.
Neither is Clarett and his banged up
shoulder - no matter how well he
can wave a celebratory towel.
The NCAA needs to adjust its poli-
cy so that players like Clarett can take
the risk they want to take in forgoing
a degree and education altogether so
that they can study for the pros and
test their body to the limit.
It's pointless stubbornness by the
NCAA to make those who don't want
to take an English class try to improve
they're - oops, their - skills.
Kyle O'Neill is not under NCAA investi-
gation and welcomes LeBron James to
pay him for good press
for when The King becomes
aflop. Kyle can be reached at
kylero@umich.edu.

Stickers pull out win in double-overtime

By Waldemar Centeno
Daily Sports Writer

Freshman Jill Civic appeared in
the Sept. 9 edition of Sports Illus-
trated On Campus as one of the
country's top-15 incoming freshman
in NCAA Division I sports.

The highly-touted Civic lived up
to her billing yesterday, scoring the
game-winning goal in the Michigan
field hockey team's 3-2 double-
overtime victory
against No. 18 sV
Louisville (6-5). 1
It was the team's first double-over-

time game since 2000, and Michi-
gan's ninth win over the last 10
games.
"Jill (Civic) was one of our top
recruits last year, and we are so
incredibly happy to see her blossom
like this," coach Marcia Pankratz
said. "It was a big boost for her to
score in such a pressure situation."
With 2:24 left in the second over-
time, Civic beat Louisville goal-
tender Christy Hershey to win it for
the sixth-ranked Wolverines (2-0
Big Ten, 9-3 overall).
Michigan pulled out the victory
despite 13 saves by Hershey.
"Hershey is an All-American, and
she showed it today," Pankratz said.
"We gave her a lot to handle, and
she did a great job. She really
played an excellent game."
Junior Jessica Blake scored the
Wolverines' first goal of the game.
Blake has scored five goals in
Michigan's last five games, all of
which the Wolverines have won.
"Blake has been playing awesome
the last few games." Pankratz said.
"She has really come into her own, and
it has helped our team tremendously.
She has really been on top of her game
for us, and that was huge to get a goal
in the beginning of the match."
Blake scored after receiving a
pass from senior April Fronzoni.
The assist tied Fronzoni with Mary
Callam (1976-1979) for the Michi-
gan record of 136 assists.
"We didn't really notice it,"
Pankratz said of the milestone. "We
like to think of individual records as
team records. It just helps our team do
better. I am really happy for her, and
that's why teams have to notice April."
Senior defensive specialist
Stephanie Johnson scored Michi-
gan's second goal of the contest. On
that ta11- innioAr A drienne HoTnr-

tillosa secured her seventh point in
the Wolverines last nine games with
an assist.
Olivia Netzler scored both goals
for the Cardinals.
Michigan's offense played well
against Louisville, but the Wolver-
ines' defense made the difference.
Michigan allowed just four shots
on goal throughout the entire game.
Michigan will return home to host
another Big Ten conference game on
Saturday against Indiana. The Wolver-
ines will go for their sixth straight
victory.

$90,000 1
BEFORE YOU GRADUATEI

JASON COOPER/Daily
Jill Civic (13) and Jenny Zangara (10) try to score earlier this season. Civic scored the
..a..ia. a na in Mijhisan' A , ..ku.nvrn4ima ub vvt nurV I nuisvilla uetedav

The Navy offers you, as a qualified college
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your junior and senior years. And you never have

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