4
Thursday
October 23, 2003
michigandaily.com
sportsdesk@umich.edu
POl aRTSoutDa
1OA
4
Massaquoi looks to
the gods for strategy
It's official: Avant truly a
Michigan fo
By Nawed Sikora
Daily Sports Editor
Ancient Greek and Roman history
aren't exactly easy subjects. When it
comes to learning about them, it helps
to relate the people and events of that
time period to what is going on today.
Michigan tight end Tim Massaquoi
relates them to the sport he plays and
loves. Massaquoi, who says his
favorite Greek mythological character
was Aries, the god of war, associates
ancient battles with modern-day bat-
tles on the gridiron.
"When it comes to war, (Aries) was
always scheming," Massaquoi said.
"He's got strategies. You know he's
thinking about the mental part of war
rather than the physical part of it.
"You can relate that to football. It's
kind of like a chess game."
The junior says he wants to become
a teacher in these subjects after gradu-
ating from Michigan. But before he
starts writing up his first lesson, he
still has some football to focus on.
The season has not gone exactly as
planned for Massaquoi, who says he
hasn't been performing at his best. He
has been criticized for dropping too
many passes - some in critical situa-
tions that could have made a differ-
ence.
"I wasn't doing the little things to
get open" he said. "That's something I
have been working really hard at in
practice - getting open and running
hard routes."
Last season, former Michigan tight
end Bennie Joppru was one of John
Navarre's favorite targets. Joppru was
sure-handed and was often the recipi-
Iron Chef
By Gennaro Filice
Daily Sports Writer
ent on third-down situations. But for
several reasons, that role was not
passed down to Massaquoi. Instead,
receiver Jason Avant has become
Navarre's main third-down option.
Massaquoi feels he is not getting the
ball as much because the defense has
taken that away from the Wolverines.
But with the way Michigan's receivers
are playing, he feels that is going to
change.
"I think it has a lot to do with what
the defense gives us," he said. "John
has done a good job of reading defens-
es, and he's not going to try and force
anything. But I think as the season
goes on, the defenses are going to start
taking away from our receivers with
the way they are playing."
A graduate of Parkland High School
in Allentown, Pa., Massaquoi was
regarded as one of the best receivers in
the country coming out of high school.
But when he came to Ann Arbor, he
was asked to take on a different role as
tight end. Still, he says he didn't mind
being asked to do more, and that he
was up to the challenge.
"That transition wasn't that hard, as
long as I was playing offense" he said.
"It meant blocking and getting my
weight up, but it was a role I could fill.
and a place where I could help the
team."
Massaquoi's college decision came
down to Michigan or Penn State, but
he says he chose Ann Arbor because it
was not only a great football school,
but it was the right fit for him. Leaving
his home state was a difficult decision
for him, but one he feels was right.
Saying no to Penn State, though,
meant saying no to Joe Paterno, which
B erensonc
JONATHON TRIEST/Daily
Tight end Tim Massaquoi decided to play for Michigan, turning down coach Joe
Paterno and Penn State in the process.
Massaquoi says wasn't an easy thing
to do.
"I didn't tell him I didn't want to
play for him," Massaquoi said. "I just
told him that Michigan was a better
place for me, and he respected that.
He's a great man, an intelligent man,
and sitting in his office was a great
experience."
But, like Aries, Massaquoi wants to
focus on developing a sense of mental
toughness to improve his game. He
says it's mental toughness that keeps
him strong when he drops a pass or
makes a mistake.
"I would be hurting," said Mas-
saquoi. "But my teammates picked me
up, and I just want to come back and
concentrate even harder on the next
catch."
COURTNEY LEWIS
The Daily Grind
( 4I was a basketball player," Jason
Avant said simply, as if that was all
the explanation needed.
He was responding to someone who
asked him why he didn't play football
until his sophomore year of high school.
It turns out one of Michigan's best
young receivers never wanted to play
football at all. He started playing for one
reason -his basketball coach, also the
school's football coach, made him.
"Actually, I quit the first day," Avant
said. "He put me at linebacker, and I
didn't want to play linebacker. I toughed
it out that day, and after that day was
over, I told him I wasn't going to play
any more. But he put me out there
again, and I just did it because I didn't
want to stop playing basketball.
"I didn't really get my way, but it's
just life."
Life is working out pretty well for the
Chicago native. Avant, who didn't even
like football until after his first season
was over, instantly made a name for
himself on the gridiron, drawing better
scholarship offers than he had on the
court. Now in his sophomore year, he
still plays basketball for fun, but he's
fully dedicated to football.
While Avant may be the unkown
among Michigan's fantastic receiving
trio that also includes Braylon Edwards
and Steve Breaston, Avant's play has put
him right up there with them. He's sec-
ond on the team with 32 receptions for
525 yards. Avant has just one touch-
down catch to Edwards' seven, but
Avant catches the longballs - he aver-
ages 16.4 yards per catch and hauled in
a 71-yard pass at Iowa. And he seems to
catch everything that's thrown his way.
Michigan considered playing the ver-
satile Avant at safety, and he thinks he
could hold his own at running back -
his position that first year of high school
football - but he loves being a receiver.
Avant doesn't mind at all that he does-
n't get loads of attention. In fact, he's
awfully self-aware. He said he doesn't
use the speed of Edwards and Breaston
tball player
as a motivator -he wants to get faster
because "that's one of the things I want
to do, not just because of them."And he
didn't care that Michigan already had tal-
ented receivers when he got here - he
focused on his own game.
Avant is too busy just being himself
to worry about measuring up to anyone
else. The 6-foot-1, 203-pound Avant is a
physical wideout - "I feel like I have to
be the aggressor," he says - who actu-
ally likes to block when he doesn't get
the ball.
And he's known by his teammates as
someone who always works hard in
practice. He remembers something his
high school coach used to tell him:
"Proper preparation prevents poor per-
formance."
Much of his outlook on football and
life comes from his days growing up in
a hardscrabble Chicago neighborhood.
Avant said during his stint at Carver
High, he saw athletes "fall by the way-
side. A lot of guys had the ability and
talent to do things, but their attitude and
things off the court hindered their play."
Avant, who has an impressive maturi-
ty about him, took notice.
"That's what changed my whole atti-
tude around, and that's who I try to be
- I try to be humble, try to stay calm,
all those types of things. And it's been
working," he said.
Avant is quietly confident and very
demanding. When Michigan won a
sloppy game against Indiana on Sept.27
and some of his older teammates
weren't overly concerned with the
team's lackluster play, Avant expected
more - and he had no qualms about
saying so.
In his season-and-a-half at Michigan,
Avant has earned respect and high praise
from coach Lloyd Carr.
"He's one of the best players in this
league, and before he leaves here he'll
be one of the best football players in the
country, I believe," Carr said. "He's a
guy that, if he could physically do it, you
would never take him off the field.
There's nothing he can't or won't do to
help this football team.
"He's an emotional guy that has a
great competitive spirit and will to win.
He's always looking to get better, and
he's a coach's dream, I'll tell you that."
There's little doubt now Jason Avant
is a football player.
4
14
cooking up new lines
4
Betty Crocker? Nope. Hamburger Helper? No
dice. Kraft Easy Mac? Not in this house. Every
fall, Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson cooks
up the Wolverines' new lines the old fashioned
way: from scratch.
After losing three key players in the offseason -
Danny Richmond to professional hockey, Jed Ort-
meyer and John Shouneyia to graduation - and
welcoming one of the finest recruiting classes in
the nation, who can blame him? A clean slate and
fair chance for everyone is in order.
With talent running as thick as it ever has, Beren-
son says it's going to take some time for him to fig-
ure out everybody's niche.
"Typically this is the time of year we will make
some changes here and there as we go," Berenson
said.
Over the first couple weeks of the season, Beren-
son partook in some shuffling that would make
Ickey Woods proud, but recently he found some
solid amalgamations.
One line in particular stood out last Saturday.
In only their second game on the ice together,
junior Eric Nystrom, sophomore Jeff Tambellini
and freshman T.J. Hensick played brilliantly, as
the Wolverines prevailed over Quinnipiac last
Saturday, 3-2. Tambellini grabbed all the head-
lines, netting every Michigan score with his first
career hat trick, but the line's collective work
wasn't forgotten.
"The way we played with the line is really why
Tamby had success," Nystrom said. "T.J. was set-
ting him up, and I was kind of stirring some traffic
in front of the net, and that's how we have to do it if
we want to be successful."
"On Saturday night, that line was the differ-
ence-maker," Berenson said. "Tambellini was the
recipient. Another night it might be Nystrom or
Hensick."
The line features three completely different play-
ing styles, but Berrenson sees big things for this big
name trio.
"I like the ingredients on the line," Berenson
said. "You've got a young, talented centerman (in
Hensick) that needs leadership and guidance.
We've got one of our captain's on that line with
Nystrom, who's a solid two-way player, and then
you've got arguably our top goal-scorer on the
other side. So, I think it has got the potential to be
a real good line."
Tambellini likens this situation to his experience last
year, when he thrived on the first line as a true fresh-
man, leading the team in points (45) and goals (26).
"It's a good line," Tambellini said. "It has got a
little bit of everything. It's like my line was set up
last year with Ortmeyer and Shouneyia. We've got a
power forward with Nystrom and a good playmaker
with T.J. So, I think it's a real good mix."
Although each player in the trio has a different
playing style, they share a common approach to the
game. Every day after practice, these three are
among the last Wolverines to step off the ice.
"We all enjoy the game so much. It's so fun to be
out here," Tambellini said. "Everyone's got the
same mindset."
Berenson maintains that no line is set, but Tam-
bellini believes this group has staying power.
"This line has got a chance to stick, I think
throughout the whole year," Tambellini said. "Just
the way it sets up - it's going to work."
Courtney Lewis can be reached at
cmlewis@umich.edu
Riley's place established
early on in keeper's life
By Megan Kolodgy
Daily Sports Writer
Some things just turn out right.
Michigan goalkeeper Beth Riley did
not have high hopes for her first field
hockey practice. The then-eighth grader
simply tagged along with some friends.
When the coach looked at the girls
expectantly, asking, "So, who wants to
be the goalkeeper this year?" Riley kept
her mouth shut.
Then, she noticed something. Her
friends were all pointing at her. She
good-naturedly took her position in the
box, and from that moment on, it was
clear: The goal was the place for Riley.
"I've loved it ever since;'she said.
It's not difficult to see why Riley, a
Pennsylvania native, would enjoy the
sport so much. Since August, when the
freshman began her athletic career at the
University, she has seen action in 11
See RILEY, Page :MA
0
DAVID TUMAN/Daily
Michigan junior Eric Nystrom has had success with a
new line so far this season.
Contrace tive Injection
medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension
Birtk cor--trol you thin-k ae ourt jus-t L4- x a year
DEPO-PROVERA* Contraceptive Injection ,
(medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension. USP)
This product is intended to prevent pregnancy. It does not protect against HIV
infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases.
What Is DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection?
DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection is a form of birth control that is given as an
intramuscular injection (a shot) in the buttock or upper arm once every 3 months (13 weeks). To
continue your contraceptive protection, you must retum for your next injection promptly at the
end of 3 months (13 weeks). DEPO-PROVERA contains medroxyprogesterone acetate, a
chemical similar to (but not the same as) the natural hormone progesterone, which is produced
by your ovaries durin the second haf of your menstrual cycle. DEPO-PROVERA acts by
preventing your egg ce Is from ripening. If an egg is not released from the ovaries during your
menstrual cycle, it cannot become fertilized by sperm and result in pregnancy DEPO-PROVERA
also causes changes in the lining of your uterus that make it less likely or pregnancy to occur
How effective is DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection?
The efficacy of DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection depends on following the
recommended dosage schedule exactly (see "How often do I get my shot of DEPO-PROVERA
Contraceptive Injection?"). To make sure you are not pregnant when you first get
DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection, your first injection must be given ONLY during
the first 5 days of a normal menstrual period ONLY within the first 5 days after childbirth if not
breast-feeding; and, if exclusively breast-feeding, ONLY at the sixth week after childbirth. It is a
Iong-term injectable contraceptive when administered at 3-month (I3-week) intervals.
DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Inection is over 99% effective, making it one of the most reliable
methods of birth control available. This means that the average annual pregnancy rate is less than
one for every 100 women who use DEPO-PROVERA. The effectiveness of most contraceptive
methods depends in part on how reliably each woman uses the method. The effectiveness of
DEPO-PROVERA depends only on the patient retuming every 3 months (13 weeks) for her next
injection. Your health-care provider will help you compare DEPO-PROVERA with other
contraceptive methods and give you the information you need in order to decide which
contraceptive method is the rightchoice for you.
The following table shows the percent of women who got pregnant while using different kinds of
contraceptive methods. It gives both the lowest expected rate of pregnancy (the rate expected
in women who use each method exactly as it should be used and the typical rate of pregnancy
(which includes women who became pregnant because they forgot to use their birth control or
because they did not follow the directions exactly).
Percent of Women Experiencing an Accidental Pregnancy
in the First Year of Continuous Use
" if you have had cancer of the breast
- if you have had a stroke
- if you have or have had blood clots (phlebitis) in your legs
- if you have problems with your liver or liver disease
- if you are allergic to DEPO-PROVERA (medroxyprogesterone acetate or any of its other
ingredients).
What other things should I consider before using DEPO-PROVERA
Contraceptive injection?
You will have a physical examination before your doctor prescribes DEPO-PROVERA. It is
important to tell your health-care provider if you have any of the following:
- a family history of breast cancer
" an abnormal mammogram (breast x-ray). fibrocystic breast disease, breast nodules or lumps, or
bleeding from your nipples
* kidney disease
Sirregular or scanty menstrual periods
" high blood pressure
- migraine headaches
"*asthma
Sepilepsy (convulsions or seizures)
Sdiabetes or a family history of diabetes
- a history of depression
+ if you are takin anyprescription or over-the-counter medications
This product is intended to prevent pregnancy. It does not protect against
transmission of HIV (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases such as
chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, and syphilis.
What if I want to become pregnant after using DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive
Injection?
Because DEPO-PROVERA is a long-acting birth control method, it takes some time after your last
injection for its effect to wear off. Based on the results from a large study done in the United States,
for women who stop using DEPO-PROVERA in order to become pregnant, it is expected that
about half of those who become pregnant will do so in about 10 months after their last injection:
about two thirds of those who become pregnant will do so in about 12 months; about 83% of
those who become pregnant will do so in about 15 months; and about 93% of those who become
pregnant will do so in about 18 months after their last injection. The length of time you use
DEPO-PROVERA has no effect on how long it takes you to become pregnant after you stop using it
What are the risks of using DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection?
I Irregular Menstrudl Bleeding
The side effect reported most frequently by women who use DEPO-PROVERA for
contraception is a change in their normal menstrual cycle. During the first year of using
DEPO-PROVERA, you might have one or more of the following changes: irregular or
unpredictable bleeding or spotting, an increase or decrease in menstrual bleeding, or no bleeding
at all. Unusually heavy or continuous bleeding, however, is not a usual effect of DEPO-PROVERA;
and if this hap pens, you should see your heath-care provider right away With continued use of
DEPO-PROVERA, bleeding usuall decreases, and many women stop having periods completely
In clinical studies of DEPO-PR VERA, 55% of the women studied reported no menstrual
bleeding (amenorrhea) after I year of use, and 68% of the women studied reported no menstrual
bleeding after 23Yes of ruse. The reason tht You r Deriosop0is hecause [DEPO-PROVERA
6.Other Risks
Women who use hormone-based contraceptives may have an increased risk of blood clots or
stroke. Also, if a contraceptive method fails, there is a possibility that the fertilized egg will begin
to develop outside of the uterus (ectopic pregnancy). While these events are rare, you should
tell your health-care provider if you have any of the problems listed in the next section.
What symptoms may signal problems while using DEPO-PROVERA
Contraceptive injection?
Call your health-care provider immediately if any of these problems occur following an injection
of DEPO-PROVERA:
" sharp chest pain, coughing up of blood, or sudden shortness of breath (indicating a possible clot
in the lung)
sudden severe headache or vomiting, dizziness or fainting, problems with your eyesight or
speech, weakness, or numbness in an arm or leg (indicating a possible stroke)
" severe pain or swelling in the calf (indicating a possible clot in the leg)
- unusually heavy vaginal bleeding
- severe pain or tenderness in the lower abdominal area
persistent pain. pus. or bleeding at the injection site
What are the possible side effects of DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection?
l.Weight Gain
You may experience a weight gain while you are using DEPO-PROVERA. About two thirds of
the women who used DEPO-PROVERA in clinical trials reported a weight gain of about 5 pounds
during the first year of use. You may continue to gain weight after the first year Women in one
large study who used DEPO-PROVERA for 2 years gained an average total of .1 pounds over
those 2 years, or approximately 4 pounds per year Women who continued for 4 years gained an
average total of I 3.8pounds over those 4 years, or approximately 3.5 pounds per year Women
who continued for 6 years gained an average total of 16.5 pounds over those 6 years, or
approximately 2.75 pounds per year.
2.Dther Side Effects
in a clinical study of over 3,900 women who used DEPO-PROVERA for up to 7 years, some
women reported the following effects that may or may not have been related to their use of
DEPO-PROVERA: Irregular menstrual bleeding, amenorrhea, headache, nervousness, abdominal
cramps, dizziness, weakness or fatigue, decreased sexual desire, leg cramps, nausea, vaginal
discharge or irritation, breast swelling and tenderness, bloating, swelling of the hands or feet,
backache, depression, insomnia, acne, pelvic pain, no hair growth or excessive hair loss, rash, hot
flashes, and joint pain. Other problems were reported by very few of the women in the clinical
trials, but some of these could be serious. These include convulsions, jaundice, urinary tract
infections, allergic reactions, fainting, paralysis, osteoporosis, lack of return to fertility, deep vein
thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, breast cancer or cervical cancer. If these or any other problems
occur during your use of DEPO-PROVERA, discuss them with your health-care rovider:
Should any precautions be followed during use of DEPO-PROVERA
Contraceptive Injection?
I Missed Periods
During the time you are using DEPO-PROVERA for contraception, you may skip a period, or your
periods may stop completely. If you have been receiving your DEPO-PROVERA injections
regularly every 3 months (13 weeks), then you are probably not pregnant. However if you think
that you may be pregnant, see your health-care provider
2Laborory Test Interoctions
If you ae"scihedu led for any laboratory tests, tell your health-cre pnovider that you are using
STUDENTS WITH
CROHN'S DISEASE
OR
ULCERATIVE COLITIS
Please join
Dr. Ellen Zimmermann
Associate Professor of
Gastroenterology, U of M
for an special session
discussing:
Surgical Options for IBD
Next Meeting will be
Tbnr rl av rnlak -a l wlatn
A
Lowest -
Method Expected TypIcsl
DEPO-PROVERA 0.3 03
Implants (Norplant)4 0.2 *02'
Female steriationl 0.2 I 04
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