0 Tuesday November 4,2003 www.michigandaily.com sports@michigandaily.com RTBail 8 4 Thompson making impact behind line Bye week a time for school and rest Michigan in the Sugar Bowl? Hey, why not? By Naweed Sikora Daily Sports Editor Following Michigan's win over Michigan State, most of the post-game praise went to Michigan running back Chris Perry and the offensive line that opened those holes for him. But there was one more player in the mix. Michigan fullback Brian Thompson spends most of the game literally sand- wiched between Perry and the offensive line, but he's not complain- ing. The sophomore from Saginaw is just happy to be out there. A linebacker coming into Ann Arbor, Thompson was redshirted as a freshman and didn't get a chance to be part of the defense. When the opportu- nity came up to switch positions dur- ing the spring of 2003, Thompson knew it would give him a better chance to play, so he jumped on it. "It was definitely something differ- ent for me," Thompson said. "Line- backer is where I always wanted to play. Coming over to fullback, I didn't know what the expectations would be. I am having a blast. I love the switch, and I am having a lot of fun." Michigan's offensive system hasn't included many fullback runs so far this season. Instead, Thompson has been a bigger part of the passing game, which he says he is happy to do if that is what the opposing defense is giving the Wolverines. Thompson is following in the foot- steps of his older brother Shawn, who was a tight end at Michigan and served as co-captain for the 2001 sea- son. Brian says he wanted to beat the Spartans for his brother more than anyone else because of the way Shawn had to leave Spartan Stadium two years ago. "He went out with losses to both Michigan State and Ohio State," Brian said. "That was the hardest thing for him. There was no better feeling than walking out of that stadi- um for him." Even though linebacker was his dream, Thompson is picking up quick- ly on the intricacies of his new posi- tion. He says the biggest adjustment he had to make was learning the new technique, but when it all came down to it, both positions were still about one thing. "It is just going out there and run- ning at people and hitting them," Thompson said. The coaches have given Thompson plenty of instruction about which players he needs to block and where he needs to be on every single play. Thompson is currently sixth on the team in catches with 11, but he is still looking for his first touchdown catch. BY THE BYE: Even though the Wolverines have the weekend off, the focus this week will be about maintaining the routine so that the players are able to maintain their timing and focus. Lloyd Carr said the team planned on watching film yesterday and having normal prac- tices today and tomorrow. The play- ers will get an opportunity to rest TONY DING/Daily Michigan fullback Brian Thompson isn't playing on defense, but he still gets to hit people, which means he's enjoying his role with the Michigan football team. over the weekend. "We'll take some days off at the end of the week so our players can concentrate on academics and get some rest," Carr said. "We've gone 10 straight weeks - that's two-and- a-half months - in addition to three or four weeks of training camp. I do think that coming off two weeks of emotional performances, it comes at a good time." Carr says that with the extra time, the team will focus on the phases of the game that it feels it is weak in and making sure the offense maintains its momentum. KYLE O'NEILL The Daily Janitor There is lots of talk about Michigan controlling its own destiny, en route to a Jan. 1 trip to Pasadena. But silently, away from the sun- light, hidden in the ... well, hidden depths of Michigan Stadium, there are quiet-as-a-mouse-like whispers going on about the Wolverines making a certain trip on Jan. 4 to a certain bowl game in New Orleans (but be hushed about it, Florida State or Southern Cal. might get upset by the implications of these rumblings). In all honesty, a 10-2 Michigan team (assuming it wins out) making the national title game wouldn't be the weirdest thing that has ever hap- pened during my lifetime. I mean, I've seen a 12-0 Marshall team get sent to the Motor City Bowl. I've watched a one-loss Kansas State team get sent to the Alamo Bowl, only to witness a Drew Brees-led Purdue team take its four losses and silence the Wildcats' whining about being snubbed by the BCS. I have seen the Detroit Lions make the NFC Championship Game ... and get trounced by the Washing- ton Redskins. I stood in amazement as Cecil Fielder legged out a triple in the Metrodome. I have witnessed newlyweds dance happily to "Every breath you take." (IT'S ABOUT A STALKER!!!!) I was stunned to watch Kordell Stewart give Michael Westbrook 15 minutes of fame in the Big House's south endzone. While battling a fever, I went crazy as Scott Dries- bach hit Mercury Hayes in the northeast corner to complete a 16- point comeback against Virginia. I was happy to see the Cartoon Network give new life to "Family Guy." But I was distraught when "The Neverending Story" actually ended and confused when "The Land Before Time" managed nine movies (three times more than the series that was supposed to never stop) over a time period that techni- cally never existed. I watched the Pistons fire the 2002-03 NBA Coach of the Year, only to hire the man Rick Carlisle defeated in the 2003 playoffs. The Florida Marlins have won two world titles in the past seven years -just let that one sit in for awhile. I have been on a date with an attractive woman, had a beer after 21 years of avoiding it and worn actual pants (instead of shorts) when it is 20 degrees out. I got to watch as Allen Iverson became a better role model for the kids - the kids! - than Kobe Bryant. I was in a Disney World shop when Mickey Mouse televisions were showing O.J. Simpson running from the police in a white Ford Bronco. My Bravada has lasted over 160,000 miles. I was left speechless when Michi- gan was punished by the coaches' poll for winning the Rose Bowl in 1997. And I nearly cried when I found out that computers would be deciding the top two teams from there on out. I remember feeling that Juan Gonzales was the answer to Detroit's problems. I find it funny that Danny Patterson ended up being the best player the Tigers got out of that trade. The 2003 Detroit Tigers are not the worst team of all time ... feels good, doesn't it, Detroit? My high school football team has made the Michigan high school playoffs each of the past three years. During my two years on varsity, we managed just two wins. The Detroit Red Wings became the New York Yankees of hockey, and I could really care less. (F*** the Yankees, though.) I was miserable to see ultimate bad-ass Jason Giambi cover up his tattoos, cut his hair and become one of George Steinbrenner's puppets. I have found better tasting chick- en wings than those from Hooters or Buffalo Wild Wings. I was envious of Vince McMahon for taking a circus sideshow and making it bigger than any sport out there. I found the hilariousness in the XFL and revival of Tommy Maddox of all people. Random question: Does He Hate Me still hate me ... he? David Wells and John Daly are considered athletes. Justin Timberlake doesn't annoy the hell out of me anymore. I don't like his music, but I can tolerate it - which is saying a lot. You've read this far into this col- umn expecting it to have a point ... how weird is that? I've watched Barry Sanders run, which isn't anything too different from the norm, but instead it is more amazing than anything I have listed thus far. Yup, when it comes down to it, Michigan going to the national title game is hardly something that would catch me off guard. The Wolverines have the talent to be there, and aside from two collapses, should be there. So, should all the teams ahead of them lose to send Lloyd Carr and the boys to the Big Easy, it wouldn't be that astounding. Weirder things have happened. I've seen the Tigers above .500 going into September. -Kyle O'Neill can be reached at kylero@umich. edu. Southern Cal. now riding shotgun to Sooners NEW YORK (AP) - Miami's first regular sea- son loss in more than three years cleared a path for Southern Cal. to get to the Sugar Bowl. Southern Cal. was in second place in the Bowl Championship Series standings yesterday, trailing only unanimous No. 1 Oklahoma. "I suspect that this ranking shows the respect people have for our program and the way we're playing," Trojans coach Pete Carroll said. "We hope to continue to play like we have. If we do, good things will happen." The Sooners (9-0), the only undefeated team from a major conference, got every first-place vote in the polls and was the top pick by all seven com- puters used in the BCS standings. The standings are used to determine which teams play in a national title game. The teams that finish 1-2 in the final BCS standings on Dec. 7 will play for the championship in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 4. The formula uses the AP media and USA Today/ESPN coaches' polls, seven computer rank- ings, strength of schedule, losses and a bonus-point system for quality wins. The Sooners have a 1.0 for poll average, 1.0 for computer-rank average, 0.24 for strength of sched- ule and zero for losses for a 2.24 total. USC was second with 7.02 points. The Trojans (8-1) are off this week and close the seasons with three unranked teams: Arizona, UCLA and Oregon State. "Our focus is on the remaining three games we have on our schedule," Carroll said. "I don't pay much attention to the polls and the predictions and all that. And I really don't fully understand the mechanisms of how the BCS rankings are deter- mined." Miami fell two spots to No. 4 with 10.26 points following a 31-7 loss to Virginia Tech that snapped a 39-game regular-season winning streak. Florida State remained in third place with 9.52. If Oklahoma wins its remaining three regular season games and the Big 12 title game, it is guar- anteed one of the two spots in the Sugar Bowl. The other spot is still up for grabs, although USC has the inside track. "I've got enough problems without having to worry about anybody else," Sooners coach Bob Stoops said. Following Miami are the other three major one- loss teams: Ohio State (11.47), Virginia Tech (12.47) and LSU (14.92). Despite falling to sixth in the AP poll and sev- BCS STANDINGS TEAM REC PTS PVS 1. Oklahoma 9-0 2.24 1 2. Southern Cal. 8-1 7.02 4 3. Florida State 8-1 9.52 3 4. Miami (Fla.) 7-1 10.25 2 5. Ohio State 8-1 11.47 6 6. Virginia Tech 7-1 12.47 NR 7. Louisiana State 8-1 14.92 7 8. Michigan 8-2 20.79 13 9. Texas Christian 8-0 24.75 12 10. Georgia 7-2 25.15 5 11. Iowa 7-2 25.6 11 12. Texas 7-2 30.59 NR 13. Tennessee 6-2 33.64 15 14. Purdue 7-2 34.45 NR 15. Washington State 7-1 34.98 8 enth in the coaches' poll, Miami remained in sec- ond place among the computers with a 2.83 aver- age. "If we win the games, we're going to be fine," Miami coach Larry Coker said. "We'll be where we want to be." Brown gets monkey off back with first goal By Michael Nisson Daily Sports Writer The clang of a puck hitting the post is perhaps the most emotional moment in a hockey game. It's a sound that excites hockey fans and players alike every time it happens, and then immediately sends both parties into temporary dismay when they realize that the puck is, in fact, traveling in a direction other than straight into the net. It's a sound that is haunting to its cre- ator and also music to every goalie's ears. It's also a sound that freshman for- ward Mike Brown knows all too well already this fall. "I've hit a bunch of posts actually, and it's a little frustrating," Brown said. Brown, who hails from Northbrook, Ill., has been cursed for most of the season, missing his first 16 shots. Crossbar, left post, right post - you name it, Brown has probably left a mark on it. Brown finally was able to find the back of the net during Saturday's game against Niagara. With 13:02 remaining in the second period, Brown received a cross-ice pass from sophomore winger Brandon Kaleniecki and put the puck past Niagara goalie Jeff VanNynatten, extending Michigan's lead to 4-0. "It's a big relief," said Brown of the goal. "It's just unbelievable to get all that stuff off your back." Playing in the shadow of fellow freshman T.J. Hensick (the Wolver- ines' current point leader), Brown has quietly been having a solid season. "I really like the way Mike Brown has been playing," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "He's come here with a solid work ethic, a physical presence. He's fit right into our team philosophy, and he's done some good things with the puck." Berenson also noted that Brown's ability to play both forward posi- tions has made him even more valu- able to the team. "It's good for us to know that he can play either side and still be effective," Berenson said. "That gives him a lot of flexibility, and it gives us some flexibility, too. If we have injuries or we want to make changes, we know that Mike Brown can add something to any line he plays on." Brown, who was teamed with soph- omores Andrew Ebbett and Kaleniecki when he scored, has played alongside at least six different forwards so far this season. "It's better to get a feel for all the players on the ice instead of playing with the same line the whole year," Brown said. "It teaches you to play different (parts of the game)." Brown himself is rather laid back when asked about his play so far this season. "I'm doing my part and playing my role," Brown said. "I'm just doing what I'm told, and that's all I've got to worry about." One thing that he doesn't have to worry about is butting heads with that thin red bar that had been his enemy until Saturday. "As soon as you get one, you start getting a couple and hopefully, they'll all start going in," Brown said. 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