The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - October 4, 2004 - 5B
Rant Box
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Bob Hunt is not a football player. Actually, he's not much of an athlete
whatsoever. But he is a wannabe soccer hooligan who likes to go
on road trips. As football writer for The Michigan Daily, Bob will
travel to each Michigan road game and chronicle his experiences.
This week's adventure led me to Bloomington, the land
of basketball and fraternity parties. But Bloomington is cer-
tainly not the land of football.
- Upon arrival, I wanted to check out the stadium, fig-
uring there would be some Indiana fans tailgating before
the Hoosiers' biggest game of the year. But all I saw was
an empty stadium - so empty that I could walk right
in, head downstairs, and run onto the field with abso-
lutely no effort whatsoever. The only people in atten-
dance were a group of drunken Michigan fans and the
indifferent grounds crew. At the time, I thought this was
a big deal, but after seeing Saturday's game and the vast
amount of empty seats, I'm not so sure anymore. I have"-
to wonder, what if someone spray-painted a block 'M' in
the middle of the field the night before the game? Bob takes in the Memorial Stadium ambience
Anyone watching the game saw the lack of excite-
- Hearing that Bloomington was a good place to ment for football in Bloomington, but I can wrap it up
party, I went to Scotty's Brewhouse, which featured in one incident. The cover of Saturday's game program,
both Karaoke and $2.50 pitchers. And this was which was created by the school and is supposed
on a Friday night! After excessive drinking ", to get people excited about Indiana football,
and a rendition of Frank Sinatra's "High featured a picture of the "Crimson Crew"
Hopes," I ran into two sorority girls who student section. But right in the middle
told us the place to be was Kilroy's on of the indifferent students with Thun-
Kirkwood. (The Greek system is espe- , derstix, there's a GIRL ON HER CELL
cially prominent at IU, as all the fra- ' PHONE! At least she cared enough to
ternities and sororities are clustered in hold onto her Thunderstix while plan-
the middle of campus on Jordan Street.) ning her post-game festivities.
In my opinion, Kilroy's was clearly the
most popular place for Hoosiers on a Fri- -Bob Hunt is really disappointed
day night, with a wall-to-wall crowd that that after the football season he will no
flew out the door. It was like Scorekeepers on longer have a professional photographer to
a Thursday night, except that it was open until 3 capture his adventures. He can be reached at
a.m., as all bars in Bloomington are. bobhunt@umich.edu.
STAFF PICKS
Predictions against the
spread for 10/2/04
No 19M ichigan (-18,5) at indiana '
Ohio State (-11) at Northwestern
Purdue (-1.5) at Notre Dame
Michigan State (+7.5) at Iowa
lifinois (+15.5) at Wisconsin
LSU (+3.5) at Georgia
West Virginia (+2) at Virginia Tech
Miami (-13.5) at Georgia Tech
Auburn (+2,5) at Tennessee
Cal (-4) at Oregon State
Arkansas (+7) at Florida
Colorado (+7) at Missouri
Texas Tech (+28) at Oklahoma
Michigan women'sksoccer (-0.5) vs. Ohio St.
'Mchigan fielfi hockey (-1.5) vs Harvard
Best Bet
This week's record-footbalI only (Best bet)
Season record (Best bet)
Chris
Burke
Gennaro
Filice
Bob
Hunt
Sharad
Mattu
Michigan
Ohio State
Purdue
Michigan State
Illinois
Georgia
Virginia Tech
Miami
Tennessee
Oregon State
Florida
Missouri
Texas Tech
Ohio State
Michigan
Missouri
8-5(1-0)
32-24-2 (3-1)
Indiana
Northwestern
Purdue
Iowa
Wisconsin
Georgia
West Virginia
Georgia Tech
Auburn
California
Florida
Missouri
Oklahoma
Michigan
Michigan
California
94(1-0)
31-25-2 (3-1)
Michigan
Ohio State
Notre Dame
Michigan State
Illinois
Georgia
West Virginia
Miami
Tennessee
California
Flodida
Missouri
Texas Tech
Michigan
Michigan
Ohio State
7-6 (0-4)
30-26-2 (2-2)
Indiana
Northwestern
Notre Dame
Iowa
Wisconsin
LSU
West Virginia
Georgia Tech
Auburn
Califomia
Arkansas
Missouri
Texas Tech
Michigan
Michigan
Iowa
7-6(1-0)
31-25-2 (3-1)
Wolverine Sports
Magazine's Doug Karsch
Michigan
Ohio State
Notre Dame
Iowa
Illinois
Georgia
Virginia Tech
Georgia Tech
Auburn
California
Florida
Colorado
Oklahoma
Michigan
Michigan
Georgia
7-6(1-0)
34-22-2 (3-1)
Karschs mediocre week
keeps celebrities on top
In a normal year, a 7-6 week picking
college football games against the
spread would be something to hang your
hat on. But this is far from a normal year.
First of all, Wolverine Sports Magazine
host Doug Karsch's 7-6 week kept the
celebrities' lead at two games. Karsch
also extended the celebrities' record to
an outlandish 12 games above .500.
But the Daily beat writers are catching
up to their guests. Although he gave
the Hoosiers too much credit, Gennaro
Filice moved into the pack with a 9-4
effort because of wins by Northwestern
and Iowa.
Chris Burke ran himself in front of his
colleagues with an 8-5 week, but
subpar efforts by Oregon State and
Tennessee held him back from catching
Karsch. Burke does deserve credit for
being the only one to take Ohio State
in women's soccer (The Wolverines
and the Buckeyes tied). But it should
be noted that it was he who made the
spread. The soccer and field hockey
games do not count in the season
standings.
Sharad Mattu and Bob Hunt didn't fare
as well, as both were hoping on the luck
of the Irish.
All the Daily writers claim the celebrities'
run will end soon enough.
MATTU
Continued from page 1B
love being a leader. I love being responsible for what happens,
whether it's good or bad."
Now, after saying all the right things, Edwards is doing the
right things on the field, in the huddle and anywhere else he
can. Sure, he cut his hair in the offseason in the hopes of con-
vincing any doubters of his new ways. But willingly sacrificing
his body to make key blocks on punt returns is far more con-
vincing.
Edwards is in a far tougher spot than it may appear. It's
natural for a quarterback or running back to be a leader - no
defense can keep the ball out of their hands.
But a receiver needs an offensive line to give the quarterback
time. A receiver needs the quarterback to read defenses and
make accurate throws. A receiver needs a running back to be
a threat so that the offense can be balanced. Michigan has two
freshmen at quarterback and running back, and already has
switched players at three of the offensive line's five positions.
But Edwards, who also came back to improve his position in
the NFL draft, is not worried that about how the changes will
affect his statistics.
"Because we've got a freshman at quarterback and running
back, a lot of times I have command of the huddle," Edwards
said. "I have to make sure everyone is calm, and I have to tell
people to be relaxed.
"When they throw me the ball, I have to make plays. Leaders
have to make plays with the ball."
While it's rare and difficult for a wideout to be a leader,
Edwards is doing it and doing it well. From the start of the sea-
son, it's been clear that quarterback Chad Henne knows what
he has in Edwards.
"He's just a playmaker," Henne said. "You give him the ball
and he'll get you YAC - yards after the catch. I just have to
give him the ball in an open area and he'll just find his way to