The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - November 8, 2004 - 3B
Welcome to the Biggie' House
GENNARO FILICE
The SportsMonday Column
"The future belongs to people who see possibilities before
they become obvious."
- Ted Levitt, Harvard Business School
e transcript of ABC's broadcast of Michigan vs.
Ohiq State, minutes before kickoff, 25 years from
now ...
Keith Jackson III (Tre): Whoa Nellie! Welcome, college
football fans, to the ABC Pre-Kickoff Show brought to you
by Pepsi, which reminds you, "Coca Cola blows." I'm Tre
Jackson, alongside my partner - a legend in the booth -
Brent Musburger. Brent, quite a nightcap we have ahead of us.
(Awkward silence)
KJ: BRENT! I said, Brent, quite a nightcap we have ahead
of us!
Brent Musburger: (elderly mumbling followed by ... ) Hold
on folks ... Let's send it down to our ol' buddy Jack Arute!
KJ: (Puzzled look) Brent, Jack's no longer with us.
BM: Gary, my man, in the college game, you need just one
foot in bounds.
KJ: Anyway, we've got a Jewelry-Exchange-located-in-
Livonia gem of a game to finish off the 2029 Bash at the
Wendy's Biggie House.
BM: Ricky Williams cuts left ... hello record book!
KJ: Hard for me to follow up that random citation from
Brent's glory days of the mid-90s, but this epic battle between
the mighty Ohio State Buckeyes and the Wolverines of the
University of Michigan will be the dessert following the full
plate of pigskin that was served in the Wendy's Biggie House
earlier today. The festivities kicked off with a dandy high
scfbjol showdown at 9 a.m. between the junior varsity squads
from Pioneer and Ann Arbor Huron. While Huron triumphed
in this initial battle, Pioneer fought back by taking the varsity
bout that commenced at noon and set the high school football
national attendance mark. Michigan Tech and Grand Valley
State then took the field at 3:30, renewing a rivalry that began
back in '04. The Techies prevailed and were crowned Burger
King of the Michigan's Division II Mountain.
BM: Diving, spinning *... touchdown Nebraska!
KJ: It's not 1997, Brent. Moving right along ... we're just
moments from the kickoff of the main event - the 126th
meeting between two of college football's most storied pro-
grams. And yes, the "ESPN Classic Michigan-Ohio State
Classical Epic" will decide the Big 20 champion, as the con-
ference still refuses to play an official Big 20 title game. At
this time, I'd like to introduce our new field correspondent.
Itest at K
tankers
TS "
*are afloat
By Ian Robinson
Daily Sports Writer
David Chappelle. David, what's the vibe like at field level?
Dave Chappelle: First off, Tre, I have a question for you:
Why don't you white folks use washcloths? I can't believe
y'all, applying the same bar of soap to all of your bare as-
KJ: Huh, seems like we lost the feed. Thanks anyway,
David. We'll check up with you later.
BM: HOLY BUCKEYE!
KJ: My sentiments exactly, Brent, because this contest is
going to feature the biggest crowd to watch football in the
universe today. University officials expect to go way over the
Biggie House's capacity mark of 175,501 - a number that has
vastly expanded in the last 20 years. Late in the aughts, back
around 2009, Michigan responded to Texas A&M's threat
of increasing stadium size to 115,000 by reducing the gaps
between bench-seat numbers from seven inches to five inches
and surrounding the stadium with luxury boxes, I MEAN,
enclosed seating. But then along about 2018, the state of
Idaho imposed a Potato Tax to fund the purchase of an even
bluer playing turf for Boise State's Bronco Stadium. After
unexpectedly raising almost $1 billion, the athletic depart-
ment also decided to add 120,000 seats to the stadium, giving
Boise State the nation's largest capacity of 150,000 people.
The Michigan athletic department reacted by again repainting
the bench numbers (three-inch gap) and placing a 10,000-seat
grandstand atop the newly erected Amaker Arena.
BM: And here ... come ... THE BUCKEYES!
KJ: Disregard Brent's last comment - Ohio State's been
on the field for five minutes. But, while we're on the subject
of Buckeyes, Ohio State won't be the only school on the field
sporting helmet accessories. After an absence of almost 40
years, Michigan reinstated spirit stickers this fall. But rather
than receiving stickers in the shape of a wolverine or a block
'M,' Michigan players are rewarded for good play with "JJs"
- sandwich-shaped stickers representing the "Italian Night-
club" from Jimmy Johns delicatessen, which currently boasts
137 locations in Ann Arbor's Central Campus area.
BM: Watch out partner - IT'S A FOOT RACE!
KJ (With hand covering microphone, motioning towards
production staff): Ix-nay rent-bay's icrophone-may. (Collects
himself) Well, before we head down to the field for the kickoff
of this grand ole rivalry, let's get everyone's keys to the game.
David, your thoughts?
DC: Can't believe you white collars gave me this job. I'M
RICH BEE-YA-
KJ: Splendid. Brent, do you have any rational thoughts to
add.
(Awkward silence)
KJ: OLD MAN RIVER, I'M SPEAKING TO YOU!
BM: HOLY BUCKEYE!
KJ: Very intriguing. Well, the Wolverines are about to
receive the kick and you folks will catch your first glimpse
of my keys to the game: Mike Hart Jr.'s legs ... which are
brought to you by Firestone Tires.
Gennaro Filice hates what corporate America is doing to his
favorite sport. He can be reached at gfilice@umich.edu.
TONY DING/Daily
Michigan's Chris DeJong broke Wisconsin's pool record in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:45.28 in Friday's meet.
Fast start for
By Ben Voss
Daily Sports Writer
When junior Chris DeJong entered the water in the 200-yard
hackstroke in Friday's meet at Wisconsin, he wanted to post a
good time to start the season.
As he touched the wall 1:45.28 later, he not only achieved his
goal, he broke the Wisconsin pool record in the event by 0.60
seconds. The time wasn't a personal best for DeJong, but it still
marked the fastest he's ever started a season in the event.
"This is the first time I've swam (the 200-yard backstroke)
this season, and I'm glad I got this time under my belt," DeJong
said.
Many other members of the No. 9 Michigan men's swim-
ming and diving team also posted better-than-expected times
as the team won its Big Ten opener against No. 16 Wisconsin,
142-93, and improved its record to 2-0. The meet was the Wol-
verines' first chance this season to swim in their regular events,
after swimming an off lineup against Eastern Michigan on Oct.
29. Michigan won eight out of 11 races and both diving events
to beat the Badgers by a comfortable margin.
While Michigan coach Bob Bowman expected his team to
win the meet, the victory was much easier because each of his
swimmers "rose up to the level of competition."
"The best thing (about the meet) was that we won all the
close races," Bowman said. "We didn't get touched out all
night, and that was very good."
Olympic gold medalist Peter Vanderkaay also started his
season strong, winning both the 100- and 200-yard freestyle
events with times of 44.28 seconds and 1:38.38 seconds,
D ejong, BlueI
respectively. Going into the meet, Vanderkaay felt comfortable,
despite the long drive to Wisconsin.
"We prepared ourselves mentally," Vanderkaay said. "Our
focus was on the meet, not the hassle of traveling."
Michigan captured the lead early, winning the first three
events of the meet. The 400-yard medley relay team of Nicho-
las Douville, Michael Galindo, Andrew Hack and Andrew
Albright placed first with a time of 3:26.50 seconds. Seniors
Brendan Neligan and Zayd Ma finished one-two in the 1,000-
yard freestyle with times of 9:22.66 and 9:30.34, respectively.
Wisconsin's Josh Bonner placed first in both the one- and
three-meter diving events, but competed as a non-scorer, allow-
ing Michigan divers Jake Boehm and Jon Donadee to notch
points for first and second place in both events, respectively.
After the Wolverines swept the Badgers in the 200-yard but-
terfly and the 500-yard freestyle - finishing first, second and,,
third - it was clear Michigan would win.
Bowman decided to race exhibition in the last two events
- the 200-yard breaststroke and the 400-yard freestyle relay.
"Once you reach 122 points, you know you've won the
meet," Bowman said.
By racing exhibition, the swimmers still post their times but
don't score any points. The tactic was used to show good sports-
manship by not running up the score on a decided victory.
Michigan's win at Wisconsin showed Bowman that his team
is in the right position for a productive season. The meet also
provided swimmers a chance to focus on their best events.
"Our goal is to improve individually," Bowman said.
"And when we do that, the team's performance will take
care of itself."
e WRnEaT UNG
Tannebued
By Mark iannotto
Daily Sports Writer
YPSILANTI - It was a day for the
fresh faces of the Michigan wrestling team
to shine. Four freshmen placed in the top
five in their respective weight classes Sat-
urday at the Eastern Michigan open. No
team scores were recorded, and no return-
ing starters wrestled for the Wolverines in
their season-opening event.
Michigan was led by redshirt freshman
Eric Tannenbaum, who defeated John Cox
of the United States Naval Academy for
the 149-pound weight class championship.
Tannenbaum was the lone Wolverine to
finish in first place.
Tannenbaum had little trouble through-
out the tournament, as he defeated all of
his opponents by pinfall or 4-point major
decision.
"I've been working real hard because we
have the lest practices in the country," he
said. "Going hard against real tough guys
in practice makes (matches) much easier."
Tannnenbaum - who is ordinarily
better on his feet in the neutral position
- also wrestled well from the top posi-
tion. In the championship match, he was
able to turn Cox to his back for three
near-fall points. This maneuver increased
Tannenbaum's lead and put the match out
of reach for Cox.
"(Tannenbaum) is outstanding on his
feet," Michigan coach Joe McFarland said.
"He likes to dominate from the neutral
position, but he's made some mat improve-
ments. I saw him in some matches where
he was doing a good job working some
guys (from the top position)."
True freshmen Craig Gilleson and Steve
Luke also had strong showings in their col-
legiate debuts by recording second-place
finishes in the 133- and 165-pound weight
classes, respectively.
"(Gilleson and Luke) are great competi-
tors," McFarland said. "They work hard,
they wrestle hard and they are tough -
those guys have done a great job so far."
On his way to the championship match,
Gilleson was involved in some close match-
es, but he was able to grind out victories in
the preliminary rounds. His luck ran out in
the finals when he lost by minor decision to
Shawn Bunch of Edinboro College.
"(Bunch) was really good and he was
grapplers
quicker than I thought he would be,"
Gilleson said. "I wrestled my hardest, but
I found some things I need to improve.
I need to work out with someone a little
quicker than me."
Luke, on the other hand, was dominant
until the semi-final round of the tourna-
ment. He was able to defeat every opponent
by major decision or pinfall. In the semi-
final match, he narrowly defeated Jim Bert-
lis of Bloomberg College.
In the finals, Luke was tied with Nate
Yetzer of Edinboro with 30 seconds
remaining in the match. During a scram-
ble, Yetzer was able to get a two-point take-
down on Luke, which turned out to be the
deciding points.
"In college, (the wrestlers) never get
tired, so I need to work on my stamina a
little more," Luke said. "I will get that take-
down next time."
The Michigan women's swimming and
diving team learned a lot about itself this
weekend at the Boilermaker Challenge in
West Lafayette.
"We were better in some cases than we
thought we would be," coach Jim Rich-
ardson said. "We are very optimistic."
No. 17 Michigan finished in fifth place
against a highly competitive field of eight
CSCAA top-25 teams. The Wolverines
placed ahead of Virginia, the No. 15 team
in the country, and proved that they could
swim with some of the best teams in the
country.
"The teams that finished ahead of us
were all in the top-10," said Richardson.
"We were a spitting distance behind the
No. 8 team. Everyone swam in-season-
best times:"
Michigan finished 71 points behind
UCLA, the eighth-best team in the coun-
try. Sophomore Susan Gilliam's NCAA
qualifying times of 4:45.02 in the 500-
yard freestyle and 16:20.85 in the 1650-
yard freestyle paced the Wolverines in
their high finish.
"(Susan) had the best in-season meet
Kaltlyn Brady qualified for the NCAA "B" standard in the 100-yard backstroke.
of her life," said Richardson. "She is way
ahead of her progression."
Three other Wolverines posted
NCAA- consideration times. Justine
Mueller bettered the "B" qualifying stan-
dard in the 200- and 400-yard individual
medley races. Lindsey Smith's finish
in the 200-yard freestyle and Kaitlyn
Brady's times in the 100-yard backstroke
and freestyle also qualified for an NCAA
"B"-standard time.
"I am pleased with the ability of our
young team to compete effectively with
top teams," said Richardson.
Despite. the optimism, the team sees
room for improvement. Richardson iden-
tified two things that Michigan especially
needs to work on.
"We're not good on the walls because
of long-course training," said Richardson.
"Aerobically, we are not where we will
be at the end of the season. Those are our
greatest weaknesses."
If the team can improve in these areas,
it will be able to accomplish its goals as
the season progresses. The coach also
believes maintaining focus and prepara-
tion will allow the team to reach its expec-
tations.
"We need to keep our heads screwed on
straight and do the things we have been
doing," said Richardson.
On the diving boards, Michigan was
led by Elyse Lee's 1lth place performance
on the one-meter springboard, and Ellen
Van Cleve's eighth-place finish on the
three-meter springboard.
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St. Petersburg Philharmonic
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 8 PM
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E A N P R O G R A M
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Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88
SymphonicrDance O)n .4
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FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 12 8 PM
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PROGRAM
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Dan Berglund, bass Ethan Iverson, piano
Magnus Ostroim, drums David King, drums
With live DJ sets provided by Ghostly International
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 8 PM
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Lima $54
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Fneamhla Al:Kindi and fha