Tuesday
April 19, 2005
sports. michigandaily. com
sports@michigandaily.com
SPORTS
8B
vSB
Perry turns
Blue season
into roses
By J. Brady McCollough
November24, 2003
Sitting in the visiting locker room at Kinnick Stadium
after their 30-27 loss to Iowa Oct. 4, the Michigan foot-
ball team's seniors were in the midst of some major soul
searching.
The Wolverines were 4-2 and had lost their chance
at a national championship. With one more loss in their
remaining six games, the seniors would likely leave
Michigan without playing in a Rose Bowl.
"We never thought we'd be 4-2 at that point in the
season," Michigan fifth-year senior captain Carl Diggs
recalled. "I never imagined that."
But celebrating their 35-21 win over Ohio State Sat-
urday on a rose-covered field with an emotional student
body, the Wolverines were a long way from their somber
locker room in Iowa. With six straight wins, three over
top-10 teams, Michigan rewrote the script of its season,
clinching its first outright Big Ten title and Rose Bowl
berth since 1997.
"It's like a storybook (ending)," senior tailback Chris
Perry said. "It feels surreal right now, but after I get home
and sit down and think about it, it'll feel even better."
Perry better have gotten some ice before he sat down.
Struggling with pain in his right hamstring throughout
the 100th meeting between Michigan and Ohio State,
Perry ran for 154 yards and two scores on 31 carries. The
Heisman Trophy candidate also caught five passes for 55
yards, giving him his fifth game this season with more
than 200 total yards (209).
Perry and quarterback John Navarre benefit-
ed from a determined offensive line, which shut
down one of the nation's most dominating defen-
sive fronts. The Buckeyes, previously leading the
country allowing just 50.5 rushing yards per game,
gave up 170 to the Wolverines. The Michigan line
also gave Navarre ample time to throw, holding the
Buckeyes without a sack.
"It's a great feeling," Michigan offensive tackle Tony
Pape said. "That was the No. 1 defense in the nation.
They're the defending national champions, and they were
a great defense."
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr had to resort to
trickery to get the Wolverines on the board with 39
, ,
How the BCS stole
my Merry Christmas
TONY DING/Daily
Michigan running back Chris Perry led the Wolverines to their first Rose Bowl berth since 1997.
seconds left in the first quarter. To the delight of
the 112,118 strong at the Big House (a new NCAA
record), Michigan receiver Steve Breaston lined
up behind center, and Navarre spread out wide
with the Wolverines facing 3rd-and-goal from the
3-yard line. Breaston sprinted to his right and fol-
lowed the right side of the line into the endzone,
giving Michigan an all-important 7-0 lead.
Two minutes after Breaston's score, Navarre hit
Edwards on a slant. Edwards shed safeties Will Allen and
Nate Salley on his way to a 64-yard touchdown reception,
the longest of his career. Edwards later put the Wolverines
up by 21 with a 23-yard reception that capped a 10-play,
80-yard drive.
With less than six minutes left in the half, quarterback
Craig Krenzel led the Buckeyes on an 81-yard drive to cut
Michigan's lead to 21-7 - the first points given up by the
Michigan defense at home in the first half all season.
The Wolverines began the second half with a
five-play, 62-yard drive capped off by a Perry 30-
yard run for a 28-7 lead.
Michigan looked tohave taken a 34-7lead when Navarre
hit a streaking Edwards for an 87-yard touchdown pass on
its next drive. But the Wolverines were called for holding,
erasing the play and giving the Buckeyes new life.
Ohio State, showing the will of a defending
national champion, fought back with two consecu-
tive scores to come within 28-21. Krenzel hit Santo-
nio Holmes for his second touchdown of the game,
this one coming on a 13-yard fade route over cor-
nerback Leon Hall.
Two drives later, Ohio State backup quarterback Scott
McMullen, filling in for Krenzel (injured left shoulder),
led the Buckeyes on a 10-play, 93-yard drive. Lydell Ross
quieted the Big House crowd with a 2-yard touchdown
run to bring Ohio State within seven.
On the Wolverines' ensuing possession, Navarre under-
threw Edwards, and Ohio State cornerback Chris Gamble
intercepted the ball at the Ohio State 36.
"We love sudden changes," Michigan linebacker Scott
McClintock said. "We thrive on it. We like getting on the
field with as much on the line as possible."
With its season on the line, the Michigan defense
held strong, giving the ball back to the Michigan
offense at its 12. Eight plays and 88 yards later,
Michigan took a 35-21 lead on a Perry 15-yard
scamper to the outside with less than eight minutes
left in the game.
CHRIS BURKE
Goin' to Work
December 10, 2003
very Fan down in Fanville
likes undisputed champions
.a lot ... But the Men who
ran college football did not!
The Men hated obvious winners,
the whole, darn bowl season. Now,
please don't ask why; no one quite
knows the reason.
No, scratch that, I'm lying, we do
know the reason. Controversy brings in
money during bowl season.
Having one champion wouldn't
bring in the dough, like having two
would - this the Men did know.
So I think the most likely reason
of all may have been that their wal-
lets were never too small.
But, whatever the reason, what-
ever the plans, the Men stood there
before bowl season hating the fans.
"And they're singing their fight
songs!" they snarled with a sneer,
"Tomorrow is bowl season, it's
practically here!"
Then they growled, and they
played with their stacks full of
money, "Having two title games,
now that would be funny!"
Then they got an idea! An awful idea!
The Men got a wonderful, awful idea!
"We know just what to do!" the Men
laughed in their throats. And, they
made a computer to tally up votes.
But not just the polls from the
coaches and writers. The Men
added something to turn Fans into
Fighters.
Theirnew computer would use
other computers, too, and the
resulting numbers would turn
happy fans blue.
So now with their devilish plan
in the works, the Men took to Fan-
ville, and they acted like jerks.
They took USC t-shirts and LSU
flags, Oklahoma ballcaps, and
shoved them into their bags.
The men grabbed what they
could, and stood there quite proud,
when they heard a loud roar like
the sound of a crowd.
They turned around fast and
they saw a small clan, led by little
Cindy-Jan Fan, drum major of
Southern Cal.'s band.
She stared up at the men and
simply said, "Why? "Why can't we
play in the Sugar Bowl? Why?"
But, you know, those old men
were so dumb but so slick, that
they thought up a lie, and they
thought it up quick.
"Letting the computer pick is
fair," the Men lied, "We can't do
any better, believe us, we've tried.
"So, next time, maybe, it'll work
right, my dear.
"We'll fix it up later, in a couple
of years."
And then, heartbroken, Cindy-
Jan returned to her sleep, while
the Men continued to take all they
could keep.
Trumpets and tubas and pen-
nants galore. "These fans," they
cried out. "They don't know what's
in store.
"There could be two champions,
or maybe just one, but our scam-
ming and scheming could spoil
their fun."
Then they laughed something
evil, and departed the town, before
they even noticed Fanville's collec-
tive frown.
They left Fanville with their
riches in tow, knowing that, to the
bowls the Fans would still go.
And they'd watch and spend dol-
lars for the Men to then take, even
if the computer's "Title Game" is
a fake.
And while somewhere, the
Whos' Christmas was saved by the
Grinch, the Men would do nothing,
not even flinch.
Their system had worked,
no matter what they would say,
because the real goal of their com-
puter was an excessive payday.
Now the Men will take all their
treasures and sit back to see what
will happen to Oklahoma, LSU,
USC.
It no longer matters what hap-
pens to the game or the fans. You
see, neither of those fit into the
Men's plans.
So the Men snuggled up with the
things that they stole, and watched
Southern Cal. play in the wrong
bowl.
One champion or two, the Men
really don't care, as long as their
money will always be there.
c
4
9
'M' says farewell to sanctions
By Chris Burke
September 25, 2003
It turns out the Michigan basketball team will be able
to play for something more than pride this season.
The NCAA's postseason ban on the Michigan program
has been lifted, and the Wolverines will be eligible for the
2004 NCAA Tournament and the NIT, a source close to
the Michigan basketball family told The Michigan Daily
late last night.
An official announcement is expected sometime
today.
The Detroit Free Press also reported a "person at U-M
familiar with the situation" confirming that the ban has
been lifted.
Michigan's appeal of the postseason ban was the final
issue up in the air regarding the NCAA's investigation
into the program's scandal involving booster Ed Martin.
In the early- to mid-1990s, Martin had given more than
$600,000 to players on the Michigan basketball team.
Prior to the 2002-03 basketball season, the University
imposed penalties upon itself, forfeiting 112 games, as
well as returning more than $400,000 to the NCAA, tak-
ing championship banners down and placing the program
on two years probation.
Last May, the NCAA Infractions Committee cited
the severity of Michigan's violations and handed down
punishments to the Michigan program that included the
postseason ban, four years of probation and the loss of
one scholarship a year for the next four seasons.
The ruling also demanded that the players who were
known to receive money from Martin - Chris Webber,
Maurice Taylor, Robert Traylor and Louis Bullock - be
dissociated from the University for 10 years.
"In total, this is one of the three or four most egregious
violations of NCAA bylaws in the history of the asso-
ciation," NCAA Infractions Committee Chair Thomas
Yeager said at the time. "The Committee on Infractions
cannot shirk its responsibility to the entire membership
by failing to apply meaningful and appropriate sanctions
against the University in order to protect the postseason
opportunities of current and, as we acknowledge, unin-
volved student-athletes."
At that point, the University decided to appeal just the
postseason ban, despite the fact that appeals are rarely
upheld by the NCAA.
"We believe the additional postseason ban is counter to
the core mission of the NCAA enforcement," Michigan
Athletic Director Bill Martin said in May. "Our current
student-athletes were not involved in any way."
Michigan went through with the appeal in hopes of
minimizing the punishment to current players. Now,
thanks to the unexpected reversal, the Wolverines have
the opportunity to make the NCAA Tournament for the
first time since 1998.
Late last night, Michigan coach Tommy Amaker
returned from a recruiting trip and met with his team.
While Michigan awaited word from the NCAA appeals
committee, the situation jumped back into the public
limelight recently. Former Michigan player Chris Web-
ber - who received $280,000 from Martin - plead
guilty to perjury on Sept. 16. Webber was then sentenced
to 300 hours of community service in the Detroit area.
On Sept. 19, University officials requested that a federal
judge demand Chris Webber reimburse the school with
$695,000.
Martin, ironically, passed away on Feb. 14, the day that
Michigan representatives appeared before the NCAA to
plead its case.
Michigan was one of last season's biggest surprises,
posting a 17-13 (10-6 Big Ten) record. The expected
announcement also comes on the heels of an anonymous
donor's gift that provided returning student season ticket
holders with free season tickets for the upcoming year.
Due to his involvement with booster Ed Martin, Chris
Webber was dissociated from the University for 10 years.
K U R L A N I) R E A L. T Y
Moving to Manhattan?
We specialize in finding apartments for college graduates in
Southern Cal. quarterback Matt Leinart led the Trojans to two straight national
championships on his way to a Heisman Trophy.
JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE GRADUATING
DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO STOP
KEEPING UP ON MICHIGAN SPORTS.
DAILY SPORTS.
S oStore Your Stuff
j,' 2333 S. State Street
0