14 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Florida looks to
swamp
By Dan Ketchel
and Ben Zerman
Daily Sports Writers
For Big Ten fans, it may be a good
still early in the season because its top tl
(Michigan, Ohio State and Iowa) suffe
losses last week. For the rest of the coun
are looking up. Powerhouses from the,
12 and Pac-10 hope to capitalize on thes
fumbles. While Southern Cal
and Tennessee took this past
week off, some of the other
top-25 teams got some well-
deserved attention. Last week's
marquee matchup between P
Ohio State and Texas certainly
didn't disappoint anyone except
Ohio State quarterbacks. Justin Zwick g
game-losing fumble and Troy Smith bit
the end zone for the final safety. More e
ing moments await young football play
week's action across the country.
No. 5 Tennessee (1-0) at No. 6 Flo
- 8 p.m. - CBS
The Gators and coach Urban Meyer
one bad toothache because the last two w
defense has masticated each of their opp
32-14 win against Wyoming and a 41-3 w
Louisiana Tech have helped Florida inch
the polls from its preseason No. 10 ran]
current position at No.6. With a more woi
nent on the horizon, expect the Gators(
bend but not break under the pressure. O
side of the football, Florida'quarterback C
will undoubtedly continue his stellar
already racked up a combined 539 yards,
ing touchdowns and two rushing touch
just two games. Meanwhile, the Volunte
bounce back strong when they open their c
schedule. An idle week hopefully did t
after they narrowly escaped an upset aga
in week one, hanging on to win, 17-10. Ke
out for the ongoing quarterback controve
Volunteers; sophomore Erik Ainge and s
Tennessee
Clausen continue to alternate snaps. Before the sea-
son opener, Ainge had been declared the starter, but
after Ainge's poor outing against UAB, who knows
who will be under center this week.
[thing it's Florida 30, Tennessee 17
hree teams No. 8 Florida State (2-0) at No. 17 Boston
-red tough College (2-0) - 7:45 p.m., ESPN
try, things Welcome Boston College to the Atlantic Coast
ACC, Big Conference: conference of higher television rat-
e Midwest ings, better team endorsements and warm weather
at nearly all away games. Welcome Boston College
to the ACC: conference of seven top-25 teams,
Michael Vick's little brother and of course, harder
matchups than the Big East ever had to offer. The
Eagles open up their conference schedule, they are
certainly in for a rude awakening in their inaugural
season as ACC doormats. Impressive wins against
weak opponents BYU and Army mean nothing
ave up the when Boston College hosts Florida State. The
it hard in Seminoles - still agitated at the NCAA trying to
mbarrass- strip them of their mascot - won a low-scoring
ers in this grudge match against Miami in week one and look
to continue their domination of the ACC. Look for
rida (2-0) Florida State quarterback Drew Weatherford to
unload on a shabby Boston College secondary.
must have Florida State 41, Boston College 13
eeks, their No.13 Miami (0-1) at No. 20 Clemson (2-0)
onents. A - 8 p.m.
in against If you don't believe in the Clemson Tigers, you
its way up better start believing. After kicker Jad Dean put
king to its away Texas A&M in week one with six field goals,
rthy oppo- including a 42-yarder with two seconds left for the
defense to 25-24 win, the Tigers made another fourth-quarter
n the other comeback the next week, this time led by quarter-
hris Leak back Charlie Whitehurst. Whitehurst performed
play. He's flawlessly, completing 18 of his 22 passes for two
five pass- touchdowns to stun Maryland. Running back Reg-
idowns in gie Merriweather complemented Whitehurst's
ers look to passing game well, rushing for two touchdowns,
onference including the game winner. But the Tigers have yet
hem well, to face a defense like Miami's. The Hurricanes are
iinst UAB coming off a heartbreaking loss to in-state rival
eep an eye Florida State although they gave up just 10 points.
rsy for the The big question is quarterback Kyle Wright - the
enior Rick sophomore threw two interceptions and was sacked
a
AP PHOTO
Florida quarterback Chris Leak and the Gators hope to leap above Tennessee in the SEC East standings after their conference clash with the Volunteers.
nine times against the Seminoles in his new role as
starter. If Wright continues to play like a backup,
the Hurricanes will start their season 0-2 for the
first time in recent memory.
Clemson 24, Miami 21
No. 1 Southern Cal (1-0) vs. Arkansas (1-1)
- 10:15 p.m.
With the top-two Heisman Trophy candidates
and a record-tying 21 straight weeks atop the Asso-
ciated Press poll, it is hard to believe Southern Cal
will drop a game to anyone this year. They have
reigning Heisman winner Matt Leinart at quar-
terback and the nation's most electrifying player
in running back Reggie Bush. Last year, Bush
averaged over 10 yards per touch. This team has
NFL caliber talent at every position, sometimes
going two or three deep. Arkansas will be scored
on every way possible - on the ground, in the air
and on special teams - because the Trojans are
just that good. And after dropping one at home to
lowly Vanderbilt last week, the Razorbacks will not
have nearly enough confidence to come into Trojan
territory and hang with Leinart and company. The
Razorbacks have found Matt Jones's replacement
in quarterback Robert Johnson and have one of the
SEC's best running backs in De'Arrius Howard,
but don't count on them to put up enough points to
keep pace with the best team college football has
seen in years.
Southern Cal 45, Arkansas 14
Alexander not afraid of change
By Jamie Josephson
Daily Sports Writer
Playing on a team that is attempting to take on a new
shape, senior Ryan Alexander of the Michigan men's soccer
team looks to be on the brink of a breakthrough.
Because former leading goal-scorer Mychal Turpin
graduated last year, the Wolverines have had to adjust their
offensive shape - which used to center around Turpin.
According to Michigan men's soccer coach Steve
Burns, the team is still employing the same formation it
used last season. The 4-3-3 was meant to showcase Tur-
pin's strengths, especially his quick footwork. Two years
ago Turpin displayed his skills by scoring eight goals in
two games over a two-week stretch.
But now that Turpin has graduated, Burns is toying with
a new formation - the 4-4-2.
Burns has been positioning Alexander in the forward role
in these different shapes, hoping to fill part of the hole that
Turpin has left behind.
The Michigan native had been struggling as of late to
find his rhythm in this attacking forward position, accord-
ing to Burns. But that all changed this past weekend. At
the Michigan Invitational, Alexander scored his first and
second goals of the season, and the hosting Wolverines took
first place.
"Alexander is all about the power game," Burns said.
"He's a big man and needs to play with a power game. He's
beginning to recognize that. He just needs to get away from
the little off-balance stuff."
In Sunday's 3-1 victory over Long Island, Alexander con-
verted Michigan's first goal of the game after receiving a
pass from fellow senior Trai Blanks at the top of the 18-
yard box. Alexander beat the goalie to the left to slip the
ball in for his second tally of the season.
Alexander also converted in Friday's 1-0 win against
Louisville, when freshman Jake Stacy broke through three
defenders and found Alexander open for a cross-field shot.
"I like to think that I'm finding my form," Alexander
said. "I suffered an injury right before the season, and
coach Burns talked to me about a couple of things I was
doing wrong. I was trying to play a little too difficult or
complex at first, right off the injury. Hopefully, I'm back
on track."
Alexander recently underwent surgery on his broken left
ankle, which had been misdiagnosed and left untreated
since his senior year in high school. After taking a medi-
cal red shirt last season and only being able to compete in
four games, Alexander is still in a transition phase with
his conditioning - not to mention within the team's new
offensive system.
But the senior is no stranger to adjustments. Alexander
transferred to Michigan after his sophomore season at Wake
Forest, where he played in 38 games and was the second-
leading scorer on the team in his freshman year.
Searching for a more complete university experience,
Alexander was no stranger to what Michigan had to offer.
Michigan, along with Wake Forest, had heavily recruited
him after his high school career, and Burns was happy to
sign the forward two years ago.
Playing for a new school, struggling through an aggravat-
ed injury and now attempting to find his rhythm, Alexander
has become one of the specialized "artists" on the team,
according to Burns.
"I've got to get the right mixture of soldiers and artists,"
Burns said. "Soldiers get the work done and grind it. Artists
will do one or two special things in the game that suddenly
opens up (the game) and goals are scored. Alexander is,...
an artist."
Taking on a leadership role this season is another new
feat for the senior.
"I think some of the younger guys naturally look up to the
older guys," Alexander said. "We have three great captains.
But right now, I just need to worry about the soccer aspect,
and the leadership aspect kind of takes care of itself."
Alexander and Michigan (4-1) look to take their new
offensive shape up to Oakland on Friday at 5 p.m. and return
to Ann Arbor against Kentucky at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
ALXAINDER ULIAD Z/ Dily
Senior Ryan Alexander is not afriad of making adjustments and is ready to fill the void left by Mychal Turpin.
0 WOMEN'S ROWING
Blue teaches incoming freshman about rowing and life
By Ari Fink
and Bethany Herrema
For the Daily
"What's an erg? Are we going to
capsize? What do you mean, 'set' the
boat?"
These are all questions novice row-
ing coach Vita Scaglione fields annu-
ally in her second year coaching at
Michigan. In just seven months, she
molds a group of athletes - most of
whom have never touched an oar -
into a Division I crew.
In the summer months, each Michi-
gan female freshman and sophomore
receives a letter in the mail from the
crew team stating that, if she is 5-foot-7
or taller, she should try out. Coming in,
many potential rowers aren't aware of
the commitment, athleticism, strength
and mental fortitude that are required
of a rower.
While most Michigan students are
sleeping, the rowers are sweating. As
if living in the dorm isn't hard enough,
the rowers must find a way to go to sleep
while the halls are still bustling and
drag themselves out of their cozy beds
before the sun even rises. The young
rowers arrive at the Intramural Sports
Building at 5:45 a.m. and train on the
W HAT SE TS YOU A PA RT IS
WHAT MAKES YOU ONE OF US.
'" Students, Faculty and Staff!
Ergometers (indoor rowing machine or
the aforementioned erg) or head to to
the water at Belleville Lake, which is
a 15-minute drive from campus. After
a grueling day of classes, the rowers
practice again in the afternoon. Even
on Saturday, the varsity rowers come
into the erg room at 7 a.m. to complete
a 6k fitness test.
In just a few short weeks, the row-
ers must acquire the knowledge nec-
essary to row a boat. Some of the
necessary skills include feathering the
oar - twisting it after a-stroke is com-
pleted on the recovery - pulling the
oar into their marks, and most impor-
tantly, catching and releasing the water
together. In short, a group of college
freshmen and sophomores must bal-
ance taking classes, studying, making
friends and exhausting their bodies on
a daily basis.
E.E...E.EE...
"Don't let your
: HA IR:
* . au .I ahm aul iii
Women's rowing is one of the only
sports where an incoming student can
be part of a varsity team without any
prior experience. It takes a special kind
of athlete to learn something complete-
ly foreign to her and to put in the time
and effort necessary to succeed.
"It's not necessarily the rowing that
I love, but rather the kinds of people
the sport attracts," Scaglione said.
In addition to dealing with a heavier
workload in class, the rowers are also
getting a crash course on the water. It
won't take long for-the athletes to fig-
ure out and learn to hate the erg, or to
realize that they won't in fact capsize
- unless they hit a log, which hap-
pened last year. But, rowing is a sport
of constantly perfecting and re-per-
fecting the body and mind. In school,
in life and in rowing the questions
never cease.
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