The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Thursday, February 8, 2007 - 5A Duo back to familiar roles ByJAMES V. DOWD Daily Sports Writer Settling back into their old posi- tions wasn't what Michigan fresh- man Chris Summers and senior Tim Cook envisioned for February after spending most of the season adjust- ing to new posts. But in an effort to find the magic chemistrythatmightlead toaCCHA playoff title and a run at the Frozen Four, Michigan coach Red Beren- son has swapped Summers into a forward slot and returned Cook to defense for this weekend's games at Bowling Green and against Michi- ganState. Summers is excited about the prospects of moving up the ice, par- ticularly because he will line up with sophomore Andrew Cogliano and junior Chad Kolarik on Michigan's second line. Summers believes he can help the pair continue to find the back of the net by providing protection with his 6-foot-2,185 pound frame. "(Cogliano and Kolarik) designat- ed me as the first forechecker," Sum- mers said. "I'm kind of the body guy for that line, so I should have a little fun with it." In addition to helping out his line- mates, Summers hopes to add some points, especially after notching his first collegiate goal on Saturday night. Skating as a forward for much of last season, Summers scored six goals in 59 games with the United States National Team Development Program's under-18 team. The fresh- man even found the back of the net for the game-winning goal at the World Under-18 Championships in Sweden. But skating as a defense- man at Michigan, Summers failed to light the lamp inthe first29 games of this season. Having seen alternate captain Jason Dest ice last Friday's 7-4 vic- tory at Western Michigan on Friday with a score, Summers laughingly envisioned his first goal coming in a similar fashion. Little did he know, it would come just 24 hours later. "(The firstgoal)waskind offunny because I was joking about it with (sophomore Mark) Mitera the night before after Dest got the empty net," Summers said. "I said 'Watch my first goal be an empty net,' and I told him I wouldn'taccept it if it was. But I don't really care how it comes as long as it goes on theboard." Regardless of whether or not Summers can score on a goaltender, Cogliano considers Summers's speed and forechecking abilities among the best on the team. Even with the adjustments Summers will have to make, Cogliano is optimistic the freshman will make a difference. "(Summers) will definitely cre- ate space," Cogliano said. "I think the only thing he will need to get accustomed to will be getting the puck on the boards and playing well in the neutral zone. If he does that, he will definitely create space for Chad and I." The adjustment will likelybe even smoother for Cook, who always skat- ed as a defenseman before this sea- son. The senior has been forced to switch from defense to forward and back several times this season, and he has been recognized by Berenson for it. Having skated at forward in recent games, Cook has picked up some different habits, but practic- ing on defense this week helped him work out the kinks. "(The adjustment) is not really that tough because I played defense my whole life," Cook said. "For a second, sometimes you will catch yourself doing something that you did on forward,but that is gone after a practice or two. Defense is like sec- ond nature to me, it's going forward that's a tougher transition." Even though Cook's shift will change the chemistry of the whole unit, his experience playing with Mitera and Dest will help ease the burden. After playing just 24 games as a freshman and sitting out the NCAA Tournament during his sophomore year, Cook has matured into a reli- able defenseman. Senior captain Matt Hunwick believes that Cook's presence will help solidify the blue line unit as the regular season winds to a close. "(Cook) brings a veteran pres- ence back to the blue line," Hunwick said. "He is able to kill penalties and is reliable on the ice. He just knows See SUMMERS, Page 8A Michigan coach Lloyd Carr welcomed 20 new recruits tothe Michigan football team at yesterday's press conference. 'M' nabs top-lOdlass Grading the Big Ten bubble By DANIEL BROMWICH Daily Sports Editor As the crucial portion of the con- ference season approaches, each basketball game takes on greater significance and has larger NCAA Tournament implications. The Big Ten, perennially one of the stron- ger conferences from top to bottom, is going through a down year. The conference might see just four teams make it to the Big Dance. There are two elite teams (Wisconsin and Ohio State), one good team (Indiana), a handful of average teams and three doormats (Northwestern, Minneso- ta and Penn State). We'll elaborate on those average teams with the Michi- gan Daily's (a little past) Midseason Report Card: ILLiNOIS: After opening the con- ference season with a rough stretch that included losses at Michigan, at Michigan State and home against Ohio State, Illinois coach Bruce Weber seems to have righted the ship withthree consecutivevictories and abighome win against then-No. 24 Indiana. The Illini's conference record currently stands at 6-5, good enough for fifth place. We'll find out a lot about the team that was picked in the preseason to finish third in the Big Ten when it travels to Blooming- ton on Saturday for a rematch that could be its toughest contest for the rest of the season. GRADE: B TOURNA- MENT CHANCEs: 45 percent INDIANA: Coinciding with Indiana head coach Kelvin Sampson's arrival in Bloomington has comea return to prominence for the Hoosiers. Samp- son brought his tough defense, no nonsense attitude With him from Oklahoma, and the Hoosiers have once again become a team to fear. At 6-3 in the Big Ten, Indiana boasts impressive victories over then-No. 2 Wisconsin and then-No. 24 Michi- gan State, albeit both at home. With three of their final six games against the bottom-feeders of the Big Ten, the Hoosiers look to be in good position entering the last month of the season. GRADE: B+ TOURNAMENT CHANCEs: 75 percent IOwA: Many pundits counted the Hawkeyes out after they entered conference play 8-6, and promptly lost three of their first five confer- encegames. Butconsecutive impres- sive wins at Michigan and at home against No. 25 Indiana have them back in the Big Ten race. While most still don't consider it a serious contender, Iowa currently stands at fourth in the conference, and with the conference-leading scorer in senior Adam Haluska, it has an outside chance to sneak into the Tournament despite its disappoint- ing nonconference results. Though the Hawkeyes face tough games at Wisconsin and at Michigan State, the schedule also features contests against Penn State and Northwest- ern. GRADE: B- TOURNAMENT CHANC- ES: 40 percent MICHIGAN: Yet again, the Wolver- ines have teased and teased their fans. And yet again, they seemed primed to fall short at the end. After startingthe year 16-4, Michigan has dropped four consecutive games, and should be relieved to host Min-: nesota this Saturday at Crisler Arena. But after their date with the Golden Gophers, the schedule toughens up, with games sati Michigan State, at home versus Indiana and then back on the road to Illinois. The Wolver- ines also close the season with home games against Michigan State and Ohio State, and without a "signa- ture" win that they can point the NCAA Selection Committee toward, it seems Michigan coach Tonmy Amaker's squad will come up short yet again. GRADE: C+ TOURNAMENT CHANCES: 30 percent MICHIGAN STATE: After losing three starters to the NBA Draft, the Spartans boast the Big Ten's closest resemblance to a one-man squad. See REPORT CARD, Page 8A By SCOTT BELL Daily Sports Editor After months of anticipation, prognostication and unknown player destinations, college foot- ball's Signing Day finally arrived yesterday. And despite a few ups and downs, the Wolverines' class has taken form, and is once again one of the nation's premiere groups. The Michigan football team's class of 2007 is headed by a pair of five-star recruits. Quarterback Ryan Mallett and cornerback Donovan Warren both chose the Wolverines over numerous other suitors. Michigan coach Lloyd Carr pre- sented these players, and 18 oth- ers, who signed National Letters of Intent yesterday to become the newest members of the Michigan football team at a press conference yesterday afternoon. "I like their character, I like their potential and I look forward to the opportunity to coach them when they get here," Carr said. Rivals.com ranks the group as the nation's 10th best and first among Big Ten teams. Ohio State and Illinois followed Michigan in the Big Ten's class rankings, according to Rivals.com. "We're trying to bring kids here who have outstanding character, who academically can compete,; who have the athletic skills and the competitiveness it takes to survive in an environment like this," Carr said. --- - - The top-10 class could have been even better had a few breaks gone Michigan's way. Five-star cornerback/wide receiver recruit and one-time Michigan lean Ronald Johnson signed a letter of intent with South- ern Cal yesterday. Earlier in the recruiting season, four-star safety For a full breakdown of the cruiting class, visit our blog at michigandaily.com. ... ............ Jerimy Finch committed to play at Michigan, but later reneged on his decision. He signed with Florida early Wednesday morning. Despite the setbacks, Carrseems satisfied with his newest class, especially those at the top. Mallett is slated as the nation's No. 2 quarterback by both Rivals. com and Scout.com, and is listedby both websites as a top-five overall player. Notre Dame commit Jimmy Clausen is listed as the nation's top quarterback by both recruiting ser- vices. Mallett, a Texarkana, Texas, native, received numerous national honors following his senior year, includingthe GatoradePlayerofthe Year award for Texas's top overall player. Mallett is currentlyenrolled in classes at Michigan. Warren, Mallett's teammate in the Army All-American game, chose Michigan over a number of interested West Coastschools, even recruiting juggernaut Southern Cal. The five-star cornerback drew rave reviews from Carr, including the honor of being called "the real deal." "When he visited last year dur- ing the season, he impressed me as a guy that was really goal-oriented, a guy that was not afraid of com- petition," Carr said of Warren. "I think he has all the skills it takes." Carr doesn't intend to redshirt Mallett and saidthat ayearofttute - lage and preparation under quar- terback Chad Henne as the team's backup would be a great experi- ence for the freshman. The loss of senior All-American cornerback Leon Hall from an already depleted secondary could mean immediate playingtime for Warren as well. The Wolverines also reeled in a handful of four-star recruits. Toney Clemons (wide receiv- er), Martell Webb (tight end), Ryan VanBergen (defensive end), Michael Williams (defensive back) and Austin Panter (linebacker) will all enter the program this year with high hopes. Three other prospects have joined Mallett as early-enrollees at Michigan. Fullback Vince Hell- muth, safety Artis Chambers and Panter, a junior college transfer, are all currently taking classes at the University. "Certainly the weather has been colder than Ryan Mallett would have (liked)," Carr said. "We told him it never got less than 40 degrees here." Despite the inclement weather, this year marks the most early- enrollees that Michigan has ever had in a single term. Last season, Justin Boren and Carlos Brownjoined the team early, while two years ago, Kevin Grady did the same. Carr cited the opportunity to go through winter workouts ,andmeet- ings and the chance to participate in spring practice as advantages of coming early. The members of Michigan's incoming class hail from 10 differ- ent states. Just five players came from within the state of Michigan (none of which were in the state's top nine according to Rivalst.com), with California close behind, pro- ducing four new members of the Maize and Blue. Ohio, a traditional pipeline state ferMichigan ceruit- ing, produced no recruits for this year's class. "I don't think a boundary line means much," Carr said. "You find football players wherever you can. ... The most important thing is that the guys that you take are guys that you have evaluated carefully and believe very strongly in." "U 0'"" Univrsity Of bMichigan Symposium Energy Science, Te cnology and Policy FACING THE CHALLENGE Keynote Address by Samuel W. Bodman, U.S. Secretary of Energy February 13-14, 2007,8:30 AM -5:00 PM Horace H. Rackham Graduate School 915 E. 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