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4B - Tuesday, September 4, 2007
The Michigan Daily - michigandail.com
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Heisman hopeful
states case with
heroic effort
By JACK HERMAN
Daily Sports Editor
In his first three years at Michi-
gan, Mike Hart has consistently
dazzled crowds
withunbelievable NOTEBOOK
runs and memo-
rable games.
But leave it to the captain senior
running back to add another chap-
ter to his lore - even if it will be
resigned to footnote status in one
of college football's all-times great-
est upsets.
It lacked the grandeur, historic
relevance, and - oh, yeah - the
victory of performances by Kirk
Gibson in the 1988 World Series
and Willis Reed in the 1970 NBA
Finals. But it lacked none of the
will, skill or excitement. Hart
battled a thigh injury to record 188
yards on 23 carries including one
54-yard, fourth-quarter touch-
down run that Michigan fans won't
soon forget.
"I wanted to go back in," Hart
said. "You just get ready to go. I
had no choice but to go."
Hart started the game as expect-
ed, breaking it open on Michigan's
first possession with a 33-yard
dash along the right sideline before
recording his 4-yard touchdown
run. With 44 yards on four carries,
the senior seemed ready to gather
some quality evidence for Exhibit
A in his case for the Heisman Tro-
phy.
His hopes were soon thwarted.
Hart ran the ball for just eight
yards on four carries to end the
opening quarter. A thigh injury
then sidelined him in the second,
leaving backup Brandon Minor to
carry the load.
But when Minor fumbled the
ball with 6:56 left in third, Hart
inserted himself back in the lineup.
on his third carry back, he went off
the left tackle for four yards, diving
into the end zone for a touchdown.
And he wasn't done.
With Michigan down 31-26
in the fourth, Hart took the ball
off the left tackle on first-and-10.
He shot to the left sideline before
slashing cross-field to the right,
powering his way to the end zone
for an unforgettable 54-yard
touchdown run.
Even Michigan coach Lloyd Carr
admitted he was impressed.
"Based on the report from
(director of athletic training) Paul
Schmidt, I was surprised that he
played in the second half," Carr
said. "But he played well."
Out with the old, in with the
new: Most Michigan fans probably
expected to get a glimpse of fresh-
man phenom Donovan Warren
some time in the second half.
They got it, but probably not for
the reason they expected.
With junior Johnny Sears strug-
gling at right cornerback, War-
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Despite missing nearly two quarters, Senior Mike Hart's188-yard performance gave Michigan a chance to win Saturday's game.
ren played in the third and fourth second half. Among other sins, 150th game with a win, Carr
quarters. Although he wasn't pick- Brown over-committed on a play walked away from the Big House
ing up garbage-time minutes in a during Appalachian State's first on Saturday with just his second
blowout, Warren locked down the drive, causing him to miss a tackle opening-game loss ever (the other
position and earned Carr's praise. on Dexter Jackson's 68-yard touch- to Notre Dame in 1998).
"Donovan Warren went in and down catch. It also marks the first time
did some good things," Carr said. His replacement, Brandent since 1979 Michigan has lost three
The same can't be said for Sears. Englemon, fared much better. He straight games.
The cornerback- who enteringthe recorded seven tackles and inter- Although the loss will surely
season Carr said, "really matured cepted a pass late in the fourth rank among the most infamous,
at the corner" - also fumbled two quarter that nearly helped Michi- Carr said it hurt like all the others.
kickoffs (one was reversed, the gan put the game away. Nearly. "I've never had a loss that wasn't
other Sears recovered). Misery Milestone: Hope no one miserable," said Carr, now 113-37
And he wasn't alone. Carr also bought flowers. all-time. "And I don't think I ever
yanked safety Stevie Brown in the Rather than celebrating his will."
MAIZE GAUGE
The Michigan Daily football writers break down the weekend's stats that don't show up in the box-
score. The defense-o-meter measures the intensity of the defense, the Carr-o-meter judges Lloyd
Carr's demeanor following the game and the hypemeter measures the fans' game performance.
DEFENSE-O-METER
1/ Michigan's defense weren't prepared for the extent of
the Appalachian State spread offense and it showed
in the first half. The unit was also hurt by some
Crables missed assignments and tackles in the secondary.
4
CARR -0-METER_
/ It took Carr an unusually long time to make it to his
post-game presser. He took responsibility for the loss,
saying he didn't have the team prepared enough. But
Lloyds the Carr--o-meter isn't awarding Lloyd heads for per-
sonal responsibility. Carr under-
standably gets the low mark
because of how disappointed
he was following the upset.
HYPEMETER _ _ _ _ _
3 When the crowd wasn't in shock by the way Appalachian
I4 State moved the ball, it got pretty loud, especially after Mike
/ Hart's 54-yard touchdown run and Mario Manningham's
Big Houses catch to set up the last Jason Gingell field goal attempt.
But with the Mountaineers gaining the lead in the first
half and the Michigan offense killing themselves with
turnovers and penalties, there wasn't much to cheer.
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