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The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Slimmer Graham plays big for Blue
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By SCOTT BELL ham took after this season's
Daily Sports Editor first game was a reminder to
Graham of what it's like to be
Many scouts thought Bran- on your coach's bad side.
don Graham would be a house- Graham entered camp an
hold name by the end of last unrecognizable 295 pounds as
season. a freshman. Not only was he
Instead, it took a couple instantly out of the running to
trips to Michigan coach Lloyd make an impact at linebacker
Carr's doghouse and a break- - the position he was original-
out performance against Notre ly recruited to play - but the
Dame for the Detroit native to five-star high school recruit's
become a mainstay in Michi- weight meant he would have
gan's starting lineup. trouble even finding the field
One man definitely now as a freshman.
knows Graham's name - Notre "I didn't work out while I
Dame quarterback Jimmy was at home," Graham admit-
Clausen. Graham met Clausen ted last month at Michigan
time and time again last week- Media Day. "I thought I was
end to the tune of 3.5 sacks in going to stay the same size as
Saturday's 38-0 win over the long as I just played around
Irish. and played basketball or what-
"He certainly didn't play to ever. But it didn't happen like
his capabilities in the first two that - I ended up getting too
games - I think today he did," big."
Carr said following Saturday's Graham fell behind and
4 game. "I think he's a guy with jockeyed between positions.
tremendous upside, and I think Though his raw talent was too
he ... learned a lot of things in much to ignore, making a red-
those first two weeks, and I'm shirt out of the question, Gra-
just hoping he can continue to ham rarely saw playing time.
play like he did today." When he did get in, it was gen-
That's a lot of praise coming erally for mop-up duty.
from Carr, who uncharacteris- After his forgettable fresh-
tically called out Graham less man season, Graham knew he
than three weeks ago. had to shape up - both figura-
"Brandon needs to get tively and literally.
focused and do the things that "I've known Brandon since
he's capable of doing," Carr he was little," said linebacker
said following Michigan's loss and high school teammate
to Appalachian State. John Thompson. "I had to tell
The public chastising Gra- Brandon, 'You got all this hype
now. It's your turn to shine.
You didn't prove what you
needed to do. You better step
your game up."'
Over the summer, Graham
lost 30 pounds and entered his
second camp at a much more
manageable 262 pounds. With
his weight down and his speed
up, Graham could finally look
forward to showcasing his
playmaking ability.
/ Now Graham hopes to turn
the previous season's disap-
pointment into a positive'and
use it as a learning experience.
"I came in (as a freshman)
trying to learn as much as
I could," Graham said last
month. "(Carr) said once you
learn everything, you'll have
a big advantage over every-
body."
With Graham hungry to
make an impact, what position
does he want to play?
The linebacker spot at which
he was recruited?
The defensive tackle spot
where he saw most of his action
last season?
Or the defensive end spot
where he's played this season?
"It doesn't matter where
they put me, because I'm going
to get it done wherever I am,"
the sophomore said in August.
"If they put me at corner, I'm
going to try and be the best
corner. I'm just trying to be the
best and bring everybody with
me."
PETER 5SHOi LsNFEL/Daiy
Sophomore Brandon Graham hounded Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen with 3.5 sacks in the 38-0 win.
SEC clashes headline
weekend action
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Fans have experienced the highs and lows of Michigan football during the past four years.
WFans' -blindfaith won't
always spell sorrow
didn't know it when I came
to Michigan, butI doubled
my sports misery.
As alife-
long Philly
sports fan,
I've seen A
teams fall
short ony
the field,
court, rink
and dia-
mond. And NATE
the fact is, SANDALS
Michigan-
fans and Enter
Philly fans Sandman
are pretty
much the same.
Before you ask how I could
compare Michigan fans to the
horror stories you hear about
Philly fans, let me explain.
No, Michigan fans have
never, as far as I know, thrown
snowballs at Santa Claus. No,
Michigan fans have never, as
far as I know, hurled batter-
ies at opposing players who've
spurned the Wolverines at one
time or another. No, Michigan
fans have never, as far as I
know, cheered as an opposing
player was carted off the field.
Michigan fans haven't done
any of those things. But this
column isn't about actions - it's
about mindset.
As long as I can remember, I
'M' NOTES
FOOTBALL
'.P
Henne's return in
sight?
Chad Henne might be back
sooner than anyone expected.
During yesterday's Big Ten
weekly teleconference, Michi-
gan coach Lloyd Carr's, who's
usually tight-lipped with regard
to injuries, said he "wouldn't be
surprised if (Henne) took some
have entered each Philly sports
season wholly confident in my
team's complete success while
being certain I would be disap-
pointed in the end.
Does that sound familiar? It
should. Think back - just three
weeks ago, Michigan football
was heading into what prom-
ised to bea great year. All the
pieces were in place.
There was the trio of Henne,
Hart and Long. The No. 5 pre-
season ranking. Ohio State at
home.
It wouldn't be an easy march
to the National Championship,
but this season offered a better
chance than most.
But in the back of our minds,
we all knew - things never
work out for Michigan football.
Even our 1997 National Cham-
pionship was a split decision.
Disappointment follows Michi-
gan, and it's hard to forget.
Why, despite the annual
anguish, do we continue to hold
such high hopes and blind alle-
giances? Is it worth it?
Yes.
Think about every time
Michigan football has let you
down, imploded, fallen short of
expectations - go ahead, take a
few minutes. Those memories
still hurt.
But then think about every
time Michigan football has
snaps."
Henne suffered a right knee
sprain late in the first half of
Michigan's loss to Oregon on
Sep. 8.
Freshman quarterback
Ryan Mallett, who started for
the first time in Michigan's
38-0 win over Notre Dame
last weekend, is still listed as
the starter on the Wolverines'
depth chart.
While a return for Henne
this weekend is still considered
surprised, uplifted or made you
uncontrollably excited.
Two years ago, the Wolver-
ines handed a game to Min-
nesota, droppingto 3-3 and
devastating this wide-eyed
freshman. The next week,
Michigan hosted undefeated
Penn State. As the sun set
over Michigan Stadium's west
grandstand, it looked like we
would be disappointed again.
But in just one second,
everything changed. The
two minutes following Mario
Manningham's game-winning
touchdown were as fun as any
I've spent as a fan. The pain
from the previous three losses
became surprised exuberance.
All it takes is one instant, one
immeasurable boost to remind
you why you invested so much
energy in the first place.
So take the bad times - as
many of them as there may be
- because one great moment
can replace them all, at least
temporarily.
And then you're back where
you started - an innocent fan
with a winning future and no
memory of disappointment.
Well, until next week.
- Anyone who wants to
commiserate over the Eagles'
0-2 start with Sandals can reach
him at nsandals@umich.edu.
a longshot, it would be fitting.
The senior is a Pennsylvania
native and seriously considered
attending this week's opponent,
Penn State, before deciding on
Michigan.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Devries off roster
Junior forward Phil Devries
is no longer listed on the Michi-
gan men's basketball roster on
By H. JOSE BOSCH
Daily Sports Editor
After flying out of the gate,
I took a tumble last week. My
Louisville-Kentucky pick was
wrong, but at least I don't
actually play for the Cardi-
nals, because that would be
embarrassing. Remember,
this week's picks are correct
60 percent of the time, every
time.
No 20 Texas A&M at
Miami (Fla.), Thursday, 7:30
p.m. - ESPN/ESPN 360
The Hurricanes looked
awful in their only test of the
season at Oklahoma and didn't
show much improvement last
weekend in a lackluster win
over Florida International.
This could mean trouble for
the once-proud program as
the Aggies roll into the Orange
Bowl. Texas A&M has put up
bigoffensive numbers this sea-
son, averaging 46 points per
game, and Miami doesn't have
much on the other side of the
ball to stop Aggie quarterback
Stephen McGee (think Dennis
Dixon from Oregon). The only
chance for the Hurricanes
to win is if they can match
Texas A&M point for point in
a shootout. Senior quarterback
Kyle Wright has the experi-
ence, but must do better than
his 1:1 interception-to-touch-
down ratio in limited play if he
wants to give his team a shot.
Miami coach Randy Shannon
will eventually turn this pro-
gram around, but this won't be
the game to do it.
Texas A&M 34, Miami
(Fla.) 14
No. 12 South Carolina at
No. 2 Louisiana State, 3:30
p.m. - CBS
Nothing is more annoying
than the Under Armor com-
mercial featuring South Caro-
lina coach Steve Spurrier, and
for the ad alone, I should pick
against the Gamecocks. But
they tell me I have to base my
decision on something foot-
ball-related. The Tigers have
the nation's best defense and
South Carolina is No. 67 in
total offense - I think that
about does it. And besides,
Louisiana State's offense isn't
bad, either. The lowest point
MGoBlue.com.
The 6-foot-10 walk-on decid-
ed not to come out for the team
this year but is still attending
the university, according to
sports information director
Tom Wywrot. Devries played
in just one gaine, grabbing
one rebound in three minutes
against Eastern Michigan last
season.
Wywrot said junior guard
David Merritt, the other player
to walkn last year, was still
AP PHOTO
Runningback Charles Scott should lead LSU past South Carolina on Saturday.
total for the Tigers this year between two top-25 teams,
is 44, and that was without but the Southeastern Confer-
their starting quarterback ence has two this weekend.
or No. 1 receiver. Louisiana The Crimson Tide faithful
State dropped 48 points on continued to pat themselves
a Virginia Tech team whose on the back for their faith in
strength was its defense. coach Nick Saban following
However you look at it, the an exciting win over Arkan-
Tigers are a much better team sas last weekend. Sure, Ala-
than the Gamecocks. Spurrier bama almost blew a 31-10 lead
is a great college coach, and in the second half, but it's all
if I had to make a short list of about the 'W,' right? Now, the
coaches that could figure the program looks poised to be a
Tigers out, he'd be on it. And force this season and beyond.
his win at Georgia may have Meanwhile, Bulldog coach
pleased the alumni. But it isn't Mark Richt continues to take
enough to prove that South solid talent and turn out a
,Carolina is ready to play with mediocre product. Georgia
the big boys of the Southeast- bounced back from a 16-12 loss
ern Conference. Did I mention to South Carolina by thrash-
the game is being played in ing Western Carolina, but it
Death Valley? feels as if the annual letdown
is happening earlier and ear-
Louisiana State 27, South lier for the Bulldogs. What's
Carolina 10 next, losing to a Division I-AA
in your home opener? Saban
No. 22 Georgia at No. 16 will have his team ready to go
Alabama, 7:45 p.m. - ESPN and the home crowd will be
It's fun enough when a hungry for another bigconfer-
conference has one matchup ence win.
with the team but didn't have for $135 at www.mgoblue.com/
a guaranteed roster spot. Mer- tickets. Student seating priority
ritt and freshman forward Eric will be determined by the num-
Puls, a preferred walk-on, are ber of past consecutive season
listed on the roster. tickets purchased, and students
who bought tickets last year
MEN'S BASKETBALL should have a strong chance
to be seated in the Maize Rage
Student season bleachers. This year, the Maize
. Rage will be extended to an
ickets on sale upper-levelsection where lower-
priority students will be seated.
Men's basketball season tick- Groups will be seated according
ets are available starting today to their lowest-priority student.
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