8A - Friday, September 21, 2007
Wl1
Blue
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PSU?
By DANIEL BROMWICH
Daily Sports Editor
Two years ago, Penn State
strolled into Ann Arbor unde-
feated and in line for a potential
National Championship bid.
Michigan was struggling, hav-
ing already lost three games,
including two at home.
And up 25-21 with 53 seconds
left, the Nittany Lions were ready
to celebrate not just the continua-
tion of their dream season, but the
end of a six-game losing streak to
the Wolverines.
But a Steve Breaston kick
return started drive that resulted
in a Mario Manningham touch-
down catch with no time remain-
ing, extending Penn State's
misery another year.
The Nittany Lions haven't
beaten the Wolverines since 1996,
when they left Ann Arbor with a
29-17 victory. Tomorrow, they
will try to end the streak that
reached eight games with a 17-10
loss in Happy Valley last season.
"You hear it around campus, in
the newspapers, even when we're
just being asked questions,'? Penn
State wide receiver Deon Butler
said. "I think everyone will get a
crash course on how many times
Michigan has beat us in a row,
even if you didn't know."
The losses have varied in style.
Michigan has blown out the Nit-
tany Lions by at least 20 points in
half the games and has squeezed
out tight wins by seven points or
fewer in the other half.
In several of the contests, dis-
puted calls near the end of the
game have had a hand in deter-
mining the outcome.
Two years ago, Carr argued for
and received two additional sec-
onds on the clock duringthe Wol-
verines' final drive. Penn State
coach Joe Paterno got the same
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Wolverines take talents
out in the community
By ALEX FLEISCHNER
For the Daily
At most universities, the ath-
letes are expected to be focused
solely on their sport and to excel
in that area.
But, while the Michigan men's
soccer team cares about wins
and losses, it also manages to go
beyond sports and give back with
numerous hours of community
service.
After winning-the Community
Service Team Award last year, the
team continues to succeed off the
field, while also prospering on it.
Last Monday, the team's nor-
mal off day, the players split up
into two groups to take part in a
soccer clinic for underprivileged
children.
One group traveled to Ypsi-
lanti to participate in a commu-
oity soccer program. It began-over
the summer to give children the
opportunity to learn and practice
soccer skills.
"With collaboration between
the men's and women's soccer
teams and the Ypsilanti commu-
nity, we were able to bring soccer
to where there had never been
soccer," said team captain Michael
Parke, who traveled to Ypsilanti.
Workingwith childrenages four
to 12, the team taught basic skills
to some who had never touched
a ball before. The experience
not only gave children a chance
to learn soccer, it also acted as a
bonding experience for the Wol-
verines. And the event was so suc-
cessful; another one in Ypsilanti
will be held Sept. 30th.
The second group on Monday
worked with the Special Olympics
on Varsity Field. More events are
planned for next Friday. Top Soc-
cer, an organization for children
with physical disabilities, will
hold a clinic with the soccer team.
Even with all these off-field
events going on, the Wolverines
have been more than capable in
their start to the season. Their
6-0-0 record is one of the fast-
est starts in recent years. They
are only one victory away from
matching last year's win total for
the season.
With tough matchups in the
upcoming weekend, Michigan's
meddle will be put to the test. The
Wolverines plan to copy their off-
field success with success against
Detroit and Wisconsin.
Yet, regardless the outcome of
their games, the Michigan men's
soccer team has accomplished
more this week then most do a
whole semester.
*I
Junior Mario Manningham and the Wolverines look to extend their w
streak over Penn State to nine games when the teams meet tomorrow.
treatment on the previous drive.
In 2002, referees ruled Nittany
Lion wide receiver Tony Johnson
out of bounds on a critical third-
down reception, killing a possible
game-winning drive. Subsequent
replays indicated that Johnson
was, in fact, inbounds.
These losses still resonate
with Penn State fans, players and
coaches.
"We've played some really
good games against them," Nit-
tany Lions' coach Joe Paterno
said. "Some of them, we could
dispute other factors beside just
the players. I think that's the way
it goes."
Although Penn State hasn't
beaten the Wolverines in 11 years,
the Nittany Lions have been
favored numerous times dur-
ing that period. This year, No.
10 Penn State (3-0) has beaten
each of its opponents by more
than 20 points. Michigan (1-2), on
the other hand, dropped its first
two games of the season before
pounding Notre Dame last Sat-
urday.
The Nittany Lions' defense
ranks eighth in the nation, allow-
ing just 218 yards per game.
Although its first three games
have been against national door-
mats Buffalo, Notre Dame and
FloridaInternational, the defense
was expected to be the team's
strength headin into the season.
"When ydu look at a lot of
defenses, you can find a weak-
ness," running back Mike Hart
said. "But Penn State, there's real-
ly no weak point on their defense.
Every play is not going to be five
yards. There's going to be plays
when we don'tget any yards."
Offensively, Penn State returns
senior quarterback Anthony
Morelli and boasts speedsters
Derrick Williams and Deon But-
ler at receiver. But last season,
Morelli and the wideouts were
shut down, and the quarterback
was knocked out of the game in
the third quarter with a concus-
sion after an Alan Branch hit.
Asked what he thinks Morelli
wants out of the rematch this
year, senior linebacker Shawn
Crable had a laugh at his oppo-
nent's expense.
"I think he wants to stay in the
game," he said.
As a team, Penn State has been
competitive in just half of the
games during the losing streak.
But as the 10th-ranked team in
the nation, the Nittany Lions will
be a measuring stick for Michi-
gan in its conference opener.
"I think Penn State might be
the best team in the Big Ten,"
Hart said. "So we're really going
to find out how good we our this
game, find out what are chances
are like and how much we've
improved from the first two
weeks."
Michigan 45 Procrastination
Penn State 35 station
Before every football game this
season, two of the Daily's football
writers will take the weekend's
matchup to the PlayStation 2 and
then let you know what happened.
- Play of theogameo- Michigan led
by a slim three-point margin when
RB #20 broke free on a 69-yard
touchdown run with a little more
than 1:00 left in the game to give
the Wolverines a commanding 45-
35 lead. RB #20 got to the outside
due to an incredible block by OL
#65 on LB #40. OL #65 engaged
LB #40 from behind to give RB
#20 the outside lane.
- Player of the game - Michigan
WR #86 hauled in eight catches
for 273 yards and two touch-
downs. WR #86 caught passes
in double coverage for a majority
of the game, and anytime he was
one-on-one, it was over with a QB
#15 deep bomb.
- Press Conference
Michigan coach Scott Bell:
"Am I happy we held coach
Wright's team to negative 42 yards
rushing? I wouldn't say happy, I'd
say I'm satisfied."
"It was a gametime decision as
to ,who I should start at QB, but I
figured QB #15 could give coach
Wright a chance to win. In the end,
I was just too good regardless."
"RB #20 upset me a bit. Only 173
yards on 17 carries? He certainly
had an off game."
"QB #14 is still breathing? Wow,
that's great news. After the eighth
sack he took, I thought he was a
goner for sure."
"Tell coach Herman he can coach
Michigan next week, and I'll coach
Northwestern. Better yet, I'll win. I
guarantee it."
Penn State coach
Kevin Wright:
"What can I say? I got all the
breaks and still couldn't pull out
the victory."
"I'm not sure why we can't beat
Bell's team. Oh, I know. It's because
our offensive line doesn't know
how to block."
"I hate to point to unfair advantag-
es as the reason I lost the game,
but K #43 was questionable for
the game. And kickoffs played a
huge role in field position."
"Bell's defense deserves credit.
His squad forced me into an aerial
game, and that wasn't in my game-
plan."
"I never knew CB #14 was that fast.
He broke on a ball intended for WR
# 2 from halfway across the field
and still deflected it."
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