The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 5A New faces in BCS title race PETER SCHOTTENFELS/Daih Redshirt freshman Obi Ezeh has adjusted to his new position, middle linebacker, after making the switch from running back when he came to Michigan. Ezeh proves himself on D By JACK HERMAN Daily Sports Editor As the first half of Saturday's 33-22 win over Eastern Michigan wound down, Michigan's Obi Ezeh fielded a short kickoff and returned it 13 yards. A former high school running back and returner, Ezeh said in the post-game press con- ference that catching it posed little challenge. But the Wolverines A aren't look- ing at him as a possible suc-" cessortoSteve EZEH Breaston. Rather, they've needed Ezeh at middle linebacker. And at that position, the redshirt freshman began the season a little less sure-handed. Skilled but inexperienced, Ezeh struggled to adapt to his role in the defense for much of the team's first five games. But last weekend, his ability finally began to shine through. Filling in for the injured John Thompson, Ezeh recorded nine tackles and forced a fumble. "Obi is very talented and very athletic," safety Brandent Engle- mon said. "Once he gets confidence as aleader and getting the defensive front set and things of that nature, he will bring a lot to the team." As the Wolverines' middle linebacker, one of Ezeh's biggest responsibilities - and also one of his biggest problems - has been calling out the defensive plays. At times, the Grand Rapids native has looked uncomfortable filling the leadership role. Saturday, though, he seemed to gain confidence in his calls. And, perhaps more important, he's rec- ognized how integral that is to the defense. "I'm happy with getting the defense lined up quick, because when I'm hesitant with my calls, then they're hesitant, and it kind of shows," Ezeh said. And Ezeh knows this Michi- gan defense needs as few distrac- tions as possible. After winning a position battle with Thompson this summer, Ezeh started in the Wolverines' now-infamous loss to Appalachian State, his first-ever collegiate game. A common sight in recent years, a spread offense embarrassed the Michigan defense. Mountaineer quarterback Armanti Edwards passed for 227 yards and rushed for 62 more. Becauseofthespreadformations, Ezeh often found himself guarding swift fourth and fifth wide receiv- ers who easily outmatched him. He played just as poorly as many other Wolverines and later said he wasn't "emotionally ready" for his first game. Apparently, Michigan coach Lloyd Carr didn't think so, either. He sat Ezeh in favor of Thompson the next two games. Instead of sulking, Ezeh studied Thompson in both games and prac- tice and tried to imitate the junior. And when Thompson sustained an injury prior to the Northwestern game, Ezeh got a shot at redemp- tion. He lookedshakymakinghiscalls during play early on against North- western, but he showed noticeable improvement as the game contin- ued. Ezeh finished with four tack- les and an interception, and against Eastern Michigan, he played even better. Defensive coordinator Ron Eng- lish said after the Northwestern game he gave Ezeh some simple advice: relax. The young Wolverine has taken the message to heart. "I just wantto be more of aleader on the field, be more of a leader and just be able to have fun and playand not worry about 'Am I doing some- thing wrong?"' Ezeh said. And if keeps improving, he cer- tainly won't have to. By MARK GIANNOTTO Daily Sports Writer Remember when then-No. 5 Michigan lost to Appalachian State, and it was called, without a doubt, the biggest upset in college football history? Well, the way the 2007 college football season has played out, the history books should note that game was simply a sign of things to come. Six games into the year, Loui- siana State is the lone unbeaten remaining from The Associated Press preseason top 10. In the past two weeks, nine top-tO teams have fallen victim to the upset bug. And with so many of upsets, there's been room for some new- comers like Arizona State and Missouri, who have flown under the radar despite their unblem- ished records. Thisweekend, both the Sun Devils and Tigers get the chance to prove they belong in the BCS Championship race. No.1 Louisiana State (3-0 SEC, 6-0 overall) at No.17 Kentucky (1- 1, 5-1) - 3:30 p.m., CBS It was beginning to look a lot like one of those magical seasons for Kentucky. Quarterback Andre Woodson played like a Heisman candidate and a first-round NFL draft pick while the team started with five straight wins, including consecutive victories over Louis- ville and Arkansas. But the magic sputtered out quicker than a Tommy Amaker-run offense with the Wildcats' 38-23 loss to South Carolina last Thursday. Kentucky had three fumbles, including one returned for a touchdown. Now, to keep pace in the SEC race, Kentucky must find a way to make Louisiana State do its best Southern Cal impression. The Tigers are coming off a game against Florida they had no busi- ness winning. Tim Tebow shred- ded Louisiana State's vaunted defense repeatedly, but luck always seemed to be on the Tigers' side. And every National Champi- on needs good fortune to make it through a season unscathed. Saturday's game gives Wood- son a chance to shine in the national spotlight and improve his already soaring draft status. But no matter how well he plays, I think Louisiana State is just too good to succumb to a single play- er. If the Tigers were going to be lose this year, it would have hap- pened last week. No.1 Louisiana State 31, No.17 Kentucky 17 No.11 Missouri (1-0 Big12, 5-0) at No. 6 Oklahoma (1-1, 5-1) - 6:30p.m. While the Tigers of Louisi- ana State have soaked up all the attention sitting atop the national polls, the Missouri Tigers have quietly gone undefeated. Their impressive record hasn't come against a cupcake sched- ule, either. Missouri's neutral- site win over Illinois to start the season looks even better after the Illini's upset of Wisconsin last week. And the Tigers are coming off a 41-6 thrashing of then-No. 25 Nebraska. They face yet another stiff test this week, traveling to Norman, Okla., to face a Sooner team that righted the ship with a 28-21 win over Texas last week. Quarter- back Sam Bradford has already thrown for 18 touchdowns, and bounced back nicely after bomb- ing in Oklahoma's loss at Colo- rado two weeks ago. If this game were in Missouri, I might pick the Tigers. But Mis- souri has started out the season 4-1 or better in three of the past four years and then flamed out each time. Something tells me the slide will start anew this week- end. No.6 Oklahoma 34, No.11 Missouri 14 Washington (0-2 Pac-10, 2-3) at No.14 Arizona State (3-0, 6-0) - 10:15 p.m. Bet you had no idea the Sun Devils were still undefeated. Well, it's easy to get lost in the Pac-lO shuffle this year. Califor- nia, Oregon and Southern Cal are all ranked in the top 10 and are in the mix to make the BCS National Championship game. In the coming weeks, Arizona State gets the opportunity to show there's more to Tempe than promiscuous hotties and drunk- en debauchery. After this week's matchup with Washington, the Sun Devils have a home game against the Golden Bears fol- lowed by a trip to face the Ducks in Eugene, Ore. The Huskies have struggled this season, but gave Southern Cal a run for its money two weeks ago. Although this is a home game for Arizona State, my gut says Tyrone Willingham won't allow that many good-looking women and an undefeated football team to be on the same campus. Washington 38, No.14 Arizona State 31 Sans backup, Sauer ready for first test At CC coach R starting was wid Two Sauer h down ci But starting isn't jus No. goalies, and Sh been sid Hunv game ag in the I he hasn forboth and an Wester Hoga is listed son and Minnea With the Wol minders field a s By ANDY REID gets hurt, a club teamer may have toi Daily Sports Writer be called up for the regular season, - - ---which would take his club team eli-l CHA Media Day, Michigan gibility away for the rest of his col-l ed Berenson said the team's lege career, no matter how much, if goalie job for opening day any, ice time he actually gets witht le open. the varsity squad.1 weeks later, junior Billy For Berenson, there are always as emerged as the hands- other options. hoice to fill that role. "We also have the option to cer-1 Sauer's newly solidified tify a goalie who isn't on the club spot between the pipes team, just a regular student - couldt t because of his play. be your roommate who played goall 10 Michigan's other two sometime," Berenson said. "But I freshmen Bryan Hogan don't want to do that. I don't want awn Hunwick, have both to make a mockery of the situa- lelined with illness. tion, and I don't want to hurt the wick will dress for Friday's club team by doing that. But if the gainst No. 2 Boston College situation emerged where it was ant ce Breaker Invitational, but emergency and that player mightI 't practiced all week and sat have to play, we might have to con-i the Blue-White Scrimmage sider that." exhibition game against Last weekend, Sauer looked n Ontario last weekend. inconsistent, allowing six goals inl n, who has mononucleosis, the Blue-White Scrimmage, but as week-to-week by Beren- he recouped Sunday to hold West- i will not make the trip to ern Ontario to just one goal on 17 polis. shots. depth problems in the net, But the Walworth, N.Y., native verines had to pull up net- had plenty of time on the ice this s from the club team just to week to work out any kinks in his quad last weekend. If Sauer system. With just one varsity goal- ie available to practice, Michigan needed Sauer on the ice as much as possible. He and a club teamer have practiced all week for Michigan. And although Sauer admitted the added practice time is tiring, he said it will help his endurance in games. "I think (the added practice) has been good for him," Berenson said. "I think only having two goalies on the ice is good for the goalies. They get more shots in more situations, so it's good for them." Volunteer goalie coach Josh Blackburn, a four-year starting goalie at Michigan from 1999- 2002, has worked tirelessly with all three goalies to make sure they are ready for the season. His presence is greatly appreciated by Berenson, who has relied on goalie coaches who could rarely make it to games, let alone practices in seasons prior. While Blackburn watches video with Hogan and Hunwick to keep their hockey minds sharp without being on the ice, his objective is obviously to get Sauer ready to play this weekend. "We watched the video, and our biggest concern is just making sure Billy is playing out of the net at proper depth," Blackburn said. "You know, beating the rush, find- ing the forwards, not just stare at the puck and making sure he knows where the other forwards and defensemen are so he can geta head start on the push." Sauer, who faced the Eagles in Yost Ice Arena in one of his first- ever starts for the Wolverines, will need no extra motivation when he skates out to the net on Friday. "That (Boston Collegegame)was one of the most fun games I've ever played in," Sauer said. "The crowd was electric, so I'm really looking forward to that again." I 9 :01 OC:* StudentUniverse.com 't. j i