4B - October 29, 2007
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
GAME STATISTICS
Team ta tsl
Firs Don
Offensive Ply
Comp/At/Int
Tio Poss3/2d
MINN MICH
16 22
36/132 49/307
99 254
66 70
231 561
66 124
4/30/0 12/21/0
I
9/40.2
4/
Yds TD Int
I 2s4 1 0
Yd v g TD
13 102 8s 2
18 6.0 11 0
6 2,0 4 0
2 2.0 2 0
307 63 85 3
61 153 22 0
10 s.0 6 0
21 21.0 21 0
2s4 2.2 48 1
No. Yds Avg Lg
4 162 40.5 46
4 162 40.5 46
Yds Avg Lg TD
67 23 27 o0
67 22.3 27 0
Ysy Avg Lg TD
Jug ovoes differingreactions
By SCOTT BELL 7. '
Daily Sports Editor
As the final seconds ticked down in
Michigan's 34-10 win over Minnesota, t
Wolverine quarterback David Cone con-"'
nected on a 21-yard pass with tight end
Andre Criswell along the right sideline.
The crowd applauded the backups, but
the real celebration was brewing no
more than 10 yards away from where the
play ended.
Offensive linemen Adam Kraus and
Jake Long, along with injured running
back Mike Hart, gathered around a blue
box holding the prize that was already
theirs. *
"Get that out, Big Johnny," Long said, A
directed at long-time equipment man-
ager Jon Falk.
Falk complied, lifting the Little Brown r
Jug from the container and placing it into
Long's hands. Michigan won back the
trophy in 2006 with a 28-14 victory in
Minneapolis, and its triumph Saturday
meant the Jug would stay in Ann Arbor
for at least another year.
For the next five minutes or so, vari-
ous members of the Michigan football
team passed around the jug. Long and
Kraus held it, then they passed it off to RODRIG GAYA/Daily
Hart. Soon, the 104-year-old trophy was The Michigan football team holds the Little Brown Jug high after it defeated the Golden Gophers to keep the old trophy in Ann Arbor for another year.
in the hands of Shawn Crable, who held
it above most players' reach with the aid Harrison said he and many of his team- sent out of here, or they'll ask you to the game both before and after the con-
of his long arms. mates touched it each day, both for good resign, or something crazy," he joked. test.
The Jug passed through the hands of luck and as a reminder of the rivalry. By the time the Jug reached the tun- "When you lose it, it's a miserable
a couple dozen more players before the others got their first feel of the Jug nel, wide receiver Greg Mathews had it experience," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr
team made its way to the locker room to Saturday night. in his grasp. Holding it with just his right said during his Monday press confer-
celebrate its seventh straight win. "That was my first time. It was a new hand, the sophomore got a warning from ence. "When you win it, you get to keep
"Some of these guys know about the experience," linebacker Shawn Crable behind him. that jug where it belongs. I mean, we
Jug, and some of these guys don't know said. "And it's heavy. You don't think it's "Hold that with two hands, Greg," bought that jug."
as much about it," defensive coordinator heavy, but it's heavy. It's like, ceramic or someone on the staff yelled. Said secondary coach Vance Bedford
Ron English said. "But the nicest thing is something." Mathews' scolding was just another following Saturday's win: "Coach Carr
to win and keep winning, and that's the Crable went on to admit that a fum- reminder of the emphasis put on the made sure we understand the meaning
important thing." ble of the Brown Jug was one that he Jug and the team's rivalry with Minne- of that trophy. That is by far the oldest
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr had the Jug wouldn't enjoy as much as those he fore- sota. Even though the Gophers entered trophy in the country as far as a rivalry
on display in the middle of the meeting es on the field. the game just 1-7, Michigan players and game, so that was key. We're glad to keep
room all week long. Nickel back Brandon "Yeah, you break that, you might get coaches alike stressed the importance of it right here again."
Solo Asst Tot
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BIG TEN
STANDINGS
Team Big Ten Overall
Ohio State 5 0 9 0
Michigan 5 0 7 2
Purdue 3 2 7 2
Wisconsin 3 2 7 2
Illinois 3 2 6 3
Penn State 3 3 6 3
Northwestern 2 3 5 4
Indiana 2 4 5 4
Iowa 2 4 4 5
Michigan State 1 4 5 4
Minnesota 0 5 1 8
THIS WEEKEND'S RESULTS
OHO STATE 37, PENN STATE 17
PURDUE35, NoRTHWESTERN17
WscoNsN 33, INDIANA 3
ILLINOSt28, BALL STATE 17
IOWA 34, MICHIGAN STATE 27
AROUND
THE NCAA
EAGLES FLY IN BLACKSBURG:
Scrambling to his left with only 11
seconds remaining on the game clock,
Boston College senior quarterback
Matt Ryan heaved a pass to the right
corner of the Virginia Tech endzone
that would have made Doug Flutie
proud. The touchdown completion
to senior halfback Andre Callender
completed a 14-point Boston College
comeback in the game's final 2:11 and
prevented the Eagles from becoming
the fourth No. 2 ranked team to lose in
as many weeks.
The 14-10 victory preserves Bos-
ton College's (8-0, 4-0) claim as the
nation's best team. Virginia Tech (6-2,
3-1) trails Virginia by a half game in
the ACC Coastal Division.
DUCKS DESTROY AT HOME:
Despite its No. 5 national ranking,
many critics have questioned Oregon's
lack of a signature win. Saturday's 24-
17 victory over Southern California (6-
2, 3-2) alleviates those concerns and
vaults the Ducks (7-1, 4-1) into true
national title contention.
Though the game featured two of
the nation's most offensive offenses,
turnovers proved the difference. A
Stanley Havili fumble and a Mark
Sanchez interception set up two short
Oregon scoring drives and a sec-
ond interception with nine seconds
remaining sealed the result.
WHITEOUT NOT ENOUGH:
With a suffocating defense and
efficient offense, Ohio State rolled
over Penn State in Happy Valley. Run-
ning back Chris Wells gashed the Nit-
tany Lions for 133 yards on 25 carries,
and the Buckeyes turned the ball over
just once en route to a 37-17 victory.
Ohio State (9-0, 5-0) won its 19th
straight Big Ten game, equalling Mich-
igan's 1990-92 record. Penn State
(6-3, 3-3) dropped to sixth place in the
conference and lost all its momentum
heading into the game. Nittany Lion
quarterback Anthony Morelli also
failed to deliver in a big game again.
PETER SCHOTTENFELS
Running back Mike Hart missed Saturday's game with injury but said he will return next weekend.
Hart's return to field
lkely for in-state battle
By JACK HERMAN
Daily SportsEditor
Earlier this year, Michigan running back Mike
Hart needed a little help - just a little - from his
teammates when he guaranteed Michigan would
beat Notre Dame.
Next week, it's only him (and maybe some
trainers and coaches) who can make his new
words come true.
Hart said Saturday he'll play NOTEBOOK
next weekend against Michi-
gan State as the Wolverines head into the dif-
ficult final stretch of their schedule. In fact, he
said, if needed, he probably could have played
this week.
"Yeah, I'm playing next week," Hart said after
the game, heading across the field into the tun-
nel. Later he added: "Yeah, I could have played
today."
As usual, Michigan coach Lloyd Carr hedged
his words a bit more than his starting running
back. In comments very similar to those leading
up to Saturday's game, he said he is still not cer-
tain if Hart or quarterback Chad Henne will play
next week.
"I'm optimistic that both of them will be ready
to go," Carr said. "But as I've said in the past, it's
day-to-day. I know that they're both much, much
better than they were a week ago, and we'll see
how the week goes."
Heading into the game against Minnesota, it
probably didn't matter much how either player
felt. With the one-win Gophers on the schedule,
Michigan wasn't in a rush to bring the two back.
Plus, it gave the Wolverines another chance to
get their younger players some experience.
Filling in admirably for Hart, running backs
Carlos Brown and Brandon Minor combined
for 289 yards and three touchdowns against the
Gopher defense, one of the worst in the country
against the run. Filling in not quite as admirably
for Henne, quarterback Ryan Mallett over- and
underthrew many of his passes, finishing the
game 11-for-20 with a touchdown, some of those
passes saved by great catches from wide receiv-
ers.
"It comes down to, like coach Carr said, the
expectation is for the position," linebacker
Shawn Crable said. "If you step in and they're
trusting you to be on the field, then you're sup-
posed to execute like the person that would be in
before you would have."
SPECIAL SPECIAL TEAMS: It has taken three
quarters of the season, but it looks like the much-
maligned Michigan special teams unit is coming
together. With some great punts, good returns
and impressive kicks, the unit looked perhaps its
best all season, despite a few miscues.
Punter Zoltan Mesko booted two perfectpunts
GOPHERS
From page 1B
Mallett's continued struggles.
Starting in place of Henne, who
didn't dress because of an apparent
shoulder injury, Mallett couldn't
rebound from poor showings in
road contests against Northwest-
ern and Illinois.
He overthrew open receiv-
ers, had balls batted down at the
line and looked visibly frustrated.
Most important, Mallett fumbled
twice, one of which was returned
46 yards for the Minnesota's lone
touchdown.
But that was just in the first
half.
After the defense gave the
offense a little pep talk at half-
time, Mallett and co. came out in
the second half and showed how
potent the Michigan offense could
be - even without its stars.
"A lot of guys talked to a lot of
offensive guys at halftime and just
told them 'Yall gotta fight,' " line-
backer Shawn Crable said. " 'Ya'll
gotta turn it up.' ... And they did
that."
The offense's fight started with
both of Hart's replacements, soph-
omores Brandon Minor and Carlos
Brown, who each rushed for more
than 100 yards.
Minor punished the Golden
- Gopher defense by taking a page
from Hart's game. Whenever it
looked like Minnesota had Minor
wrapped up, he ended up falling
forward or moving the pile another
few yards.
"I had somebody outside (the
program) tell meI had to start run-
ning people over more, so I had to
BROMWICH
From page 1B
Manningham simply jogged
back to the huddle.
It got stranger.
With Michigan leading 13-10,
Manningham hauled in a 48-yard
pass on the right sideline on third
down. Again, there was no cel-
ebration by the star.
Following his early fourth-
quarter touchdown that effective-
ly ended the game, Manningham
finally showed some emotion.
And it wasn't a me-first, self-
centered dance or pose. He was
lifted up by his teammates into the
air, and he celebrated with them
in the end zone.
The game, and the past month
as a whole, has shown a significant
change in the receiver. And the
evolution has come in steps.
He struggled the first four
weeks of the season, manag-
ing more than 70 yards in just
one game, and seemed to play
lackadaisically at times. Michigan
coach Lloyd Carr called him out
for his subpar play after the Ore-
gon game, but Mannigham didn't
have much of a chance to show
his improvement with freshman
quarterback Ryan Mallett starting
the next two games.
He broke out against North-
western with a career-high 10
catches, aided by Chad Henne's
return.
Manningham was suspended
for the next game against Eastern
Michigan for a "violation of team
rules," but continued to elevate
his game upon his return. He
tallied eight catches for a then-
career-high 147 yards and two
touchdowns against Purdue, and
give them what they want," said
Minor, who finished with157rush-
ing yards and one touchdown.
His backfield mate, Brown,
opened eyes with his performance
against Illinois and once again
showcased his explosiveness Sat-
urday.
After a first-quarter fumble,
Brown tallied two touchdowns
and 135 yards, most of which came
off an 85-yard touchdown scamper
in the fourth quarter to effectively
end the game.
But the second half proved most
beneficial for Mallett.
The freshman returned from
the locker room and proceeded to
stretch the field with the deep ball
after the Michigan rushing attack
gouged the Gopher defense. Mal-
lett threw a perfect ball to wide
receiver Mario Manningham, who
finished with 162 receiving yards,
on a 40-yard touchdown pass in
the third quarter for Manning-
ham's and Mallett's only score of
the day.
"What I liked is that he showed
real toughness after making a cou-
ple mistakes, one of which went
back for a touchdown," Michigan
coach Lloyd Carr said. "Now we're
behind in our own stadium, and
at that point, you fight back and
have enough poise and toughness
that you're going to get it turned
around, and he did that."
Carr said both Hart and Henne
are still day-to-day, but Hart said
after the game he will play next
week in East Lansing.
And with the way the offense
began the game against the last-
ranked defense in the Big Ten Sat-
urday, Hart alone might be enough
to spark a better start.
followed that with a nine-catch,
109-yard, two touchdown perfor-
mance against Illinois.
The final step in his maturation
seemed to come Saturday.
Not only did Mannigham have
a career-best 162 yards receiving
and a touchdown on five catches
without a single egotistical expres-
sion, buthis coach explained some
of the change in both demeanor
and numbers after the game.
"I think Mario's been sensa-
tional these last three weeks,"
Carr said. "I've seen this happen
to a lot of guys ... He played well
enough a year ago that, going into
this season, he received an inordi-
nate amount of whatever you want
to call it, all the All-American,
preseason-this, preseason-that,
and I think maybe that impacted
him a little bit. ButI think ... he's
playing some of his best football."
Carr continued that Man-
ningham learned to assess his
play realistically with his position
coach Erik Campbell. He also
guessed that perhaps Manning-
'ham has taken some extra respon-
sibility on his shoulders with
freshman quarterback Ryan Mal-
lett forced into duty by injuries to
senior Chad Henne.
Those might be reasons for
the newfound maturity and the
escalation of his performance on
the field. Others could include his
coach and quarterback callinghim
out or his benching.
The receiver still doesn't talk
to the press, so it's unlikely we'll
ever know the real reason for the
change.
But maybe that's a good thing.
Maybe he's decided to let his
play do the talking.
- Bromwich can be reached
at dabromwi@umich.edu.
9
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i
iE
Senior quarterback Chad Henne didn't dress Saturday,
and it is unsure whether or not he will return next week-
end when the Wolverines take on Michigan State.
early in the game, bungled only by Charles Stew-
art failing to stop the ball before it went into the
end zone. Wide receiver Greg Mathews returned
a punt 19 yards and Carlos Brown a kick for 27,
both their longest of the year. Kicker K.C. Lopata
kept his stat line unblemished, knocking in two
field goals (42, 26) to move to 8-for-8 on the year.
"He really hit that ball well," Carr said of
Lopata's 42-yarder. "He's really done a wonder-
ful job. We tried to watch him pregame, kicking
into the wind, withthe wind, how far, and we felt
that was a good kick."
IN COMMUNIST RUSSIA ...: With the game
against the Gophers out of the way, Michigan has
seen its last spread offense for the year (at least
until its bowl game). Although some Wolverines
said they didn't care what kind of offense they
played, others said they're happy to know some
more traditional ones are up next on the sched-
ule.
"Thank God. We're happy about that," line-
backers coach Steve Szabo said. "I call that
Communist football. I'm so tired of it. Good, red-
blooded Americans snap the ball, hand it to the
guy and have a normal run game or pass game."
CAN-SEE TV: Michigan's intrastate battle with
Michigan State, which was rumored to be Big
Ten Network-bound, was picked up by ABC. The
game will be played at 3:30 Saturday afternoon
in East Lansing.
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