0 8A - Wednesday, October 1, 2008 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Michigan picked to finish first in CCHA by media CCH PRESET POL COACHE 1. Notre Dame 2. Michigan (3 3 Miami (1) 4. Northern Mi 5. Michigan St 6. Ferris State 7. Ohio State 8. Nebraska-0 9. Bowling Gre 10. Lake Superi T-11, Alaska T-11. WesternN iA ASON LS Mitera, Palushaj and Sauer selected to preseason all-conference teams By MICHAEL EISENSTEIN Daily SportsEditor GRAND RAPIDS - Last year, Michigan coach Red Berenson was focused on reassuring Wolver- S POLL ine fans that the freshman-laden (8) team was better than its predicted fourth-place CCHA finish. ) "Nothing has changed at Michi- gan," Berenson said a year ago, referring to the program's consis- ichigan tent place among the conference's ate top teams. This season, NOTEBOOK with a Frozen Four behind them and a No. 2 national ranking, the Wolverines maha won't be surprising anyone. Michigan was picked to finish !en first in the CCHA by the media or State (43 first-place votes), acrd second by the conference's coaches (three first-place votes) behind Notre ichigan Dame, who ousted the Wolverines from the NCAA Tournament last April. Miami (Ohio), Michigan State and Northern Michigan round out the top-five in each poll. "I just see this as being a good team right from the get- go," Berenson said at yesterday's CCHA Media day in Grand Rapids. "Last year we weren't supposed to be good, (and) we surprised our- POLL selves." The preseason all-conference 3) teams, however, did contain a (35) slight surprise. Sophomore right- winger Aaron Palushaj - an all- te (2) rookie honorable mention last year - was a first-team pick, garnering just one fewer first-place vote at chigan (1) forward than Fighting Irish cap- tain Erik Condra. Palushaj led the league in assists and was the en CCHA's top freshman scorer last maha season, but went unnoticed play- ing behind the Wolverines' top line - the highest scoring in the for State country. Captain Mark Mitera was also a first-team selection and received the most points among defense- chigan men. Senior goalie Billy Sauer was named to the second team. GOODBYE TIES: With the rentheses CCIHA's biannual rule changes evotes taking effect this season, there will be two major differences at conference games: Shootouts to SoURCE: CCHA end ties and an extra referee call- ing penalties. The shootouts - received by coaches with mixed reviews according to CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos - will be used to break ties if a five-minute over- time period fails to do so. Berenson was not overly enthu- siastic about the new rule, but is interested to see how well it works this season. "I think it's good for college hockey, I think it's good for the fans and I know the play- ers are excited for it," Beren- son said. "I'm an old-school guy, and I know I'm probably. going to bite my tongue if we PALUSHAJ lose shootouts. That's a tough way to lose a game. But still, I think it will be good." Berenson didn't vote for the officiating crew change, and is worried it doesn't address the issue of having a "glorified goal judge" getting in the way of puck movement down low on offense. But he does like the protection is gives the puck handler coming up the ice. "It's going to create more penal- ties, and therefore more open play, more wide-open play because the players now know that there's eyes behind them and eyes in front of them," Berenson said. TIME FLIES: For25 years, Beren- son has been behind the Michigan bench, racking up two national championships, 10 CCHA regular season titles and eight conference postseason trophies. But for the legendary coach, time is not standing still. "I just look old, and 25 (years) might seem like a lot," Beren- son said. "But I'll tell you what, the first five years took about 20 years, and the next 20 years took about five. That's really houw it's been. Once we started winning, it's gone by so fast and been so much fun compared to the first five years." Berenson wouldn't say whether or not he would extend his expir- ing contract. But he is not focused on reaching the quarter-century mark. "It's a nice number but people that worked on the railroad worked for 40 years or whatever, I mean a long time," Berenson said. "Now coaching 25 years in one place, I mean I think there are coaches in our league who have coached lon- ger than I have, I just happened to get a late start." I I ANGEtA ttStRt/Daily Junior Carson Butler, sees here against Indiana in02006, did nout see any snaps on offeose against Wisconsin. Butler st rugglfes to find paein offe nse MEDIA 1. Michigan (43 2. Notre Dame 3. Michigan Sta 4. Miami (2) 5. Northern Mi 6. Ferris State 7. Bowling Gre 8. Nebraska-Di 9. Ohio State 10. Lake Superi 11. Alaska 12. Western Mi Note: Numberin pa: indicatesfirst-place By DAN FELDMAN Daily Sports Editor When the Michigan football team shocked Florida in the Capi- tal One Bowl on New Year's Day by ditching its pro-style offense for one with several characteristics of the spread, tight end Carson But- ler seemed like a perfect fit. On one play in the second quar- ter, with four receivers lined up on the right side of the field, Butler leaked from the left side of the line and caught a screen pass. He then raced 65 yards down the sideline before the speedy Gator defense finally pushed him out of bounds at the one-yard line. An ABC announcer asked new Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez, who was in the broadcast booth at the time, if he could find a place for a 247-pound tight end in his spread offense. "Certainly guys that can run like that," Rodriguez said. But nine months later, Butler doesn't seem to have a firm spot on the Wolverine roster. Butler started Michigan's first three games but didn't play on offense against Wisconsin, even though he was healthy. The junior has just two catches for 17 yards this season and is listed as the third-string tight end for Satur- day's game against Illinois. Rodriguez was asked Monday about. Michigan's top four tight ends - Butler, fifth-year senior Mike Massey, freshman Kevin Koger and sophomore Martell Webb. Rodriguez addressed the last three by name, but didn't men- tion Butler at all. Late in the fourth quarter of the Wolverines' frustrating loss at Notre Dame on Sept. 13, Butler was ejected after he took a swing at an Irish player after a play. Though Rodriguez expressed displeasure with Butler's lack of composure, he didn't suspend him. Butler also got into trouble with former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr. Butler was kicked off the team after being charged with assault- ing another student in West Quad on St. Patrick's Day in 2007. After he was cleared of the charges, But- ler retugned to the team. Before the season, Butler said he was excited about a fresh start under Rodriguez. He was initially concerned when Rodriguez was hiredbecause WestVirginia didn't utilize its tight ends often, but the coaches assured him Michigan would use its tight ends frequent- ly. It turns out Butler might not be one of them, though. Koger and Massey, both listed as possible starters against the Illini, have impressed Rodriguez. Against Wisconsin, Massey becamethe firstWolverinetoserve as a captain'twice this season. Koger made his debut in the same game, though Rodriguez had considered redshirting him earlier in the season. The move paid off, as Koger, caught a 26-yard touch- down pass in the third quarter. It was his first career reception. Redshirt freshman quarterback StevenThreetsuccinctlydescribed the play. "It was a good route," Threet said. "He made a great catch." If only everything were so sim- ple for the talented Butler. Goalie hopes to continue hot streak against Irish Southern Cal and Florida look to rebound from upsets in conference play By JOE STAPLETON Daily Sports Writer It was halfway through the Michigan men's soccer team's practice, cold and rainy, and goal- keeper Patrick Sperry was sitting in his goal on the wet grass, watch- ing his team do corner-kick drills. He looked like he was thinking. Maybe he was thinking about how to continue his current hot streak; over the last 3 games, Sperry has allowed just two goals and made 11 saves. Or about how he's going to avoid a repeat of the four goals he allowed against then-No.16 Illinois-Chicago earlier this sea- son. Or about playing No. 8 Notre Dame this afternoon. Michigan is 6-2-2 this season, already just four wins away from last year's win total. Sperry's play in net is no small factor. He has allowed more than two goals just twice this season. He has also posted two shutouts. "I think I've helped us win some games," Sperry, a redshirt junior, said. "I've come up with some big saves, which is great. It feels good to help your team." But against ranked opponents, the Wolverines have struggled both times they faced top compe- tition. The first game was a 2-1 loss to then-No.2 Connecticut. Sperry made three big saves on five shots by the talented Huskies. The more recent loss, the blow- out against UIC, was tougher to swallow. "We scored an own goal, they got a P.K., and they scored two bril- liant goals," Sperry said about the low point of the season thus far. Redshirt Junior Patrick Sperry and the Michigan soccer tean face the eighth- ranked Fighting Irish this afternoon in Ypsilanti. Michigan has moved forward. The Wolverines have gone 3-1-1 since the loss, and Sperry has been on fire. He has allowed just one goal in four of those games and even posted a shutout in another. "Pat is a guy we expect to come every day and put a real consis- tent performance together," said Michigan coach Steve Burns. "And it's at a high level." Sperry's play has raised his coach's confidence, and helped improve the entire team's atti- tude. "It breathes life into a whole team," Burns said. "When he's playing well, everyone can look to attack knowing that our keeper's on." Sperry is looking to keep his performance up against a talented Notre Dame team on Wednesday. The Irish were ranked third as recently as last week, but dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker on Sunday to No. 14 Louisville. The loss ended a seven-game winning streak for the Irish. - "It's a great matchup," Sperry said. "Something I want to do is leave Michigan with a win against Notre Dame." Back at practice, the rain cleared up for a moment and turns ended the corner-kick drill. As the defense dropped back to his side of the field, Sperry pushed himself off the grass and jumped into his stance. He looked ready. Ready to keep pushing himself and ride his hot streak. Ready to learn from his past mistakes and put the lessons to use. Ready to get Michigan soc- cer its first ever win against Notre Dame. By NICK COSTON Daily Sports Writer Considering the havoc wreaked upon the Associated Press poll's top 10 last week, every college football team in the country should watch be watching its back. A handful of top teams suffered particularly excru- ciating conference losses and will likely lose all hope of a title if they drop another contest this weekend. Perhaps the most surprisingupset of the weekend came last Thurs- day night on the campus of Oregon State University, where the Beavers shocked then-No. 1 Southern Cal. It was the third crippling upset in as many seasons for the Trojans, who fell to Oregon State on the road two years ago and to 40-point underdog Stanford in the Coliseum last sea- son. Meanwhile, in Gainesville, Fla., Florida entered Saturday's game against lowly Mississippi fresh off a 30-6 beating of conference foe Ten- nessee. But reigning Heisman Tro- phy winner Tim Tebow could not penetrate the Rebels' defensive line and the Gators were stunned, 31-30. And No. 9 Wisconsin lost to some Big Ten team in Michigan. You might have heard about it. Those three disheartened teams had better dry their eyes quickly if they're hoping for a bid to a BCS bowl game, because this weekend only heightens the in-conference drama. NO.23 OREGON AT NO.9 SOUTHERN CAL Despite preseason worries that losing running back Jonathan Stew- art and quarterback Dennis Dixon would derail the Ducks' offense, Oregon has scorched defenses early in 2008. Give most of the credit to an unstoppable running attack that is averaging 309 yards per game, good for fourth in the nation. If linebacker Rey Maualuga and the Southern Cal defense can't stop Oregon on the ground, the Trojans may fail to reach a BCS bowl game for the first time in six years. NO.12 FLORIDA AT ARKANSAS Florida entered last Saturday's home game overlooking Missis- sippi as it anticipated a showdown with Louisiana State on October 11th. Unfortunately for the Gators, Mississippi was clearly focused on Tebow and came away from the Swamp with the huge upset. Now, Florida must regroup against an equally wounded Arkansas team that was dominated by Texas, 52-10, in Austin. Florida will be heavily favored to win this SEC game - just as it was against Mississippi. PITTSBURGH AT NO.10 SOUTH FLORIDA After last weekend's upset bonan- za, the Bulls find themselves in the Top10 and contendingfor a BCStitle for the second straight year. South Florida is suddenly the top team in, the Sunshine State and will have a target on its back when it hosts Pittsburgh on Thursday. The Pan- thers have won three straight and will look to keep the upsets coming and unseat the Big East favorite. South Florida has proven to be a dominant team on both sides of the I it ball with quarterback Matt Grothe and defensive end George Selvie leading the Bulls to a 5-0 start. But Pitt sophomore running back LeSean McCoy is a special talent and can singlehandedly keep his team in contention. Could we see another Thursday night miracle? NO.13 AUBURN AT NO.19 VANDERBILT It's a strange sight - Vanderbilt is undefeated and currently sits atop the SEC East. It will be even stranger if the Commodores beat AuburnSaturday.The Commodores haven't beaten the Tigers since the 1955 Gator Bowl, and Vanderbilt hasn't opened the season with five straight wins since 1943. Whatever happens, don't expect this to be a high-scoring slugfest. Vanderbilt has one of the worst passing attacks since the invention of the forward pass, but quarter- back Chris Nickson makes up for it with his feet and he leads the Com- modores in rushing touchdowns. Auburn's offense isn't exactly potent either, and it has been plagued this season with costly turnovers. The Tiger defense has scored in every game this season, the one exception being a 3-2 win over Mississippi. Auburn fans expect to continue their domination over the usual laughingstock of the SEC. But the Commodores have never been more confident, especially after their last home win over then-ranked South Carolina. The place should be rock- ing. After all, it's Nashville. 0