.4B - November 10, 2008
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
48 - November10, 2008 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom
GAME STATISTICS'
Tam Stt
First Downs
Rush/Yds
PassingYards
OffensivePlays
Total Offense
Kick retrs/ Yds
Punt retuns/ Yds
Comp/Att/Int
Punts/Avge
Fumbes/Losgt
Penalties/Yards
Time of Poss
MICH
20
42/232
203
72
435
3/60
3/20
18/30/0
3/36.0
3/1
2/10
34:13
MINN
8
28/83
105
52
188
7/147
0/0
13/24/1
7/41.9
3/0
7/51
25:47
6
6
6
PSSIN
Plyer
Sheridan
Totals
RUSHING
Payr
Shmaw
MinorA
PIFeagi
Sian
Plaer
Odom,
Mathew
ClmonsI
HNHAteNR
Stamm8
ShawK,
Totals
PUNTIG
Moen
Toal
M I C H I G A N
C-A Yds TD
18-30 203 1
18-30 203 1
I
Int
0
0
TD'
Att
8
14
7
8
3
1
1
42
No.
7
6
2
1
1
1
18
Yds
71
53
49
33
16
7
3
237
Avg
8.9
3.8
7.0
4.1
5.3
7.0
3.0
5.5
Avg
6.1
13.2
13.5
39.0
10.0
5.0
11.3
Lg
48
40
34 0
8 0
14 0
7 0
3 1
48 1
Yds
43
79
27
39
10
5
203
Lg9
15
28
20
39
10
5
39
TD
0
1
0
0
0
No. Yds Avg Lg
3 108 36.0 49
3 108 36.0 49
No. Yds Avg
1 21 21.0
2 39 19.5
3 60 20.0
Lg TD
21 0
36 0
36 0
Left: SAID ALSALAH/Daly, Right: RODRIGO GAYA/DAILY
(Right) Redshirt sophomore Nick Sheridan and (left) freshman Justin Feagin each run from the quarterback position in Michigan's 29-6 win over Minnesota on Saturday.
Sheridan and Feagir-to~ step up
No. Yds Avg Lg TD
3 20 6.7 13 0
3 20 6.7 13 0
Soto
6
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
t
t
0
38
Asst
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
Tot
7
6
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
1
i
1
1
1
1
1
48
By DAN FELDMAN
Daily Sports Editor
MINNEAPOLIS - In the same
blue warmups he wore the entire
game, redshirt freshman quar-
terback Steven Threet emerged
from the locker room after the
Michigan football team's 29-6
win over Minnesota on Saturday.
He looked to his right, then to
his left.
"There he is," Threet said,
grinning and pointing at redshirt
sophomore quarterback Nick
Sheridan.
As the starter against the Gold-
en Gophers, Sheridan turned in
the performance everyone in
the Michigan program has been
looking for lately. He played an
efficient game, made the smart
throws and led the team to a
win.
It's clear both quarterbacks
like each other. But what does
Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez
think? Is the competition back
open between Sheridan and
Threet, who missed Saturday's
game after suffering a concus-
sion at Purdue last week?
"We haven't even taken a
shower yet, so let's not start a
controversy," Rodriguez said.
Sheridan threw for 203 yards
Saturday - the Wolverines' most
in five games.
He completed 18 of 30 passes.
It was the first time in the last
three games Michigan's quar-
terbacks completed a majority of
their passes.
And his eight-yard touchdown
pass to junior Greg Mathews late
in the first half, coupled with no
interceptions, marked the first
game all season he threw more
touchdowns than picks.
But until Saturday, Sheridan
had thrown five interceptions
and one touchdown this year.
And although Rodriguez said
Threet's status for this week was
"to be determined," he said he
thought Threet would be ready
to play.
The quarterbacks competed
for the starting job during spring
practice, and Threet came out
ahead. But Sheridan outper-
formed Threet during fall camp
and started the Wolverines'
opener against Utah.
Until Saturday, Threet had
started every game since Utah,
and many wondered how Sheri-
dan, a former walk-on who had
no scholarship offers out of high
school, earned that first start.
He showed why at Minnesota.
"That's exactly who we saw in
camp," quarterbacks coach Rod
Smith said. "Nick's fine. He's just
got to keep making good deci-
sions. If he makes good decisions,
play(s) within (himself), Nick's
got a chance."
Sheridan didn't want to talk
about whether his game Satur-
day, which included 33 rushing
yards on eight carries, meant he
could start next week against
Northwestern.
MORE INFORMATION
For new on the quarterback situation
from Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez's
pressconference tomorrow, check
wwwmichigandaly.com
"I hope it says I'm a fighter, and
I'm a competitor," said Sheridan,
who added his biggest concern
was that Michigan won.
Michigan also used another
quarterback who took advan-
tage of a shot many thought
he wouldn't get. Most schools
recruited freshman Justin
Feagin as a defensive back or
wide receiver.
But Rodriguez didn't have a
running quarterback on the ros-
ter when he took the job in Ann
Arbor, so he offered Feagin a spot
at quarterback, even though he
had never seen him play in per-
son.
Feagin ran the ball each
time he took a snap against the
Gophers. He had seven carries
for 49 yards.
"It felt real good because
Coach told me he was going
to give me a shot and he came
through," Feagin said. "He really
let me go have fun today."
Feagin only appeared to look
to throw on one play, butrunning
a limited package didn't bother
him.
"That's what got me here, run-
ning the ball," Feagin said.
The Deerfield, Fla. native
moved to slot receiver earlier in
the year after struggling at quar-
terback in practice. He made his
college debut playing special
teams at Purdue last week after
he asked the coaches to-burn his
redshirt.
"Next year, when I come out, I
already feel like I have a step on
someone," Feagin said.
The question now is whether
Sheridan has a step on Threet.
MINNESOTA
C-A Yds TD
13-24 105 0
13-24 105 0
Att
11
2
1
1
13
28
No.
3-.
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
13
Yds
80
6
2
-2
-3
83
Yds
20
36
14
30
9
3
0
-3
-4
105
Avg"
30
20
30
Avg
180
.0
30
0.0
Ls
26
4
2
0
9
26
L9
11
19
7
30
9
3
0
0
0
30
TD
0
0
0
0
0
0
TD
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Lopata ties record with
five field goals Saturday
No. Yds Avg Lg
7 293 419,9 60
7 293 41.9 60 w
No. Yds Avg Lg TD
6 128 21.3 30 0
7 4 10 30 0
No. Yds Avg Lg TD
0 0 0 0 0
Solo Asst
7 3
3 6
7 1
6 1
3 3
3 3
3 2
2 3
2 2
0 4
2 1
2 0
2 0
1 1
1 0
1 0
1 0
1 0
47 30
Tot
10
9
8
7
6
6
5
5
4
4
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
77
ByCOURTNEYRATKOWIAK
Daily Sports Editor
MINNEAPOLIS - The first
was redemption.
The sec-
ond, third NOTEBOOK
and fourth
were routine.
And the fifth put Michigan
place kicker K.C. Lopata in the
record books.
"They weren't the pretti-
est balls in the world, but first
and foremost, did they go in?"
Lopata said.
One that didn't go in this
season was likely still fresh
in his mind. Since missing a
26-yard kick with four seconds
left against Toledo last month
to secure Michigan's shock-
ing 13-10 loss, Lopata had
kicked just one field goal in the
last three games: a 27-yarder
against Penn State on Oct. 18.
But he made up for that by
scoring 17 total points Satur-
day and tying the single-game
school record with five field
goals. The last Wolverine to
kick five was J.D. Carlson
against Illinois in 1990.
Lopata made 44- and
34-yard field goals in the first
quarter, a 26-yarder in the
second and 48- and 28-yard
kicks in the third quarter.
And instead of kicking in the
30-degree, snowy Minnesota
weather, he couldn't have
picked a more advantageous
place for his kicking game to
shine - the cozy confines of
the Metrodome.
"I was really proud of K.C.,"
Michigan coach Rich Rodri-
guez said. "Some of, those
balls he kicked looked really
ugly, you know? He was really
driving the ball pretty good. I
would think if you're a kicker
or punter, there ain't nothing
better than kicking indoors."
Lopata didn't have to brave
the elements, but he had to
deal with the crowd. The
noise from the 55,040 fans
at the Metrodome, combined
with the marching band and
announcer's voice, echoed off
the dome's ceiling.
"It's always a bit of an
adrenaline rush when you
step on the field," Lopata said.
"You don't always feel totally
comfortable with it, which
I like. I like the rush going
out."
STILL EMPTY: Because the
Wolverines won't play Minne-
sota again until 2011, Minne-
sota coach Tim Brewster can
probably remove the empty
Little Brown Jug trophy case
from its motivational spot
in the players' lounge at the
Gophers' football complex.
"It's a daily reminder of
what we don't have," Minne-
sota sophomore quarterback
Adam Weber told the Minne-
sota Daily three days before
the game. "I think it needs to
be filled."
But it was the Wolverines
who were eying the Jug near
the end of the game as it sat
behind the Michigan bench
with less than a minute left on
the clock.
And as soon as the game
ended, the players flocked to
the trophy. Safety Brandon
Harrison pretended to drink
out of the Jug on the field.
Linebacker Obi Ezeh and
wide receiver Greg Mathews
walked to the edge of the
stands and pointed to the
cheering Michigan fans in the
upper bowl in celebration.
The Wolverines took home
the trophy for the third
straight season and haven't
lost the trophy in Minnesota
since 1977.
And this year's win had to
feel three times as good for
the Wolverines.
"Oh, man," safety Charles
Stewart said. "That means so
much. My senior year, going
out, bringing it home. We
lost a couple of rivalry games.
That sucked. But to win this
rivalry game and get that jug,
it's huge. It's huge."
INJURY REPORT: Running
on the field and laughing with
his teammates after the win,
redshirt freshman quarter-
back Steven Threet looked as
excited as if he had started the
game.
He watched Saturday's
game from the sidelines,
wearing a headset and warm-
ups, while still recovering
from a concussion suffered
in the fourth quarter against
Purdue. Rodriguez said
Threet's status for next week
against Northwestern is "to
be determined," but then said
he thought Threet would be
OK to play.
Two Wolverines who sat out
last week - freshman running
back Sam McGuffie and red-
shirt freshman safety Michael
Williams, who both suffered
concussions against Michigan
State - returned to the field
Saturday.
Michigan junior running
back Brandon Minor went to
the locker room near the end of
the third quarter with a pos-
sible separated shoulder, and
spent the rest of the game on
the sidelines without pads.
Redshirt freshman cen-
ter David Molk injured his
toe near the end of the game,
forcing redshirt junior guard
David Moosman to shift to
center.
NOTE: With 43 receptions,
wide receiver Martavious
Odoms now holds the Michi-
gan record for the most recep-
tions by a freshman. Odoms
had seven catches for 43 yards
Saturday, and during the first
quarter, he broke Steve Breas-
ton's record of 38 receptions
in 2003.
GOPHERS
From Page 1B
Minnesota's six points were the
fewest allowed by the Wolverine
defense since the Toledo game last
month.
The Gophers' eight first downs
were the fewest -Michigan has
allowed this season.
Playing four down-linemen was a
significant switch from the Purdue
game, and it led to increased pres-
sure on the quarterback.
The Wolverines went with a
three-man front against Purdue,
and the line failed to record a sack.
Junior defensive end Brandon Gra-
ham said several players asked to
switch back to a four-man front
during thatgame.
Michigan's line looked more
comfortable Saturday. Graham had
two sacks and the unit consistently
pushed into the Minnesota back-
field.
"They're both good fronts, but I
think a lot of people like the four-
man," fifth-year senior defensive
tackle Will Johnsonsaid. "Especial-
ly because more D-linemen play. In
our room, that's the highlight."
The Wolverines' secondary ben-
efited from the increased pressure.
Michigan entered the game with
the Big Ten's worst passing defense,
but it held Minnesota's third-ranked
aerial attack to just 105 yards.
Defensive coordinator Scott Sha-
fer made some significant personnel
changes in the defensive backfield.
Sophomore Donovan Warren
returned to cornerback after play-
ing as a deep safety last weekend.
Senior Brandon Harrison was dom-
inant as the nickel back close to the
line of scrimmage and recorded his
first career solo sack.
"They had me at linebacker this
week (in practice)," Harrison said.
"I always wanted tobe a linebacker,
but I was too short. So I got to live
out a little dream today."
The defensive improvement set
the stage for a steady offense, led
by redshirt sophomore quarterback
Nick Sheridan. With starting quar-
terback Steven Threet sidelined by
a concussion, Sheridan was depend-
able in relief, going 18-for-30 with
203 yards and a touchdown.
Freshman Justin Feagin took his
first snaps at quarterback, running
each time. He finished the game
with 49 yards on seven carries.
Michigan's defense finally got
running again, too. For a 3-7 team
still ranked near the bottom of the
conference in defense, the improve-
ment wasn't a culmination, only a
step in the right direction.
Shafer had heard increasing criti-
cism in the weeks leading up to the
game as the defense appeared to
regress. Those voices should be qui-
eter, at least for now.
"Until I get to the film, right now
the satisfaction could be described
as relief," Shafer said.
BIG TEN STANDINGS
Team Big Ten Overall
Michigan State
Penn State
Ohio State
Minnesota
Northwestern
Iowa
Illinois
Michigan
Wisconsin
Indiana
Purdue
6 1
5 1
5 1
3 3
3 3
3 3
3 3
2 4
2 5
1 5
1 5
9
9
8
7
7
6
5
3
5
3
3
2
1
2
3
3
4.
5
7
5
7
7
ROBINSON
From Page lB
any of his previous appearances. But
was that an anomaly, or has he actu-
ally progressed as a quarterback?
Michigan played inspired
The offense, defense and special
teams didn't make the mistakes
against Minnesota that cost the
team in previous games. And when
one of those phases made a mistake,
another one picked up the slack.
Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez
said Saturday his team was solid
in each of those phases and played
well the entire game. It outscored
its opponent in all four quarters for
the first time this season..
Lookingforward, will Michigan
stay inspired?
Rodriguez says every week that
his team makes progress Sunday
to Friday, but it hasn't shown up on
Saturdays. This Saturday, progress
showed. But the question is wheth-
er that was genuine progress?
It's something new for Wolverine
fans to think about - to see a team
make this kind of progress through
the season, to have a defense go
from allowing sevenctouchdowns
last week to allowing none this
week. -
Fans expect Michigan to start
strong and continue throughout the
season. But as teams from less suc-
cessful programs willtell you, when
the realisticgoal isn't a national
championship, you haveto embrace
the smaller victories. And for this
year's Michigan team, that's what
the Minnesotagame represents.
-- Robinson can be reached
at irobi@umich.edu.
THIS WEEKEND'S RESULTS
Michigan 29, MINNESOTA 6
Ohio State 45, NORTHWESTERN 10
Wisconsin 55, INDIANA 20
MicHIGAN STATE 21, Purdue 7
WEsTERN MIcHIGAN 23, llinois 17
Penn State 23, IOWA 24