0 8A - Wednesday, March 11, 2009 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 0 Rodriguez optimistic for Forcier, mum on Threet Sims deserved All-Big Ten first team By MICHAEL EISENSTEIN Daily Sports Editor Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez will talk all you want about early enrollee Tate Forcier, a rivals.com' four- scar recruit. NOTEBOOK The same goes for redshirt junior quarterback Nick Sheridan and his four career starts. And the same for redshirt sopho-, more David Cone, who has complet- ed one career pass as a Wolverine. But all you'll get out of Rodri- guez regarding Steven Threet, an eight-game starter last year who announced his plans to transfer Feb. 16, is a smirk and the usual mantra: "We just talk about the guys that are here," Rodriguez said. "But Nick has some experieriee. Then we have David Cone, who's been in the pro- gram, worked hard. "Tate's kind of a gym-rat type of guy that loves learning about the game, has put the time in. I'm anx- ious to see how they perform in the spring." When the Wolverines begin the first of 15 spring practices Saturday, Sheridan, Forcier and Cone will be sharing repetitions under center. "Nick'sobviously themost familiar with it," Rodriguez said. "But Tate's a quick learner, so we didn't bring him here and didn't sign him and (incom- ing freshman) Denard (Robinson) to stand in the background. They're going to get the chance, every oppor- tunity to win the job." The biggest difference between this spring and last at the quarter- back position is the experience of the rest of the offense. Michigan returns all of its offen- sive startersfrom the end of lastsea- son except tight end Mike Massey. "It's different," Rodriguez said. "Not only because obviously Nick has some experience, but because the guys around him now have some experience. It's not like last year where it was a little bit tougher on the quarterbacks because they were surrounded by a bunch of guys who hadn't played in the system as well." WELCOME, MR. ROBINSON: To improve the Big Ten's second-worst scoring defense, Rodriguez brought in former Syracuse head coach Greg Robinson as the Wolverines' new defensive coordinator. "Greg has been around enough to know it's not all about the schemes," Rodriguez said. "This spring, just as much as anything else, is teach- ing tackling and fundamentals and breaking on the ball and doing a lot of those things we have to get bet- ter at." One of the biggest changes the Wolverines will see in spring prac- tice this year are in the defensive schemes. "We play so many different styles of offense - both in the league and out of the league - that you're not playing in a traditional three-line- backer scheme anymore,"Rodriguez said. "Half the games you're playing in, you're playing a nickel scheme with an extra safety in there. "That being known, and our coaches being aware of it, there will be a lot of times on defense this spring where our first defense will be a so-called nickel defense with an extra strongsafety in there." Rodriguez said senior free safety Stevie Brown could move into that spot. Though it is rare to practice the nickel in the spring, "you better prepare for it early," he said. POCKET PROTECTORS: Though the quarterback competition natu- rally garners the most attention, Rodriguez is particularly excited about Michigan's depth on the offensive line. There was just one returning starter entering last year: redshirt junior right tackle Stephen Schil- ling. Rodriguez likes to have eight linemen he feels comfortable with. This season? "With our guys, that 0-line, we may be able to have 10," Rodriguez said. The surplus of linemen is due to Rodriguez's decision to redshirt all six freshmen last year. Read more at michigandaily.com. he Big Ten men's basketball coaches and a media vot- ing panel announced their 2008-09 All-Big Ten first team on Monday. Both sets of voters had the same list. Michigan forward Manny Har- ris, Michigan State guard Kalin ALEX Lucas, Ohio State PROSPERI forward Evan On men's Turner, Penn basketball State guard Talor Battle and Purdue center JaJuan Johnson. The media named Michigan junior forward DeShawn Sims to the second team, and the coaches named him to the third. My All-Big Ten first team predic- tion lastweek was the same as the coaches' and media's. Knowingthat the coaches and media wouldn't leave out a player from the Big Ten's second-best team, Illinois, or third-best team, Purdue, Sims didn't make the cut. Butthe award should go to the best five players, so Sims should have been on the list over Johnson. Michigan is only as good as Harris and Sims. Without either player, Michigan would have no shot of makingthe NCAA Tourna- ment. Harris averages 17.1 points and seven rebounds per game. Sims averages 15.3 and 7.3. Michigan's third-highest scorer, redshirt fresh- man Laval Lucas-Perry, averages 7.4, while Michigan's third-highest rebounder, freshman Zack Novak, averages 3.4. While Johnson averages 13.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, Purdue has three players aver- agingdouble figures in scoring. 0 40 SAID ALSALAH/D Junior DeShawn Sims was given second team All-Big Ten honors by the media. And the Boilermakers' success on offense depends more on all five players on the court, notjust two. Michigan has been searching for a third scorer all season, but more often than not, the bulk of the offensive load falls on the shoul- ders of Harris and Sims. And although Johnson has the advantage on the defensive end (2.2 blocks per game), his play is com- plemented by Purdue's stingy team defense, which is the third-best in the Big Ten. Sims not only deserves the award over Johnson because he means more to his team and can also extend the floor with his out- side shooting - but also because he has been more productive. Sims averages more points and rebounds. Despite beingtwo inches shorter, he has the same number of double-doubles. And Sims plays great in big games. In wins against then-No.4 UCLAand Duke, Sims led Michigan in scoring and rebounding. When Michigan hosted No.9 Michigan State, Sims was the lone Wolverine that played well, scoring18 points and grabbing four rebounds. After Michigan dropped a heart- breaker at Iowa, it needed to win two of its last three games. Sims had 29 points in a victory against Purdue and 24 at Minnesota in a must-win game. Sims is more valuable to his team and has better numbers. That should mean he's on theAll-BigTen first team. 6 6 Beerensons extension still leaves recruiting questions Seniors reflect before final home meet By GJON JUNCAJ age against him and have told some Daily Sports Writer recruits he doesn't even go on the ice during practices. Last Tuesday marked a return to Sophomore forward Aaron a familiar scriptfor Michigan hockey Palushaj said other CCHA coaches coach Red Berenson, who signed a emphasized Berenson's contract one-year contract extension through status to discourage him during his next season. Now in his 25th year as recruitment, but they never resorted head coach, Berenson worked under to inappropriate scare tactics. rolling, one-season contracts from Word-of-mouth also plays a role his first year until 2006, when his in negative recruiting. Freshman current three-year deal began. defenseman Brandon Burlon said But the short-term extension recruits from other schools warned won't mitigate all possible concerns him Berenson doesn't play freshmen. on the recruitingtrail. But besides sophomore Bryan Hogan, In the past five years, questions who played injustsix games lastsea- about Berenson's eventual retire- son as the backup goaltender, every ment have increased. Berenson, 69, member of this year's roster played says it comes up in every conversa- at least 23 games as freshmen. tion with a recruit's parents. And he Recruiting battles extend beyond openly admits to players he may not the realm of the NCAA. Morals are be coaching when they graduate. sometimes compromised when the Recruits are often courted when Canadian Hockey League becomes they are as young as 15 years old, involved in courting teenage ath- whichheightensthe attentionregard- letes. The CHL consists of three ing Berenson's uncertain future. And major junior leagues, most notably it also serves as a weapon for other the Ontario Hockey League, all for teams - both inside and outside the players ages 16 to 20. CCHA - to discourage parents from The junior leagues are in compe- sendingtheir son to Michigan. tition with NCAA schools for play- "I've got a kid in this year, and he ers. Burlon suggested they can often said it's definitely out there," assis- resortto disparagingthe level of play tant coach Mel Pearson said. "They inthe college game to tryto persuade ask; 'You don't even know how long parents there's only one clear path to the Michigan coach is going to be the National Hockey League. there, so why would you consider Before entering college, Ameri- that school?' ... We hear a lot that can players often play in the United Red's not involved in the recruit- States HockeyLeague, in some cases ing at all, but that's false. We hear until they are 20 years old, to gain that Red's going to retire next year. experience against top competition. I think that's a yearly thing." CHL representatives sometimes try Berenson suggested last \'eek to convince players that American that opposingcoaches have used his junior leagues aren't as effective in developing athletes, especially those older than 18. "That's their selling point," Bur- ion said. " 'The OHL - you come in early, you develop earlier. ... Obvi- ously, they want you, and they use the card that you're going to have to play two years of juniors, which isn't the same caliber of the OHL most times before you go to college." Berenson is openly critical of the CHL's relaxed standards of decency. He recalled when former Wolver- ine Jack Johnson (2005-07), now with the Los Angeles Kings, was 15 years old. A CHL representative approached Johnson at 7 a.m. at the golf course he was working atto talk about his future on the ice. The major junior leagues don't always leave players alone after they've arrived on campus, either. Representatives sometimes target active Wolverines with poor grades to persuade them to leave school. "It's relentless," Berenson said. "We need informed parents, and we need parents that we can trust. It's usuallythe parents whogive intothe pressure. The kid, he doesn't know. The parents are guiding him." The coaching staff maintains their recruiting classes have been mostly unscathed by other teams' recruiting tactics. In the past five seasons, 20 of 36 Wolverine fresh- men entered college already select- ed in the NHL Draft. "If a kid has an interest in Michi- gan, and we really like them, things end fast," assistant coach Billy Pow- ers said. "As soon as you get them in, you take them." By COLT ROSENSWEIG Daily Sports Writer Four years ago, eight freshmen gathered around a table at the Michigan Union before classes started. Like most other incoming students, they were just trying to figure out where they would fit in. None of them knew that they would become the face of Michi- gan men's gymnastics immediate- ly, and for the next four years. They went from acquaintances to fast friends, their distinctive personalities complementing each other as they made their way through their freshman year. "When you're first experienc- ing something, the other seven people around you are first expe- riencing that situation, too," Phil Goldberg said. "It kind of helps with that stuff." Goldberg is , the goofy, yet mature co-captain. Kent Caldwell is the artist and the mediator. John Sawicki, known as J-Slick, is simul- taneouslythe class baby - he won't turn 22 until Aug. 20 - and the one most known for an unshakeable self-confidence. There's Joe Catrambone, who was loud even as a freshman, and quiet Ralph Rosso, who Scott Breg- man describes as "the three-year- old brother I never had." Bregman is the sarcastic one. Ryan McCa- rthy is the extrovert who will try anything in the gym. Jamie Thompson is the social butterfly, who, as an incoming freshman, called every one of his prospective teammates just to chat. And sinice that first year, almost half the regular lineup has con- sisted of some combination of that class. - But Saturday night will be the beginning of the end, when along with fifth-year senior Paul Wood- ward, the eight will walk onto the Cliff Keen Arena floor for the final time. Although three of them - Caldwell, Goldberg and McCa- rthy - have the option to stay one more year, they wanted to experi- ence Senior Night the same way they had done everything else: together. "Even though it might not be my last time, the fact that I'm walking out with the teammates that I'm the closest with, that's going to be the killer for me," McCarthy said. "It's going to be sad." But the bond they developed isn't one that will be broken any- time soon. The eight seniors have always stood out for the strong individual attachments between them. "(Bregman) would always say that - and this is something we established freshman year - any of us can hang out with any other one of us, like one-on-one, and it wouldn't be awkward," Caldwell said. "I don't think you can quite, say the same for any other class." The seniors can seemingly com- plete each other's thoughts, often talking over one another. And like most athletes at the end of their college careers they can't believe how fast their time togeth- er time has flown. "Everyone tells you how fast it goes, but ... until you experience it, you don't understand how fast it really does go," Catrambone said. "I still feel like I'm a freshman." "You still act like one," Thomp- son told him. Even if most of them haven't changed much, the seniors have built up a huge store. of shared memories. There was the meet at Cliff Keen in 2007 when Michigan beat powerhouse Oklahoma in front of an electric, standing-room-only crowd. And the time Goldberg dressed up as a unicorn for Hal- loween. And the 25-hour road trip to Utah to watch the women's gymnastics team in NCAA cham- pionships.Andwhen McCarthyled teammates in stealing Thompson's laptop in an elaborate April Fool's prank. And finding each other in the wee hours of the morning at the West Quad-South Quad snow- ball fight, even though they had training at 6:30 the next morning. They'll be doing their best to make these last six weeks together as memorable as possible. "The only thing that could top off our experience would be - McCarthy began. Catrambone finished the sen- tence: "A (championship) ring." I!!n!!.uuw . nq.T wwqyqu . 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