4
8A - Wednesday, April 8, 2009
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Young QBs improve off field
0
Flag football roster,
additional spring
game promotions
announced yesterday
By COURTNEY RATKOWIAK
Daily Sports Editor
One of Michigan coach Rich
Rodriguez's favorite ways to
describe early enrollee quarter-
back Tate Forcier is as a "gym rat".
But Forcier said last week that he
is just now beginning to notice his
improved strength.
Before com-
ing to Ann Arbor, NOTEBOOK
he said his father
advised him not to lift weights on
his own in order to avoid improper
training.
Under Director of Strength and
Conditioning Mike Barwis, that's
no longer an issue.
"Coming here, you're lifting a
45-plate on each side - it's kind of
pathetic," Forcier said last week.
"(Barwis has) gotten me a lot stron-
ger. You can just tell when you're
running a 40 and everything - you
feel different."
Forcier's work ethic has extend-
ed to his attitude toward the spring
game. Rodriguez said yesterday the
quarterback has "been beggingto be
a live jersey," meaning he can be hit
duringthe scrimmage.
Fans are unlikely to see Forcier
without the red numbers on his
jersey on Saturday, though. The
Wolverines have just two healthy
quarterbacks on the spring roster
after redshirt junior Nick Sheri-
dan's recent leg injury, and they can't
afford to lose another. Rodriguez said
Sheridan is expected to be healthy by
the start of summer workouts.
Sheridan's return will coincide
with incoming freshman quarter-
back Denard Robinson's practice
debut. Rodriguez said quarterbacks
coach Rod Smith has talked with
Robinson a couple of times per week
during the spring,, though teaching
the offense has been "hard to do over
the phone."
As Forcier has been making news
for his progress and Sheridan for his
injury, Robinson has been grabbing
headlines in a different state and
sport.
On Apr. 1, the Florida native ran
the fastest high school time in the
countryinthe100-meter dash (10.28
seconds), according to the South
Florida Sun-Sentinel. He shattered
What's behind
Blue's struggles?
the previous fastest high school time
this season (10.39 seconds).
Robinson's remarks to the Miami
Herald following a race less than a
week before he set the record reflect
exactly what Rodriguez and the
coaching staff should want to hear
from a future Michigan quarterback
- a relentless desire to improve.
"I was kind of disappointed in
myself to run a 10.44, but I will
accept that," Robinson told the Her-
ald on Mar. 29, when he set the sec-
ond-fastest time in the nation at the
time. "I was trying to run a 10.3, but
there was strong wind. I'm working
harder on it and expect to hit a 10.3
by states."
He achieved his goal faster than
expected, and Rodriguez's words
were consistent with Robinson's
accomplishments when the coach
said yesterday that Robinson is a
"sharp guy" who learns fast.
"Some guys are track guys and
some are football guys, but you want
the guys that can translate that speed
and he's fast on the field - that's why
we signed him," Rodriguez said.
THE MARKETING BLITZ
CONTINUES: With the 38-member
alumni flag football game ros-
ter tentatively set yesterday, the
Michigan Athletic Department also
announced three new additions
to the spring game festivities in an
attempt to attract 40,000 fans to
Saturday's game.
Two Michigan studentswill have
the opportunity to kick field goals
for prizes, and 40 students will hold
the "Go Blue - M Club Supports
You" banner before the start of the
game. In addition, a pregame cer-
emony will honor alums who played
in last year's Super Bowl between
the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona
Cardinals.
The flag football game roster,
which includes 14 former NFL play-
ers, features Markus Curry (2002-
04), Scott Dreisbach (1995-98), Rick
Leach (1975-78), Aaron Shea (1996-
99) and Anthony Thomas (1997-
2000).
Former wide receiver Ron Bel-
lamy (1999-2002), who will be par-
ticipating in the alumni game, said
at yesterday's practice that the buzz
surroundingthis year's spring game
is already different from when he
was a Wolverine.
"I like the marketing idea, help-
ing get the fans involved in the
game, let them see what the players
go through," Bellamy said. "Every
fan is interested in that, and I think
that's important to keep the inter-
est in the game. Michigan football
Freshman Tate Forcier has been called a "gym rat" frequently by the coaching staff.
is going to sell itself, but I think it's
special that you're allowingthe fans
to be a big part of it."
STAND IN LINE: Yesterday was
the first of the Wolverines' six open
spring practices held indoors. But
the flurries, biting wind and mid-
30 degree temperatures didn't stop
the offensive and defensive linemen
from running position drills outside
on the turf.
And though the linemen were
the only ones working on the snowy
field, the offensive line was looking
pretty cramped for space.
This year's line provides plenty
more options than last, and Michi-
gan coach Rich Rodriguez has
consistently said the team could
potentially boast 10 solid offensive
linemen this season. Redshirt fresh-
men Ricky Barnum, Rocko Khoury
and Patrick Omameh traveled with
the Wolverines last year, and all
three were almost ready to play as
true freshmen. Rodriguez said on
Mar. 15 that redshirt junior Steve
Schilling has been one of the best
performers during spring ball, an
accomplishment that isn't surpris-
ing considering his role as the leader
oflastyear's offensive line.
Going into the end of the spring,
Michigan realistically has five
potential redshirt freshman offen-
sive linemen in addition to eight
returning offensive linemen who
played inat least one game last year.
But yesterday, Rodriguez praised
one player who doesn't fit into either
of those categories - redshirt soph-
omore Mark Huyge, who has yet to
see game action as a Wolverine.
"He's the guy that's played guard,
he's played on leftside and right side,
and he's practicing like he wants to
take that job," Rodriguez said. "So
it's going to be wide open."
NOTES: Saturday's spring game
won't be the Wolverines' last prac-
tice - their 15th and final spring
workout will be next Tuesday,
where Rodriguez said the team will
learn strength drillsto do during the
summer, practice special teams and
start looking at the first few oppo-
nents of the season. ... A number of
notable players were in green jer-
seys at yesterday's practice, which
symbolizes limited action, including
junior wide receiver Greg Mathews,
junior cornerback Donovan Warren
and senior running back Brandon
Minor. Rodriguez said Minor and
Warren's green jerseys were "more
precautionary than anything else."
Sophomore nose tackle Mike Mar-
tin, who Rodriguez said has been
"banged up" lately, also sported a
green jersey during practice.
Michigan baseball coach
Rich Maloney called
his team's pitiful 3-1
loss to Eastern Michigan a "turn-
ing point" of the season. The
Wolverines were still 14-6, almost
exactly where RYAN
they were at this KARTJE
point last year.
He echoed On baseball
similar senti-
ments a week later when Bowl-
ing Green, another sub-.500
Mid-American Conference team,
stunned his team.
The next day, the Wolverines
rallied to beat Oakland 14-13 in a
marathon ballgame. Junior first
baseman Mike Dufek claimed
that this was a "turning point" in
the team's season. After all, they
were only a few days behind last
year's team in getting to 17 wins.
But when the Wolverines
lost two of three to Penn State
last weekend - including a 16-5
shellacking Sunday afternoon -
senior captain Tim Kalczynski
put the icing on the cake with his
"turning point" declaration:
"It could go one of two ways,"
he said. "It could go uphill
really fast or downhill really fast.
It's just a matter of how men-
tally tough we are and how we
respond."
What Kalczynski doesn't real-
ize is that his team has "turned"
so many times that it's back where
it started.
Last season, Michigan had 14
total losses, two at the hands of
then-No. 1 Arizona State. And
the Wolverines had lost just once
to a MAC team, Central Michi-
gan, who they play in Ann Arbor
tonight.
After losing two of its most
efficient batters in first baseman
Nate Recknagel and third base-
man Adam Abraham, Maloney
knew that, in terms of hittingthe
long ball, this team would be a
shell of its former self. Both Abra-
ham and Recknagel had batting
averages over .350, and Recknagel
was named Big Ten Player of the
Year after breaking the Michigan
record for most home runs in a
season (23).
"With all the new faces and the
inexperience, we're like a lot of
teams in the Big Ten," Maloney
said at Meet the Wolverines Night
in February. "A lot of these guys
we're riding on the coattails of
older guys.... Who's going to rise
up?"
If you let the statistics speak
for themselves, this team is nearly
the same as last year.
Dufekand sophomore outfield-
er Ryan LaMarre both have risen
up in a big way, accounting for the
same amount of home runs as the
trio of Recknagel, Abraham and
slugger Zach Putnam, who also
left last season, in as many games.
Their performances have helped
to elevate the team's batting aver-
age .003 higher than it was at this
point last season.
On the mound, senior Chris
Fetter has an ERA .22 points
lower than his mark from a year
ago. But his record is 4-1, com-
pared to 6-0 last season. Even the
team's ERA isn't significantly up
from this point lastyear.
So what makes this team look
so different?
Maloney talked all year about
giving up what he calls "freebies"
and cashing in on opportunities to
manufacture runs. But the Wol-
verines just aren't executing on a
consistent basis.
The truth is, this team's role
players aren't filling the void left
by last year's seniors - Jason
Christian, Derek VanBuskirk and
Leif Mahler, among others.
Against Penn State on Sunday,
Michigan allowed the Nittany
Lions to catch fire and score 12
unanswered runs in the fifth
through eighth innings after
keeping the game close.
In their narrow win against
Oakland, the Wolverines sur-
rendered eight total runs in the
second and third innings - a
gargantuan sum that they barely
eclipsed.
And when a team as young as
Michigan faces deficits like that
on a weekly basis, it's bound to get
discouraged. From the plate, that
has translated into troubles see-
ing the ball, especially for players
who aren't named LaMarre or
Dufek.
The Wolverines have struck out
65 more times than they had at
this point last season.
Senior second baseman and tri-
captain Kevin Cislo said it best:
"It's about inconsistency,' he
said. "Our pitchers will do well
and our hitters won't or vice-
versa. This is our firstyear with a
lot of guys together, so it's going
to take some time.
"But there's no question, we've
got to come out and play with
more consistency."
After Penn State dominated
last year's Wolverines by nine
runs, Michigan won 12 straight
games, including a decisive four-
game sweep of this year's current
Big Ten leader, Illinois.
Yes, this year's team has two
more losses. But the BigTen is
wide open with Michigan just one
game out of first place.
The Fighting Illini await the
Wolverines this weekend - and
the talk about "turning points"
could finally end with a series win.
4
4
After three years of coming up just short,
Catrambone finally a Bid Ten Champion
4
By COLT ROSENSWEIG
Daily Sports Writer
When senior Joe Catrambone
stuck his triple backflip dismount
off the high bar at Saturday night's
Big Ten Championships, Michigan
coach Kurt Golder leapt up and
down likea kid on Christmas morn-
ing.
The alumni of the 1999 National
Championship team, gathered in
Ann Arbor to watch Michigan host
Big Tens, stood for Catrambone's
routine - the only time they rose
from their seats all night b
Michigan~s fan section and bench
went crazy. And in a house in Dept-
ford, N. J., Catrambone's family joy-
fully screamed at the television.
Normally, when the senior com-
pletes a successful routine, his cel-
ebration resembles an angry man
trying to start a balky lawnmower.
He scowls intensely, pumping his
fists as though he might dislocate a
shoulder.
On Saturday night, Catrambone
just raised his arms in the air and
smiled. Written on his face was pure
relief.
After three years of postseason
frustration, Catrambone won the
Big Ten high bar title, part of Michi-
gan's one-two-three sweep of the
event awards. It was a moment he'd
waited for his entire career.
"I think the biggest thing that
surprised me was Kurt," Catram-
bone said. "Him giving me a hug at
the end and saying that I'm finally
on the Wall (of Fame in the gym)
kind of got me. That, and watching
the video again. ... I've never, ever
seen Kurt jump in the four years
that I've been here."
But as he jogged toward the
awards stand at the end of the night,
Catrambone wasn't thinking of
what he'd just done.
In his mind's eye, he saw the past
three seasons of missed opportuni-
ties at Big Ten Championships.
He saw himself slipping off the
bar in Iowa as a freshman. He saw
the fall on his full Tak skill two
years ago in Minnesota. He saw
himself last season in State College,
falling off on his full Tak and his
jam.
He remembered watching Big
Ten event finals from the stands,
never capitalizing on the chance
M' battles inclement
weather for fourth place
By NICK SPAR a tie for third after the next 18,
Daily Sports Writer improving their first-round score
by 29 strokes and posting a tourna-
Michigan junior Ashley Bauer ment-low round of 303.
had never seen anything like it on Bauer finished tied for sixth
a golf course before. and led the second-round surge,
As the Michigan women's golf recording'a one-under 71, the low-
team competed .in the second est individual score all tourna-
round of the Indiana Invitational in ment. Freshman Milena Savich
Columbus, Ind., a hailstorm pelted also finished tied for sixth and
the course for about 20 minutes. sophomore Min Yean Tan finished
The putting green was com- tied for 18th.
pletely white. "I felt really great about how we 4
The Wolverines played through came back in the second round,"
rain, sleet, snow, strong winds and Teichert said. "I thought that was
hail in their final regular-season exceptional."
event before the Big Ten Champi- Michigan finished ahead of
onships on Apr. 24. They finished Wisconsin, tournament-host Indi-
fourth out of 14 at the two-day, ana, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois,
54-hole tournament. Michigan which should help build the team's
finished ahead of all five other Big confidence in the coming weeks.
Ten teams in the field, and No. 31 "Going into the Big Tens, this
UNLV won the event. was really key," Bauer said. "Most
The night before the first two other teams have another tourna-
rounds, Michigan coach Kathy ment before the Big Tens and we
Teichert said she wasn't sure if don't, so this was a good time to go
the course conditions would be out there and get some experience
playable. Temperatures remained under our belt, especially in these
in the mid-to-high 30s through types of conditions."
all three rounds, and severe wind Michigan has 17 days to regroup
made the conditions even worse. and sharpen its game before the
Despite the cold weather that lin- Big Ten Championships in West
gered in the final round, Teichert Lafayette. Teichert said she will
said she was still unsatisfied with assess the progress of her team,
the scores her players recorded. decide who will compete and work
"Any time the temperature is with each of her golfers inthe com-
under 45, (the weather) is going to ing weeks.
be a factor," Teichert said. "But we "The main thing that we're
missed the putts that we needed to goingto be focusing in on would be
make. The three-footers, getting individual work with these play- 4
up-and-down-we just didn't capi- ers," Teichert said. "We got to have
talize on those types of things." them realize that every round and
The Wolverines struggled in every stroke and every shot that
the tough weather during the first is hit is as important as the next.
round and were tied for 11th after A drive is just as important as a
18 holes. But they battled back to putt."
ARIEL BOND/Daily
Senior Joe Catrambone celebrates his dismount on the high bar after his Big Ten Championship-winning routine Saturday.
to prove he was good enough to be
competing in them.
Saturday was completely differ-
ent.
Though he had to spend over two
hours waiting to perform one rou-
tine, Catrambone was careful not to
tense up. Before saluting the judges,
Catrambone visibly suppressed a
grin - definitely not business as
usual for the intense gymnast.
Just as he'd started to get ner-
vous, the high-bar judges provided
some amusement when he went to
chalk up.
"I was chalking up and there was
no chalk in our box," Catrambone
said. "So I went to the ring one,
and I guess the fan was blowing it
in the judges' faces. Three of them
were coughing. They had chalk all
on their jackets. I was trying not to
laugh.... That kind of relaxed me."
Catrambone has dealt with inju-
ries to his wrist and ankle this year,
both of which threatened to derail
his senior season and often forced
him to water down his routines. On
Saturday, none of that was evident.
Catrambone even added an extra
skill, a full spin, to his set to boost
his start value by two tenths of a
point.
When the routine was over, his
teammates' delight was evident.
Senior Ralph Rosso, who has known
Catrambonenearlyhisentirecareer,
wrapped his friend in a wordless
hug. After concluding the night as
the last high-bar competitor and
runner-up, sophomore Thomas Kel-
ley got in on the congratulations,
too.
"I was rooting for everybody in
high-bar lineup, but maybe a little
bit more for (Catrambone)," Michi-
gan assistant coach Scott Vetere
said. "I'm his group coach and I've
seen him go through quite a lot in
the last couple of years, as far as
being able to hit in big meets and
him having problems. ... I'm really
proud of him and I hope he contin-
ues it at NCAAs. He can definitely
be NCAA high-bar champion, no
doubt about it. It's just about him
believing."
Catrambone was one of the lastto
step offthepodium after Michigan's
team title on Friday, trying to stretch
the moment as long as possible. He
was among the last competitors to
leave Crisler Saturday night, too.
"I'll never forget it," Catrambone
said. "I'll never forget (Friday) night
or (Saturday) for the rest of my life."