2B - October 12, 2009
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com AM
2B - October12, 2009 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom
.
Notjust wins and losses
on the line Saturday
The Big House
streak of 100,000-
plus fans could
be at stake
Iunderstand Football Satur-
days are a lot easier td get
excited about when ,e team
is winning games. Of course,
you'd rather see the Wolverines
play Notre Dame, Penn State or
Ohio State. And we all know with
Fall Break days
away, many of
you are plan-
ning to go
home or visit
friends at other
schools around
the country.
I get it. But ANDY
you should REID
delay those _
plans until Sat-
urday evening
and go watch Michigan demolish
Delaware State in the Big House.
You don't even have to stay
for the whole thing - if the Wol-
verines are up by 30 in the third
quarter and you've had enough
of "The Wave" after it's already
traveled five times around the
bowl, then feel free to get a head
start with your break plans.
Just come.
Have a good time at a game
which, if everything goes to
plan, Michigan will make quick
and easy work of a totally mis-
matched opponent, shake off
the two recent losses and push
forward toward a strong finish
through the meat of the Big Ten
schedule. Then you can proceed
with your Fall Break festivities.
I'm writing this column
because I'm legitimately con-
cerned that Michigan Stadium's
streak of consecutive games with
100,000-plus fans in attendance
is in jeopardy. Not because the
majority of the stadium won't
show up - just the students,
which might think they have bet-
ter places to be during the first
full day of Fall Break.
For 220 consecutive games in
the Big House, at least 100,000
people have flocked to the corner
of Stadium and Main.
Honestly, this is one of the
most impressive fan- and stadi-
um-related records in the coun-
try, and, at an average of seven
home games a season, it would
take Michigan more than 31 years
to reach that plateau again. It
would be completely the fault
of the students, supposedly the
most rabid and dedicated fans, if
the streak fell.
Last Wednesday, I asked a
member of the Michigan Athletic
Department about the potential
problem. He looked at me like I
was crazy - it's been a long, long
time since anyone associated
with Michigan football has been
worried about that.
But he also admitted that he
hadn't thought of the potential
problem that Fall Break pre-
sented. And there are plenty of
reasons students might skip this
game for other plans. I mean,
the Hornets are bad - really
bad. Unlike Appalachian State in
2007, which was one of the most
dominant Football Championship
Subdivision teams ever, there's
nothing about Delaware State
in particular that could get you
excited about seeing them play.
The Hornets lost 9-7 last week-
end to Bethune Cookman, ateam
that was winless until then. This
might as well be a bye week. But
be there. After all; you only have
four more chances to see the
Wolverines in the Big House this
year.
And even if you're not con-
cerned about the streak - think
about what message you're send-
ing to the team if a third of the
student section is empty for
the game. Especially after two
straight close losses, the student
section is the most important fac-
tor in home-field advantage; and
it would be a huge morale booster
for the team to see you come
out in full force for a less-than-
stellar game.
I'm not trying to call you all
out, because for the most part,
the student section has been
excellent this season. You guys
are crazy and definitely louder
than in years past.
It would just be a shame if the
Michigan Stadium announcer
had to restart the tally at one
starting at next weekend's Penn
State game.
- Reid can be reached at
andyreid@umich.edu.
0
SAID ALSALAH/Daily
Junior Carl Hagelin is a key member of Michigan's dangerous second line, along with Matt Rust and newcomer Chris Brown.
Second in][-e shows
its potency in win
0
I
NANOOKS
From page 18
it was facing a stingy Nanook
defense that wasn't going to give
them a lot of room.
"You've got to make your chanc-
es count, because goals are precious
against them," Michigan coach Red
Berenson said Oct. 6.
The turning point in the game
came when Michigan junior defen-
seman Chad Langlais was called
for holding 7:34 into the second
period. Alaska couldn't convert on
the power play, but an unsuccessful
Michigan line change at the end of
the man advantage led to an open
shot for Chad Gehon, who put the
Nanooks up, 1-0.
Alaska added another goal in
the third period when Joe Sova
launched a slap shot past the glove
side of Michigan junior goalie
Bryan Hogan.
"The first goal of the game was
really important," Berenson said.
"And Fairbanks, when they got it,
they milked it pretty good. They
played good (defense). And when
they got the second one, that's all
they need.
"We're a team that has to get
something going. And when we
score we get a little better momen-
tum, like any team. But we couldn't
get that going."
Berenson wasn't pleased with
the Wolverines' sloppy passing and
poor execution on offense. The unit
had multiple isolated attacks and
even outshot the Nanooks 23-13,
but Michigan couldn't sustain any
pressure on Alaska goalie Scott
Greenham.
"It's frustrating," senior cap-
tain Chris Summers said. "They're
a solid, shutdown team. You give
them a lot of credit. But we got to
work through that. We've got to
learn to pull out a victory in those
types of situations."
Saturday's win over Alaska-
Anchorage was just the opposite
for the Wolverines, where they
scored early and often. Michi-
gan gained the momentum when
junior Ben Winnett stole the
puck from the Seawolves' goalie
in the first period, who was han-
dling it behind the net. Winnett
then played it off of a Seawolves
defender for the team's first goal
of the season.
"We played harder on the puck,
and when you do that, you get your
breaks," Berenson said. "We were a
different team (Saturday)."
Five different Wolverines scored
and the defense did its part, forcing
Hogan to make just 15 saves.
"Our veteran players, they
now got a feel for this (Michigan)
team," Berenson said. "Now, we're
not going to win the Stanley Cup
because we won one game, but it's
a good sign."
By TIM ROHAN night."
Daily Sports Writer SHOPPING AT THE GAP: Alas-
ka-Fairbanks sealed its 2-0 win
ANCHORAGE - The Michigan over Michigan Friday with their
hockey team has a good problem heartbreaking second goal.
- too many talented players are After Michigan turned the
capable of starting. puck over, Alaska defenseman
After the Wolverines were shut Joe Sova took a slap shot from
out 2-0 in their season opener, the blue line right into the back of
Michigan coach the net. Michigan senior captain
Red Berenson NOTEBOOK Chris Summers said a lack of gap
made a change control led to the goal.
before Saturday's game against "We want to make sure the for-
Alaska-Anchorage. wards are coming back and the
Instead of starting the first defensemen are staying up," Sum-
line - preseason First-Team All- mers said. "We probably did a ter-
CCHA selection Louie Caporusso, rible job of that."
sophomore David Wohlberg and Handling the puck better could
junior forward Ben Winnett - serve to improve that problem on
Berenson started the second line. defense.
Juniors Carl Hagelin and Matt On Saturday, Michigan's
Rust and freshman Chris Brown defense gave up a three-on-one
skated first and made an immedi- breakaway right before the end
ate impact. of the second period, which led to
Hagelin scored in the first peri- the lone Alaska-Anchorage goal.
od, while Brown and Rust each But the gap control was already
had tallies in the second period. improved from the day before.
Brown had another goal in the Summers said that it was some-
waning minutes of regulation. thing the team focused on before
The line posted a combined Saturday's game. He saw the for-
four goals and four assists. wards' effort to get back, and to
"I don't think we have a first him, that made all the difference
line," Berenson said. "I would tell in closing the gaps.
you that I have a lot of confidence "Our defense was much bet-
in Rust's line to play against any ter," Berenson said. "We still put
team's top line. And on another ourselves in a trapped position,
night it might be Louie's line that we give up two or three two-on-
plays. against them. ... Rust's line, one's. But they're a good team. We
they love that challenge. And they have to give them credit, too."
did tonight and they had a great SEE YOU IN JANUARY: Even
though they lost to the Nanooks,
the Wolverines felt like their
game plan was good enough to
win. And when Michigan faces
Alaska again Jan.15 and 16 inAnn
Arbor, they won't alter much of
their strategy.
"We're not going to change a
lot," Berenson said. "But obvious-
ly we know how precious goals
are. We know how you have to
take care of the puck. Some of our
passing was sloppy."
Michigan had just two power
plays the entire game, which
didn't give the Wolverines much
of a chance to capitalize in man-
advantage scenarios.
Berenson said that Hagelin was
the Wolverines' most dangerous
player in the loss. Hagelin agreed
with his coach about staying the
course against the Nanooks.
"I think we had enough chanc-
es to win this game," Hagelin
said. "They play strong, but they
don't take a lot of penalties, so
you're not going to get a lot of
power play chances. You're not
going to get a lot of chances in
general."
NOTES: The Wolverines fell to
19-4-3 in season openers in Beren-
son's tenure. The Wolverines had
won their last four season open-
ers before Friday's loss. ... It was
the first time the Wolverines have
ever been shut out by the Nanooks
in their 45-game history, which
Michigan leads, 37-8.
After one and a half years out of the
pool, Brunemann dominates for 'M'
Fournier wins individual title
By ALEX HERMANN
Daily Sports Writer
Things couldn't have gone
better in her first singles debut.
Michigan freshman Taylor
Fournier won her first collegiate
title in impressive fashion, domi-
nating four matches in three days,
all in straight sets.
With her help, the Michigan
women's tennis team continued its
strong fall season in hopes of high
individual rankings going into the
spring season. Fall play is scored
strictly on an individual basis and
used to determine each player's
individual rankings for the spring
season.
Fournier was the Wolverines'
top performer of the weekend,
winning the Flight D champion-
ship of the Kentucky Invitational
in Lexington, Ky.
"I know Taylor was pretty ner-
vous her first match," Michigan
assistant coach Teryn Ashley-Fitch
said. "But she just competed well
and had a really good attitude."
The nerves didn't show up in
the box score. In yesterday's title
game, the freshman came away
victorious over an experienced
Abilene Christian senior Dina Pav-
lin (6-3, 6-0).
Juniors Denise Muresan and
Kari Wig and sophomore Michelle
Sulahian also competed this week-
end while four of their Wolverine
teammates played in the Intercol-
SWIMMING
From page 1B
classmen to see how this group of
freshmen can perform. There was
a lot of team spirit and encourage-
ment."
The Wolverines absolutely
By FELIX CARREON
Daily Sports Writer
For fifth-year senior Emily
Brunemann, the return to the pool
Friday was met with great relief.
It had been 566 days since her last
meet as a member of the Michigan
women's swimming and diving
team, where she stood atop the
podium at the 2008 NCAA Cham-
pionships to accept her award for
her first-place finish in the 1,650-
yard freestyle.
Last season, Brunemann was
ruled ineligible to compete for
the Wolverines after she took
what she thought was a laxa-
tive but was actually a banned
diuretic. The NCAA champion
began a voluntary sentence prior
to the 2008-09 season and then
received a six-month suspen-
sion from competition. by the
American Arbitration Associa-
tion (AAA). Brunemann had her
eligibility reinstated after it was
determined that the substance
couldn't have improved her per-
formance and its use couldn't
have been used to mask other
banned substances.
It didn't take long for Brun-
emann to make a splash at the
meet. In just the second event of
Saturday's dual meet, Brunemann
captured the 1,000-yard freestyle
event title. Brunemann's main
competition was from her team-
mate, senior Emily Hanson, who
finished in second place. Brun-
emann bested the -field by three Brunemann and Hanson repre-
seconds in the 200-yard freestyle, sented the United States at the
which immediately followed her 2009 World Championships in
first race. Rome earlier this summer. Brun-
"I look forward to finishing emann placed ninth in the open
my collegiate swimming career water 5,000-meter race and Han-
and proving that my first-place son finished in 15th place.
finishes at the 2008 NCAA Cham- "It is good to have (Brun-
pionships and at the 2008 United emann) back again, that goes
States National Championships without saying," Richardson
were based on my hard work and said. "She is a tough competitor,
dedication," Brunemann told the and she likes to race and likes to
win., It was good to see her win
back-to-back races and get two
"She is a tough pretty good times."
Prior to the dual meet, the Wol-
competitor and verines competed at the Dennis
Stark Relays on Friday in South
she likes to race Bend, Ind. The meet consisted of
only relay events and allowed the
and likes to win." team to see its first action of the
season. The team dominated the
field by finishing first in all but one
of the 10 races.
Michigan's dominant perfor-
Athletic Department in March. mance Friday sparked the Wol-
Led by Brunemann's three indi- verines the next day against the
vidual victories, the Wolverines Fighting Irish. Freshman Mattie
started the season with a victory Kukors earned her first collegiate
against Notre Dame, 165-133. victory inthe 200-yardbackstroke
"Swimming fast was a struggle and then touched first in the 400-
today, but if we hadn't had close yard individual medley.
races with them, I don't think Kukors is one of 10 freshmen
we would have won," Michigan that will add depth to the pro-
coach Jim Richardson told the gram.
Athletic Department. "All in all, "Theywant tocontribute,"Rich-
it was a really good competition ardson said. "They want to makea
for where we were in our train- difference. They see areas where
ing cycle." they can find a niche and compete
Michigan returns a wealth of and they are focused on that every
experience to this year's team. day in practice."
Freshman Taylor Fournier and the Wolverines impressed at the Kentucky
Invitational, a individual eventsin Lexington, Ky.
legiate Tennis Association Quali-
fying earlier in the week.
The Wolverine contingent in
Lexington also fared well in dou-
bles play, finishing5-2. The fall sea-
son allows teammates to become
comfortable during doubles play
in preparation for January, when
team scoring begins.
"In doubles, we're trying to mix
it up a lot. So we were actually able
to do that in the matches that we
were winning," Ashley-Fitch said.
"Doubles is always key in the fall
- trying to figure out what teams
dominated the meet, winning six
of the 10 swimmingeventsby more
than eight seconds. Michigan's
largest margin of victory came
in the 800-yard freestyle relay,
when seniors Charlie Houchin
and Adam DeJong, sophomore
Dan Madwed and freshmen Has-
saan Abdel Khalik touched more
than 18 seconds ahead of Oak-
we're going to keep together in the
season."
Muresan and Sulahian lost in
the Flight A semifinals on Satur-
day (8-4) to a Vanderbilt pair, but
won their other three contests.
Fournier and her partner, Wig, lost
in the second round to a different
Vanderbilt pairing.
With only two events left in fall
play, including the ITA Regionals
just two weekends away, the play-
ers have limited opportunities to
improve their rankings going into
the season.
land's relay.
Inthe 1,000-yard freestyle relay,
the only two-person event, DeJong
and freshman Ryan Feely teamed
up for a time of 9:16.39, more than
10 seconds ahead of second place
Cleveland State.
The all-relay format of the meet
provided the coaches with more
opportunities to help correct some
of the early-season mistakes in
areas like starts and flip turns.
White was pleased with the desire
the team showed for improvement
after each swim.
"A number of the guys came
over looking for feedback and then
applied that in their next race,"
White said. "It was good to have
that opportunity because we've
worked on things in practice, but
there's always that extra step of
taking that practice and applying
it in meets and you can't expect
everyone to be perfect the first
time."
In addition to the chance for
the team to make technical and
stroke adjustments, swimming in
all relays allowed the freshmen to
see their first collegiate action in
an environment with a little less
pressure than a dual meet.
"Everyone just had a lot of fun,"
Gregg said. "It was a nice way to
ease into the season, especially for
freshmen who have never compet-
ed in college. The relay format was
great for camaraderie and helping
us really feel a part of the team."
A
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