The Michigan Daily I michigandaily.com I October 21,.2009 Why isBrow thinking roses. t's such a far cry from last season that it just feels sort of weird, and a tad too soon. Is Michigan - the same program that went 3-9 last year - flirting with the Rose Bowl? Really? Well, no. But senior linebacker Ste- vie Brown is shyly trying out for the part of Nostradamus. "Strange things have always happened," Brown said. "I feel like maybe if we can win out, there's a good chance we could get to the Rose Bowl." A hell of a lot would have to go right for Michigan to be in that situation, to say the least. First off, Michigan would have to beat MICHAEL schools that its scout team couldn't beat. EISENSTEIN (Sorry, Delaware State.) We're talking about teams like No. 13 Penn State, Wisconsin and No. 18 Ohio State. See EISENSTEIN, Page 3B arters rest, By RUTH LINCOLN Daily Sports Editor According to senior Stevie Brown, everyone on the Michigan football team likes to give scout teamer Ohene Opong-Owusu a hard time. Brown said the Wolverines will poke fun at the fifth-year senior for his body shape and walking style. But in Michigan's 63-6 win over Delaware State, the Wolver- ines (1-2 Big Ten, 5-2 overall) were all smiles when Opong-Owusu saw the field for the first time in his career on special teams. "They got a biglift out of the Big O running down there," Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said Mon- day. "The first one, I didn't know if he got a tackle or he got a JOP, I call it a JOP, jump on the pile. But then the second one, he got a nice hit on a guy that was trying to block him, then he got a piece of the tackle." Opong-Owusu was one of 84 Wolverines to garner playing time against the Hornets (1-2 MEAC, 1-4), including one of nine to make their first collegiate appearance. "Everybody but the freshmen we are planning to redshirt got a chance to go in there," Rodriguez said. "To see the smiles on their faces and to see how excited their teammates were to get them out there was pretty neat." Second stringers and beyond gave Michigan 688 yards of total offense against the Hornets, contributing to the Wolverines' school record 727 total yards of offense. True freshman tailback Vincent Smith led the Wolverines with 166 yards on 17 carries. Red- shirt freshman Michael Cox and sophomore MichaelShawfinished with a combined three scores and 155 yards on the ground. But even with 73 percent of Saturday's dress list participat- ing, Rodriguez said the Michigan depth chart is staying put. "I think some guys, we're get- ting more confidence in," Rodri- guez said Monday. "But there wasn't really a situation where, 'Geez, this guy really deserves to be the starter and that guy deserves to be his backup.' We didn't have that jump out at us." Senior tailbacks Brandon Minor (ankle) and Carlos Brown (concussion) also didn't play Sat- urday. But probably the most important Wolverine to rest was freshman quarterback Tate Forci- er. Last Saturday, Forcier started the game and completed two passes, but roamed the sidelines after his one drive. After injuring his shoulder against Indiana and suffering a mild concussion against Iowa, Forcier's bodyhas been banged up and he has struggled on the field. In the four games before injuring his shoulder, Forcier completed an impressive 62.1 percent of his 87 passes. In the three games since, his completion percentage has fallen to 50.9 percent. In Forcier's place last Saturday, fellow freshman Denard Robin- son stepped in fluidly, complet- ing three of his four passes. Often typecast as a pure runner, Robin- son threw his first career touch- down passes, connecting with redshirt freshman slot receiver Kelvin Grady and junior tight end Martell Webb. The freshman also ran for a score. See HORNETS, Page 3B Michigan takes top-ranked Penn State to wire but falls short MEN'S SOCCER With small but loud crowd,Akron zips aroundWolverines By MARK BURNS Daily Sports Writer P Michiganvolleyball coachMark Rosen put it best: Friday night was a heavyweight fight for the Wol- verines. Michigan was an undersized, overmatched and less acclaimed Big Ten opponent than No. 1 Penn State, the best team - hands down - in the country. But none of that mattered to the 11th-ranked Wolverines (5-3 Big Ten, 17-4 overall), PENN STATE 3 whowent MICHIGAN 2 toe-to- toe with the top-ranked Nittany Lions at Cliff Keen Arena for two hours. And after four sets, the two prized fighters were locked at two apiece. It was the first time the Nittany Lions had been taken to five sets in regular-season play since Sept. 15, 2007 against Stanford. "That game was definitely a confidence booster for us, because we could hang with the No. 1 team in the country," senior outside hitter Veronica Rood said. "We proved to the country that we're a really good volleyball team." But after falling behind 6-2 in the final frame, the Wolverines' bid for an upset slowly evapo- rated inside a sold-out Cliff Keen Arena. Michigan lost the third set 15-12 in what may have been Penn State's toughest regular-season match during its 52-match win- ning streak in conference play. "We're trying to not just focus on the end product," Rosen said. "We've been more concerned with how are we performing. Are we controlling the ball, and are we doing the things that we need to do to be successful? (Friday) night, we did that and we lost. But at the same time, if you look at the pro- cess, we did everything we want- ed to do." Last year, when Michigan faced See NITTANY LIONS, Page 2B By JAKE FELDMAN Daily Sports Writer The Michigan men's soccer teambattled No.1 Akronyesterday at the U-M Soccer Complex, but if you had sat in the stands with your eyes closed, you wouldn't have known you were in Ann Arbor. A small pack of Akron enthu- siasts overpowered the lethargic Michi- gan AKRON 5 crowd, MICHIGAN 1 hoot- ing and hollering every time the Wolverines slipped up or the Zips made a play. Unfortunately for Michigan, they had a lot to hoot and holler about. The Zips pummeled the Wol- verines 5-1 in one of Michigan's poorest performances of the sea- son. Akron (14-0-0) pressured Wolverine defenders and forwards alike, forcing errant passes that often translated, into Michigan turnovers. The Zips were equally as aggressive on the attacking half, moving the ball quickly and catching the Wolverines out of position. "We knew we were going to be up against a good team," senior captain Julian Robles said. "I don't know why, maybe we just gave them too much respect and didn't play our game." Akron's stingy defense has surrendered just three goals on a mere 25 shots on goal this season. Nevertheless, Michigan (1-2 Big Ten, 9-4-1 overall) hung with the top-ranked Zips early on. In the 10th minute, freshman forward Hamoody Saad sent a perfect pass See ZIPS, Page 2B REID: NO MORE FCS WOMEN'S SOCCER Michigan absolutely dominated Delaware The Michigan women's soccer team hasn't State Saturday, but FCS teams have no scored in 383 minutes but still managed to tie business visiting the Big House. Page 2B. Big Ten foe Indiana. Page 2B.