2B - September 26, 2011

The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

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SPORTSMON

MEN' CRS COUNT
Forys leads 'M'
to win over pair
of ranked foes

DAVID CASSLEMAN
Daily Sports Writer
Michigan fifth-year senior
cross country runner Craig
Forys, an All-Big Ten selection,
decided not to travel with the
team to Illinois last weekend.
Instead, he stayed in Ann Arbor
to complete some extra training
sessions.
"There was not much for me
to gain by running that race, so
I decided to do some extra train-
ing and wait to open up and get
my season going this week,"
Forys said.
The extra week of preparation
paid off.
Racing in the heat and humid-
ity of Gainesville, Fla., at the
Florida Mountain Dew Invita-
tional, Forys led the Wolver-
ines to a team victory against 16
opponents. Individually, Forys
won with a time of 24:35.55,
finishing ahead of runners from
No. 28 Florida and No. 30 North
Carolina.
Forys did not take the lead
until the final 200 meters of the
8,000-meter race. Facing a hill
climb and a final turn, Forys
worked quickly past the Gator
runner between him and the fin-
ish line.
"I moved hard and he didn't
respond," Forys said.
Senior All-Big Ten - run-
ner Bobby Aprill placed third
(24:39.73), while sophomore
Morsi Rayyan finished tenth
(24:05.80).
"The guys set up well," said
Michigan coach Alex Gibby.

"North Carolina was aggressive
in the early going, and our guys
were on their heels a little bit.
But the guys got in the flow and
the tide began to turn."
With a mile left to go, the
humidity seemed to be too much
to handle for the Wolverines'top
fifth and sixth runners - fresh-
man Mason Ferlic and junior
Zach Ornelas - who dropped
back, but still managed to finish.
Michigan would have won by a
comfortable margin if it had kept
to its initial pace.
The question of the team's
depth seems to have been at least
partially answered after the vic-
tory in Gainesville, and the win
could also prove to be more than
just a confidence booster for the
Wolverines. The win against
ranked opponents might allow
the Wolverines to gain an at-
large bid to the NCAA National
Championships. For now, Michi-
gan feels good about its quality
early-season win.
"Ifyourace poorly, you kind of
have to fix whatyou did wrong,"
Gibby said. "But if you do well,
you build upon that. You are a
couple steps up the ladder. It's
nice to see some reward on our
initial investments."
Still, Gibby warned his team
against complacency.
"I don't want anyone being
too confident," Gibby said. "We
stress trying to stick with the
process of being good. If we are
focused on the process of being
good, our experience in Florida
can help us be more progressive
in our ambitions."

0

TERRA MOLLENGRAFF/Daily
Junior quarterback Denard Robinson recently started his own Twitter account. Last week, he invited more than 25,000 followers to his birthday party.
T Witter has rewrittn e ook
for player-fan interaction

0

enard Robinson has
always been elusive.
The nation's fourth-
leading rusher has been ter-
rorizing defenses since he first
picked up a
football in
his home-
town of
Deerfield
Beach, Fla.
After
joining
Twitter on STEPHEN J
Sept. 12, the S
only thing NESBITT
quicker than
Denard him-
self was his follower count. He
reached 10,000 followers by 2
p.m. the next day.
But on his 21st birthday last
Thursday - Sept. 22 - Rob-
inson put himself on a tee.
He invited 25,000-plus to his
birthday party at a local bowl-
ing alley.
"Come out to colonial lanes
for my birthday tonight at
10pm!" Robinson wrote on his
Twitter account, @DenardX.
"No autographs, no photos, just
fun."
But that was just the A-list.
Hundreds of his followers
hit the retweet button, passing
the invite on to thousands more
people.
Robinson's original tweet
later disappeared - but the
message was sent and quite a
crowd arrived to Colonial Lanes
to wish the star quarterback a
happy 21st.
When asked about the bowl-
ing event during the press con-
ference on Sunday, Robinson

laughed, then leaned forward in
his chair and hit his head on the
table three times.
He said little, just laughed.
For a player so humble and
reserved, he didn't expect quite
the response he'd gotten.
"We went out bowling, had a
good time," he said quietly.
The truth came out: a good
crowd saw Robinson bowl con-
secutive games of 200, 160 and
170. It was a good birthday.
But as for his tenure on Twit-
ter, it might be coming to a
close.
"I don't know, man," Robin-
son said. "Twitter? I don't know
if I'm gonna keep tweeting. I
don't want these questions com-
ing up here."
In truth, Robinson wasn't
built for the social network
scene. His most popular post
read, "I kidnapped HARD
WORK and SUCCESS is the
ransom!"
Brilliant. Inspiring. Also
posted above the whiteboard in
my Algebra classroom back in
high school.
So, @DenardX's days might
be numbered, but that isn't
across the board. Much of the
athletic community - even
here at Michigan - has taken to
Twitter.
And it's radically altered the
player-fan dynamic.
Players are more accessible,
uncensored and unedited -
much to the chagrin of English
professors worldwide.
Some fans love the intimacy,
breaking down the mystique
of athletes. Players reveal their
human side, sharing informa-

tion a
outs a
Th
resent
shoulc
there
that's
work,
Pla
But
glass,
where
praise
The
on fan

T
on
lt'

bout meals, music, work- joining Twitter. Rest assured
nd more. that @DenardX has heard from
ere's no team media rep- angry fans.
tative hovering over their It's the same conversation
ders as they type. At times that happens in the stands
probably should be, but when Robinson lofts a pass five
the bliss of the social net- feet over his running back's
system. head. But this time it's feeding
yers are people. straight to his phone for him to
Twitter isn't one-way read.
it's a two-way avenue It doesn't seem worth it.
fans can interact - to Twitter is fine for most any-
or harass. one, but maybe high-profile
e NCAA has cracked down players like Robinson should
ts using Facebook and cut the profile.
It was almost over before it
happened in Robinson's case. In
early August, he laughed at the
'witter isn't notion of Denard Robinson on
Twitter.
e-w ay glass, "I can barely text, first of all,"
Robinson said at Big Ten Media
s a tWO-way Days in Chicago. "So me being
on Twitter, I don't think I'd
avenue. have very much to say. I'd just
have a Twitter for no reason."
There were plenty of fake
accounts before @DenardX.
er to contact recruits, try- Fifteen accounts still hold the
sway their commitment name "Denard Robinson."
ons. But the guidelines "(Last year,) some of my
ggy at best. teammates was like, 'Yeah,
d for current college play- I'm following you on Twitter,'
elligerent fans have a free " Robinson said, shaking his
t a standstill target. It's head. "I said, 'No, you're not fol-
side linebacker blitzing lowing me on Twitter."
tn open look. Now they are, and so are
mer Michigan point nearly 27,000 others.
Darius Morris was Just think - you almost
led by Wolverine fans for missed out on the invitation.

Twitt
ing to
decisi
are fo,
Ant
ers, be
shot a
a back
with a
For
guard
hound

M EN'S SOCCE R
Michigan falls to
OSU in extra time *

his decision to enter the NBA
draft this past May. He was told
he would never be a Michigan
Man or be welcomed back.
It's dangerous.
Take Denard: he's completed
44 percent of his passes since

- Nesbitt is just 26,084
followers behind @Denard X.
He would invite them all to
his birthday party. RSVP to
stnesbit@michigandaily.com or
on Twitter: @stephenjnesbitt

MATT SLOVIN Earlier in the game, sopho-
Daily Sports Writer more forward Ezekiel Harris
missed a crucial opportunity
COLUMBUS - Whenever when his strike from six yards
the Ohio State and Michigan out soared over the goal. Just
men's soccer teams meet, pre- four minutes after Pereira's
vious results are ignored and score, Harris made up for the
a competitiye match can be poor mishit when he created
expected. space to give the Wolverines
Sunday's MICHIGAN 2 (0-1-0, 2-7-1) a 2-1 advantage.
Big Ten OHIO STATE 3 But not even two minutes
opener later, Michigan redshirt fresh-
was no exception, as the rivals man goalie Adam Grinwis
exchanged blows before the surrendered an equalizer to
Buckeyes claimed a 3-2 win. the Buckeye attack. The three
"I thought we were going to goals in a span of six minutes
have the right response but in sent the match into overtime
the first half we really backed - Michigan's fourth overtime
down and looked like we were appearance in its last five out-
scared to engage in the fight ings.
and that was disappointing," While last weekend's loss
said Michigan coach Steve to Marquette was settled in
Burns. the closing seconds of double
The match marked the ninth overtime, the fate of Sunday's
time in as many meetings in thriller was sealed just seconds
which the outcome was decid- into the extra period when
ed by one goal or less, and it Ohio State junior forward
gave the Buckeyes a 9-5-1 all- Chris Hegngi snuck a toe poke
time series lead. past Grinwis from the left side
"It's a big rivalry game and of the box into the far corner.
the start of the Big Ten season The loss to the Buckeyes - a
so both teams are up for it," squad picked to finish second
Burns said. in the Big Ten in the preseason
For much of the game, which - was Michigan's third defeat
followed the Wolverines' lon- in as many Big Ten openers.
gest hiatus of the season after Whether the Wolverines will
losing to Marquette in over- be able to recover from the
time last Sunday, the Buckeyes recent string of tough losses
(1-0-0 Big Ten, 5-3-1 overall) depends mostly on leadership,
kept the Michigan attack quiet. according to Burns.
And after capitalizing on an "You want your on-field
early chance, Ohio State main- leaders to immediately recog-
tained a 1-0 lead until halftime. nize and continue to play the
"The challenge at halftime ball to correct players," Burns
was ... 'We're all good players, said. "I didn't think we got that
we're here for a reason and we in the first half. I thought that
need leadership on the field second half performance was
and to step up,' " Burns said. us turning the corner on the
The match's final 10 minutes season."
made up for a lack of movement With Penn State up next
toward the goal during the on Saturday, Michigan can't
early stages, and both teams dwell on Sunday's disappoint-
scored with relative ease. ing result - possibly a blessing
In the 81st minute, Michi- in disguise for the young side.
gan's leading scorer, soph- The Nittany Lions are expect-
omore midfielder Fabio ed to contend for the confer-
Villas Boas Pereira, was on the ence title.
receiving end of an excellent "(Penn State) is going to be
pass from junior midfielder a difficult one," Burns said.
Latif Alashe and found the "They've got a great midfield.
back of the net for the equal- They've got the athletes and
izer - right in front of the Ohio bodies to be ready for that
State student section. game as Ohio State did today."

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