8A - Wednesday, September 12, 2012
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
MARISSA MCCLAIN/Daily
Massachusetts runninghback Mike Cox, shown herein the 2011 Spring Game, will he the starting tailihack against Michigan on Saturday.
9C. w rehivn M,,.ichigan
e'
Running back
a has distinct style,
'extremely elusive'
in the backfield
By STEPHEN J. NESBITT
Daily Sports Editor
Mike Cox can fly, but you
-should see him on skates.
"Fastest seventh grader on
skates in the world or something
like that," offered fifth-year
senior center Elliott Mealer.
Well, something.like that.
Cox, the Massachusetts start-
ing running back, spent four sea-
sons at Michigan before using the
NCAA's graduate transfer rule
,to spend a season with the Min-
utemen. He tallied 177 rushing
yards and two touchdowns on 19
attempts as a Wolverine.
Cox doesn't explain this much
anymore, but football was far
from his firstlove.
"Hockey," Cox said with a
laugh during a phone interview
Tuesday. "That used to be my
sport back in the day."
It was more than just his game
it was his specialty. At 12 years
old, the fleet-footed right winger
traveled to an East Coast-West
Coast all-star tournament. He
scored seven goals, won the fast-
"est-skater award and was named
tournament MVP.
And he landed in Sports Illus-
trated's 'Paces in the Crowd' fea-
FOOTBALL
'Borges
By LUKE PASCH
Daily Sports Editor
Last Saturday against Air Force,
the Michigan football team's
senior quarterback Denard Rob-
'inson looked a little more like
- himself than he did in the season
* opener against Alabama.
With over 200 yards rushing
and 200 yards passing, it was a
ture.
Six years later,
in a Schembech
ing room as a fre
back at Michigan
coaches spotligh
on the team for f
ball field. His 'Fac
shot flashed up o
he chuckled. Hi
have sent it in.
"They show
me playing hoc
"Everybody wass
But then it all
a little sense.
The genesis
of his running
style - the
cuts, the jukes,
the burst -
was uncov-
ered. Cox was
a hockey play-
er, and that
translated to his
ground game.
Redshirt jun
le Taylor Lewa
"extremely elu
defensive tackle
referred to the ta
stops."
"You see it on
does it a little bi
to the sideline,"
"Certain runnin
they cut they just;
but with Mike C
on skates - he ge
then gets out real
Cox had neve
that way. He had
hockey after his freshman year at
Cox was sitting Avon Old Farms School, a private
fler Hall meet- high school in Avon, Conn., and
eshman running didn't debut as a running back for
, listening to the another two years. His skill set,
t several players though, transferred nicely from
eats off the foot- the ice to the field.
ces in the Crowd' "It was kind of funny," Cox
n the screen and said. "I didn't really notice it until
is mother must a lot of people told me that I kind
of cut like I played hockey.
ed the team "I think that does give me a lot
key," Cox said. more excitability, to cut on a dime
so surprised." and my side-to-side movement
started to make being so fast because of being on
hockey skates
when I was
"Fastest seventh yoLerwan
grader on skates wide into
Ofl wide smile
in the world." when first
asked about
facing Cox this
weekend.
approach in the "I remember when I first got
here he was squatting with the
for right tack- linemen," Lewan said, "and that's
an called Cox impressive for a running back."
usive." Senior The lightly used Cox's shin-
Will Campbell ing moment at Michigan - apart
ilback's "hockey from a pair of touchdowns
against FCS opponent Delaware
film - he still State in 2009 - was when he won
it when he runs a footrace with the secondary on
Campbell said. a 68-yard touchdown sprint in the
ig backs, when 2011 Spring Game.
get out real fast, The Michigan defense faced
ox, it's like he's Cox as the lead scout team tail-
ts really low and back for the last few seasons.
fast." On Saturday, they'll face him in
r thought of it front of more than 110,000 fans at
stopped playing Michigan Stadium.
Massachusetts coach Charley
Molnar has already slotted Cox as
the starter, after the back gained
32 yards on 20 carries in two
starts this fall.
"It doesn't matter if we're
playing Michigan or the Detroit
Lions, this guy believes in himself
and believes in the people around
him," Molnar said. "I think that's
just how he's wired. I'm glad to
have him."
Molnar said Cox has "assimi-
lated himself" well at Massachu-
setts, going from a powerhouse
program to a fledgling football
team in its first season at the Divi-
sion-I FBS level.
"He's a popular guy," Molnar
said. "If we voted for captains
today I don't know that he would
win but he would be a high vote
getter.
"And maybe he looks at it as
'going home,' (but) all I know is
that he has real excitement in his
eyes this week."
Hoke and the players were all
quick to say that they were root-
ing for Cox, just not this weekend.
"You step in between those
white lines and it's another oppo-
nent," said redshirt junior safety
Thomas Gordon. "We were all
happy for Mike to get this oppor-
tunity to play, and we're looking
forward to playing him."
Cox was listed as a 6-foot run-
ning back for Michigan last sea-
son. Massachusetts now has him
listed at 6-foot-3.
Who knows, maybe -he's -on-
skates again.
Rosen: Wolverines
have shown resilience
By GREG GARNO "We're working a lot harder in
Daily Sports Writer practice and getting a lot of stuff
done."
Ask Michigan volleyball coach The Scarborough, Ontario
Mark Rosen what his team needs natie has been anodpl of con-
to work on and he won't have a sistency for her team, tallying -
definitive answer. double-digit kills in the last three
"I think in every part of the games. Cross rarelyleadsherteam
game we can better," Rosen said. in kills every game, but her consis-
"There's nothing where we really tent season almst didn't-happen
wan tobdShe atyet. I think offen- Nine weeks ago, an ankle
sively we still have a lot of room to sprain and two partial muscle
become consistent. I think defen- tears around the ankle nearly took
sively we still have a lot of room to Cross out of the season opener.
get better." "Obviously it was a scare and
Askhimwhathe is mostpleased a very serious injury,CiGsssaid -
with, though, and he'll respond "When it first happens, you freak
without hesitation. out about it, but at some point you
"I like how this team is compet- have to do what you have to do to
ing," Rosen said. "We found ways get better. I knew Iwould be fine. I
in tough situations to be success- knew my ankle would be fine and I
ful. I think they are working hard knew my body would be fine."
everyday to put themselves in a It begs the question: Is Cross
position to be as competitive as intimidated ofanythingthen?
possible. It's hard to coach that "No," she responded, before
part." quipping, "Maybe (assistant
The Wolverines (10-1) have coach)JLeisaRosen."
played injust twofive-setgames - DANNEMILLER A LEADER: In
against Virginia Tech and Arkan- 2011, setter Lexi Dannemiller was
sas - and have won both of them, a talented freshman, battling for a
in part because of their resilience. starting position against veteran
Down 14-15 to Arkansas and fac- junior Catherine Yager.
ing a match point, Michigan This year, as a sophomore,
fought back to take the next two Dannemiller is the more expe-
points and win the final set. rienced of the Wolverines' two
Every team aims to be com- setters, mentoring true freshman
petitive, though, and the Wolver- Carly Warner.
ines can't rely on competitiveness Dannemillers starting^spot
alone to win the Big Ten. The hasn't been in jeopardy this year,
back row still lacks experience but she has had to take on more
and wasn't at its strongest in Mil- responsibility as a leader in her
waukee over the weekend, but if position.
the game against Arkansas is any Despite fitting into a new role,
example, Michigan has shown the Dannemiller hasn't dropped off
ability to keep games close, pace of matching last season's
NOTHING CROSSES CROSS: strong numbers.
At 6-foot-4, there isn't much that Through 11 games, the sopho-
intimidates junior middle blocker, more Dannemiller has 405 assists,
Jennifer Cross. averaging a hair below 11 per set.
After playing for the Canadian She is also fifth on the teamin kills
national team over the summer (43) and third on the team in digs
at the Pan Am Games, Cross has (72).
stepped up her game, leading the Named to the All-Big Ten
Wolverines in total blocks (53), Freshman Team last year,
and ranking second in kills with Dannemiller's highest priority is
(101). helping the seven freshmen begin
Time after time, Cross has been their collegiate careers on a strong
right at the net to deny opponents note, rather than repeat her per-
an opportunity to put together a formance.
run and gain momentum. She has "My role has completely
been a key piece to the Wolverines' changed this year," Dannemiller
hot start, and will continue to be said. "It's become less aboutltrying
important as the team prepares to fit in and more of being a leader.
for start of Big Ten play in two Not necessarily a captain, but on
weeks. the courtyou have to take charge.
"I think it's about not being "At times ican be-alittle bit
content-with successand that you. uncomfortable, but I've enjoyed it
have to keep pushing," Cross said. and really embraced it."
praises Robinson's on-field instincts
classic Robinson performance. coordinator Al Borges says that couldn't see the throw. The safe-
Robinson's performance was Robinson knows his mistakes ty jumped in front, that's why I
not without mistakes, though. before his coaches tell him. backed out and did this.'
He threw an interception late in "The one thing about Denard "It's amazing how accurate it is.
the second quarter that led to an that is amazing is if something You look back at iton thetape, and
Air Force touchdown with a min- goes wrong in front of him, he can it's almostverbatim what he said."
ute left in the half. The pass was identify it quickly," Borges said. Borges said he has coached a
tipped up in the air by running "He can tell you. He'll get on the number of players like that in the
back Vincent Smith, butthe throw phone and tell you right away, he past. They're the older, more expe-
was a bit high and off the mark. goes, 'Blab blah blah, missed his rienced veterans that also have
The silver lining: Offensive block right in front of me, I just the right instincts for the game of
football. But Borges has a special
title for those guys.
"You want guys to have a feel
for the game, you know, that goes
beyond just their skill level," Borg-
es said. "The kids call them, uh,
'ballers,' you know? The guy's a
bailer.
"You can say he may not do this,
but the guy balls. And I don't know
what that means - to me that's an
instinctive guy."
BIG TARGETS: One of Michi-
gan's biggest off-season concerns
was the depth of the receiving and
tight end corps with the depar-
tures of tight end Kevin Koger and
wide receivers Junior Hemingway
and Martavious Odoms.
Robinson isn't considered to be
the most accurate quarterback,
and his top receiver in 2012 is
supposed to be fifth-year senior
Roy Roundtree, who measures in
at 6-foot and doesn't quite have
breakaway speed.
But Borges has learned quickly
this season that Robinson has
more options than most people
think.
"Our wide receiver position,
believe it or not, is a little deeper
than we had anticipated, particu-
larly with (junior wide receiver)
Devin Gardner doing what he's
done," Borges said. "And (fresh-
man Devin Funchess) is a highly
skilled kid, yet he is a not a com-
plete tight end yet.... He can go get
the ball, runs very well for a tight
end, and when he gets a little big-
ger and stronger, I think he can be
a complete player."
Gardner and Funchess were
Robinson's top targets against Air
Force last weekend, combining
for 169 yards and both touchdown
receptions. Moreover, the two are
6-foot-4 and 6-foot-5, respectively,
and have made a habit of catching
balls over defensive backs who
where smaller than them.
In a way, they did a solid job on
Saturday of replacing Heming-
way's tremendous jump-ball abil-
ity from a season ago.
"Devin Garder, you'll see, that
catch he made in the end zone, a
smaller guy may not have caught
that ball, so (height) helps," Borg-
es said. "It helps and it doesn't
matter who the quarterback is -
they love those nice, big targets
where they don't have to throwit
perfect every time. They still have
a chance to make a play."
SHOW ME THE RHYTHM:
Sophomore running back Fitz
Toussaint's return to the lineup
following his one-game suspen-
sion was underwhelming, to say
the least. He only picked up seven
yards on eight carries. Much of
the problem could be the offensive'
line, but Borges was quick to point
out something else on Tuesday.
"A couple times we missed a
couple reads where he should have
gotten the ball and didn't," Borges
said. "One of them the quarter-
back took off for a 79-yard touch-
down, so it's hard to say that he
was wrong. But Fitz might have
been able to run that one, too.
Denard will tell you that."
So, maybe Toussaint could
pickedup 86 yards on nine carries,
had Robinson handed the ball off
on the second play of Michigan's
first drive of the game. Robinson,
instead, ran for 218 yards on 20
carries.
I