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