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Come high noon on Yom Kippur, the light will be brilliant, the
the donuts glazed, the football leather. With worn laces. 0,
how the mighty beast of Michigan football doth plow through
the unworthy opponent.
An easy fast to all.
Everett Cook, Zach Helfand, Matt Slovin and Liz Vukelich.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Believe it or not, Taylor Lewan actually
used to be little. Find out how he went
from high school transfer to star.
Who has the edge in this one? Just kid-
ding, it's Michigan. Still, see how the Zips
stack up in this week's breakdown.
One day, when you're old and all that's lefttare
the memories, you'll be telling generations
to come about the game they called "The
Glazed Donut Game." Here's the preview.
Cover illustration by Tanaz Ahmed
2013 Schedule
Central Michigan (Aug. 31): Michigan beat the Indiana (Oct.19): Long Island Bowl 2013. Win-
Chippewas by their largest opening-day margin ner drinks from the keg of glory and gets all the
- since 1905. bagels and muffins in the land.
0
Lewan: nasty since the beginning
Notre Dame (Sept. 7): Eminem is still in the
ESPN booth, wondering where he is and where
all the people went.
j Akron (Sept.14): Unfortunately, Akron is chick-
ening out of this great rivairy after this year'
game.
Connecticut (Sept. 21): No really. this games
going to be played in Connecticut. Serious y.
ka Not lying.
Minnesota (Oct. 5): Jerry Kill kind of looks like a
walrus. Happy homecoming!
Penn State (Oct.12): Happy Valley at night usu-
ally isn't so happy for opponents. Kickoff is at 5
p.m.
Michigan State (Nov. 2): Michigan State's
defense is really good. Michigan State's offense
s really not.
Nebraska (Nov. 9): The problem with.Nebraska
fans is they're much too nice to hate. Unless, of
course, the 'Huskers win again this year.
Northwestern (Nov.16): Nice kitty.
Iowa (Nov. 23): Vodka Sam!
Ohio State (Nov. 30): The Game is past its peak
-- the rapper, that is.
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IT'S GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL
STAFF PICKS
The Daily football writers pick
against the spread to predict
scores for the Top 25 and Big
Ten in the 2013 football season.
Zach
Helfand
Eve
Ca
No.l Alabaa-S) atNo.6 TexasA&M
No.20Orogont(-28)v. Tennessee
No.4 OhioStat -16) atCaifornia
No. 5 Saord (-29)aArmy
Nio. 7 Louisvile t-14.5)olat Kentuky
No.81LSUt-37) vs Kt St.
No. 10FloridSat -34)v. Nevada
No. 11 Mihignt-37)vs. Akron
No 12Okilahomea t-47) vs. Lamar
No. 13Souhiaonao04) v. Vanderbilt
No. 14Oklahoma-24.5) vs. Tulsa
No.16 UCLAt(+4.5)at No. 23Nebraska
No.174orthwesern (-30.)vs. WesternMichigan
No. 19Washngon(-10)1aIinisii
No 20 Wisonosin (+6)at Arizona State
No. 21 NoroDamio(-21) atPuraue
No. 24TCU (-3)atTexas.Tech
No. 25 Mississippi (+2.5) at Texas
Iiana 0) s. Bowling Green
Minnesolta -24) vs. Western lliois
Michgan State (25.5)v. oun~gstown St.
Iowa(-2.5) atIoowaState
Die Sate -5) vs CeraFlorida
Overal
Oregon
Ohio State
Army
LSU
Nevada
Michigan
Lamar
Oklahoma
UcLA
Northweostern
Washington
Notre Dame
Mississippi
Indiana
Minnesota
YoungstownS t.
Iowa State
PennState
36-19
!rett
Kok
Texas A&M
Oregon
OhioState
Stanford .
Louisville
LSU
Nevada
Michigan
Lamar
vanderblt
Oklahoma
UCLA
Northwestern
lltinois
ArizonaState
Notre Dame
TcU
Mississippi
Indiana
Minnesota
YoungstownSt.
Iowa Sate
PennState
34-21
Matt
Slovin
By LIZ VUKELICH
Daily Sports Editor
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -
When Charlie Ragle first
saw the block, he wasn't
quite sure what he had in
store. The big offensive line-
man was on his team now.
The best way Scottsdale
Chaparral High School's
former head football coach
knows how to describe the
scene is by comparing it to
the 2009 film, "The Blind
Side." In it, offensive line-
man Michael Oher gets so
aggressive during a high-
school football gameethat -
the way down and off the
field before pushing him
backward over a fence after
the play is over.
The only difference was
that Ragle was living this
scene in person, watch-
ing then-17-year-old Taylor
Lewan block a defensive
end about 50 yards down
the field.
"It looked like the kid
was wearing roller skates," Fifth-y
Ragle said. tell th
The whistle blew, the play "Th
was over and the referee (Lewa
was adamant about putting "He's
a stop to any more aggres- young
siveness from Lewan. He whaty
threw a flag for excessive player
blocking on Lewan's part,
but as Ragle recalls, it was ***
for "basically beinga bully."
Ragle told the referee that The
was the dumbest call he had Lewan
ever heard in his coaching been b
career. But that was nothing firstp
compared. to Lewan's out- the pa
rage; he just wouldn't let it defens
go, as Ragle recalls. on th
"How much are they necess
paying you?" Lewan yelled But
to the referee as he nod- new s
ded toward the opponent's game1
bench. only 1
The referee threw down few m
his flag again in frustration, ferred
and Ragle did his best to senior
try and curb his emotional (Ariz.
tackle. High;
"Get your ass back down utes a'
the field," Ragle yelled back Rag
at Lewan, in a last-ditch Lewan
effort to avoid any more arralI
penalties. The t'
It wasn't funny at the and h
time, but enough time has office1
passed that Ragle can now the fi
OhioaState
Florida Stat
Vaanioohit
Oklahoma
Wiscon-9-M
NotreoDana
Mihigan State
Iowa8
Liz
Vukelich
Alabama
Oregon
OhioState
Stanford
Louisville
Kent State
rdia State
Michigan
Okah~oma State
Soutah Carolinoa
Tulsa
Nebraska
Western Michigan
Washington
ArizonaState
Notre Dame
TexasTech
Texas
BowlingGreen
Minesota
Youngstown St.
lowa State
Penn-State
34-21
Lloyd Brady, /
Michigan
legend
Alabama
Oregon
OhioState
Stanford
Louisville
LSU
rioaState
N amar
oxth Caroa
Okahoma
UCLA
inneMichigan
Wasngton s.
Awa st.te
Notnaeoo
Texas Tech,
Miisissippi
Indiana
Youngstown St.
Iowa 5t.
Perm Sate
o story with a laugh.
at's what makes
an) great," he said.
emotional. He was a
kid then, but that's
you want to see in your
s."
funny thing is,
n never should have
ilocking that kid in the
place - he. had spent
at three years playing
sive end, only dabbling
e offensive line when
sary.
it was a new school, a
tart. By the time that
took place, Ragle had
known Lewan for a
onths - Lewan trans-
to Chaparral for his
year from Cave Creek
) Cactus Shadows
School, about 30 min-
way.
le says he remembers
n's first day at Chap-
like it was yesterday.
wo of them sat down
ad a chat in Ragle's
before heading out to
eld for practice. The
ERI
fear senior offensive tackle Taylor Lewan played on the defensive side of the bail for three years in high school before switching to offense. Needless to say,
coaches had set up several Ragle said.
standard agility drills for Humenuik taught Lewan
Lewan before having him the fundamentals of the
run a few 40-yard dashes. offensive line, but there was
"I looked at our offensive still something he needed to
coordinator, and I just said, work on: his tenacity. Ragle
'This kid is going to be spe- wasn't too concerned - the
cial,' " Ragle said. "To run coach says the two share the.
and be as athletic as he was? same kind of hyper-aggres-
Those kids don't just grow siveness. There were still
on trees." the occasional flare-ups on
Lewan's switch to offen- the field, but at the end of
sive lineman had as much to the day, there was nothing
do with how he impressed overly worrisome.
Ragle with his athleticism "If you're designing an
during those intial drills as offensive lineman, you
it did with Chaparral's new know Taylor Lewan's the
offensive line coach Rod model, from a physical
Humenuik. Humenuik had standpoint, to a tenacity
recently retired after 20 standpoint and aggressive,
years as an offensive line but when he steps off that
coach in the NFL. Ragle is field, (he's a) very gregari-
convinced that the timing ous and fun-loving guy that
of Humenuik's arrival has you enjoy to be around,"
everything to do with the Ragle said. "He came and he
switch. was eager to learn. He was
"The amount of experi- hungry, and he didn't come
ence Taylor got in his first in with no pretentiousness
year as an offensive line- or an attitude like he had all
man from his old line coach the answers."
was something that kids
play their whole high school ***
careers and some of their
college careers and don't Ragle is now in his sec-
get that kind of experience," ond year as the tight end
and special teams coach thingto do.
for the University of Ari- Ragle, of course, support-om
zona, working under former ed that choice but is pretty
Michigan head coach Rich sure it could have gone
Rodriguez. In fact, part of either way.
the reason for Ragle's cur- "I think you can make a
rent position is the rela- case in this profession for
tionship he formed with Taylor that either decision
Rodriguez when he was would have been the right
recruiting Lewan and for- decision," he said. "Every-
mer Michigan defensive end one knew he was a good
Craig Roh out of Chaparral player last year, but the bar
in 2008. has risen. (For) some people,
Like any coach, he keeps the expectations are even
in contact with all his for- higher for him this year just
mer players. Lewan. is no because of who he is.
exception. With as much "But with that being said,
attention as Lewan has there isn't a greater guy that
received under the Michi- I would want to meet that
gan limelight, it's kind of challenge than Taylor."
hard for Ragle not to keep
tabs on him. Ragle says the ***
two usually speak before
the beginning of the foot- In the past few seasons,
ball season, and they even Lewan has been increasing-
had a discussion as Lewan ly responsible on the field.
was deciding between stay- He's a captain now, so he
ing at Michigan for his fifth has to be more accountable.
year or leaving for the NFL But occasionally, he stiles
Draft. draws a penalty.
When Lewan announced And when he does, there
his decision to stay at Mich- are still glimpses of the
igan last January, he was smaller, 17-year-old Lewan
very adamant that remain- visiblewithinthe315-pound
ing a Wolverine was the best frame of the All American.
TheMichiganDaily - www.michigandaily.com13
2 1 FootballSaturday - September 13, 2013