" The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com j Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 3A The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 3A Green to be featured vs. Gophers By GREG GARNO Managing Sports Editor Lost in the quarterback competition on the Michigan football team is the end of a competition at another position: runningback. While fifth-year senior Devin Gardner and sophomore Shane Morris compete for the starting gig under center, Derrick Green is seeing the bulk of the carries in the backfield over De'Veon Smith. Green, who received 14 carries compared to Smith's four against Utah, has earned the bulk of snaps all season despite Michigan coach Brady Hoke saying both sophomore backs would split carries. Green has received the majority of touches - 64 to Smith's 28 - throughout the year. Now, Hoke has owned up to Green's featured role in the backfield. "Well, I think Derrick, when youlook at carries over the course of the year, Derrick's averaging 6.1 yards per carry, which tells you a little something," Hoke said at his Wednesday press conference. "But DeVeon's averaging 6.9. I think we have two very capable backs. "Now, has Derrick been the guywho's been featured? He's got more snaps, so I'd say so." Green's role is important since Michigan has run the ball 152 times, 40 more than it has passed. The Wolverines run enough that nearly every passing play the Wolverines call is out of play action or on a type of zone read. Green, though, has dealt with a line that has struggled to open holes. Against Utah, he had to avoid running through the tackles, and against Miami (Ohio), he bounced outside often instead of using his 5-foot-11, 220-pound frame to run up BIG TEN HOCKEY MINNESOTA, THE INAUGURAL CONFERENCE CHAMPION, REACHED THE NCAA TITLE GAME BUT FELL TO UNION MICHIGAN FINISHED THIRD IN 2013-14 BUT LOST TO BOTTOM-SEEDED PENN STATE IN THE BIG TEN TOURNAMENT YOU WANT TO BE TOUGH? TAKE OFF YOUR MASK AND THEN I'LL KNOW HOW TOUGH YOU REALLY ARE - BADGERS COACH S MIKE EAVES, RELAYING A MESSAGE FROM RED 'BER N SHANA TOVA! NOW LET'S ALL SKIP " CLASS MRn FOOTBALL MICHIGAN HAS WON 22 OF 23 AGAINST THE GOLDEN GOPHERS EIGHT STRAIGHT WINS IN BIG TEN OPENERS YOU DON'T WANT T HEM TO COME OVER AND TAKE THE JUG OFF THE SIDELINE - BR ADY -K RUBY WALLAU/Daily Sophomore running back Derrick Green has received the majority of carries this season, and he has rewarded coaches by averaging 61 yards per rush. the middle. Green's speed has coach) Jerry (Kill) a long time, improved, thanks in part to there's a lot of familiarity," Hoke slimming down in the offseason. said. "I think the kids always But his size and speed may play hard and they're ready for not matter against the Golden us. Obviously, we want to gain Gophers' run the line of defense, which scrimmage is considered T wouldS better. its strong suit. .L say "We've got Minnesota we'Ve Justgot to make sure allowed just 69 juwhen we're yards rushing to play our best in our combo to San Jose Iblocks and State last week football." those type of and this season things that is holding we're getting opponents to to the second 3.7 yards per carry and just four level. I think the verticalness that touchdowns. we need to play in the running "I think Tracy Claeys, their game and the , directness of defensive coordinator, really does the running game will be very a nice job, and being with (head important. They don't want you on the edges, and they'll work like football." heck to have everything funneled as the run game goes." Note: Wednesday, Hoke said Minnesota won't be caught off he would not release who his guard come Saturday, though, team's starting quarterback will since it too relies on the run - be until game time. even more so than Michigan. "We'll wait (to announce that) The Golden Gophers ran until game time," he said. "We for 387 yards against San Jose have an idea of what we want to State last weekend, attempting do, but what's best for us and the seven passes and completing program, and what we're trying only one. Running back David to get done." Cobb sees the bulk of carries, 92 Both Gardner and Morris thus far, but quarterbacks Chris have been getting reps at first Streveler and Mitch Leidner team, but Hoke indicated the pair have also combined for more would not split snaps. than 50 carries. He also noted that no matter "I know what they like to do," who starts at quarterback, Hoke said. "We have to play our freshman tackle Mason Cole and best, so I don't know. ... I don't redshirt sophomore tackle Ben look at it that way. I would say Braden would not switch sides on we've just got to play our best the line. t. M I 1 .Ii; r 1 ) \ci Coaches prep for BiG's second year By ERIN LENNON Daily Sports Writer DETROIT - When askedhow far away his hockey program is from becoming a revenue- producer, Penn State coach Guy Gadowski was abrupt. "We are," he said. After only one season in the Big Ten, Penn State sold out its allotment of student season NOTEBOOK tickets for its second season in Pegula Arena in just three minutes - with more than 95 percent of last year's season ticket holders renewing subscriptions - proving that, if nothing else, interest is on the rise. "The Big Ten conference attracts great hockey players on its own, so that's a big factor," Gadowski said. "We have a lot going on at Penn State that we're really proud of. The facility is one, the atmosphere of the student section is another, and the University itself. I feel all of those factors are helping us improve and improve." Outside of the inevitable media and recruiting boosts, the inaugural season of Big Ten hockey proved the gap between a fledgling program in Penn State and the storied ones in Michigan and Minnesota wasn't so large after all. Teams that want to compete for a national championship need to play high-caliber teams during the conference schedule to improve, "like osmosis," said Badgers coach Mike Eaves. This league is on its way - if it's not already there - to being that kind of test, they said. Of course, with hindsight at 20/20, the helms of each program spoke of positive takeaways from the first year in the Big Ten, despite some of the glaring disappointments. "If you're as good as your last game, well, we weren't very good last year," said Michigan coach Red Berenson. Whereas it was considered second-class in the Big Ten FILEPHOTO/Daily Michigan coach Red Berenson's teams have failed to reach the NCAA Tournament in consecutive seasons, but they looked poised to make a return this spring. prior to last season, Ohio State - which notched wins over every conference opponent except Michigan - could play spoiler in March despite the losses of forwards Ryan Dzingel and Max McCormick. For now, the Buckeyes remember blowing a 4-2 lead to Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship, narrowly missing an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament by falling in overtime. "Obviously, we're bitter," said Ohio State defenseman Sam Jardine. "We're motivated. Focus this summer has been clear throughout. We're ready to go now. And ever since that game happened, we've wanted to make amends." Finally, there were those who spoke of pure excitement among their teams, namely the freshmen. Michigan's eight newcomers are poised to make an immediate impact, while Wisconsin will need all 11 of its freshmen to fill key voids left after last season. There will be growing pains, but late-season conference drama has primed eagerness. "They're like puppies in a box," Eaves said. "They're going to try get out of the box and you gotta try and put them in day after day until they figure it out." GLORIOUS GOALTENDING: Perhaps more than any other conference in the nation, the Big Ten boasts talent in net from top to bottom. Last season, Minnesota goaltender Adam Wilcox was crowned the Big Ten Player of the Year over stellar forwards from his own team and over other standout netminders like Wisconsin's Joel Rumpel and Michigan State's Jake Hildebrand. Meanwhile, four Big Ten goalies finished in the top eight in the nation in save percentage. "Goaltending is just off the charts," Eaves said. "They're big, they're athletic, they work at their position." All of this is to say: expect low-scoring, tight games come January. There were four goaltenders from four different teams - Wilcox, Rumpel, Hildebrand and Ohio State's Christian Frey - selected to the Big Ten preseason watchilist. That's a list that doesn't include Michigan sophomore Zach Nagelvoort, who, despite a stellar freshman campaign, is still competing with junior Steve Racine for the starting job. Toughasthesegoaltendersmay be, Berenson was quick to remind his fellow coaches that goalies used to playwithoutmasks. "You want to be tough?" Eaves said, relaying Berenson's mantra. "Take off your mask and then I'll know how tough you really are." PRESEASON POLLS: Coaches met early Wednesday morning to vote on the Big Ten Preseason Coaches Poll, peggingreigning champion Minnesota as the team to beat, followed by Michigan and Wisconsin. Rounding out the conference, Ohio State, Michigan State and Penn State polled in the same order they finished last season, at four, five and six, respectively. Both Copp and sophomore forward JT Compher were unanimous selections as Big Ten players to watch. Compher, the 2013-14FreshmanoftheYear,will likelyflank Copp -who willcenter Wolverines' top line - creating a one-two punch that could earn the duo matching honors at the end of the season. Copp earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention after finishing second on the team in scoring with 29 points in his sophomore campaign behind Compher. Minnesota contributed five Big Ten players to watch, including three unanimous selections in Wilcox, sophomore forward Sam Warning and senior forward Kyle Rau. t a.