6A- Thursday, October 9, 2014

The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

6A- Thursday, October 9, 2014 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom

Sideline protocol challenged

ICE HOCKEY
Michigan to host
final exhibition

By GREG GARNO
Managing Sports Editor
Midway through the third
quarter of the Michigan football
team's game against Rutgers on
Saturday, redshirt sophomore
safety Jeremy Clark slowly
came off the field, holding his
left shoulder.
Clark was escorted to the
bench by a pair of trainers where
he was attended to by a handful
of medical professionals.
Assistant athletic trainers Lenny
Navitskis and Phil Johnson
patrolled the sideline "wired
in" with each other and select
medical staff.
Clark's injury, albeit one
unrelated to the head, was one
of the first examples of Athletic
DirectorDaveBrandon'sinitiative
to improve communication
between members on the sideline
put to action.
After sophomore quarterback
Shane Morris was allowed back
on the field despite sustaining
a "probable, mild concussion"
against Minnesota, and wasn't
diagnosed until after the game,
Michigan didn't wait long to
implement the new plan. The
practice is in line with NFL
teams, which have an official in
the booth to better handle head
injuries.
The plan, as Brandon first
described in an interview with
the Daily on Thursday, was to
wire in medical personnel on
the sideline with each other and
someone in the booth to review
plays from above. But not every
trainer had a wire in his ear
during the game.
Of those who extensively
attended to Clark, only one
wore an ear, piece. Navitskis,
who has spent five years with
the Wolverines, patrolled the
sideline, but never spent more
than two minutes at a time
with Clark.

By ERIN LENNON
Daily Sports Writer
Two contests into the 2014-
15 season, the No. 9 Michigan
hockey teamhasshown moments
- periods, even -ofthe supposed
greatness that put it back into the
top 10 of the
USCHO.com Wilfrid
rankings. Laurierat
On Friday,
there was MiChigan
resiliency. When:
After two Thursday
egregious 7:35 P.M.
defensive Where: Yost
errors putthem Ice Arena
into an early TV:BTN+
hole on the
road against
No.8 Ferris State, the Wolverines
mustered two goals in the third
period and came within inches of
forcing overtime in what could've
been a blowout.
On Monday, there was
responsiveness. Each time the
U.S., Under-18 National Team
Development Program pulled
within one goal of the lead,
Michigan's offense delivered an
insurance goal to keep the game
out of reach.
What the Wolverines (0-1)
haven't shown yet, though, is
a solid start. Through eight
minutes of Monday's exhibition
at Yost Ice Arena, the young
defense looked flustered and
easily beaten, just as it had
in the first 20 minutes of its
regular-season debut in Big
Rapids, Michigan.
Michigan will have one more
chance to work out the early-
game jitters Thursday in its
final exhibition game, against
Wilfrid Laurier.
Michigan is 2-0-0 against
Wilfrid Laurier, a Canadian inter-
university sport school based

in Waterloo, Ontario, with both
wins coming under Michigan
coach Red Berenson in 1999
and 2000. The Golden Hawks
finished the 2013-14 season eight
games under .500, including just
five road wins in 19 contests.
No matter the competition,
though, the Wolverines have
the chance to iron out the early
kinks. Up until the season
opener, coaches were limited to
30 minutes of on-ice instruction,
posing a challenge when
choosingline pairings.
Berenson said he likes the
line of sophomore forward Alex
Kile, freshman Dylan Larkin
and senior Zach Hyman, saying
he expects that combination to
start next weekend against New
Hampshire.
"Games like this are
invaluable," Berenson said. "It's
really important for our team to
get some of these guys off to a
good start."
Exhibitions are also an
opportunity to evaluate
newcomers like defenseman
Sam Piazza and forward Alex
Talcott. Talcott missed most of
the preseason with a separated
shoulder he suffered in August.
Piazza impressed in his
collegiate debut Monday, adding
an assist and a solid presence on
special teams.
Veteran players, too, will get
an opportunity to show their
improvement Thursday. Senior
defenseman Mike Chiasson
will make his first start, while
sophomore goaltender Zach
Nagelvoort gets the nod for a
third time.
"Games like this are
invaluable," Berenson said.
"We're getting a handle on our
young players, but we want to
get a handle on our returning
players as well."

4
4

PAUL SHERMAN/Daily
Michigan coach Brady Hoke has an assistant standing with a headset throughout the entire football game, he explained.

However, trainers took
Clark's helmet away from him
after discussion, putting it in
a new location on the sideline.
But that doesn't mean the
protocol seemed any better, let
alone noticeable, to players and
coaches on the sidelines.
"I think you'll see that, the
effects of that when maybe there
is some sort of head trauma or
something as much as anything.
else," said Michigan coach Brady
Hoke. "I don't - I'm involved
with the game, coaching. I've
never made medical decisions,
so I'm sure it worked OK."
Added redshirt junior
running back Justice Hayes:
"It was the same; same stuff.
(Leaving Shane on the field) was
just a miscommunication, but we
should be allright."

Saturday's game, which saw
redshirt sophomore Willie
Henry come out to have his hand
examined, redshirt sophomore
wide receiver Jehu Chesson exit
with a leg injury and sophomore
running back Derrick Green
break his clavicle, was as good
a barometer as any to measure
how the new policy played out.
Each athlete came to the
sideline after being injured,
unlike last weekend's game.
Only Henry reentered, getting
clearance from a trainer before
rushing to Hoke's side in the
third quarter.
"I think that whole situation
was a big misunderstanding, and
we didn't really have anything
come up like that this game to
reallytalk about,"said sophomore
tight end Jake Butt. "But I know,

they put in a plan and we're going
to get it corrected. We're going to
get the best of the best and get it
figured out."
Perhaps the most noticeable
response to an injury wasn't
with Michigan, but with the
Scarlet Knights. Late in the first
quarter, Rutgers wide receiver
Leonte Carroo snapped back
as he was hit by junior safety
Jarrod Wilson.
Trainers sprinted out to
Carroo moments after he hit the
ground and escorted him off the
field and into the tunnel before
the next play was run.
And trainers' presence on
the field may soon return to
be unnoticed, but Michigan's
handling of Morris's concussion
may have teams paying more
attention.

4.


VOLLEYBALL
nop succeeds in
move to front row
5-foot-8 freshman not only identified Knop as a
player good at making technical
fills new role due to changes, but also recognized
her personality and charisma as
team injuries something that is needed on the
floor for six rotations.
By EMILY SEJNA That's why he approached
For the Daily her about makinga move to play
in the front row.
Freshman defensive specialist "(Knop is) a person that
Caroline Knop doesn't go by people love to play with, but
her given name. You won't hate to play against," Rosen
hear anyone call her Caroline. said. "She can get under your
Instead, they call her CK. skin and drive you crazy if you
Even as a freshman, when are on the other side of the net."
you leave the kind of impression Although she was hesitant
Knop has on her teammates on when Rosen approached her
the Michigan volleyball team, about the position change,
you earn a lasting nickname. Knop has displayed the ability
Ideally, defensive specialists to make a huge impact for
like Knop play in the backcourt the Wolverines. With her
for three rotations until bigger adaptability of technical
players are needed in the front changes in attacking, Knop has
to block. But had 140 kills
this isn't in 56 sets. Her
the story for gar,,. s)a. athleticism
the 5-foot-8 (KfOp is) a helps her
freshman. overcome
Knop person that her small
committed to neO e O e physique.
Michigan ats love to p
the end of her play with." all about
sophomore playmentality,"
year. But when she said. "I
she got to Ann am 5-foot-8,
Arbor, the but I think
California native found things I am 6-foot-8. It's also the
weren't quite the same as she competitive me. You are not
was accustomed to. going to block me. You are not
"Everyone is good, you going to beat me, you are not
cannot win with two or three gonna better me in this. I love
players like in high school," being undersized."
Knop said. "You truly need six Rosen said he uses this as an
amazing players on the court advantage for the Wolverines.
who are all playing for the same He knows that it will not only
university, who all (want) to drive opponents "nuts," but her
win." "swag" will also bring passion
Arriving at Michigan, she and energy that make it fun for
prepared herself to be the her Michigan teammates to play
libero. But injuries to two junior alongside her on the floor.
outside hitters gave Knop the "I do not like to lose," Knop
opportunity to step up and said. "I actually hate losing
take on a challenge rare for an more then I would love to win.
outside hitter. "But I care so much about
Knop's stature is nothing this sport and care so much
expected in the front row as an about my teammates that I
attacker. would not let us lose, or try not
Michigan coach Mark Rosen to at least."

Donnal, Doyle to command the '5'

Frosh duo offer
contrasting styles
in the post
By JAKE LOURIM
Daily Sports Editor
After the Michigan men's
basketball team lost to
Kentucky in last year's Elite
Eight, it didn't take long for its
frontcourt depth to empty out.
Fifth-year senior Jordan
Morgan exhausted his
eligibility after starting 122
games for the Wolverines over
four years. Redshirt junior Jon
Horford transferred to Florida
with one more year of eligibility,
and sophomore Mitch McGary
declared for the NBA Draft.
When Michigan lost that trio,
it didn't just lose 1,650 points,
1,345 rebounds and more than
5,000 career minutes. It also lost
two captains and another leader
who was one of the program's
best recruits in history.
That leaves the Wolverines
with redshirt freshman Mark
Donnal, true freshmen Ricky
Doyle and DJ Wilson and senior
Max Bielfeldt - who, between
them, have played 195 minutes,
all from Bielfeldt. And it doesn't
help that Wilson and Bielfeldt
both missed significant time
this summer with finger and hip
injuries, respectively.
So who will help shoulder the
load against a physical crop of
Big Ten forwards that includes
Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky
and Iowa's Aaron White?
Michigan coach John Beilein
gave some indication Thursday
at his first preseason press
conference.
He said Doyle and Donnal
will both play a lot, with
Bielfeldt also getting some time
and Wilson being used as an
"extra option." In addition to
the injury, though, time at the
'3' or '4' positions could take
away from Wilson's minutes in
the post.
"I think there's a chance that
(Wilson) can play any position,"
Beilein said. "We're a long way

TERESA MATHEW/Daily
Redshirt freshman Mark Donnal focused on adding weight last year, but coaches say he needs to work on consistency.

from determining that, but
his length, his shot-blocking
ability, his skill level, he could
be. His down-the-road position
obviously is a forward."
In the Wolverines' summer
exhibition trip to Italy, Donnal
started all four games ahead of

Donnal dropped 20 points and
11 rebounds in the third game.
"Both Ricky and Mark have
had interesting games," Beilein
said. "One time, Ricky didn't
get a rebound (in Italy) and
then Mark all of a sudden had
a double-double. Both of them

Doyle, but
both saw
significant
time. Doyle's
numbers
were a
touch better,
outscoring
Donnal 11.5
to 10.3 points
per game
and out-
rebounding
him 8 to 6.5. Don
on the offensive
grabbing 14 of hi;
that end.
Doyle put up
doubles, includi
and 14 rebounds
in the second

are making
really good
- progress.
"I wouldn't We'd like to
discount Mark's see more, but I
like what I've
inside game seen."
At 6-foot-9,
or Ricky's 245 pounds,
outside game." Doyle is a
more physical,
Morgan-like
post presence.
nal was strong Donnal is an intriguing
glass, though, option who can shoot the ball
s 24 boards on from deep. Thoughhe was 0-for-
3 from 3-point range in Italy,
two double- Beilein likened him to some big
ng 15 points men he has had in the past who
in 18 minutes can shoot. While he's not at the
game, while level of former West Virginia

forward Kevin Pittsnogle, or
even former Michigan forward
DeShawn Sims, he can certainly
stretch the defense.
With two contrasting styles,
Beilein said he'll use them
situationally down the road, but
that both are flexible.
"I'd need to watch both of
them more, but I think at the
end of the preseason, when we
get into November, one will
probably have an upper hand on
the other," Beilein said. "I can't
make that call yet.
"We may get situational
sometimes, but I wouldn't
discount Mark's inside game
or Ricky's outside game. The
perception would be one is one
and one is the other. I think
both of them have the ability to
play the other's game, and that's
what we're working with."
For more U-M hoops
Check MichiganDaily.com
throughout the week