8A - Wednesday, November12, 2014 ) JU T
'True freshman' only
a label for Mason Cole,
Of
Ma
remer
colleg
his d
in m
a dif
recen
stude
from
If
winte
the f
didn't
field.
semes
the t
purel3
adjust
colleg
Cole
time
early
to pu
into c
for
time.
"TI
fensive lineman 292 pounds, not as massive as
many fully polished offensive
as impressed, tackles. Working with offensive
line coach Darrell Funk, Cole
started all 10 found ways to adjust.
games for 'M> "When you're not as strong
and not as big as some guys,
you've got to play with great
By MAX COHEN technique," Cole said.
Daily Sports Editor By fall camp in August,
Cole began to realize he had
son Cole doesn't fondly a legitimate chance of seeing
mber the first day of his extensive playing time. Having
e career. He moved into finished a full semester at the
[orm room last January University, Cole felt completely
inus-lS degree weather, adjusted to college life.
ficult temperature for a He credits those around
tly graduated high school him for the easy transition.
nt arriving in Ann Arbor He listened to the team's older
Florida. offensive linemen, his coaches
the weather made the and other support staff around
r months difficult for the program.
freshman left tackle, it "With the staff, here, they
show on the football really help you, and the support
Instead of using his first here, that's really helped," Cole
ster at said. "Just
University staying on
y for the path and
ting to "You don't hear doing what
e life, the people
used his US talking about here ask me
as an a a toWdo."
enrollee him, anl that's With that
t himself go dattitude,
ontention .*.agood thing. Cole earned
playing the role of
the team's
he starting left
season, helping stabilize an
offensive line that endured
numerous shakeups in 2013.
The Wolverines have had
100-yard rushers in back-to-
back weeks, a statistic that
would've seemed unachievable
this late last season given the
team's poor offensive line
play. Entering the season,
many thought starting a true
freshman would be a liability,
that Cole's growing pains would
be glaring. That hasn't been the
case.
"You don't hear us talking
about him and that's kind of
a good thing, that he's doing
a good job when you look at
protections," said Michigan
coach Brady Hoke in Tuesday's
weekly Big Ten teleconference.
"He's getting stronger, and so
he's a little more stout."
According to his teammates,
Cole no longer acts like a
freshman. Though Cole says
redshirt junior offensive
lineman Jack Miller is the
leader of the offensive line,
sophomore running back
De'Veon Smith sees some
leadership characteristics
developing in Cole.
"I'm really proud of him,"
Smith said. "He's shown that
he's becoming a leader. I'm
pretty sure, by next year, guys
are going to be looking up to
him, even older guys."
If he can survive another
Ann Arbor winter, that is.
NOTE: Michigan announced
Tuesday afternoon that its
game against Ohio State on Nov.
29 will kick off at noon.
For updates from Brady
Hoke's weekly press R
conference today
Check MichiganDailycomand follow
us on Twitter @theblockm.
Doyle' a familio
By SIMON KAUFMAN
Daily Sports Writer
Ricky Doyle hasn't played
a single minute of college
basketball yet, but the freshman
forward already has his name in
the Michigan men's basketball
program's record book.
Richard Doyle - of no relation
toRickywhosegivennameisalso
Richard - earned the program's
first All-American honors for his
playduringthe 1925-26 season.
The elder Doyle played for the h
Wolverines for three seasons,
from 1923-26, under Michigan
coach E.J. Mathers. He was
part of the starting five each
year. During his final season, he
captained Mathers'teamto a12-5
record and helped itgo 8-4 in the
Western Conference, clinching
a share of the league title - just Freshman Ricky Doyle has many simila
the school's second conference
basketball championship. said. "I'll put myself on the line
Richard played the center and to win the game. I'll dive after a
guard positions and appeared loose ball; I'lltake a charge."
in all 17 games during his All- Ninety years earlier, another
American season, averaging Doyle also didn't shy away from
4.8 points per game. The team physicality - almost to a fault at
averaged 30.4 points per contest times.
that year. A Daily article from Dec. 16,
If you've never heard of 1924 about a Michigan win over
Richard Doyle, you're not alone. Michigan Agricultural said,
The team's current Doyle barely "Doyle appeared to be in form
knew who he was. until he forgot etiquette in the
"I've seen (his name) on the first part of the second frame
wall," Ricky said of Richard. "I and was put out of the game on
don't know much about him. personal fouls."
I just know we have the same Ricky seems like a polite
name." kid, but Michigan coach John
He might not know about one Beilein might be OK with him
of the program's first stars, but occasionally forgoing his
if Ricky Doyle turns out to be etiquette this year if it helps
anything like Richard Doyle, the stymie opponents' offenses.
Wolverines could have another And his physical play isn't
special season in store. his only link to the program's
Despite the 90 years that first All-American. Both Doyles
separate their careers at stand out for their versatility.
Michigan, the Doyle duo might A Daily article from Jan. 8,
not be too different. 1925 previewing a matchup
Ricky, a 6-foot-9, 245-pound against Northwestern noted,
product of Cape Coral, Florida, "(Richard) Doyle will jump
describes himself as a physical center then drop back to
player. standing guard. His ability on
"I'm not afraid to get hit," he the tip-off and his defensive
powers make him a good man
for his position. In addition, he
is a good shot."
Ricky could frustrate the
opposition on the offensive
side, too. Beilein warned not to
underestimate Ricky's outside
game, noting a nice jump hook
and ability to run the court. But
the freshman is most touted for
his back-to-the-basket style of
play in the paint, a quality the
coach called "old school." The
ability to back down defenders,
shoot and get up the court are
the types of skills thatmade the
original Richard Doyle stand
out, too.
Ricky could have a long
career ahead of him, and
assistant coach Bacari
Alexander compared the
freshman's ceiling to a "room
without a roof."
Michigan has plans of
playing deep into March
again this season, and Doyle
has plans of reaching his full
potential.
And for those to happen, it
wouldn't hurt if Ricky played
like Richard.
coaching staff when I first got
here, they said everyone's got
the same opportunity," Cole
said. "Everything was open."
Cole finished his high school
career as a highly ranked
recruit, but the task facing him
was still daunting. Offensive
linemen usually need time
to grow when they reach
college, often redshirting in
order to build the muscle mass
associated with collegiate
weightlifting programs that
is necessary to fend off older
defensive linemen.
Cole is listed at 6-foot-5 and
tackle in the season opener
against Appalachian State on
Aug.30. The feat was significant.
Despite Michigan's long history
of success grooming linemen,
Cole was the first true freshman
to start the team's season
opener on the offensive line.
Cole didn't take much time
to dwell on the achievement.
He had a difficult job in front
of him, tasked with protecting
quarterback Devin Gardner's
blind side.
So far, the results have been
positive. Cole has started each
of the team's 10 games this
Sinelli to showcase versatility
By JEREMY SUMMITT
Daily Sports Editor
Every team could usea player
like senior Andrew Sinelli.
And according to Michigan
hockey coach Red Berenson, the
Wolverines are the team that
needs him most.
Seven games into the season,
Michigan is struggling to score
goals, and it's conceding far too
many. For nearly three weeks
- a stretch in which Michigan
has lost three straight games -
Sinelli has been sidelined with a
groin and shoulder injury.
On Monday, he finally
returned to a full team
practice for the first time since
sustaining his injuries against
New Hampshire on Oct. 18.
His welcome-back present was
an opportunity to play on the
top forward line with junior
Andrew Copp and sophomore
Tyler Motte.
Sinelli expects to play this
weekend, and he'll likely be
Sinelli a luxury to have on any
team's roster.
A fine balance between a
player's offensive and defensive
work rate is something
Berenson constantly stresses to
his players. If they don't live up
to his expectations, they'll find
themselves as a healthy scratch.
"Our team needs more of
what he brings to the table,
whether it's on defense or on
forward," Berenson said. "On
forward, it's his speed, playing
with grit, his compete level and
his defensive awareness in the
defensive zone. We can use that
on all our lines."
By placing Sinelli with two of
Michigan's most accomplished
scoring threats in Motte and
Copp, it's Berenson's hope that
the line will gel into a trio that
complements each other in a
way a top line should.
"Sinelli will push the pace for
us a bit on that rightaside," Motte
said. "He's got some speed as
well as the work ethic there.
ALLISOkbFAsRAr/Daiy
Tackle Mason Cole has impressed despite being the first true freshman Is ever start on the offensise line for Michigan.
freshman year, he continued
to be thrown into different
roles. And even in the middle
of his senior season, he's back
to testing out another fresh
opportunity.
"He's played (defense), he's
played forward, he's played
center," Motte said. "He's
played everything but goalie so
far."
While it's highly unlikely
Sinelli will ever strap on the
goalie pads and a mask, if
Berenson asked him to do it,
there wouldn't be any questions
or second thoughts. There's
a reason Sinelli is so well-
respected in the locker room.
"I just want to play. I don't
really care where it is," he said.
"I'll do anything that coach tells
me and anything that the team
needs."
Sinelli does all the gritty and
demanding work of a hockey
player, and many teammates
in the Michigan locker room
agree that he plays like his
personality. Copp describes it
as "laid-back" off the ice, but
focused in the weight room and
during practice.
Copp and Motte are known to
be less relaxed, and they often
take their on-ice personalities
off the ice, atleastincomparison
to Sinelli. They both take
practices seriously, often the
first to finish conditioning drills
and the last to leave the ice.
After every practice, Copp
and Motte work on tip-in
drills, with Copp shooting
from the blue line and Motte
attempting to redirect one
past the goaltender. They both
admit they need to lighten up
sometimes.
"It's good to have those
different personalities on our
line," Copp said. "Hopefully
that loosens up me and Motte a
little bit."
starting on The chemistry
the first line is coming along
as he has here in the first
all week in "Our team couple of days
practice. he ne d of of practice on
Ifm he nee osmore of Monday and
can add ha eiTuesday and so
something in what he brings far, so good."s
terms of his The Dexter,
speed, and his to the table. Michigan
grit and some native is just
good puck itching to get
touches and back into game
some defensive awareness, then action with his teammates, and
he'll get a chance to play that he's understanding of the large
role," Berenson said. opportunity presented to him.
After starting the season on Whether he'll flourish in this
defense, Sinelli was pushed new role has yet to be seen, and
up to the fourth forward line it might be a daunting task less
on Oct. 17. Only one day later, than a week removed from the
he played on the third line. He injury list.
has always had the capability But Sinelli has been forced to
to play smart defensively and play the role of a utility player
create hard-nosed chances in for much of his career. After
the offensive zone, making appearing in just six games his
SHOULD MEN BE ALLOWED TO WEAR SALMON-
COLORED SHORTS?
IS THIS AMERICA?
1
9