'M' football
ranked low
Wednesday, July 19, 1995 - The Michigan Daily - 15
By Nicholas J. Cotsonika inexperience at quarterback and defense
Daily Sports Editor as a liability.
Michigan football has had a horrible "The Wolverines have one of the
sunmner. country's best offensive ltnes and receiv-
The Wolverines' head coach made ing corps, but they also must break in a
the cover of Sports Illustrated in May af- new quarterback and they have only five
ter he resigned for embarrassing his returning starters on defense," Lindy's
school. Athletic Director Joe Roberson said,
immersed himself in criticism for giving Bob Griese's College Football and
Gary Moeller a near $400.000 buyout. Athlon's Big Ten weren't as kind. Griese
receiver Seth Smith quit the team last ranked the Wolverines, whom his son
week. Brian plays for, 17th nationally and third
Michigan's reputation is starting to in the Big Ten. Athlon's felt Michigan
tarnish, and it's showing up in the polls. was no better than 23rd nationally and
Penn State and Ohio State are getting fifth in the Big Ten.
the Big Ten's glory now. "Even though Gary Moeller won't be
Michigan used to be ranked in the around following his resignation in May,
top 10 nationally every year. It was a the Wolverines have the talent to stay in
given. But now, even though the pro- the Top 25," Athlon's said.
gram is still respected, the Wolverines Both magazines felt the season fina-
have been ranked anywhere from 10th les against Penn State and Ohio State
23rd. were the keys to the season.
The Sporting News placed Michigan Among the players receiving pre-
highest, putting it 10th nationally and season honors were: Wide receiver
second in the Big Ten after Penn State. Amani Toomer, tight end Jay
"The fate of its season rides on its fi- Riemersma, offensive tackle Jon
nal two games at Penn State and home Runyan, defensive tackle Trent
against Ohio State," The Sporting News Zenkewicz, guard Joe Marinaro, kicker
said. "If the Wolverines win those con- Remy Hamilton, center Rod Payne and
tests, they could claim the Big Ten. If it linebacker Jarrett Irons.
stumbles, Michigan may be looking at a
third consecutive 7-4 record and a sec-
pnd-tier bowl bid." DO
Lindy's Big Ten Football had the Continued from page 14
Wolverines at 13th nationally and third
in the Big Ten behind the Nitanny Lions "Gary should have gone to the presi-
and Buckeyes. dent and the athletic director and said, 'I
The magazine sighted Michigan's blew it. I made the biggest mistake of my
life. I feel bad about it. I don't want it to
4 0 4i 41 40 o kill me.' If he had just thrown himself to
the wolves, he'd have been a lot better
off."
Schembechler wouldn't speculate on
Notes what might have caused Moeller's ex-
cessive drinking, but did say that there is
a lot of pressure on coaches. He hinted
that if Moeller had gone 12-0 and won
The University driving range the Rose Bowl he would still have his
opened Saturday at the Michigan golf job.
course. The range was the last pan of Schembechler also ruled out the pos-
$3.8 million worth of renovations to sibility that he would return as athletic
the facility. The rage is not accessible director.
from the course, but is located at 2119 "I would not accept the AD position.
S Main St north of Woodland Plaza. It They don't have much clout anymore."
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Former Michigan centerfielder Brian Simmons was among the Wolverines' leaders in every offensive category in 1995.
Wolverines well reresente
Major League Baseball's draft
By Isaac Campos
For the Daily
Youth was served at June's Major League Baseball draft as
juniors Scott Weaver and Brian Simmons led a group of five
Wolverines selected.
Simmons, despite receiving fewer post-season accolades than
Weaver, was the first Wolverine drafted, going to the Chicago
White Sox in the second-round.
The centerfielder, who Al Kaline once likened to himself
because of his lanky body and quick arm, was possibly the
Wolverines' best all-around player in 1995, batting .317, and pac-
ing the team in RBI with 45 and home runs with 13, while mak-
ing six assists in centerfield.
"I think they most likely saw in Brian Simmons a different
kind of body than Scott Weaver," coach Bill Freehan said. "And
probably a major league arm."
Weaver, drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the eighth-
round, impressed most scouts at the plate in 1995, batting
.418 overall and .500 during conference play, earning him
the Big Ten batting title. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound left
fielder received Big Ten co-Player of the Year honors as
well as being selected to Mizuno's All-American third team
as a designated hitter.
"Offensively, Weaver is an outstanding player," Freehan said,
"probably one of the top five hitters I saw this year."
Also selected were three Wolverine seniors. Co-captain and
1994 team MVP Ryan Van Oeveren went to Montreal Expos in
the 15th round. The sure-handed 6-foot 180-pound shortstop
also won the Sizemore Award in 1994 as Michigan's top defen-
sive player. The final two Wolverines selected went to the New
York Mets. Hard-throwing righthander Matt Ferullo went in the
31st round while catcher Scott Niemic was taken in the supple-
mental draft.
Simmons and Weaver both finished their Michigan careers on
ahigh note. Simmons captured MVP honors at the first-ever Great
Lakes Invitational tournament reaching base in six of seven plate
appearances, going three-for-four with a triple and a home run.
Weaver went four-for-nine at Ohio State on the last day of
the season to secure the batting championship.
"Those guys have been our third and fourth hitters since their
freshman year," Freehan said. "Both have been outstanding play-
ers since they've been here."
o. .,ie . vu lf.vuti c- a
has natural, bent grass tees that can hold
25-30 golfers and artificial tees that can
accommodate 10-15. The range is open
to the public ... Former Michigan icer
Anton Fedorov was released by the
Motor City Mustangs last week.
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