That's all folks! The next sports page will beN SPORTSTuesday on Sept 5. Wednesday August 9,1995 Michigan teams prepare for autumn By John Leroi Daily Sports Editor These days, almost every Michigan 'n's attention is focused on the football program. And with fall right around the corner and the Pigskin Classicjust a little more than two weeks away, there is more than just a little hype surrounding Michi- gan Stadium. But seven other Michigan teams will take the field or court this fall and almost all of them have lofty expecta- Carr is just .waiting for the season to begin Let the games begin. L In fact, let the practices, the meetings and the film sessions begin. It really doesn't matter to interim Michigan football coach Lloyd Carr. As long as it has to do with the upcoming season. Carr is looking at this season the only way he can- forgetting about the past and not worrying about the x future. .He's not dwelling on the events surrounding former coach Gary RYAN Moeller's WHITE departure andhe's White on notconcerned Target abouthis ownjob security beyond this season, at least not publicly. Talk to him and he has one thing and one thing only on his mind, the 1995 football season. "If there are any comments to make about 'Mo', he'll make them. We're ready to move forward." For now that means concentrating on two practices a day and getting his team ready for the Aug.26 Kickoff Classic against Virginia. Lost in the turmoil of the summer was the fact that the Wolverines would be starting an inexperienced quarterback, and that they lost their best player from a troubled secondary --Ty Law. Carr has worked on turning the focus back to the team, both its strong points etnd its weaknesses. Carr knows that the stories about him and his future at Michigan will be written, but he wants themto be written without him. His picture now sits in Schembechler Hall where Moeller's once was, and he has moved into the head coach's office, overlooking the plush green practice field. Now he's just waiting for the season to begin. tions for their 1995 seasons. "It feels good to have athletes calling me to say that they're back in town and working hard." said women's cross country coach Mike McGuire. "They're getting excited to start the season and that gets me excited." The women's cross country team, which is coming off its best season ever - complete with a second-place finish at last year's NCAA Championships - isn't the only team ready for leaves to Fall Schedules Full fall sports schedule for all Michigan teams on page 15. start falling off the trees. Men's cross country. men's and women's golf, women's soccer, field hockey and women's volleyball are all looking forward to their season openers in September. This year Patti Smith's field hockey team will get the chance to play its home games on a new, state-of-the-art artificial playing field. The new facility, which will be dedicated to former Assistant Athletic Director Phyllis Okur in Sep- tember, gives the stickers a chance to play outdoors instead of inside Oosterbaan Field House. "It's notijust a new field,? Stmith said. "It's one of the best surfaces I've ever seen. Every other top school in the coun- try plays outdoors. I'm glad that we eI n(w too. Each team is looking for a fruit! season. For some teams, that means Big Ten Championship. For other nothing less than an NCAA Champiot ship will do. "We're returning a large number c lettermen this year," McGuire said. "X hope to compete for the National Chan pionship. There are a lot of good athlet here at Michigan.' Overcoming Classic adversity Carr needs to escape pressure; Welsh seeks first Big House win By Nicholas J. Cotshika Daily Sports Editor The problepi from the st art is that two coaches need the same thing from the same football game. Michigan's "Lloyd Carr and Virginia's George Welsh both need to win the Pigskin Classic on Aug. 26 at Michigan Stadium, but y more impor- tantly, both need to exorcise Eh The first cot their personal of the season -ti demons. Ws n weo Carr has asa e eel never been a collegiate head coach and is replacing his good friend Gary Moeller at the Michi- gan helm. He says "this season is not about Lloyd Carr," but he also knows that his job - however temporary - is on the line. Pressure on coaches is nothing new with the Wolverines. but after two 8-4 seasons and Moeller's debacle, alumni, students and fans are getting impatient. Carr will be in the spotlight against the Cavaliers. Every- one will want to see what the new guy can do. But Cain- will bave other prob- lems to address. He is going into his first game without a tested 'F quarterback. Sophomore Scott Dreisbach will take over the Wolverines' of- fense from cur- rent Buffalo Bill Todd Collins r wrox t - At w ithout ever hav ing takenit a snap against a real opponent. "I'M not worried about talent" Carr said. "Ijust worry about our experience. (Dreisbach) has a great arm - he just hasn't used it." Dreisbach's arm may not be enough, however. Vir- ginia w as the nation's tc team in inte- ceptions last season with 27, ege football game not because of e Pigskin Classic its secondary, nn Arbor, Aug. 26 but due to its ABC (Ch. 7) pass rush. Cavalier Ron Barber's eight pick-offs led the ACC in 1994 and was good for second in the NCAA. Joe Crocker finished with si' and James Farrior with four, thanks to the defensive line. Michigan has a lot of beef to protect Dreisbach, but the young Wolverine will need to scramble. "We forced quarterbacks to run all over the fieldlast year," Welsh said. "We made them throw it in a hurry and then~ we intercepted them." Carr will also have to worry about his rushing game. Without Tyrone Wheatlev - now a New York Giant - he w have to rely on Tshimanga Biakabutuk to penetrate a defense that was rated best in the country last season. The Caaliers allowed an average of 63.6 yards per game and only 2.2 perat- tempt. Virginia also set a conference record for fewest rushing yards allowe in one afternoon, holding Maryland to 42. For Carr, however, Moeller' shadow may be the biggest demon of,. Coaches' legacies don't leav e quietly at Michigan. Every move Carr makes will Sc Crossic, PAGE 14 Bring on the Cavaliers Top: Offensive stars (clockwise from top) Amani Toomer, Mercury Hayes and Tshimanga Biakabutuka will be key veterans on Lloyd Carr's first Michigan team. Right: Jason Horn, Michigan's sack leader among defensive lineman last season, is one of seven returning starters on Greg Mattison's defense.