SPORTS SGiant rookie and rookie Giant Wolverine alum wide receiver Toomer displays size, skill Wednesday August 14, 1996 - The Michigan Daily - 15 By James Goldstein Daily Sports Editor Amani Toomer has picked up right from where he left off. Last time Michigan football fans saw Toomer was December 28 at the Alamo W owl when he hauled in a Brian Griese ass for a touchdown in the waning sec- onds of Michigan's disappointing 22-20 loss to Texas A & M in Toomer's final game as a Wolverine. More than seven months later, Toomer has put out the same results - with the same No. 18 jersey, but with a different team and a different league. Toomer - drafted by the New York Giants in the second round (34th overall) - quickly has found familiar grounds. The end zone. While it wasn't the grassy Michigan Stadium, Toomer showed no problems with the artificial turf of the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ last Saturday. In the Giants' second pre-season game, against the Baltimore Ravens, the 6-foot-4-inch wide receiver scored two touchdowns - one on a 94-yard kickoff return and the other on a 37-yard over- se-shoulder catch in the left corner of the end zone. Toomer finished the day with four receptions on 79 yards. Not bad for a rookie in his second game of the pre-sea- son. "I came in here pretty much not know- ing what to expect," Toomer told the Michigan Daily. "Only things I expected is what I heard from other players. It's longer and a lot more stressful. People play at a much higher level and to com- pete, you have to be mentally into it at all times." But it's not only in the games when he has to be focused; it's in the actual preparation, too. "Practices are a lot faster," Toomer said. "Not only the plays are faster, but so is the pace because we are only out (on the practice field) for two hours. In Michigan, we would be out there for two and one-half or three hours. Here, it's just a quicker thing" But Toomer's last coach, Michigan's Lloyd Carr, says he should have no prob- lem with the practices. Car said if he shows the same work ethic as he did at Michigan, then it should be a smooth transition. "Toomer is blessed with great size and is going to be an outstanding pro because he works hard and plays hard," Carr said. "He is a physical player and has advantages that other guys just don't have." Carr saw Toomer use those advan- tages for 758 yards on 44 receptions and seven touchdown grabs last year. And those numbers would have definitely been higher since Toomer was constant- ly double-teamed. His best year was in 1994 when he had 54 receptions for 1096 yards and six touchdowns. And he added a touchdown each in his last two years on punt returns. That was in Michigan Stadium with the 106,000-plus crowd going nuts. Now he is going to play in a stadium with fans just as crazy. But there's one thing the "Big House" has that the Meadowlands lacks - the marching band. "The only thing that I am really going to miss is the band," Toomer said. "I used to like to listen to the band during the games - with the drums going and playing the Victors. It got me going." While Toomer hasn't spoken to mem- bers of last year's Michigan offense and rookies in the NFL - Mercury Hayes, (New Orleans Saints), Tshimanga Former Michigan wide receiver Amani Toomer has moved to the greener pastures of the NFL. Now a member of the New York Giants, Toomer has already excelled. Biakabutuka (Carolina Panthers) or Jay Toomer is pleased with the smooth tran- Riemersma (Buffalo Bills) - he has sition. closely kept in touch with senior center "It's a good start for me,"Toomer said. Rod Payne. Payne and Toomer came to "I'm really excited to try something new Michigan together in the same recruiting and fulfill a dream. I always had a dream class. of playing in the NFL. It's going to be But so far at the Giants training camp, interesting how I do next year." Panthers break off talks with former Michigan running back Biakabutuka CH HARLOTTE (AP) - The Carolina Panthers are getting tough ith holdout Tshimanga Biakabutuka, le rookie's agent said. Carl Poston said Biakabutuka, the Panthers' first-round draft pick, received a letter Friday from general manager Bill Polian saying the team was withdrawing its previous offer and % ending negotiations. "It's to the point where anyone who ame in now wouldn't be able to help us ainst Atlanta," team president Mike lcCormack said Friday. 'There's just not enou'gh time. If he had come in yes- terday, I don't think he'd be ready. No one would." The Panthers face the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 1 in their regular sea- son onener. Polian agreed with McCormack, saying Biakabutuka could not be effec- tive against the Falcons if he started practice now. Biakabutuka, reached at his parents home in Canada, said he was not con- cerned about the situation. "If negotia- tions are off, they're off." he Blakabutuka told The Observer. "If they don't want me, it's time to move otn." Biakabutuka repeated his claim that Newsletters Newsletters Newsletters Newsletters .Big savings on newsletters for all clubs, businesses, and organizations. he will sit out the season if necessary. "If it comes down to that, I'm ready to face it," he said. "I've got to stay strong, and I'm going to stay strong." Biakabutuka has been a holdout for three weeks. He already has missed 26 practices and two exhibition games. Polian said the extended holdout was decreasing Biakabutuka's value. The Panthers had offered him a seven-year, $12.55 million contract with $5.1 million in bonuses and per- formance-based incentives. Earlier in the neck. Pollan and Poston met face-to-face for the first time since the holdout began, leading to speculation the dispute might be resolved. But talks fizzled and neither side expressed optimism following the meeting. -Y SATURDAY U NTIL 4:.0 Be an advertising Account Executive for fall/winter terms at I Cool off with a COLLI DER! Choose any of our 22 Fruit, Cereal, and Candy Toppings to Create your own Colombo Non-Fat Frozen Yogurt Shake! Also Featuring. Charbroiled Sandwiches and Fresh Salads Daily House Specials! 812 South State Street 769-5650 Gain valuable business experience whilebuilding up your resume. As an Account Executive, you will sell advertising to both local and national businesses. Pick up an application at the Student Publications Building Deadline has been extended to Wednesday, August 14 420 Maynard * 764-0554 I