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July 31, 2000 - Image 13

Resource type:
Text
Publication:
Michigan Daily Summer Weekly, 2000-07-31

Disclaimer: Computer generated plain text may have errors. Read more about this.

Pre-determined
The pre-season national coache, poll in
women's soccer has been released.
Go online to see where Miclican irT
into the Top 27 picture.
michigandaily.com /sports

£tdjcimi~a s

MONDAY
JULY 31, 2000

Ninth game would remedy
uneven Big Ten schedules

Michigan
return sweet
for Thomas

C ICAGO - It really didn't mat- have great success in 2000.
ter who you talked to, the Ohio State coach John Cooper said Ili
answers were the same. Walking way of resolving the scheduling issue i
around the Big Ten kickoff meetings this to add a 12th team to the conference and
past week, every coach in the conference split up into two divisions, much like th
had the same response for what Ills team SEC. A team would play each oftthe fiv
needed to do to be successful in the opponents in its division, as well as three
upcoming season. crossover Bamtes.
"Stay healthy " That's lt easy and well-publicized
"Cut down ott turnovers- answer, but no one has really given
"Avoid penalties." thouht to the conflict that would li
But they forgot ahead.__How do you split up 12 teams int
the bigest one: ustwo divisions ? Most likely geographical
"Get luckv. ly.
Schedule ttan- Location-wise, it's obvious that Pen
agement ass I State. Ohio State, Michigan att
become a critical Michigan State wtortld all be clustered I
factor for win- one division, the East.
ning the Big ten, Conversely, Minnesota, Visctonsin
with just an H lowa, and Northwestern would be mem
eight-game con- bers of the West. The other three school
ference season. DUPREY and the new member could be debate
Penn State joined Dlq)ett upon.
the league in Scutip Obviouslv, separating schools b
1993 as the I Ilth geography would result in front-en
team, giving every team two conference loading of the divisions - and would giv
byes instead of one. Certain teams are Wisconsin a spot in the Big Ten champi
locked into one or two "rivalry games" onslip game virtually every year whilt
against each other, reducing the number the four giants of the East fight it out
of maatchups available for byes. amongst themselves.
In the old world of the Big Three -- Splitting the Big Ten into divisions
Michigan, Penn State, and Ohio State - will never work. There's no easy way tr
this was never a problem. The confer- split tsp the teams, and politics would sat
ence just had to make sure that each of orate the entire process. Things would b
iWe Big Three played both of the others, worse than they are now.
and the champion would emerge. The solution lies in the unavoidabl
Now there's a gray area. Wisconsin 12th game. The majority of Big Ten
has stepped into the upper echelon. coaches, including Michigan's Lloyd
Purdue and Michigan State are much Carr, are opposed to this because of the
improved, while Illinois, Minnesota and strain it puts on the players. But they
Indiana can be a threat on any day, accept that al extra game will need to be
Really, the only pushovers are Iowa played to generate the revenue to run
and Northwestern - a far cry from their school's athletic department.
seven years ago, when the conference If a 12th game is inevitable, at least
ihampion was almost guaranteed to be a use it to alleviate the scheduling prob-
member of the Michigan - Penn State lem. Continue to play three non-confer-
Ohio State triumvirate. ence games, and add a ninth Big Ten
It's become possible for a Big Ten game to the schedule.
champion to slip through the cracks. This will reduce the effect of byes on
It happened last season, when the championship race - and although it
Wisconsin quietly stowed away to won't eliminate the problem, it improves
Pasadena without facing bowl teams the situation and keeps the Big Ten from
Illinois and Penn State. shooting itself in the foot by moving to
The Badgers will have byes against the divisional format.
those two teams again this season, and - Chris Dupreer can e re'achec via
that plays into why many pick them to e-mstail at cdlptretf.ttmich.edt.
" High hopes
Michian has grown accustomed to high pre-sea
son expectations. This year was no different.
Varsity was tabbed to uin the Bic Ten this season.
Here's the medias Big Ten exveceations:
Standings Player of the Year
.Mhiusns Erewe Bree~s (ouene)
2. W isc sin Ja nar Fletcher (defense)
3. Pruie PHOT
Drew Brees and Purdue have high

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eons scout [ces
David Terrell and the Michigan football team hope they can live up to the
hype and capture the first Big Ten title of the new century.

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Media pi~cks Varsity
to wln Big Ten
By Raphael Goodstein players. Those are guys with tre
1ityN Sports Editor pride, and I expect them to play I
Michigan defenses have played.
CHICAGO - --This past week, the Carr would go on to say: "Be
media tabbed Michigan to win the Big injuries and inexperience, we h
Ten football crown. tremendous problems in otte s
What does that mean? last season. But, because of ths
Ask Penn State, last season's preseason ence those kids gained, I believe
pick to win the Big Ten. The Nittany ondary is a strength, especially
Lions went on to finish the season tied for depth standpoint."
fourth place - good for a berth in the That was said Thursday. Ther
Sylvania Alamo Bowl. starting safety Cato June suffers
"I always felt that proved how much son-ending injury to the anterior
smarter writers were than coaches," when ligament in his right knee.
the media picked the, Wolverines as June's injury is particularly d
national champions over Nebraska in considering the quality of quartet
1997, Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "I the Big Ten.
think this puts that designation (of the Purdue's Drew Brees is a lead
media) in question" tender to win the Heisman tro
While Carr doesn't agree with the season, and was chosen the p
media's selection, it is easy to see why Player of the Year on offense.
Michigan is thought of so highly. See MEDIA DAY, P
The Wolverines return Heisman candi-
date David Terrell at wide receiver,
Anthony Thomas came back for his
senior season and will line up as the run- RECEIVE INSTRUCTION I
sing back (when he's not the No. 4 wide TAEKWONDO CARL
receiver) and Drew Henson will finally
get to start at quarterback without worrv-
ing about outplaying Tom Brady in the Our Cardio-Fit Kickb
first half takes the music, excite
While these stars should light up the
scoreboard, Michigan's defense is a con- energy of aerobics but
cern. The Wolverines lost seven starters tant self-defense techn
from last season's defense that gave up as' jabbing, kicking, punc
average of 2i points per game. blocking. You learn-w
"When you lose as many players on
defense in terms of guys who have been at 800 calories per hou
outstanding leaders, guys like Rob Renes (SAME STYLEAS TA
and Ian Gold, you are faced with some
major rebuilding issues," Carr said. e 8
"Before the course of the season is over,
we will be able to put a verv good defense CHUN-MA TAEKWI
together. We have a number of voung

By Jeff Phillips
Daily SportsW riter
AUBURN HILLS - Stacey
Thomas' WNBA homecominag
Monday night was a game to remem-
ber for the former Michigan star.
With nearly 200 friends and family
voicing their support, she led the
Portland Fire to a 61-57 victory over
the Detroit Shock at the Palace.
"It felt good to come back home
and play in front of people who
haven't been able to see me plas?
Thomas said.
Thomas led all players in blocked
shots (4), assists (4), and minutes
played (35). She also added five
rebounds and two steals.
Despite a good all-around game,
Thomas was still a little disappoint-
ed.
"I think I could have kept down on
my turnovers and made a few more
shots," Thomas said.
Thomas committed four turnovers
and shot just 2 of 10 from the field.
After the game, Thomas was
greeted by numerous friends, includ-
ing Michigan women's basketball
coach Sue Guevara - showing the
same support that Thomas received-
at Michigan.
The road to a starting position in
the WNBA was not an easy one for
Thomas. After being selected 23rd
overall by the expansion Fire,
Thomas needed to earned a spot on
the team.
"The coaches expect a lot more
and are more demanding," Thomas
said. "They want things done right
the first time."
Through hard work and tenacious
defense, Thomas solidified a starting
See THOMAS, Page 14

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