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 td 1C 'd nM IC Co I- 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. d c C, - Is Id IY d e i- e it is t- e e n ;t 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 smendous ike other ") cause of ad some econdary e experi- c the sec- from a next day ed a sea- cruciate amaging rbacks in ing con- phy this reseason age 15 N: 710-kICKBOXING oxing program ment and adds impor- iques like hing and hile you burn sr! 4E-BO) for S ONDOI KI 0) 734)994-040 l