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July 09, 2001 - Image 9

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Publication:
Michigan Daily Summer Weekly, 2001-07-09

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Monday, July 9, 2001- The Michigan Daily - 9

"I don't know yet how much playing time I'm going to get," tions put on him as a top-10 pick.
homas said. "I'm going into mini-camp just to show them what "I knew what it was like to be under pressure and have a lot of
e do." things expected of me," Terrell said. "There wasn't a day since I
errell and Thomas both feel they are physically ready to play was a freshman (Michigan's coaches) didn't put pressure on my
a the NFL and are not intimidated by the speed of the game or back expecting great things."
he size of NFL players. The hardest part about the transition for Terrell's move is also helped by already having a close friend
hem has been learning new plays and systems. settled in Chicago. In last year's basketball draft, the Chicago
"The biggest thing for me - because I'm an offensive player Bulls selected former Wolverine basketball standout Jamal
- is learning the playbook," Terrell said. "They throw the play- Crawford.
ook at you and they really throw it at you. You've got to know Crawford and Terrell developed a friendship when they were
, because if you don't, you won't have time to catch up because both at Michigan. During that time, they played a one-on-one
here's so much to learn." game of basketball with a surprise ending - Terrell won,
"earning a different offense after doing the same thing for "Me and Jamal are real close," Terrell said. "We keep in con-
years, that's a challenge for anyone," Thomas said. tact and hang out. When he's playing I'm watching, when I'm
Although the two players are adjusting to the professional playing, he's watching," said Terrell.
anks, there's still something familiar that followed Thomas Even though they are playing in Chicago, both plan on spend-
'om his college days. ing time in Michigan. Thomas' wife still lives in Michigan, so
"(My teammates) all call me Train," Thomas said. "Every- this summer he has spent the week in Chicago and the weekends
ody knew who I was and picked up on it." in Ants Arbor.
They both feel very prepared for the mental challenges that Although Terrell left to play professional football after his
laying on an NFL team can present. Terrell's high visibility junior year, he still plans to graduate from Michigan next year.
ith Michigan football helps him deal with the new expecta- "I'll be back in Ann Arbor after the season ends," Terrell said.

"Probably around January I'll come back to school to get my 11
hours. I'm still 'Go Blue' and I want to graduate with my gradu-
ating class. Then I'll give my diploma to my mom, celebrate for
a day and get back to work."
With the entirety of last year's offensive "triple threat" -
Thomas, Terrell and quarterback Drew Henson - leaving
Michigan this past year, some are worried that Michigan won't
have a strong football team. But Terrell and Thomas are opti-
mistic and predict a successful season.
"They have a real good team," Terrell said. "A lot of guys are
coming back that know how to play football and the defense
knows how to play Michigan defense. The defense is going to be
a big pickup this year. With John Navarre playing quarterback
and Walter Cross and Chris Perry at running back, you have the
makings of a good offense too. With every team you have peo-
ple leaving, and people coming in.
"These guys coming up watched Anthony, Drew and me like I
watched guys like Tai Streets and Aaron Shea. They know what's
expected of them. They saw me do it, and I saw the people
before me do it."
"I have a lot of confidence is those guys," Thomas said. "The
starters are strong. They should have a good year."

Glory days
Durable Train's four
years a success story ' i
,an. 4, 2001k
David Den Herder
aily Sports Editor

ORLANDO - Anthony Thomas is a soft-spoken man. Which, today, is just
fine. Because his name is now atop the list of Michigan's most elite backs in histo-
ry, and there are no more questions to be asked.
Except perhaps one.
How does it feel?
"Well," Thomas said, "it hasn't really set in yet"
In fact, as the senior rumbled into the endzone for Michigan's second touch-
down Monday, he didn't even realize he'd set the all-time rushing record.
It was just another big gainer for the tailback. Just another touchdown.
"What I appreciate about Anthony is that tr has never changed," Michigan
each Lloyd Carr said. "All the accolades, all lte awards that he won never
changed him. He's the same guy that walked in ter."
His powerful style immediately turned heads, and as the season wore on, Carr
and the coaching staff gave Thomas more opportunity to snake a name for himself.
In contests against apparent underdogs like Baylor and Iowa, Thomas was given
more than 20 carries and rushed for over 100 yards a game.
By the time the hype was in swing for Michigan's Rose Bowl showdown, the
freshman had indeed made a name for himself; The A-Train.

Anthony Thomas finished his
Michigan career as strong as ever at
the Citrus Bowl. It was only a year age
that Thomas contemplated leaving the
Wolverines for the NFL. Now be holds
almost every running back record at
Michigan. Along with racking up
4,472 career rushing yards to pass
Jamie Morris for a Michigan season-
rushing record, Anthony Thomas
added a few more accolades this sea-
son:
Modern-era school record for
career scoring (336 points).
School record for career touch-
downs (56).
® Two Citrus Bowl MVP awards,
the first Michigan player in 55 years to
be named a bowl MVP twice.
. Four-straight bowl victories in his
career, the first time the Wolverines
have won four-straight bowl games.
* Finished career with 924 carries
and 55 rushing touchdowns. Coming
into the Citrus Bowl, Thomas already
held the record for career rushing
touchdowns.

Anthony Thomas was the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year in 1997.

')errell eyes Heisman
after Orange Bowl
Jugs. 5, 2000

Set to amaze, Terrell
leads Blue to battle

By Rick Freeman
Daffy Sports Editor
MlAMI -The chants started before he even got his tro-
phy Waiting to get his Orange Bowl most valuable player
rphy after Saturday night's 35-34 Michigan victory, soph-
soewide receiver David Terrell - and the rest of te i".4,
national TV audience -heard it too.
Ebulliesst chants of "Heis-man Tro-pty! ' rose from F
Michigan's student section, letting the country in on some-
thing fans have noticed all year: Dave Terrell is a fast rising
star in this game, and the Wolverines' fortunes next season
sem to be closely tied to his owvn.:
Terrell will not argue with this sentiment. Showered and
smiling after his three-touchdowns evening on Saturday, Ter-
rell at first tried to duck questions about his thoughts, but
*ually, he was just tying his shoe. Bent double, he equivo-
cated.
But standing up in the halogen glare of a TV camera, le
came out and said it. He intends to come back to the OrangeFE PHOTO
Bowl next year, with the Heisman Trophy in tow, and help David Terrell's favorite Michigan athlete is Anthony Carter, who
the Wolverines win their second national title in four years. also wore the No. 1 Jersey for the Wolverines.

Kickoff2000 he's speaking on behalf of his team-
By David Den Herder mates' minds - the ones who "don't
Deily Sports Editor read the newspapers" and "don't pay
attention to the polls:"
"I want toplay like Dave." While coaches were busy downplay-
Pester a coach all day long about his ing the importance of preseason rank-
players' "leadership qualities," and ings, Terrell was busy selling the
you'll never get an answer more telling Wolverisses.
than that. "We casme its rated four, five, what-
On South Campus, David Terrell is ever," Terrell said. "We look at that and
the object of emulation, and nothing say, 'We should've been rated No. 1.'
could say more about the man or the That's the way we look at it."
team he plays for. And that's the number he wears
Who said it? Not important, Just like every weekday to practice, every Foot-
Terrell's Heisman Trophy banter after ball Saturday to the Big House.
the Orange Bowl wasn't important to As for the Heisman?
his teammates. They cared more about "I think it's real realistic for me,"
his 10 receptions and three touchdowns says Terrell. "If the best receiver in the
- the key to Michigan's victory and country brings the Heisman Trophy,
posh preseason poll position. then that's what it brings. If going
Terrell speaks his mind. And for undefeated brings it, that's what it
whatever reason, you get the sense that brings.

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