The Michigan Daily - Orientation Edition 2002.- 31
.Bellamy ready to be
top wldeout in group
By Joe Smith
Daily Sports Editor
Don't tell Ronald Bellamy that
this year's Michigan receiving corps
lacks a go-to guy. Unless you want
to get burned.
"When an article in the student
newspaper claims that the receiving
core is weak just because Marquise
(Walker) is gone, that lights a little
fire inside you," Bellamy said.
The senior wideout, who's coming
off an admittedly disappointing sea-
son, is primed and ready to "take
over" and make up for Walker's
graduation.
"Last year was horrible for me,"
said Bellamy, who had just 14 catch-
es for 252 yards and two touch-
downs last season. "I couldn't get
healthy at all last year.
"Now it's time for me to step up,
and I have to take over. I'm going to
do anything to take over and help
this team win."
"It's a cycle," said Bellamy, whose
career numbers are 21 catches for
358 yards and four touchdowns.
"Marquise stepped up when Dave
(Terrell) left, and now I have to do it
since Marquise is gone. It's the
cycle, and I'm ready for it."
Bellamy said he's bigger, stronger
and faster than he was last season
and ready to flourish in a "receiver-
friendly" offense installed by new
offensive coordinator Terry Malone.
Utilizing crossing routes - which
are the bread and butter of the new
offensive scheme - Bellamy led all
Michigan receivers at the spring
game on April 15 with four catches
for 54 yards.
"Ron Bellamy is going to be the
leader of our group because he's got
the most experience," Michigan
receivers coach Erik Campbell said.
"These guys have to do it by commit-
tee, chip in together to carry the load."
Sophomore Braylon Edwards also
looked good. He was quick, elusive
and hard to take down during the
game, catching two passes for 20
yards. Redshirt freshman Tim Mas-
saquoi used his 6-foot-4, 220.pound
frame to add another dimension to
Michigan's offense.
He made two catches, with his last
one a 21-yard touchdown pass from
Jermaine Gonzales. Massaquoi
snagged a short pass over the middle
and then beat several members of
the Michigan secondary to the side-
line and in for the score.
"I was relieved to get (to the end
zone)," said a smiling Massaquoi. "It
was my first time being there, so I'll
try and get back there again."
His redshirt year "helped me get
stronger and know the offense better,
and just concentrate on catching the
ball and getting adjusted to the quar-
terbacks."
Rockin' and Rollin'
Over the long history of Michigan football, Wolverine fans
have turned some cheers into Wolverine tradition:
WHORe:DustOaring the opponents' introduction, Michigan
fans greet them in unison by asking "Who cares?'
sHAKING THE KEYs: When opposing teams have the ball on third
down, students shake their keys on this "key play."
HAMMER/CHOP: If the Michigan defense forces a punt, fans
thrust their arms in the form of the Tomahawk chop. Sup-
posedly, fans are supposed to close their hands and form a
fist to represent a hammer, but few actually do this.
tHEwAvE: Like most sports fans, Michigan fans love the
wave. They even have different variations, such as doing
the waveextra fast, etra slow and in both directions. The
biggest challenge is getting alumni off their hands.
EsL EXT: Unfortunately, when Michigan beats up on early sea-
son opponents, many students leave early.
Another tradition is the hoisting of a fan after a score. They
are hoisted into the air for every Michigan point.
BRINTON
Continued from Page 30
with the ball
"He needed this winter and this spring to really get his
feet on the ground and learn the system," offensive coor-
dinator Terry Malone said. "Two years out of the country,
not touching a football - that'll put some rust on you.
He's done a good job over the winter getting physically
ready to go."
After he had a few series under his belt, Brinton avoided
some pressure and dumped the ball to tailback B. J. Askew
for a 31-yard pickup - the longest gain of the day for a
sluggish Michigan offense. Later, after leading the Wolver-
ines into the red zone, he bought time in the pocket and
fired a pass to tight end Bennie Joppru for the score.
"I'm starting to understand the mental part (of being a
quarterback)," Brinton said. "Before about two months ago,
I couldn't tell defenses from defenses. I didn't have a clue
what was going on. I've been taught a lot from (new quar-
terbacks coach Scot Loeffler about) understanding defenses
and blitzes. There's different defenses now that weren't even
created when I left (for my mission)."
Loeffler was impressed with the lefthander, but both
he and Brinton are not letting the quarterback's success
at the game overshadow the fact that there is a lot he
needs to improve.
"I made a lot of reads that I shouldn't have' Brinton said.
"I broke a lot of progression rules. I need to learn and get
those things out of my system."
Gonzales, who just decided to return to quarterback
after a stint at wide receiver, played well in limited
action. The sophomore hit on 8-of-10 tosses for 85
yards and two touchdowns, most of which came on
planned roltouts out of the pocket. Gonzales said that
playing wide receiver helped him when he came back to
be a signal-caller.
"Knowing (how to run) routes and knowing what to do in
certain situations from the receivers point of view really
helped me out," Gonzales said.
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr has deemed his quarterback
situation a "competition," not a controversy. Nonetheless,
three players competing for one job can be a tenuous situa-
tion for a team that's trying to improve. Brinton and
Navarre are both trying not to worry about anything except
their own individual performances.
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