12 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, July 28, 2003
Coaches not ready to add title game
4
By Kyle O'Neill
Daily Sports Editor
CHICAGO - Ohio State vs. Michigan. Two
weeks in a row?
While it seems highly unlikely, itsis a sce-
nario that could play out if
the Big Ten adopted a cham-
pionship game into its
schedule. The debate of$1 ,
whether it could happen was
stirred at last week's Big Ten
Conference Kickoff.
Since the Atlantic Coast
Conference is petitioning the NCAA to have a
title game when Miami and Virginia Tech join
it in 2004-05 - despite the conference having
just 11 teams and not the required 12 - many
media wondered whether the Big Ten and its 11
teams should have one game determine its
automatic BCS bid.
Nearly every coach expressed concern for
their student-athletes' well being and shot
down any desire for wanting a title game.
"I am not in favor of expanding the season,"
Indiana coach Gerry DiNardo said. "A cham-
pionship game is certainly a unique experience
for both the schools and the players. It has to
start with the players and what is best for
them. With an expanded season players run a
larger chance of getting injured and it's just
not worth the risk."
Some players, while his brother Nick until late last Monday. He had
maybe not wanting a ,. been overseas for 10 days, completely unaware
title game for the that he was one of
BCS, are not afraid to two players cho-
expand the season a.sen to represent
any more. /the Hoosiers in
"I don't think a Chicago last
playoff would be a Wednesday and
bad idea," Ohio Thursday.
State defensive tack- When he
le Darrion Scott said. "I returned home,
really don't think comput- he found 17
ers should determine the messages
rankings. A playoff would waiting for
be good, it would make the him - 12
season a lot more exciting." from Indi-
Michigan coach Lloyd ana's sports
Carr, an avid supporter for i n f o r m a t i o n
keeping the season as short as director telling
possible, also stated he didn't him he needed to be
like the possibility of playing ready to go to Chica-
Ohio State or any other team go
twice in one season. While his trip from
"I'm not in favor of that NFL Bloomington to Chicago
playoff style," Carr said. was uneventful, his trip
THAT'S BULL: Indiana to Spain was quite the
safety Joe Gonzales experience.
had the best "I went to Madrid,
What-Did-You- Barcelona - saw the
Do-Before-The- DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily Olympic Village, and
Big-Ten-Kickoff-Luncheon story. went to Pamplona for the
Apparently Gonzales was in Spain visiting running of the bulls, which was probably the
MICHIGAN
Continued from Page 11.
There has even been some talk that
Navarre has an outside shot at win-
ning the Heisman if he plays to his
potential. But once again, Navarre
isn't listening.
"I kind of squashed a lot of Heisman
talk," Navarre said. "I'm not looking
for the hype. I want to win a champi-
onship. I want to do it for the guys
around me and achieve our goals."
MARLIN MOVIN': One of the biggest
announcements of Wednesday's coach-
es' opening press conference was that
junior Marlin Jackson will be moving
from cornerback to safety. Carr
approached the All-Big Ten first-team
player from a season ago in the spring
about switching positions so he could
get the most talented players on the
field at the same time.
"Three of the four best players on
our team are Marcus Curry, Jeremy
LeSueur and Marlin Jackson, and I
want them all in the game at the same
time," Carr said.
In moving to safety, Jackson will be
able to make plays all over the fields
instead of just locking down one side.
Jackson will also line up in man cover-
age against spread formations.
"A lot of times he'll still be in man
coverage on the slot receiver, which in
most offenses is the best receiv
said. "It's a change, but he's st
to be doing the things he did as
BACK IN FORM: To say th
Diggs' last two off-seasons ha
eventful would be an underst:
In May of 2002, Diggs was sh
leg while walking home after
Last season, Diggs broke his le
the Ohio State game. Then this
was told by Carr that he w
attending media day in Chicag
of Marlin Jackson because of.
iority.
"I'm just like, 'Man, I hope
else happens to me,'" Diggs sa
The fifth-year senior is n
focusing on building upon a 6
season. While a lot of the pr
media banter has centered art
offense, Diggs is part of a d
unit that returns six starters a:
number of young players that
contribute. Of the younger
true freshman Prescott Burg
likely get some time at safety,
freshman Dave Harris should,
for a starting linebacker spot
low redshirt freshman Willis B
has amazed many in spring pr
cornerback.
"We've got a lot of playr
Diggs said. "We've got a lot
that can run to the ball and
blitz real well."
craziest event that I've ever seen in my life,"
Gonzales said.
As for him running along side the 2,000 lbs.
beasts?
"I thought about what (DiNardo) would do
to me and it was out of my mind," Gonzales
said. "They ran the biggest bulls (for the last
day) and these bulls were like two meters high
at the shoulder. They just ran down the road
and trampled people. It was the most bizarre
experience in my life."
His most visible memory was watching a
lost bull - a bull that separates from the pack
and that begins chasing the runners behind it
- gore an English accountant through the leg.
Offensive linemen never looked so inviting.
Two LOST?: Carr made two announcements
regarding the status of incoming freshman
Jeff Zuttah and sophomore fullback Sean
Sanderson.
"I'm not sure on Jeff Zuttah," Carr said. "He
took some recruiting trips this summer. He's
free to leave. He would be immediately eligi-
ble, and I think there is a chance that he will
leave and play somewhere else. But I don't
have anything definitive at this time.
"We've suspended Sean Sanderson for the
season, and I will re-evaluate his status after
this season is over. (His suspension) has to do
with attitude and his approach to academics.
They were not acceptable in terms of what I
expect of a Michigan football player."
er," Carr PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATING:
ill going Although it's still July, it's never too
corner." early for people to start predicting
at Carl where the Wolverines will end up this
ve been fall. In a preseason media poll con-
atement. ducted by the Chicago Sun-Times,
ot in the Michigan lost to Ohio State as the pre-
a party. season favorite by one vote, 113-112.
g during The difference? Sun-Times Northwest-
week he ern beat writer Brian Hanley, who
ould be picked Michigan to finish fifth. All ten
o instead remaining beat writers had Michigan
his sen- either first or second. On the national
front, Michigan was ranked No. 4 in
nothing the nation by The Sporting News,
id. Street and Smith's, Lindy's College
ow just Football, and Phil Steele's College
3-tackle Football Preview. The Wolverines were
eseason ranked No. 10 by Athlon.
ound the
tfensive 2003 SCHEDULE
nd has a Aug. 30 CENTRAL MICHIGAN
look to Last year: Did not play
players,
ess will Sept. 6 HOUSTON
redshirt Last year: Did not play
compete Sept. 13 NOTRE DAME
and fel- Last year: ND 25, MICHIGAN 23
oger Sept. 20 at Oregon
actice at Last year: Did not play
makers," Sept. 27 INDIANA
of guys Last year: Did not play
who can Oct. 4 at Iowa
Last year: Iowa 34, MICHIGAN 9
Oct. 11 at Minnesota
Last year: MICHIGAN 41, Minnesota 24
Oct. 18 ILLINOiS
Last year: MICHIGAN 45, Illinois 28
Oct. 25 PURDUE
Last year: MICHIGAN 23, Purdue 21
Nov. 1 at Michigan State
Last year: MICHIGAN 49, MSU 3
Nov. 15 at Northwestern
Last year: Did not play
Nov. 22 OHIO STATE
Last year: Ohio State 14, MICHIGAN 9
4
4
4
4
DANNY MOLOSHOK/Dalyt
Michigan quarterback John Navarre can't figure out what went wrong while playing
Virginia quarterback Matt Schaub in EA Sports' NCAA Football 2004. Navarre and
Schaub were counselors at the 2004 EA Sports Elite 11 quarterback camp in
Southern California, open to the top high school quarterbacks in the country.
If crwauwuc-
1
I I
El
{