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 {