Monday, August 6, 2007
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
sports@michigandaily.com
734-764-8585
Big Ten not Varsity
about to expand gets a lot
By JACK HERMAN
Daily Sports Writer
CHICAGO - Recent rumors
of a Big Ten expansion provided
plenty of fod-
der for mes- NOTEBOOK
sage boards
and radio talk shows as fans and
pundits discussed the possibility
of a 12th team.
But don't book your weekend
road trip to Syracuse or Rutgers
just yet.
The conference has no plans to
expand, Commissioner Jim Dela-
ny said at Big Ten football media
day last week.
"From the quotes out there,
you might think the Big Ten is
about to expand when that is not
the case," Delany said in an effort
to clarify the remarks he made
to The Des Moines Register that
spurred the headlines. "What I
said was every three to five years
we look at expansion and we will
continue to do so. ... It is not a
front-burner issue."
The Big Ten has not had any
serious discussions about adding
a 12th team since inviting Notre
Dame a few years ago, Delany said.
Penn State, the newest member,
joined the conference in 1990.
But if the Big Ten does expand,
Delany said, it would pick a school
based on institutional fit, reputa-
tion, commitment to broad-based
programs, integrity and, of course,
marketing opportunities. The Big
Ten would add a school only to bet-
ter the conference, not to meet the
requirements for a championship
game, Delany added, a sentiment
that coaches seemed to appreciate.
"I suppose it would be good for
revenue and media, but I think
the consensus is that the Big Ten
is healthy with 11 teams," Purdue
coach Joe Tiller said. "Unless a
team can come in and really add
something, like Penn State, we're
better off without expanding."
AGREE TO DISAGREE: If there's one
thing Big Ten coaches can agree
on, it's that they want a bye week.
If there's one thing they can't, it's
how to get it.
Without playing on Thanks-
giving, there are just two ways
to add a bye week in a 12-game
schedule: starting the season
early or finishing it late.
Seem simple? Well, not quite.
The Big Ten needs a change in
NCAA rules if it wants to start the
season early. And it needs to over-
rule objections of two top coaches
- Michigan's Lloyd Carr and Ohio
State's Jim Tressel - if it wants to
finish in December.
"I think (the bye week) is an
issue that everybody recognizes
as important to the players," Carr
said. "It's only fair to them, and
there's no easy way to do it without
extending the season."
But Carr expects the stalemate
can only continue for so long -
whether he likes it or not.
"If you keep the rule as itis, then
you'd have to play in December,
and I think that's probably going to
happen at some point," Carr said.
IT'S ONLY FIVE YARDS BUT ... :
The decision to move kickoffs
back five yards to the 30-yard line
drew a wide variety of opinions at
media day, ranging from those of
a delighted speedster to a furious
coach.
Most coaches believe the extra
distance will result in more kickoff
returns, worrying some defensive-
minded coaches. Others, such as
Indiana's Bill Lynch see a plus.
"We think it's going to be huge,
because they got to kick it to (Hoo-
sier Marcus Thigpen, one of the
nation's top returners) now," Lynch
said. "And if they don't - if they
bloop kick or squib kick or some-
thing like that - we're goingto get
field position that way as well."
The rule change also drew a
loud lecture from Tiller. A former
member of an NCAA committee
on health and safety, Tiller said the
play will only increase the risks of
injury on what he called "the most
violent play in football."
"I'm old enough thatI don't have
to agree with everything that goes
on," Tiller said. "We move back
five yards and create more G-forc-
es when these kids run into each
other. I'm not in favor of moving it
back five yards. Not because I don't
want excitement in the game, but I
think about the health and safety
of the players, first and foremost."
031 Call
respect
By DANIEL BROMWICH
Daily Sports Editor
CHICAGO - After an embar-
rassing 7-5 season in 2005, cul-
minating inN
a dismal loss NOTEBOOK
to Nebraska
in the Alamo Bowl, the Michigan
football team used the ensuing
national disrespect as motivation
throughout the offseason. The
Wolverines' relatively low No. 15
preseason ranking added fuel to
their fire, and the result was an
11-0 last year - a season in which
Michigan reclaimed its place
among the college football elite.
But the Wolverines will have to
look elsewhere for inspiration this
season - they were ranked No. t in
the Big Ten in the preseason rank-
ings released Tuesday at Big Ten
media day.
"Expectations for us are very
high," senior quarterback Chad
Henne said. "We understand that
as a team. But for us to be where
we want to be, we need to play
hard and execute. We still have
to go play the season. (Preseason
rankings) don't mean anything.
You have to play out the season
and see how it goes."
Following Michigan in the rank-
ings was Wisconsin, which finished
last season 12-1 and beat Arkansas
in the Capital One Bowl. A depleted
Ohio State team was third.
All three squads were ranked
highly in the USA Today/Coaches
Poll as well. Michigan was voted
No. 5 (and received two first-place
votes), while the Badgers were No.
7 and the Buckeyes No. 10. The Big
Ten was the only conference with
three teams in the top 10.
The Big Ten media also recog-
nized one of Michigan's individual
stars, naming senior running back
Mike Hart the preseason offensive
player of the year.
"We have so much firepower on
offense, I just want to see every-
Senior running back Mike Hart was named the Big Ten's preseason offensive
player of the year.
one succeed," Hart said. "I hope ferent if it didn't have it."
we go down to the (end-of-season) The Wolverines lead the all-time
awards and just win every award series 19-14-1.
down there. We have the potential ROSTER SHAKE-UPS: Carr indi-
to do that. But we have to come out cated that Carson Butler, a tight
here and win games together." end who started most Michigan's
Ohio State linebacker James Lau- games last year, might be allowed
rinaitis was named the preseason to return to the team this year. The
defensive player of the year. Detroit native was dismissed from
MICHIGAN-NOTRE DAME EXTEND the squad after his alleged involve-
CONTRACT: Michigan and Notre ment in a St. Patrick's Day assault
Dame have extended their con- in West Quad. Butler was found
tract, and will continue to play one not guilty by an Ann Arbor court
another every year until 2031, the on July 10, and Carr is considering
two schools announced Monday. allowing him to return to the team.
Recent reports indicated that the "I'm evaluating that situation
two winningest programs in college right now," Carr said. "I want to
football history would take a two- make sure that it's the right thing
year hiatus, and each would attempt for our team, first of all, and for
to fill the spot on the schedule with Carson, second of all.
a different elite national team. But Butler committed numerous
the contract extension refutes those infractions prior to this incident,
reports, and the rivalry will contin- and those certainly played a part in
ue unabated for the next 25 years. his dismissal from the team.
"I think college football wouldn't Offensive lineman Justin Schifa-
be the same without Michigan- no has given up football, according
Notre Dame," senior tackle Jake to Carr. Linebacker Cobrani Mixon
Long said. "They're always going transferred to Kent State. Defen-
at it, it's always an exciting game, sive lineman James McKinney is
two great coaches, great teams. ... I trying to overcome a medical issue
think college football would be dif- and return to the Wolverines.
TPE f'1fW INs-E CI)1}.ItS( CULlNC
~IU
speclaiziml ill aubeTc cOmese cuistme
"Scored 9out oo for food" Menyendiakan makanan
Ann Arbor News Cinauyang terbaik
Restaurant Review 116 S. Main Street d seluruh Michigan
995-1786
115 ...,ain wWARNMoroN Fri-at: 11am - 11pm *,at{%/,3
aaSun:12noon-10 pm E A
" Fruit, To-fu and Vegetarian Dishes " Strawberry with Beef
- Papaya with Prawns " All dishes cooked in vegetable oil
" Now serving assorted beer, wine, liquor & cocktails
Carryout and reservations accepted * We Accept All Major Credit Cards