Idd9noulL O'Donnell named top Big Ten spiker Michigan middle blocker Suzy O'Donnell was named Big Ten Player of the Week yesterday. The senior co-captain tallied 37 kills behind a .500 hitting percentage in the Wolverines' three wins this week. O'Donnell scored a team-high 18 kills against Northwestern Saturday and leads the team in blocks with 30. Page 9 Tuesday, Sentmbe 26.199 Wljwwvgv , Wolverines back to work Extra week allows players to recover from injuries By Ryan White Daily Sports Editor Michigan football coach Lloyd Carr is applying that good ol' transitive rule of college football to this weekend's game against Miami (Ohio). "(Miami) beat Cincinnati, who beat Virginia Tech, who beat Miami (Fla.)," Carr said. "So (the Redskins) should be one of the top teams in the country." Miami also beat Northwestern, who had previously beaten then-No. 9 Notre Dame. While no one is really thinking that Miami, or Miami (Fla.) for that matter, is a national championship contender - Carr isn't sure what to expect from his No. 8 Wolverines Saturday. When Michigan (4-0) was last seen, it was leaving Alumni Field after beat- ing Boston College. But that was more than a week ago and the Wolverines spent last weekend watching everyone else play. "We'll know better after this Satur- day how this layoff has affected us," Carr said. Michigan took things easy at the be- ginning of last week, but aside from that it was business as usual - with one exception. "As I looked at the rest of the schedule Idecided it was an ideal timetogivethem a weekend off," said Carr, noting that the freshmen had been in Ann Arbor since Aug. 1. "We have some guys that are homesick, and that's very natural." One thing the layoff definitely hasn't hurt is Michigan's injured players. Tailback Tshimanga Biakabutuka, who re-injured his right shoulder against the Eagles, has practiced sparingly for the past week, but will be ready to go against Miami. Safety Chuck Winters had almost a full week off to recover from a leg injury that had been bothering him since before the Illinois game Sept. 2. Defensive tackle Trent Zenkewicz is also almost fully recovered from a leg injury that he suffered against the Eagles. "There aren't a lot ofguys who would have played on Trent's leg," Carr said. "He was really bruised, but he's having fun and he wanted to play." Quarterback Scott Dreisbach also returned to practice yesterday. The redshirt freshman suffered a con- cussion late in the Boston College con- test and had been suffering headaches up until last Wednesday. Carr is hoping the added week to pre- pare for Miami will lead to Dreisbach's best game yet as a Wolverine. With the Redskins' defense geared toward stopping the run, Dreisbach may be forced to put the ball in the air more than any game since the season opener against Virginia when he threw the ball 52 times. That would also mean getting wideouts Amani Toomer and Mercury Hayes the ball more often. "We're always looking for ways to get both of those guys the ball," Carr said. "With both of those guys, it's like having a tailback with the ball -that's the kind of athletes they are." Michigan is also hoping that its de- fense will continue to make the plays that it has through the first four games. So far this year, the Wolverine de- fenders have held opponents to 3.6 yards-per-play and amassed 44 tackles- y for-loss, including 16 sacks. Michigan only recorded 29 sacks all of last season. "We have a lot of guys who know what they're doing and they're playing with great effort," Carr said of the de- fense. Carr has been especially impressed with the Wolverines' attack on the op- posing team's quarterback. "Every time you hit that quarterback from the blind side- he doesn't forget it," said Carr, who singled out safety Clarence Thompson for making anum- ber of similar hits. "Once you get a hit on the quarterback or he sees on film how hard another guy got hit, hope- fully, it will phase him." In spite of the Wolverines' best start since 1986, Carr refuses to get overly optimistic, and isn't all too happy about some of the things he has read. "I resent (that the media) has us 10- 0," said Carr about what Michigan's potential record heading into the Nov. 18 game against Penn State. "Youthink, See FOOTBALL, page 10 rightt end Jay Rilemersma and the Wolverines should be fully rested for their game against Miami (Ohio) Saturday.F Junior college star Hughes chooses Michigan _....... B Michael Rosenberg Da iy Editor in Chief Steve Fisher has taken out his re- cruiting wand again, and this time he has pointed it toward the junior college ranks. Brandon Hughes, a sophomore at Barton County (Kan.) Junior College, has-verbally committed to Fisher's Michigan men's basketball team. Hughes played high school basketball at Manual H.S. in Peoria, Ill. "It's done now," the 6-foot point guard told the Peoria Journal Star. "I've been a fan of Michigan all my life. That's been like a dream to play for them. And now I have a chance to fulfill that dream." Hughes may have wanted Michigan his whole life, but the Wolverines didn't want him until last spring. Hughes was recommended to Michigan assistant coach Jay Smith last April, and the school started recruiting him immedi- ately, the Journal Star reported. "Jay Smith told me that guy said I was the missing piece to their team and they gotta get me," Hughes said. "(Michigan assistant Brian Dutcher) flew out to Barton as soon as (Smith) toldhim that. Coach Dutcher and Fisher came down to Peoria several times dur- ing the summer." Hughes averaged 21.2 points and 5.8 assists as a freshman, both of which led Barton County. Two of his teammates from a year ago now play for DePauL Hughes, the top-ranked junior college guard in the nation, was a partial aca- demic qualifier in high school. over Fighting Iliii The point guard also visited Illinois, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jack- Michigan State and Missouri. The Illini son is widely regarded as the best ever. were his second choice. Despite that success, Fisher's squad He is the first player to commit to the will likely be a little thin in the backcourt Wolverines this year. Fisher has reeled next season. Point guard Dugan Fife is in the nation's top recruiting class three a senior this year, leaving Travis Conlan of the past five years, including two in and Louis Bullock as the only true a row. His 1991 "Fab Five" recruiting class of Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, See HUGHES, page i0 t { I1 N G I T! AT i nq " DISTAYIANt Q U $posts iA" MFVT:Ivag. W. l 0 IM COLLEGE FOOTBALL FANS 200 Wings $3.25/Pitcher Any Bud Family - ..a a PLAY THE **ALL-STAR TOP TEN** CHALLENGE INSTANT CASH PRIZES!!! SELECT COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S TOP TEN TEAMS FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER YOU COULD WIN THE FOLLOWING PRIZES 1220 S. University 665-7777 No Cover s Newel Expanded! Renovated!!lPool- Darts -.Foosball u GRAND PRIZE SECOND PRIZE THIRD PRIZE $ 1,000.00 $ $ 250.00 100.0O HOW TO PjAY: 1. List ten Division 1-A college football teams that you think will score the most points from the beginning of the current season through games played on Saturday, September 30, 1995.. 2. The total points scored by your "Top Ten" teams will be added together. If your "Top Ten" entry accumulates the most points - YOU will win September's grand prize of $1,000 !!! 3. All entries must be postmarked no later than September 29, 1995 and must be received by October 7, 1995 to qualify for prizes. For schedules, scores, and team standings - call the EXCELSIOR SPORTS HOT LINE at 1-(203)-233-9416, Monday-Friday, 11:00AM - 2:00PM, ET. Toll charges may apply. 4. Contest tie-breaker: If two or more winning contestants accumulate the same number of points, a "Tie-Breaker Prediction" will be used to break the tie. Write your "Tie - Breaker Prediction" in the space provided. The "Tie-Breaker Prediction" closest to the actual number of total accumulated points will be declared the winner. If contestants remain tied after the tie-breaker, prize money will be evenly divided among the winning entries. 5. Official rules available with self-addressed stamped envelope. Must be 18 years or older. Void where prohibited. HOW TO ENTER: Mail your team selections with the entry fee of $19.95 to: EXCELSIOR SPORTS ENTERPRISES SEPTEMBER * *ALL-STAR TOP TEN* * CHALLENGE 41 CROSSROADS PLAZA, SUITE 110 WEST BARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06117 My "All-Star Top Ten" college football team selections for the period from August 26 - September 30, 1995 are: m m