A Shocker in the ACC
Twenty-fourth-ranked Virginia stunned No. 2 Florida State, 33-28,
yesterday in Charlottesville, Va. On the last play of the game, the
Cavaliers stopped Seminole running back Warrick Dunn on the goal line.
Virginia had already lost two games this season on the last play of the
game, including the season opener to Michigan Aug. 26, 18-17.
Page 1
Fridayk
November 1995,
Novembe-.... .r 3.
.
::1
Carr takes team down the road
The Matchups:
Running games should once
again be key in state rivalry
By Darren Everson
Daily Sports Editor
For those who don't put much stock
in statistics, here's one to ponder: In the
Michigan-Michigan State series, the
team that runs more scores more. Since
1969, whichever club finished ahead in
rushing yardage has also finished ahead
on the scoreboard.
Fortunately for the Wolverines, they
have been getting the better of the
ground game in recent years. That was
certainly the case last season when
Michigan outrushed Michigan State,
349-17, and won by nearly as many.
First-year coaches Nick Saban and
Lloyd Carr, the Spartans' home-field
advantage and the weather (which is
supposed to be cold and perhaps snowy)
all could have an effect on the outcome
ofthis game. However, should the Wol-
verines beat the Spartans tomorrow for
the 21st time in their last 26 meetings,
they'll most likely win it on the ground,
just like they have in the past.
Michigan rushing offense vs. Michi-
gan State rushing.defense:
There's no question how these two
units match up. When one team can't
stop having big rushing games, and the
other can't stop allowing them, the only
question is just how many yards will
end up being gained.
Given the way the Spartans have
played the run lately, Michigan's
Tshimanga Biakabutuka shouldn't have
much trouble rushing for 170 or so.
That's what his average has been over
the last three games; an average that
was bolstered by a 196-yard perfor-
mance against Minnesota last week.
However, that still doesn't measure
up to what Michigan State has been
allowing- opponents have shoved the
Spartans out of their way for 213 yards
per game.
Expect this trend to continue, even
though the Wolverines aren't as deep
at running back as they were last year.
Michigan's offensive line, for the most
part, is healthy, and Michigan State
just hasn't shown any ability to stop
the run.
Advantage:
1 g7 - 3
Michigan passing offense vs. Michi-
gan State passing defense:
One of the biggest questions this week
has been which Wolverine - Scott
Dreisbach or Brian Griese - will'be
throwing the football Saturday. The,
answer may turn out to be neither. ,
No matter who starts, the weather
and the defense that Michigan willbe-
up against might make the Wolverines
forget about that forward pass thing.
This is not to say the Spartans have a
world-beating pass defense. Although
safety Robert Shurelds has three inter-
ceptions, and linemen Yakini Allen and
Jabbar Threats have four sacks each;
Michigan State still allows about 220
yards passing -not so bad, but hardly
impressive, either.
The Wolverines, who threw for 318
yards against Minnesota last week,
should be able to throw the ball against
Michigan State, too. However, they jusi
might end up having too much fun rui
ning it.
Surely the Wolverines would like to
get the ball to Amani Toomer and Me-
cury Hayes, but the bad weather and tlt
success of the running game could indi-
rectly take the Michigan receivers out
of the game.
Advantage:
Michigan State rushing offense vs.
Michigan rushing defense:
Even though the game hasn't been
played yet, the Spartans can't be happy
about playing the Wolverines in Nps
vember as opposed to early Octobe,-
when this game usually occurs. At this
point, the schedule change means Michi-
gan State will be meeting Michigan-
shorthanded at running back.
Kind of like teenagers' cars, football
players inevitably get banged up afterq
while. The Spartans are experiencing
this right now, as injuries have side-
lined leading rusher Marc Renaud
(sprained knee) and slowed up fullback
Scott Greene (pulled hamstring). And,
Michigan State is still without its lead-
ing rusher of 1994, Duane Goulbourne,
who hasn't played at all because of d
fractured fibula.
See MATCHUPS, Page 13
manga Blakabutuka, shown here against Northwestern, is averaging 170 yards rushing the past three games.
RIVALRY
Continued from Page 1.
cide between two quarterbacks.
Should he go with Brian Griese, he
willbe starting the quarterback who has
led Michigan the past four games. If he
chooses Scott Dreisbach, then Carr will
have deemed him healthy after a thumb
injury that left him in a cast for the past
month.
Dreisbach took his first snaps since
before the Miami (Ohio) game Sept. 30,
Mondayinpractice.Michigan Stateknows
wfiowill throw the ball: senior quarter-
back Tony Banks; it's carrying it that's
the problem. The Spartans are still mum
onthestatus ofrunningbacks Scott Greene
and Marc Renaud.Greene has a nagging
hamstring injury while Renaud suffered a
light ligament tear in his knee two weeks
ago against Minnesota.
Saban is most concerned with Greene
and the chance that he might re-injure
the hamstring, as he did last week against
he Badgers.The Spartans are pleased
with the progress Banks has made in the
ast two weeks since returning from an
nkle injury.
"I think his mobility may be 10 per-
cent deficient, but it's better this week
than last," Saban said. "He's maybe a
little bithesitant mentally-not sure he
can do the things he used to do, but
we're confident that he's nearly all the
way back."
While Saban hopes to show the state
that he has brought Michigan State back,
he knows it won't be easy.
"You don't just win football games,
you have to have players," he said.
"Michigan obviously has a lot of good
players.
Saban also doesn't worry about a loss
being detrimental to his program.
"In the first year, I don't think whether
we win or lose is an indicatorof whether
we will be successful or not."
Tomorrow, 3:30 p.m., Spartan Stadium
Weather forecast: Chance of flurries, high of 37*°
TV: ABC,(Channel 7). Tim Brant and John Spagnola are the
commentators.
Radio: WJR 760 AM, WWJ 950 AM, WDFN 1130 AM,
WUOM 91. 7 FM
Tickets: sold out
Line: Michigan by 13
Series: Michigan leads, 57-25-5
I .. I
RECORDS
m phone: 663.5800
1140 south university (above goodtime charleys), AA,
mon.-thurs.: 9:00a-10:00p sundays
fri. & sat.: 9:00a-11:00p 00a-8:O p
STEP INTO A NEw WORLD...
PEACE CORPS WEEK
is coming...
November 6-9
Here's a partial listing of events:
Monday: On-campus interviews,
call Career Planning & Placement at
764-7460 for an appt.
Tuesday: Stop by our information
table in the Michigan Union
from 9:00-3:00
Wednesday: Come to our film and
information session at 7:00 in the Intl
Center in the Michigan Union
Thursday: Stop by the "Job Fair"
being held in the Michigan Union
from 1:00-5:00--look for us!
frStay for the Liberal Arts
Job Panel at 530
We'll show our film a second time in
the Int'l Center at 7:00 p.m.
LISTENv lbu EW MUSIC 14 OW-. CP gU1IENIN,4
THE STORYI
MAYSA
*Y-i- a tui ~