University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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' U OF M vs. PENN STAT Luii LET THE RIVALRY BEGI Blue IjtoctOftKttjuiy Lion a lesSk about f 10 foot- by Sam Garber 362 Sports

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. . .Many times on defense we ddin ' t communicate very well, said Head Coach ' ame. Yet big plays were made when the D did corrHunicate as evident by t Mceiebration allowing a Buster Stanley sack of IrishHiarterbacIc Kevin McDMeal. -Josh Sohn I I Aje [Sophomore wide receiver Amani Toomer, left, gave I Wisconsin defenders, such as free safety Scott Nelson f pictured here, fits all game long by catching six passes for 111 2 yards. While the Badgers prevailed, the celebration Icame to an abrupt halt as several Badger fans were I trampled as jubilant students stormed the field following I the game . -Jos h Sohn Scoreboard Football rall 5-3 Big 10 (T-4th) Washington State 41 -14 Notre Dame 23-27 Houston 42-21 Iowa 24-7 Michigan State 7-17 PennState2143 Illinois 2 1-24 Wisconsin 10-13 Purdue 25-10 Minnesota 58-7 Ohio State 28-0 Hall of Fame Bowl North Carolina State 42-7 Front: C. Stapleton, ]. Johnson, R. Buff, W. Smith, D. Alexander, N. Aghakan, S. Peoples, R. Powers, M. Miiia, B. Stanley, A. Burch, G. Dudlar, T. Blankenship, S. Rekowski, P. Elezovic. Row 2: S. Gasperoni, E. Lovell, ]. jaeckin, M. Walker, S. Miller, M. Dyson, T. Collins, S. Morrison, T. Henderson, G. McThomas, B. Powers, D. Johnson, J. Horn, T. Jenkins, T. Wheadey. Row 3: Z. Freedman, C. Petterson, T. Richards, A. Skorput, ]. Can, ]. Marinaro, C. Foster, P. Barry, T. Zenlcewicz, J. Riemersma, M. Sullivan, F. Maiveaux, E. Daws, R. Vander Leest, J. Zaeske, T. Law, Head Coach Gary Moelkr. Row 4: W. Hanldns, M. Vanderbee c, H. Goodwin, S. Col ins, D. Anderson, E. Wendt, M. Bolach, M. Hayes, C. Winters, A. Toomer.J. Runyan, T. Guynes, R. Payne, J. Irons, J. A. Charles, K. Walroup, R. Hamilton. Row 5: S. Draper, P. Peristeris, B. Blackwell, T. Biakabutuka, Z. Adami, D. Jones, S. Norment, T. Noble, S., King, S. Evans, M. Mangan, J. Lancer, R. Swett, S. Smith, E. Sanders, B. Huff, G. Howell, S. Schembechler . Row 6: K. Timkin, }. Ploclci, N. Delong, J.J. Brown, W. Carr, P. Cooper, D. Denson, D. Overton,]. Ritchie, C. Thompson, M. Elston, G. Steele, J. Partchenfco, T. Pryce, J. Ries, B. Bland, B. Hagnes, L. Taggart. Row 7: S. Rogow, E. O ' dowd, D. Hicks, L. Sattewhite, T. Holden, J. Cockrell, S. Parini, J. Morgan, b. Griese, S. Loeffler,]. Sf ringer, B. Williams, C. Keefer, M. HynesJ. McNultyJ. Travis,}. Cole, B. Letcher. Row 8: J. Faullc, J. Long, T.J. Weist, M. Debold, G. Mattison, B. Harris, L, Miles, C. Cameron, L. Carr, B. Morrison, J. Hermann, F. Jackson, B. Chmiel, M. Gittleson, P. Bromley, P. Schmidt, T. Jager. -Photo courtesy of Sports In ormation. Sports 361

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Xou would have thought that surely Michigan and Penn State, two of the winningest programs in college football, would have done battle on the ield at least once before. Not so. It took Michigan over one thousand games and Penn State its one thousandth for the two to collide. While some appeal verines loss to Michigan State the previous week, as game time neared the the impression that this was not just any game. It was the game game one in the nay have been lost following the Wol- sxcitement filling Beaver Stadium gave ewest Big 10 rivalry. Both teams started the game attempts. After their initial drive, how- :med to move the ball effortlessly, ate in the first quarter. The second quarter contin- ly offensive success while Penn State abby Engram to increase the lead to with impressive opening drives but came away empty following missed field goal ever, the Wolverines had trouble sustaining any offense while the Nittany Lions Though another drive stalled, the Lions kicked a field goal to open the scoring ued much the same as the first had ended with the Wolverines unable to muster was having its way. Following a 37-yard touchdown reception by Lion wideout 1 0-0, it looked as if a rout was on. However, after punter Chris Stapleton ' s punt ed the Lions to start on their own five yard line, the defense came through and forced the Lions to punt after three plays. Aided by a key block from irnerback Alfie Burch, receiver Derrick Alexander returned the punt 48 yards for a Wolverine touchdown. I just ran to the left, and saw Alfie Burch ke the block. When I made the cut, there was nobody left so it was pretty easy sailing, said Alexander. Though still trailing 10-7 as the teams went into halftime, Alexander ' s punt return seemed to provide the spark that the Wolverines needed. As le second half began, the defense again rose to the occasion by forcing the Lions to Its first half trend, the offense responded with a seven minute ball-control drive deep ory. The drive stalled forcing the Wolverines to settle for a field goal attempt. Place Elezovic missed but an offsides penalty against Penn State gave the Wolverines a first Chance to score. Score they did, as quarterback Todd Collins hit receiver Mercury atch in the end zone to give the Wolverines their first lead. The game was by no means over as the Nittany Lions marched down the field lies to the Wolverine one yard line. First-and-goal at the one it looked like the lead punt. Reversing into Lion tern- kicker Peter down and another Hayes on a diving on their next se- would be short ived as the Lions were about to punch it in. In my heart, yes, I knew we were going to stop them, said tailback Tyrone Wheatley. But really, you ' re still ind of skeptical. But, in what may go down in the annals of Michigan football lore simply as The Stand, the defense refused to allow the Lions to get e ball across the goal line. Three times the Lions ran up the middle but each time the Wolverine defense met the challenge head on. It came down to urth-and-goal, Collins handed off :oming my way and oCarter. With the hurt of the end While :fused to quit. Af- 4-13. Knowing and while many expected the Lions to loop out or pass, Lion quarterback Kerry to tailback Ki-Jana Carter for another try up the middle. I just saw the ball stepped up the best I could, said linebacker Jerrod Irons who was the first to get help of several teammates, Irons wrapped up Carter and brought him to the ground zone. The Stand turned the momentum in favor of the Wolverines, Penn State ter forcing a Wolverine punt, the Lions added a field goal to close the deficit to the game was still on the line, outstanding blocking by the offensive line allowed fallbacks Ed Davis and Wheatley to pile up yardage as the offense marched down the field, i rushed for 192 yards, broke free for a forty-seven yard run down to the Lion six, and on al Collins hit fullback Che Foster in the flat for a touchdown and a 21-13 lead. The Lions phance to score again, but safety Shonte Peoples dashed the Lions ' hopes by intercepting a pass en seconds left. As the clock ticked down to zero, a roar could be heard in the stadium; not nanating from the Scoreboard as is a Nittany Lion tradition but rather one from the small itingent in the corner of one end zone. Amid chants of Welcome to the Big 10 and Hail s, the players came over to the Michigan section in appreciation of the support the fans had Wheatley, third-and- did have a with four- o n e Michigan to the Vic- given them. Penn State thought it could cruise through the Big 10 and go to Pasadena in its first year, but as Wheatley said, You have to pay your Big 10 dues. lough only the first meeting, it was evident that one of the most heated rivalries in college football had begun. Said Penn State linebacker Eric Ravotti, e won most of the battles, but they won the war. Indeed, war is the best way to describe Big 10 football, and as center Marc Milia said, We welcomed in State to the conference in Big 10 style. Sports 363