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

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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

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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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hile the most familiar New Year ' s Day spot for the Wolverine football faithful is Pasa- dena and the Rose Bowl, celebrating the new year in Tampa was not a new experience. Indeed Wolverines had ventured to Tampa in ] they defeated Alabama in the 198 Lall ct r ' ame Bowl. Acting as interim coachd Pmie filling in for the recuperating Bo Schemjrchler, now head coach Gary Moeller hoiAd to improve on his perfect Hall of Fame re Kas his squad took on another bunch of wol -the Wolfpack of North Carolina State in the eighth annual Hall of Fame Bowl. Comin Br a 28-0 humiliation of arch rival Ohio Stat f close the regular season, the 7- 4 Wolverines were a lofty two touchdown favorite over the 7-4 jWfpack. Having outscored oppo- nents 111-1 ' Bi their last three games while recording nii interceptions and twelve sacks, : Wolverines were going to add convincing fashion over N.C. many felt th; to these tota State. Ho was looking a n c wKr, asPihi r, as the game began to unfold it iis was not to be the case. After one quarter, the Wolverines were only able to muster a mere 3 tal yards. Maybe the 1 1 am kickoff New Yea fcay was too early as neither team was able to sul n much on offense. As the game started, both teams were just feeling each other out, said first- kt free safety Clarence Thompson. Yet after the scorele first quarter, things began going the Wolverines ' wai jipr tailback and game MVP Tyrone Wheatley c fctn eighty yard drive with a 26 yard touchdown nin the Wolverines a 7-0 lead. As they had versus Penn State earlier in the season, the Wol- verines ' special teams took matters into their own hands to spark the rest of the team after the Wolfpack was forced to punt on its next posses- sion. Racing up the middle, senior wide receiver Derrick Alexander returned the punt for a bowl record 79 yard touchdown. fflj Alu ' .ul 14-0, it seemed as if the rout was on. However, the wmfpa mpnded with a drive of its own, only to have it B ep in U-M territory with a fumble. Again the drove but stalled with a fourth and Wolfpack 31 yard line. With only three sec left in the first half, Moeller decided to go for the touchdown. Despite the fact that everyone knew junior quarterback Todd Collins ' pass was headed for the end zone, sophomore wide receiver Amani Toomer got open and outleaped a Wolfpack de- fender in the corner of the end zone to make the catch. The score seemed to break the Wolfpack ' s back, for instead of only being down two scores going into halftime, they now found themselves down 21-0. As Collins said, It ' s pretty demoral- izing to a defense to have that happen to you. With such a big lead, the Wolverines opted for a conservative ground-oriented attack throughout the second half. Wheatley, who fin- ished with 124 yards in just three quarters of playing time, added a second touchdown and senior tailback Ricky Powers added a score of his own in helping the offense pile up an impressive 265 yards rushing. With all the hard- ship he had endured during the season, scoring in his last game as a Wolverine was very satisfying for Powers. I ' ve been through a lot. all the stuff I ' ve endured to get a TD had tears of joy, said Pow- ?ooking at the game ' s fi- s, it would not seem that the score was so lopsided. After all, the Wolfpack held the ball longer than the Wolverines and only had earned only fewer yards. Yet what stuck out the Wolfpack ' six turnovers. Indeed, the Wolverines capitalizec on two Wolfpack fumbles and four interceptions| one of which Thompson returned 43 yards for : touchdown as the defense got in on the scoring, 1 converting them into 28 points. Add to thil Alexander ' s punt return and it was now clear wh | the final score was 42-7 in the Wolverines ' favc olfpack head coach Mike O ' Cain said after th |ne, We played a fine football team; mayh fr than a fine team. It ' s a class group. Moeller was very pleased with the team ' jj e. I see our guys playing w ith sue kt effort that I didn ' t see at the beginnir kr, said Moeller. The victory enabled thj Rnd what had been a roller coaster season on a high note with four consecutive wins, whic| it could use to build on for the upcoming seasor As Collins said, We wanted to show that we wer the Michigan of old. We wanted to show that wji could still dominate. That they did, and thj Wolverine faithfulhoped they could return ne year to their favorite New Years ' spot. A total team effort led theWolverines to a 42-7 thrashing of the Wolfpack from N. C. State in the Fame Game. by Sam Garber First-year free safety Clarence Thompson heads for the endzone after stepping in front of a pass intended for N.(] State recevier Robert Hinman (10). Thompson ' s 43 ya score marked the first time a Wolverine had returned an | interception for at touchdown in a bowl game. -Josh ' . A BOWLFUL OF WOLVES 364 Sports