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Show DAILY THE The Big House Did Everything But Disappoint Columnist You would think that entering a stadium that held more than 109,000 people would be an amazing sight to see. However, Michigan Stadium, aka The Big House, was a bit underwhelming when I first entered the stadium, partly because I did not know how the hell the stadium fit 109,000 when I looked around an empty stadium. But when the stadium was filled and Michigan football was in the air, it looked as if the entire world was in Michigan Stadium. After being able to step on the field with my press pass, I decided I would watch the entire game from there. Sitting on the Ute sidelines with nobody in the stands was a little weird. It seemed as if I was a rice krispie in a huge empty bowL But that changed very quickly. As the hour went on, the stadium was soon filled, and there was a nice patch of red in the corner of the stadium, but that was blanketed by a sea of humanity that was donning the maize and blue. It's amazing how many times one team can come out and make an entrance onto the field, because I counted Michigan coming out three times. I heard a standing ovation for the team, but none was more daunting than the third and final. When the announcement came on that the 235 members of the Michigan marching band would be on the field, I did not expect what I saw. The band came out energetic and stomping onto the field. I was confused. The stomping continued for what seemed like a lifetime, but the crowd became louder with each passing second before the band burst out with the fight song, and the place came alive. It almost looked like a cult, as every time the word "hail" was said in the fight song, 109,000 people decided it was see KUDIYA, page 11 v .; jk Olymp Praha 925 at 7 p.m. Crimson Court f RORY BRUNNER Chronicle Sports Editor " - ANN ARBOR, Mich. The clock read 8:50 left in the fourth quarter. The play: An eight-yar- d gain on a Travis wide to receiver swing pass LaTendresse. The significance: It was the first time the Ute offense had crossed midfield. The Ute offense, particularly the running game, sputtered for the second straight week as the Utes couldn't put together a worthwhile drive nearly all game. Utah's ground game gained 13 yards on 20 carries, a paltry 0.65 yards per carry. The rushing game accounted for just one of nine Ute first downs in the game. Utah, again without the nation's leading rusher Marty Johnson after his season-endin- g injury, was led by Brandon Warfield's 18 yards on 10 carries. J R. Peroulis ran 7 times for 6 yards. Would Johnson's pTcscnce have made a difference? "They were obviously very solid even if we had him," quarterback Lance Rice said. "But with his size, Marty could've broken some tack- . t: 10-- 7 ANN ARBOR, Mich. Former Ute and now Detroit Lion defensive tackle Luther Elliss had some words of advice for the Utah football team the night before its clash with No. 14 Michigan. "He said to play hard and finish," defensive tackle Lauvale Sape said. The Utes (2-gave the Wolverines everything they could handle in Ann Arbor, Mich., but the Ute offense couldn't finish off a late fourth quarter drive as Utah lost 10-- 7 to Michigan (3-at the Big House in front of 109,734 fans. "We came here to win. We didn't come here to play close or put in a good showing. We just didn't get it done," Ute coach Ron McBride said. In an eerily similar situation to the one Utah faced in its loss to Arizona a week ago, the Ute offense faced the length of the field with the game hanging in the balance. After the Ute defense held Michigan on a 3rd and 4 and Wolverine kicker Philip Brabbs pushed a field goal wide left, the Ute offense took over 1st and 10 from its own line with 1:55 in the game, needing just a field goal to force overtime. But, unlike last week, the offense wasn't going anywhere. On first down, Rice's pass to Paris Jackson fell incomplete. However, a flag pushed the ball back 10 line. On yards to the Utah the next play, Rice found receiver r 1 ,? i 5 rd vv 2) ? 1) 42-ya- 26-ya- rd 16-ya- rd -- les." Josh Lyman tipped this pass and Julius Curry picked it off to seal the win. rd Josh Lyman for 14 yards. But, yet another holding call negated the yardage and pushed the Utes into a 1st and 28 from their own line. The Utes chipped away at the amount when Paris Jackson caught a crossing route throw by Rice for 10 yards. Facing a 2nd and 18, Rice found Travis LaTendresse for a nine-yar- d completion near the On 3rd and 9 from their own line, Rice and Lyman failed to connect, forcing a deciding 4th down. On 4th and 9, Rice dropped back to pass and threw up a corner route to Lyman. Lyman had first down yardage, but the ball tipped through his hands and deflected into the breadbasket of Michigan safety 27-ya- see FOOTBALL, page rd 12 Michigan Offense Didn't Help Itself ASAD KUDIYA Chronicle Sports Writer ANN ARBOR, Mich. Without the help of an offense for about three and a half quarters, the U defense was able to keep the Michigan score low. However, it didn't seem as if the Ute defense dominated the Michigan offense as much as the Michigan defense dominated the Utah offense. "I felt that we were able to move the ball throughout the entire game, so I am not down on the offense," Michigan wide receiver Braylon Edwards said. At times, the Michigan Wolverines looked as if they were going to run right through the Utes. The offensive line opened up creases and the backs burst out for good gains, as the Wolverines ended the game with 175 rushing yards. However, the massive rushing yards came also due to the fact that the Wolverine offense usually got the ball around midfield and were on the field for most of the game. Nevertheless, Michigan was able to move the ball and get down field. "We moved the ball but were very poor on third FOOTBALL VOLLEYBALL ) f ... downs, and that kills drives," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "We have to take care of the football and we also have to make our field goals." After a first quarter interception, the Wolverines line converted on a fake field goal inside the and all the momentum was with them. However, the Utes were luckily able to capitalize on Michigan running back Chris Perry's careless attempt to get the ball into the end zone, as he fumbled the ball and the U's Brooks Bahr recovered it. The score would have set the tone for the game and the Ute offense would have never been able to match the touchdown and field goal misses the Wolverines had. The touchdown drive for the Wolverines was characterized by one thing throw the ball to Edwards. The phenom caught a jump ball over U Arnold Parker. Later, he proceeded to cut his way to the open hole in the zone and caught a touchdown in front of Antwoine Sanders to give Michigan the lead. 10-ya- rd cor-nerba- see MICHIGAN, page i (10-3- Second Week RORY BRUNNER Chronicle Sports Editor Sports vs Utah Struggles For Utes Stick Around Before Falling Chronicle Utah Attack fCold Their O With No. 14 Michigan ASAD KUDIYA CHRONICLE UTAH vs Utah Air Force 928 at Rice-Eccl- es 1 (2-2- ) (3-- 0) p.m. Stadium if'-- Roy Griak Invite 928 all day Minneapolis, Minn. CHRONICLE SPORTS EDITOR RORY BRUNNER well-coache- d. good." Souza said. Without the run, the flexibility of the Ute offense was limited. "We were sitting in pass mode all the time. We didn't move the line of scrimmage we were playing football," coach Ron McBride said. With the offensive inefficiency, the Ute defense was kept on the field that much longer. The Michigan offense was on the field for 35:52 compared to Utah's 24:08. "They played a lot of snaps, but there's going to be more games where they will be lots of snaps," defensive coordinator Kyle said. "We need to keep the defense off the field. We need to come up with something that will work. The Michigan defensive line did a lot of slanting, but that's no excuse," J.R. Peroulis said. "As a defense, we can't be anything but pleased," Sheldon Dcckart said. The senior linebacker said the Michigan offensive line was the best Whit-tingha- see UTES, page 11 iV "0- - CROSS COUNTRY at Utah ck The struggle in the running game was just as confusing to starting tackle Sean Souza as it was to running backs Peroulis and Warficld. "I kept asking the running backs, 'What's the problem?'" Souza said. "They had real good linebackers, they filled holes fast. And their defensive line was They were quick guys, disciplined guys, and their technique was SOCCER vs Utah (5-0-- St. Mary's 929 at GOLF 2) at Utah Rocky Mtn. Invite 930 p.m. Ute Field 1 RBRUNNERCHRONICLE.UTAH.EDU ail day Denver, Colo. 581 - NEWS m 12 |