07-26-2002, 04:06 PM
Media picks Michigan to win title
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By Michael Grant
mgrant@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
CHICAGO -- Michigan, perennially among the Big Ten's elite in football, is the media's favorite to win this year's conference championship.
The Wolverines, who have won or shared the league title in three of the past five seasons, will return 15 starters from a squad that finished 8-4, including second in the Big Ten at 6-2.
''I always tell our players opinions disappear and records endure,'' coach Lloyd Carr said. ''The expectations at Michigan from both the people inside the program and outside the program are extremely high. It's a compliment to our program. We'll do everything we can to make you look good.''
The Wolverines will have eight starters back from a defense that led the league in rushing yards allowed (89.1 per game) and total defense (316.4).
But more than that, the Wolverines have something to prove. After starting 6-1 last fall, they finished with their first four-loss season and first bowl defeat since 1996.
''Any time you end a season like we did, the best word to describe the offseason is miserable,'' Carr said. ''Certainly I hope that will motivate our football team.''
Michigan has been picked as high as No. 6 in the country in preseason publications. If the Wolverines win the league, Carr hopes they do it outright. A Big Ten team has not played in the Bowl Championship Series title game since Michigan won it all after the 1997 season.
Carr said too many ties for the league title in an 11-team league hurts the conference's image in the minds of voters and the BCS.
''With the way we determine our championship, in my judgment we have had far too many ties,'' he said. ''That always creates a situation where people question the strength of your conference.
''I think we need a 12th school very badly in terms of football. The negative part of that is it would lead to a (conference championship) game. I think we're at a point where we're playing too many football games for the wrong reasons.''
Since the addition of Penn State in 1993, there have been only five outright champions. Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said there are no immediate plans to add a school.
Ohio State finished second in the media voting. The Buckeyes were 7-5, 5-3 in Jim Tressel's first season. They will have 15 starters back, including seven on defense. Michigan State -- which will have 16 starters back, including eight from the league's top offense (447 yards a game) -- was third.
Michigan State wide receiver Charles Rogers was selected the preseason Offensive Player of the Year. The junior broke most major school single-season receiving records last year. His 1,470 yards were the second-most in conference history, and he established school records for catches (67), touchdowns (14) and 100-yard receiving games (six).
Ohio State strong safety Mike Doss is the preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The senior is aiming to become just the seventh Buckeye to be a first-team All-American three years in a row. He has led the team in tackles two straight years.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Michael Grant
mgrant@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
CHICAGO -- Michigan, perennially among the Big Ten's elite in football, is the media's favorite to win this year's conference championship.
The Wolverines, who have won or shared the league title in three of the past five seasons, will return 15 starters from a squad that finished 8-4, including second in the Big Ten at 6-2.
''I always tell our players opinions disappear and records endure,'' coach Lloyd Carr said. ''The expectations at Michigan from both the people inside the program and outside the program are extremely high. It's a compliment to our program. We'll do everything we can to make you look good.''
The Wolverines will have eight starters back from a defense that led the league in rushing yards allowed (89.1 per game) and total defense (316.4).
But more than that, the Wolverines have something to prove. After starting 6-1 last fall, they finished with their first four-loss season and first bowl defeat since 1996.
''Any time you end a season like we did, the best word to describe the offseason is miserable,'' Carr said. ''Certainly I hope that will motivate our football team.''
Michigan has been picked as high as No. 6 in the country in preseason publications. If the Wolverines win the league, Carr hopes they do it outright. A Big Ten team has not played in the Bowl Championship Series title game since Michigan won it all after the 1997 season.
Carr said too many ties for the league title in an 11-team league hurts the conference's image in the minds of voters and the BCS.
''With the way we determine our championship, in my judgment we have had far too many ties,'' he said. ''That always creates a situation where people question the strength of your conference.
''I think we need a 12th school very badly in terms of football. The negative part of that is it would lead to a (conference championship) game. I think we're at a point where we're playing too many football games for the wrong reasons.''
Since the addition of Penn State in 1993, there have been only five outright champions. Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said there are no immediate plans to add a school.
Ohio State finished second in the media voting. The Buckeyes were 7-5, 5-3 in Jim Tressel's first season. They will have 15 starters back, including seven on defense. Michigan State -- which will have 16 starters back, including eight from the league's top offense (447 yards a game) -- was third.
Michigan State wide receiver Charles Rogers was selected the preseason Offensive Player of the Year. The junior broke most major school single-season receiving records last year. His 1,470 yards were the second-most in conference history, and he established school records for catches (67), touchdowns (14) and 100-yard receiving games (six).
Ohio State strong safety Mike Doss is the preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The senior is aiming to become just the seventh Buckeye to be a first-team All-American three years in a row. He has led the team in tackles two straight years.