THE BLADE: TOLEDO, OHIO t FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2004 COLLEGE FOOTBALL 2004 SECTION C, PAGE 7 UM’s expectations high MICHIGAN t Coach: Lloyd Carr t Year at school: 10th (86-26) t 2003 result: 10-3 t The skinny: The running game must provide stability for the offense Wolverines are looking to defend Big Ten title with rookie QB Matt Gutierrez at the helm. With three of fi ve starters on the line returning, that shouldn’t By RON MUSSELMAN be a problem. The defense is led BLADE SPORTS WRITER by senior cornerback Marlin Jack- ANN ARBOR — Michigan will son, one of six returning starters have a new quarterback and a from a unit that last season gave new tailback this season, but the up 18.8 points per game. Jackson same expectations. moves back to his natural position The Wolverines’ unoffi cial at corner after a year at safety. Lloyd Carr’s team has 13 starters motto is “contend and defend.” returning overall, which is why the They are the defending Big Wolverines start the season in the Ten champions and the media’s top 10 of both polls and have the preseason pick to repeat as inside track on a second consecu- league champs. tive conference championship. But “Knowing this group and getting to another Rose Bowl will speaking for the tradition of mean playing well away from home. Michigan, our expectations are All three losses last season came away from the friendly confi nes of high,” coach Lloyd Carr said. Michigan Stadium. Big road tests “I always believed champion- this season are at Purdue and arch- ship football starts on defense. rival Ohio State. Michigan is looking If we’re going to make a run at to become the fi rst team since Wis- championship, then we’re go- consin in 1998-99 to repeat as Big ing to have to play outstanding Ten champs. defense.” Lofty expectations are nothing 2004 SCHEDULE new at Michigan. Date Opp. Time Carr has guided the Wolver- Sept. 4 Miami (Ohio) Noon ines to a bowl berth in each of his Sept. 11 at Notre Dame 3:30 nine seasons, and his teams have Sept. 18 San Diego State Noon claimed four Big Ten crowns and Sept. 25 Iowa TBA an 86-26 overall record. Oct. 2 at Indiana TBA Overall, UM has made 29 con- Oct. 9 Minnesota TBA secutive bowl appearances, the Oct. 16 at Illinois TBA Oct. 23 at Purdue TBA second longest streak in NCAA Oct. 30 Michigan State TBA history. Nov. 13 Northwestern TBA “Michigan is a big-time foot- Nov. 20 at Ohio State 1 ball school,” receiver Braylon Edwards said. “Every year we’re a good team. We always try to 2003 RESULTS better ourselves and uphold the Opponent Score Michigan tradition, which is Central Michigan W, 45-7 winning Big Ten championships. Houston W, 50-3 We strive to meet those expecta- Notre Dame W, 38-0 tions every year.” Oregon L, 31-27 The eighth-ranked Wolver- Indiana W, 31-17 ines, who open their season to- Iowa L, 30-27 morrow at home against Miami Minnesota W, 38-35 (Ohio), return 17 starters from Illinois W, 56-14 last year’s 10-3 team that lost to Purdue W, 31-3 Michigan State W, 27-20 Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl. Northwestern W, 41-10 However, two key offensive Ohio State W, 35-21 players are missing from that Rose Bowl team. Southern Cal L, 28-14 Quarterback John Navarre and All-American tailback Chris Perry have both moved on to the 2004 ROSTER NFL. No. Name Pos. Ht./Wt. Yr. Navarre fi nished with six 1 Braylon Edwards WR 6-3/206 Sr. 2 Shawn Crable LB 6-5/234 So. career and seven single-season 2 Mark Spencer P 6-0/215 So. passing records in three years 3 Marlin Jackson CB 6-1/199 Sr. as a starter at Michigan, and he 3 Ross Ryan P 6-0/210 So. 4 Darnell Hood CB 5-11/191 So. became the fi rst player in school 5 Charles Stewart S 6-1/184 Fr. history to throw for more than 5 David Underwood RB 6-0/227 Sr. 6 Prescott Burgess LB 6-3/223 So. 9,000 yards. 7 Spencer Brinton QB 6-5/223 Sr. Perry fi nished fourth in the 7 Chad Henne QB 6-3/215 Fr. Heisman voting, won the Doak 8 Jason Avant WR 6-1/209 Jr. 8 Matt Wilde QB 6-2/202 So. Walker Award as the nation’s top 9 Anton Campbell S 5-11/192 So. running back, was team MVP 10 Troy Nienberg K 6-2/171 Sr. and Big Ten offensive player of 10 Clayton Richard QB 6-4/227 So. 12 Matt Gutierrez QB 6-4/230 So. the year. He rushed for 1,589 THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY 12 Landon Smith WR 5-8/162 So. yards and scored 17 touch- 13 Jeff Kastl QB 6-3/218 So. Michigan receiver Braylon Edwards had 85 receptions for 1,138 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. 13 Grant Mason CB 6-0/194 Jr. downs. 14 Tyron Jordan II WR 5-10/185 So. “We lost an outstanding tail- 14 Morgan Trent WR 6-1/175 Fr. back from a year ago in Chris candidate. Jackson leading the way. Jackson 15 Steve Breaston WR 6-1/181 Jr. 15 Chip Cartwright LB 6-1/226 Jr. Perry, an outstanding quarter- “I think we have a great offen- has moved back to cornerback, 16 Adrian Arrington WR 6-2/172 Fr. back in John Navarre, and an sive line, tremendous receivers where he earned second-team 17 James Bloomsburgh K 5-10/195 Jr. outstanding defensive line,” and a solid group of running All-American honors in 2002. He 17 Carl Tabb WR 6-2/193 So. 18 Jermaine Gonzales WR 6-2/210 Sr. Carr said. “Those three position backs that will all play hard and has played in 33 career games for 19 Willis Barringer S 6-0/201 Jr. are really the focus.” do their best to get the job done,” the Wolverines, making 27 starts. 20 Mike Hart RB 5-9/185 Fr. 20 Quinton McCoy DB 5-9/167 So. Matt Gutierrez, a redshirt Gutierrez said. “I think Ernest Shazor has a 21 Ryan Mundy S 6-1/209 So. sophomore, will replace Navarre, Defensively, the Wolverines chance to be one of the greatest 22 Jamar Adams S 6-2/190 Fr. and senior David Underwood are switching to a 3-4 defense. 22 Kyle Plummer CB 5-10/161 So. safeties we’ve had here,” Carr 23 Max Martin RB 6-2/210 Fr. will take over for Perry. Senior end Pat Massey is the said. 24 Jerome Jackson RB 5-11/198 So. Gutierrez, a 6-4, 230-pounder, only returning starter from a line Shazor likes the makeup of 25 Ernest Shazor S 6-4/226 Jr. completed 13 of 19 passes for that lost Larry Stevens, Grant 26 Alijah Bradley RB 5-6/171 Jr. the Wolverines defense, which 26 Mike Carl S 6-0/208 Jr. 153 yards and one touchdown Bowman and Norman Heuer to ranked second in the Big Ten last 27 Pierre Rembert RB 6-0/213 So. last season in 12 games of lim- graduation. Massey, Larry Harri- year in points allowed per game 28 Dan Moore LB 6-0/226 So. ited action as the backup. He has son, Alex Ofi li and Gabe Watson 28 Jacob Stewart S 6-0/212 Jr. and yards allowed. 29 Leon Hall CB 5-11/193 So. not lost a game since his fresh- are all vying for playing time. “I feel that this defense is even 30 Markus Curry CB 5-11/183 Sr. man year at De La Salle Catholic UM is solid at linebacker 31 Brandent Englemon S 5-11/197 So. better than last season’s group,” 31 Craig Moore K 5-10/178 So. High School in Concord, Calif. with Lawrence Reid, Scott Mc- he said. “We’re quicker than we 32 Kevin Dudley RB 6-1/237 Sr. He said he learned a lot from Clintock, Pierre Woods, LaMarr 33 Keston Cheathem S 6-3/183 Fr. were last season and we have Navarre. Woodley, Roy Manning, Shawn an extra year of experience now. 33 Scott Hammel RB 5-10/200 Jr. “John was a great player and 34 Joe Leoni LB 5-11/220 So. Crable, David Harris, Prescott Michigan defenses will always 35 Brian Thompson RB 6-2/235 So. a great person who showed a lot Burgess, Joe Sarantos and fresh- be great, but we have an excel- 36 Scott McClintock LB 6-2/243 Jr. of poise last year when we were man Chris Graham. 37 Chris Graham LB 5-10/205 Fr. lent secondary, great linebackers behind,” Gutierrez said. “I really Reid led the team in tackles 38 B.J. Opong-Owusu S 5-11/197 So. and a strong defensive line. 38 Garrett Rivas K 5-9/210 So. appreciate the opportunity I had last year with 82. 39 Adam Finley P 6-4/209 Sr. to learn from him.” “I think Lawrence Reid is a “I think the defensive line will 40 Obianna Oluigbo RB 6-0/243 So. be the surprise. They’re under- 41 Tim Bracken RB 5-9/206 Sr. UM also returns three tal- wonderful football player,” Carr 42 Lawrence Reid LB 6-1/219 Jr.