Chicago Tribune December 17, 2003 Wednesday, Chicago Final EditionSports; Pg. 11; Zone: C; Press Box Report: Huskers in turmoil Tribune news services Pelini, who said he came in at the end of the meeting, said reports of unrest are Without a head coach for two weeks, Ne- "absurd." braska players met behind closed doors. Omaha television station KETV, citing two "We talked things out," Pelini said. anonymous sources close to the football program, said the secrecy of the search f o r "I'm proud of the way they're handling the a successor to Frank Solich led the team on situation," he said. "There are no issues." Monday to discuss the possibility of not practicing, and even a potential boycott of - Danny Wimprine threw for 254 yards the Dec. 29 Alamo Bowl against Michigan and a touchdown and ran for another TD as State. Memphis (9-3) defeated North Texas State 27-17 in the New Orleans Bowl, opener of More than 20 players indicated they would the bowl season. leave Nebraska if interim head coach Bo Pelini is not named head coach, the televi- - Michigan Tech will play Grand Valley sion station said. State at Michigan Stadium next year i n hopes of breaking the Division II atten- Players declined to comment after the dance record. The current record of meeting and they were not allowed to talk 61,143 was set on Sept. 29, 1979, when to reporters Tuesday. Shippensburg beat Slippery Rock 45-14 at Michigan Stadium. COLLEGE FOOTBALL CompetitivEdge 1-888-881-EDGE www.clipresearch.com Electronic Clipping Detroit Free Press December 17, 2003 Wednesday 0 EDITION Tech, Grand Valley play on grand stage: The Big House They're calling it the "Bash at the Big The Lakers -- who won their second House," the first small-college football straight national title Saturday and will be game at Michigan Stadium in 23 years. a favorite to three-peat next season - - gave up a scheduled home game with Tech Host Michigan Tech and two-time de- on Nov. 6, the regular-season finale for fending NCAA champion Grand Valley State both. Tech will play at Grand Valley i n will attempt to break the Division II a t - 2005. tendance record on Nov. 6. The Division II attendance record is Tech, which nearly killed its football 61,143, set at Michigan Stadium on Sept. program this year for budgetary reasons, 29, 1979, when Shippensburg (Pa.) beat will pay U-M $30,000 for use of the sta- Slippery Rock (Pa.), 45-14. dium, but expects to make at least $250,000 from the game in Ann Arbor. One other game not involving the Wolver- ines has been played at Michigan Stadium, Tech coach Bernie Anderson has worked when Wayne State beat Slippery Rock, with Lloyd Carr at Michigan's football 14-13, in front of 36,719 on Sept. 1 2 , camp through the years, and Carr pledged 1981. to help Tech keep its football team. Michigan Tech-Grand Valley tickets are "While this isn't something that we'll do on expected to cost $15, well below the $ 4 8 a regular basis, we wanted to support both it costs to see the Wolverines play. It has- Michigan Tech and Grand Valley State n't been determined when they will go on and work with Michigan Tech in making sale. this happen," U-M athletic director Bill Martin said. By George Sipple CompetitivEdge 1-888-881-EDGE www.clipresearch.com Electronic Clipping Detroit Free Press December 17, 2003 Wednesday 0 EDITION Sports today TWO CENTS WORTH * Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens said * Detroitlions.com reports Matt Millen he's taking a leave of absence from riding apologized again Monday for "reportedly" in mid-January so he won't risk injury calling Johnnie Morton an insensitive while he pursues his acting career. He was name. "Reportedly," as if maybe it really bitten by the acting bug when he appeared didn't happen? If it didn't, apologizing once in last summer's "Seabiscuit." As a jockey. probably would have been enough. Stevens said he's close to a deal for a new * That Bash at the Big House -- an attempt project he declined to identify: "There's to set a Division II attendance record -- is some really, really neat stuff going on. a nice gesture on Michigan's part. Maybe Grand Valley and Michigan Tech could "I've got other priorities right now besides pay the Wolverines back by volunteering horse racing. It's a lot safer behind a for their nonconference schedule. camera than it is on top of a horse." LONG-TIMER * Ben Affleck, meanwhile, is taking a leave of absence from acting Feb. 15 to serve as The Dallas Mavericks' 111-94 victory grand marshal at NASCAR's Daytona 500. over Toronto on Monday night was coach Last year, John Travolta played the role. Don Nelson's 1,111th in 26 NBA seasons, moving him past Pat Riley -- currently BOTTOM LINE between jobs -- into the No. 2 spot on the all-time list. * Orlando Magic vice president Pat Wil- liams, on why teams like the Lions ( 2 3 Despite that lofty niche -- only Lenny straight losses) and Cleveland Cavaliers Wilkens, also currently idle, has more (34 straight) have so much trouble win- victories, with 1,292 -- Nelson says it's ning on the road: "They're just not very no big deal on his part. good." "There are a lot of great coaches in this * Tiger Woods, asked by ABC's Mike Tirico league around the 60-percent winning and Curtis Strange whether they would be level," said Nelson, who's 19th on the list invited to his wedding: "Are you media?" with a .570 winning percentage. "Anybody Put him down for a no. around that level is a great coach and that's not me. I'm a good coach who's had a lot of Morning Line is compiled by STEVE longevity." SCHRADER, who can be reached at 313- 222-6710 or [email protected] NEW GIGS CompetitivEdge 1-888-881-EDGE www.clipresearch.com Electronic Clipping The New York Times December 17, 2003, Wednesday, Late Edition - Final Section D; Page 6; Col. 1; Sports COLLEGE HOCKEY REPORT Big Turnaround In Anchorage By MARK SCHEERER ner Peter Sejna, but the Ti- kota, and he was practicing gers had been performing with us, and I know that our A thaw has begun in Alaska. well in the W.C.H.A. with victo- young guys knew that he was ries over Denver and St. going to be a big help." Alaska Anchorage's team Cloud State and two ties shivered through a season of against red-hot Wisconsin. Fournier is the team's second- futility in 2002-3, winning only leading scorer with 6 goals one game over all and none in The Seawolves (7-7-2, 4-6-2), and 10 assists, behind his the Western Collegiate who have won three straight fellow sophomore Curtis Hockey Association, finishing games, are tied for sixth place Glenncross (nine goals, nine 1-28-7. in the conference with Colo- assists). rado College (9-4-3, 4-4-2). "To say that last year was a They have beaten the de- Asked if he had any advice for debacle would be putting it fending N.C.A.A. champion, Coach Kevin Sneddon of mildly," John Hill, the third- Minnesota, and tied Denver Vermont (0-11-2, 0-6 Hockey year coach, said. "It was tough and St. Cloud State. East), the only Division I team on all of us." without a victory this season, When they return to play on Hill said: "He's going to get This season the Seawolves Jan. 9, they will visit No. 1 through it. You find out a lot headed into a nearly month- North Dakota (11-2, 7-1). about the people around you. long holiday break at .500 and Stick with the young kids in fresh off a startling sweep of "I know that there's still a lot of his program that he feels are Colorado College, the hockey to play," Hill said. "But going to be at the core of the league's defending regular- I think that we can compete future. Play them, stick by season champion. Alaska An- with any team in our league them. And just know that it's chorage defeated the visiting right now, and certainly, a year going to pass." Tigers last weekend by scores ago, this wasn't the case." of 5-2 and 3-1. W.C.H.A. Hill, a 1988 graduate of Alaska "Saturday they probably de- Anchorage, rotates two senior Power in Play in Wisconsin served to win," Hill said of goaltenders, Reiter and Chris Colorado College. "They out- King, who he believes make Wisconsin has been playing shot us, two to one. Kevin up the best goaltending tan- well during a team-record- Reiter, our goalie, was just dem in the league. tying 14-game unbeaten outstanding and certainly the streak, but few would have difference in the game. Even at the lowest point of expected the Badgers to take last season, Hill said he knew 4 points from Minnesota State "We got down Friday night, 2- things would be different this on the same night. It hap- zip, and a year ago, if we'd fall. pened after the lights went gotten down, 2-zip, the game out at Kohl Center in Madison, would have been over." "Our young players, our Wis., with 5 minutes 8 sec- freshmen, got to play quite a onds remaining in Friday Granted, Colorado College bit, and I think they developed night's game.