Article published November 12, 2008
UM players relish 3rd victory
But coach cuts revelry short so they can focus on Northwestern
Michigan's Kevin Koger, top, congratulates wide receiver Greg Matthews, center, after his eight-yard touchdown catch against Minnesota on Saturday.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
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By JOE VARDON
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
Win or lose, Michigan employs a common rule in which its players and coaches must put the past game out of their minds 24 hours after it ended.
Wolverines coach Rich Rodriguez might amend the 24-hour rule ever so slightly this week now that UM is finally coming off a victory - last weekend's 29-6 triumph over Minnesota.
Rodriguez doesn't want his players celebrating rather than preparing for Northwestern, but he would like them to hold onto the positive feelings that come with success after five consecutive losses.
"I would say more than anything it's a confidence level," Rodriguez said during yesterday's Big Ten coaches teleconference.
At 3-7 in his first season at UM, Rodriguez has had to implement his system mostly in the midst of some ugly losses. Beating Minnesota should at least lighten the mood at practice this week.
"Hopefully it gets them excited about preparation," Rodriguez said. "That's what I want - all of our players to be excited about preparation. And this week's ball game, it's a big one, the seniors' last home game, and I think they will be [excited]."Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald has the Wildcats at 7-3 in his third season after going 4-8 and 6-6 in his first two campaigns. Though Fitzgerald's circumstances differ from Rodriguez's arrival at UM - Fitzgerald played at Northwestern and was an assistant there from 2001-05 - he said it can take time for any new coach's system to take hold.
"Coach Rodriguez, his staff, [and] the young men in that locker room have done a great job staying the course, and it is evident to me that they've gotten better each week," Fitzgerald said. "All you've got to do is look no further than the performance they had on Saturday against Minnesota."
INJURY UPDATE: Rodriguez said quarterback Steven Threet (concussion) felt better and was optimistic that Threet would split reps with quarterback Nick Sheridan at practice yesterday.
Running back Brandon Minor (shoulder, ribs, wrist) was not going to practice yesterday but still could play, if only a little, against Northwestern.
"He's a tough guy and I'm sure if he's able to go at all in practice this week he will," Rodriguez said. "Our hope is that even if he doesn't practice much, we know he's going to know what to do, that hopefully he'll be able to do something for us on Saturday."
THE DON: Both Rodriguez and Fitzgerald fielded questions about former Wildcats coach Randy Walker and his staff visiting Clemson several years ago when Rodriguez was offensive coordinator there to learn the spread offense.
Northwestern, like many schools throughout the Big Ten and nationally, now runs the spread.
"Coach Rodriguez is kind of the godfather of the spread offense," Fitzgerald said.
NO HUDDLE: Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said his players have watched film on the Wolverines all season. "Our guys know that those guys are playing like crazy," Tressel said. The Buckeyes host UM next weekend. … In a game with huge implications for Ohio State, Indiana will play Penn State with two banged-up quarterbacks. Kellen Lewis is battling an ankle injury and Ben Chappell left last weeks' game after he collided with a Wisconsin defender. Coach Bill Lynch said he hopes both will be available this weekend. … Purdue coach Joe Tiller said even if senior quarterback Curtis Painter (shoulder) can play against Iowa, redshirt freshman Justin Siller would start and the two may alternate series. … Minnesota receiver Eric Decker (ankle) will not play against Wisconsin.
Contact Joe Vardon at:
jvardon@theblade.com
or 419-410-5055.
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