Husker News Reports

[SIZE=14pt]Ex-Husker Gill is a finalist for job at Buffalo U[/SIZE]

Former Nebraska quarterback Turner Gill is a finalist to take over as head coach of Buffalo, a program that has never had a winning season.

Gill, currently in his first year as the Green Bay Packers’ director of player development, was on the Buffalo campus Wednesday completing interviews for the job, athletic department spokesman Paul Vecchio said.

Vecchio referred to Gill as a finalist for the position, while noting first-year athletic director Warde Manuel is considering other candidates. Vecchio wouldn’t say who those other candidates were or provide a timetable on when a new coach will be hired to replace Jim Hofher.

Hofher, fired with two games left this season, was allowed to complete the year in which the Bulls finished 1-10. He had an 8-49 record in five seasons at Buffalo.

The program has not had a winning season and has gone 10-69 since making the jump to the Division I-A level by joining the Mid-American Conference in 1999.

Packers coach Mike Sherman said Wednesday he and Gill have discussed the opportunity, but Sherman was not aware of any decision being made.

Although the 43-year-old Gill has not served as a head coach, he has extensive experience as an assistant and is regarded as an able recruiter. His high-profile background would also bolster Buffalo’s image nationally, something Manuel considered a priority after he dismissed Hofher.

Before joining the Packers, Gill spent 13 years as an assistant at Nebraska, mostly coaching quarterbacks. During his tenure, the Huskers won three national championships and Gill coached Eric Crouch, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2001

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[SIZE=14pt]NU football notebook[/SIZE]

If Alamo Bowl workouts are any indication, Nebraska’s offense might be ready to pick up where it left off in the Huskers’ last game, a 30-3 dismantling of Colorado last month.

“I see the offense getting better every day,” Husker sophomore weakside linebacker Bo Ruud said Wednesday. “It used to be we’d dominate the offense every day. Now they seem to be winning about half of the time, which they never did before. You see bigger improvements on offense, I think.”

Nebraska (7-4) continued preparation for the Dec. 28 Alamo Bowl against Michigan (7-4) with a two-hour practice inside the new Championship Indoor Center just north of Memorial Stadium.

Several Husker players were absent because they were taking final exams. However, NU coach Bill Callahan said his team accomplished a lot.

The Huskers, riding a two-game win streak, began an “introductory phase of what Michigan is going to give us,” the coach said. He said the Wolverines’ offense doesn’t closely resemble any NU faced this season.

“They’re unique,” Callahan said. “They have a system they’ve employed for a number of years.”

Nebraska coaches have used bowl workouts as an opportunity to increase practice repetitions for younger players and reserves, allowing many veterans to rest and recover from minor injuries. True freshman defensive end Barry Turner, for instance, has been spending ample time at strongside linebacker, where fifth-year senior Adam Ickes typically starts.

“We backed down on some of those seniors and other guys we wanted to get rested,” Callahan said.

Ruud expects intensity in practice to pick up a notch next week as the bowl game nears.

“Then the guys will start getting after it really hard,” he said. “Right now, we’re healing up and staying in a rhythm. That’s kind of what we’re trying to accomplish right now.”

-- HOT TICKET: Nebraska has sold about 11,500 tickets to the Alamo Bowl. The Huskers last week had to request more tickets after exceeding their allotment of 10,800. “From what I’ve heard from fans and my friends and family, it seems like everybody wants to go,” Ruud said. “It should be a lot of fun on the Riverwalk.”

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[SIZE=14pt]NU volleyball notebook[/SIZE]

Nebraska had three players named first-team All-Americans for the first time since 1995. Both Melissa Elmer and Sarah Pavan were named to the first team for the second year in a row. It was the first honor for junior Christina Houghtelling.

All three players will be up for national player of the year honors, which will be announced Friday.

One surprise omission from Wednesday’s All-America announcement was Nebraska’s Jordan Larson, who many considered a candidate for freshman of the year. Nicole Fawcett of Penn State, one of two freshmen named to the first, second or third teams, received that honor. Five other freshmen were honorable mention selections.

Nebraska’s Jennifer Saleaumua was named a third-team All-American by the coaches’ selection committee.

Among the other honorees were Missouri’s Lindsey Hunter (first team) and Nicole Wilson (honorable mention). Both are Nebraska natives. Former Husker libero Amanda McCormick, now of Ball State, was an honorable mention selection.

-- FEELS LIKE HOME: Officials are expecting a near-capacity crowd of 12,000 for tonight’s semifinals. The court has been set up on the east end of the dome, with a large curtain separating the playing area from the remainder of the facility. “For a dome, I’m impressed with how the set up is,” Nebraska head coach John Cook said. “It should look good on TV.”

-- NAME CHANGE: In her eastern European accent, Washington’s Sanja Tomasevic referred to the tournament as “The Fabulous Four,” during the Huskies’ news conference. Washington has called Texas home for a week now after playing in the Texas A&M regional last weekend. “I’m glad we stayed,” Washington coach Jim McLaughlin said. “I like our approach and I like the look.”

-- FAUTSCH REUNION: Former Nebraska player Kelsey Fautsch is at the final four this weekend as a starter for Tennessee. A junior, Fautsch has been key for the Lady Vols since switching from the right side to the left earlier this season. “She has improved just like our whole team has improved,” Tennessee coach Rob Patrick said. ... Former Husker assistant coach Craig Skinner, now the head coach at Kentucky, shared hugs with several of the Huskers following Wednesday’s workout.

-- DON’T BLAME THE BABY: Making it to the final four has taken some of the heat off young Whitney Wallace, the new daughter of Santa Clara coach Jon Wallace. After the baby was born Nov. 12, Santa Clara lost three straight.

[SIZE=14pt]Wolverines find themselves in unfamiliar position[/SIZE]

Never mind that Michigan will be playing in a December bowl game for the first time since 1995.

Nor the fact that many of its fans are acting as if they’d rather stand in line to pay for a photo with Santa than buy tickets for a San Antonio getaway.

The Wolverines want you to believe they’re jacked about playing Nebraska in the Dec. 28 Alamo Bowl.

“I’ve played in the Rose Bowl (twice) and the Outback Bowl, and the pressure’s all the same,” senior co-captain and defensive tackle Pat Massey said Wednesday. “The pressure is to perform well and come out with a win — it doesn’t matter where you’re playing or who you’re playing.

“This is absolutely a huge game for us.”

The last time Michigan played a postseason game before New Year’s Day was the 1995 Alamo Bowl, where it lost to Texas A&M 22-20.

The Wolverines — who started this season 3-3, then won four straight games before blowing a fourth-quarter lead in their last contest, against Ohio State — are back in San Antonio for the first time since then because the Outback Bowl opted to select Iowa, a team they beat and finished tied with for third place in the Big Ten Conference.

Initially, some players expressed disappointment over the snub.

Apparently, they’ve moved on.

“We’ve got a great opportunity,” said Massey, who believes what happens in the Alamo Bowl will skew how people look at Michigan and Nebraska entering next season. “We didn’t finish the season the way we wanted to, and this bowl game presents the opportunity to show we are a good team.”

Coach Lloyd Carr, who is 5-5 in bowl games, agreed with Massey about the Alamo Bowl’s importance.

“Winning a bowl always creates momentum for next year,” Carr said.

Michigan will be participating in a bowl for the 31st straight year, a string that is tops among NCAA Division I-A programs. The Wolverines assumed that position last year, when Nebraska’s NCAA-record 35-year run ended after the Huskers failed to qualify by going 5-6.

If you want a gauge on what Michigan’s streak means to its players, talk to Jake Long. The Wolverines were 4-3 entering the game at Iowa and Long, a second-year offensive tackle, had been unable to play because of an ankle injury he suffered in August. Although he wasn’t slated to return until, at best, the Ohio State game, Long made his debut at the outset of Michigan’s second-quarter touchdown drive against the Hawkeyes, then played nearly the entire second half and overtime to help it notch a key win.

“A lot of the press, and people, were saying we might not make it,” Long said of bowl eligibility, “I don’t believe it ever crossed our minds.

“That’s definitely one thing we take with great pride. That’ll always be our main goal every year, try to make the bowl game. It could happen to any team (where you) just have a freak year and not make it. (But) it’s in the back of our mind to make sure it doesn’t happen to us.”

Michigan’s four losses — to Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ohio State — were by a combined 17 points. The Wolverines took some of the sting off those tough losses by winning nail-biters against Michigan State, Penn State and Iowa.

“It was up and down through the whole year, but you’ve got to stay focused, stay happy and just believe,” said senior outside linebacker Pierre Woods. “We never stopped fighting.”

That spirit, Woods said, will show up again Dec. 28, even though the Wolverines had higher aspirations.

“Every bowl game (has) a lot of meaning to it,” he said. “The seniors want to go out with a win, and then you’ve got the guys coming back next year (who) can start off on the right foot.

“You’ve got to go out and prepare, enjoy the game and love it. I know everybody on this team feels that way, and I’m sure Nebraska is the same way.”

Added sophomore quarterback Chad Henne: “We pride ourselves in a great tradition, and so does Nebraska. We’re just going to get after it and it’s going to be a great game.”

Briefly

-- Michigan might get a boost in the bowl game from sophomore tailback Mike Hart, who despite missing four games was the Wolverines’ leading rusher this season with 588 yards. Hart, who had a hamstring injury, is working his way back from a high ankle sprain and said his availability will be a game-week decision.

-- The Wolverines were tabbed in a preseason poll of media who cover the Big Ten as the choice to win the league. They went from being the favorite to being a survivor largely because of injuries. According to Carr, by season’s end (barring further injuries), 19 players will have either had or require surgery.

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[SIZE=14pt] NU coaches study youth [/SIZE]

The Nebraska football team continued its bowl game preparations Wednesday with a two-hour practice inside the Championship Indoor Center.

Several players have been absent from workouts this week because of finals week at the university, but coach Bill Callahan said the team was still able to focus and put in a successful practice.

"There were quite a few players missing at practice, but we got a lot of work done," Callahan said. "It's just good to get out, throw the ball, play some coverage and use some basic fundamentals. All in all it was a good day."

With the high number of players missing from workouts, Husker coaches have utilized the opportunity to move younger players onto the field this week. Two notable position experiments included using freshman Barry Turner at the SAM linebacker spot and freshman Jeff Souder at WILL linebacker frequently during the last two practices.

"We backed down on some of those seniors and other guys we wanted to get rested," Callahan said. "It's good exposure for a lot of players in the two- and three-deep (depth chart) to try and get as many reps as we could for down the line play. That's what we did this week in terms of developmental practices. We got a lot of young guys reps, and a lot of young guys on the field one-on-one."

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[SIZE=14pt]Hawkins close to completing a deal that would bring him to CU[/SIZE]

Boise State coach Dan Hawkins was close to completing a deal that would bring him to Colorado to replace Gary Barnett.

A person familiar with the negotiations, who spoke on condition of anonymity because a deal is still pending, told The Associated Press that the school hoped to introduce Hawkins as CU's coach on Friday. The contract must first be approved by the CU Board of Regents.

"Dan Hawkins is the type of coach who represents virtually every expectation that I outlined," CU athletic director Mike Bohn told Denver station KUSA-TV. "And if we're fortunate enough to get this completed and have Dan Hawkins announced as our coach, then we will have been very, very successful and we will be well on our way to restoring a sense of pride in the Golden Buffaloes."

Bohn did not immediately return messages left on his cell phone by AP.

Hawkins, who first interviewed with CU on Saturday, canceled a recruiting trip set for this week. Asked about negotiations with Colorado on Tuesday, he told the Idaho Statesman that "the process isn't complete."

Hawkins is 53-9 in five seasons at Boise State. He is currently in the first year of a five-year contract extension that includes an $850,000 buyout if he leaves before the end of this season and $700,000 if he completes the season. The Broncos play Boston College on Dec. 28 in the MPC Computers Bowl.

CU came to a $3 million settlement with Barnett last week. He was forced out with a year left on his contract.

The university loaned the athletic department the money to pay Barnett. The athletic department will use revenue from the 12th game on upcoming schedules to repay the loan, and may have to pay for Hawkins' buyout in the same manner.

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[SIZE=14pt]Shatel: First downs and second guesses[/SIZE]

Remember when the only way you could get Nebraska football tickets was in a will?

Mark the date: Dec. 13, 2005. That was the day that Nebraska football season tickets went on sale. The last time many were available was 1972. Back then it cost $6 a game to watch Johnny Rodgers win the Heisman.

Then came Tuesday, when NU put the 6,500 new north end zone seats up for sale. Let the stampede begin.

Stampede? The coffee-cup speculation about a month ago was that athletic director Steve Pederson was going to have a hard time selling the seats, which will be located just below the biggest TV screen in the state of Nebraska. That was then. This is now.

Now the Huskers are coming off the biggest win for the program in four years, a feel-good win about the future. Yes, it's the perfect time to roll out the season-ticket campaign.

Would Pederson have sold these now had the Huskers lost to Colorado? Probably not. But that's called good marketing.

The majority of the new seats will require a donation, which is just in time for tax season next month. More good marketing.

Meanwhile, 1,000 seats were reserved for folks "who are not in a position to make a contribution." Take a poll and about 78,000 in that stadium will say they qualify for that status.

• Thanks to Title IX, a generation of daddies are now watching their athletic legacies carried out on the women's sports fields and courts. Exhibit A: Nebraska volleyball.

Dani Busboom's father, Gene, was a two-time all-stater in football and basketball at Adams (Neb.) High. He also throws a mean fast-pitch softball.

Christina Houghtelling's father, Ken, scored 587 points in basketball at Cambridge, Neb., a school record. He also had 42 in one game.

Melissa Elmer's father, Dave, played college basketball at Duke (1972) and Miami of Ohio (1973-75).

Tracy Stalls' father, Dave, played eight years in the National Football League, including Super Bowls with Dallas (1977 and 1978) and Oakland (1983). He also played with Denver in the U.S. Football League.

Also, Rachel Holloway's older brother, Tillman, is a former All-America offensive lineman at Texas, and her grandfather, Bud McFadin, was a two-time All-American at Texas and is in the College Football Hall of Fame.

• Interestingly enough, former NU star Alex Gordon - who just signed with the Kansas City Royals in August - will visit Omaha today as part of the Royals winter caravan, along with manager Buddy Bell, John Buck and Denny Matthews.

It's a good move by the Royals, good public relations. Unfortunately, this will probably be Gordon's only visit to Omaha. He's expected to start in Wichita next season. You know what that means. His next move will be to K.C. If he's as good as expected, Gordon may never have a Royals at-bat in Omaha.

• If they promise to avoid another effort like Sunday's, the season is far from over for Barry Collier and Husker Hoops. In fact, another opportunity looms: It's called the Big 12 season. Man, the Big 12 is extremely average so far and figures to get only slightly better. This season is the perfect chance for a lower-division dweller like NU, Kansas State or Colorado to make a power move up.

But what's up with Aleks Maric? Maybe too many games and too much travel last summer are catching up to the big Aussie.

• How crazy is it? ESPN.com's Joe Lunardi has K-State and Colorado in his latest 2006 NCAA bracket guess and Kansas and Oklahoma State out.

Of course, maybe the crazy part is trying to guess the NCAA tournament field on Dec. 13.

Lunardi also has Wichita State and Missouri State as his two Valley entries in the NCAA tournament. Not Northern Iowa.

Creighton? The Jays have a long road ahead. It will be interesting to see how long CU can sustain last Sunday's effort.

• What's up with Kansas basketball? Well, a few years ago they got a new coach, Bill Self. He changed the system and the program's way of playing, the old players didn't buy in, they had a rough finish last year, and now Self's recruits are taking their lumps. But they'll be a handful later in the year. Hmmm. Sound familiar?

• I hope Turner Gill gets that University of Buffalo job. I would love to see what Gill can do.

• The NCAA says it's going to start some of next June's College World Series games later - like 8 p.m. later - because of ESPN's coverage of World Cup soccer. Why don't they just show the CWS games as usual and break into the World Cup when somebody scores?

• The latest name to come up in the Colorado football coaching search is Glen Mason. He must need a raise at Minnesota.

• The Pittsburgh Penguins-to-Kansas City rumors are interesting. Or, as Chicago Tribune columnist Mike Downey wrote, "If they can have Jazz in Utah, I suppose you can have Penguins in Kansas City."

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[SIZE=14pt]Soph likes QB tradition at Michigan[/SIZE]

Chad Henne is reciting the names, but the list is long and he's bound to leave somebody out.

John Navarre. Tom Brady. Todd Collins. Brian Griese.

They all preceded him as Michigan starting quarterbacks. Then headed for the NFL.

Henne thinks for a second before coming up with Drew Henson, and eventually Scott Dreisbach and Elvis Grbac with a little help. But you get the point. He knows the lineage.

"It's definitely a great tradition," Henne said.

With that, Henne sums up a clear understanding of what he got himself into when he signed with Michigan. Through his two seasons in Ann Arbor, he's embraced what it's all about.

"There's always going to be pressure on the quarterback spot here, but that's why you came here," Henne said. "You came here to perform at your best ability, and hopefully you'll be remembered just like they were."

Starting QB's Michigan's starting quarterbacks since 1990 (* - denotes currently on NFL roster)

• John Navarre, 2001-2003

• Drew Henson*, 1999-2000

• Tom Brady*, 1998-1999

• Brian Griese*, 1995-1997

• Scott Dreisbach, 1996

• Todd Collins*, 1993-1994

• Elvis Grbac, 1990-1992.

• Note: Henson and Brady split time in 1999; Griese and Dreisbach split in 1996.

Henne's final game of his sophomore season will be Dec. 28 against Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl. After his 24th start, he will boast statistics that have him on pace to break every major passing record at Michigan.

Pretty good stuff considering all those aforementioned names.

"I never expected him to go into Michigan and start from day one, but I did honestly expect him to be a star someday," said Jim Cantafio, Henne's coach at Wilson High in West Lawn, Pa. "And I'd be shocked if he didn't.

"Even when he was a freshman in high school, I remember telling the local newspapers he would be the best player to come out of this area, and that includes having Jeff Smoker and Kerry Collins come through our league."

Michigan's propensity for developing quarterbacks wasn't lost on Henne as he made his choice. Every UM starter since 1989 has played in the NFL. With five currently on NFL rosters, the Wolverines have more than any other college program.

In Scot Loeffler, Cantafio said, UM has one of the best quarterback coaches in the country. Henne also was impressed by the Wolverine offense and talent that would surround him.

"When people really look at what they've done with their quarterbacks the last 15 years, it's amazing," Cantafio said. "Chad wants to be an NFL quarterback, and Michigan is going to prepare him exceptionally well to make that jump."

That's all getting ahead of things for the 6-foot-2, 225-pounder, who has already thrown for nearly 5,000 yards and 45 touchdowns. His passing yards are down slightly from his freshman year, but his numbers are similar in most other categories.

Maybe Henne raised the bar on himself, because a slow start this season had people asking what was wrong. But the quarterback who doesn't mind high expectations said the questions didn't bother him.

"It's all how you handle it," Henne said. "Actually, this year I felt a lot more comfortable."

What really bothers Henne is that Michigan is 7-4 after going 10-2 and playing in the Rose Bowl last season - and that he and his teammates could have made a play or two to change that record.

The news media have been critical at times, but Cantafio said Henne's trips through both the positives and negatives of being a big-time quarterback should set him up for his biggest season next fall.

"I think he takes in all those experiences," Cantafio said, "and the next couple of years you're going to see a phenomenal quarterback in Chad Henne."

Henne is among the best Nebraska will see this season. The Huskers even wanted him once upon a time.

Frank Solich and Turner Gill, then the Huskers' head coach and quarterbacks coach, were among those who rushed to visit Henne three years ago. They told Henne they were ready to commit to throwing the football, and they would change the offense to fit him.

But a few months before his senior year, and after Solich had been replaced by Bill Callahan, Henne trimmed his list to Michigan, Tennessee, Miami, Georgia and Penn State.

The Huskers "were heavily recruiting me, and I was interested," Henne said. "I just didn't know if I wanted to go that far away from home."

At Michigan, head coach Lloyd Carr speaks highly of Henne's arm and leadership. His development continues to be a work in progress, much like when Navarre, Griese and Grbac were Wolverine starters as sophomores.

In fact, Henne actually has something on all of those UM greats. He was the first Michigan true freshman to start a whole season at quarterback and the first true freshman to lead a team to a Big Ten Conference championship.

"It's just been a great opportunity here," Henne said. "That's why most quarterbacks want to come here."

[SIZE=14pt]Wolverines want to avoid five-loss season in Alamo Bowl [/SIZE]

A year ago, the Michigan football team spent its holiday break preparing to play in its second straight Rose Bowl against a nationally ranked opponent.

But next week, the Wolverines will leave for San Antonio, where they will make their first December postseason appearance in 10 years -- well removed from college football's brightest spotlight and well out of the hunt for a national title.

Michigan (7-4) faces Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl Dec. 28 and the team is hoping to salvage what, in Michigan football terms, has been a disappointing season that culminated in a 25-21 loss to rival Ohio State in the regular season's final game.

A victory, Michigan players said Wednesday, would allow the Wolverines to finish the year on a positive note, and to avoid becoming the first Michigan team since 1984 to finish a season with five or more losses. Bo Schembechler's 1984 squad finished the year 6-6 after dropping a 24-17 Holiday Bowl decision to Brigham Young.

This year, Michigan accepted an Alamo Bowl invitation after Outback Bowl officials chose to invite Iowa to its Jan. 2 game even though the Wolverines finished with the same record as the Hawkeyes and won the regular-season meeting between the two teams.

"We get what we deserve," sophomore quarterback Chad Henne said. "We definitely don't want to go down with a loss. Nobody wants to have five losses. I don't know how long it's been since a team here has had five losses and we don't want to be that team."

Wolverines coach Lloyd Carr said Wednesday that the process that landed his team in San Antonio rather than Tampa had caused him to rethink his position on a playoff system that would determine college football's national champion.

"You have the (conference) commissioners, the bowl people, the TV people doing the (bowl) scheduling," Carr said. "I think it's only fair to the players that what happens on the field should dictate where you play. I never thought I would say this, but I think we should go to a playoff and do it on the field. I think that's only fair to the guys that play the game.

"The bowl games have always been a reward for what you do in the season. When you choose teams based on their ability to sell more tickets or fill more hotel rooms, I think that's unacceptable."

Players on Wednesday downplayed Michigan's nine-year January bowl run coming to an end, stressing instead the importance of playing well against Nebraska and laying the foundation for next season. A bowl victory is a bowl victory, players said, moving past the disappointment of being overlooked for a trip to Tampa's Outback Bowl.

The last time Michigan failed to earn a January bowl berth came in Carr's first year at Michigan when the Wolverines lost to Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl following the 1995 season.

"It still feels the same. It still feels like a January bowl, it's just a couple days early," senior outside linebacker Pierre Woods said. "Are we disappointed? No. Disappointment is Tennessee. They're not going to a bowl game."

Michigan has practiced three times in preparation for its game with Nebraska and will practice five more times before leaving for San Antonio late next week.

Like his players, Carr expressed excitement in facing Nebraska regardless of the date and location of the bowl game. Michigan has played in each of the last two Rose Bowls, losing to Southern California and Texas.

"It's different because we'll be coming home earlier," Carr said. "But from the standpoint of being able to play a game, it doesn't matter if you're going to play in a parking lot, it doesn't matter where you're going to play. It doesn't matter who's there. It's an opportunity to play."

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[SIZE=14pt]Carr should squash his sour grapes [/SIZE]

Thursday, December 15, 2005

By Jim Carty

News Sports Columnist

You happy now, Outback Bowl guys?

Thanks to you picking Iowa over Michigan, now we've gotta have a college football playoff.

That was it. The last straw. The final injustice that made it clear to one and all - or at least Wolverines coach Lloyd Carr - that college football is totally and irreparably broken.

"I just don't think the commissioners and the bowl people and the TV people should make these decisions about who plays where,'' Carr said Wednesday when asked if it was fair that his team played in the less prestigious Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, while Iowa - a team the Wolverines beat and had the same record as - gets picked to play in the Outback in Tampa, Fla. "When you choose teams based on their ability to sell more tickets, or fill more hotel rooms, that's unacceptable.

"The bowl games have always been a reward for what you do in the season. It's only fair to the players what happens on the field dictates where you should play. For that reason - I never thought I would say this - I think we should go to a playoff.''

A 16-team playoff, to be exact, which, it has to be pointed out, wouldn't solve Carr's problem with the Outback Bowl.

At least not if it used the final Bowl Championship Series standings, which don't include either the Wolverines (ranked 20th) or Iowa (unranked) in the top 16, to determine matchups.

So both teams would still fall to a secondary bowl, which would partially base its invites on economic factors, i.e. who brings more fans or better television ratings, as the Outback just did by selecting Iowa.

So, even with a playoff, Carr could find himself right back where he was Monday, annoyed that Kirk Ferentz's kids are playing in a New Year's Day bowl just because Iowa's fans travel better.

And it's OK to be annoyed.

It would just be smarter not to admit it.

Carr knows this, on some level. He just can't help himself.

And, basically being the Great Oz of his own little empire, he's got nobody around him except Mrs. Carr to pull him aside and say, "Um, Lloyd, you're too smart a guy to look like a sore loser this often.''

Yes, coach, Southeastern Conference teams might be allowed to sign more recruits than Big Ten teams, but bringing it up the day after getting pummeled by Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl can't look like anything but sour grapes.

Yes, Oregon's field had the vertical drop of a small ski hill, but there's no way to mention that after getting pasted by the Ducks and not look petty.

Ditto for the dog search outrage after losing at Ohio State.

And the comments about wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez maybe stepping out of bounds in a key spot during this year's loss to the Buckeyes ...

Just let it go.

Because when you don't, it makes you look ... well ... small, especially in this case, considering Michigan's history of commanding prime bowl positions over other Big Ten teams with equal - or better - conference records.

Next time, coach, have a little more fun. Anyone who's spent a couple of Monday afternoon press conferences with you knows you can.

Rave about how much more you enjoy Tex-Mex than a Bloomin' Onion. Point out that Jim Bowie never fought to the death over anything in Tampa.

You'll be happier.

You'll look more lovable.

And you can still take solace in the fact that, win or lose, you won't have to go back to Iowa.

Jim Carty can be reached at jcarty@annarbornews.com or (734) 994-6815

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"I just don't think the commissioners and the bowl people and the TV people should make these decisions about who plays where,'' Carr said Wednesday when asked if it was fair that his team played in the less prestigious Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, while Iowa - a team the Wolverines beat and had the same record as - gets picked to play in the Outback in Tampa, Fla. "When you choose teams based on their ability to sell more tickets, or fill more hotel rooms, that's unacceptable.

Click to expand...

Nebraska is gonna make you wish you never played in this bowl. I could understand if Michigan was playing Utah or Boise or UTEP for that matter but his comments are just flat out an insult to the Nebraska coaches, fans, and University. I hope we DRILL those son's of bitches and do to them what Tech did to Cal last year

I so want to see him b!^@h and cry after we clobber them.

I could understand if Michigan was playing Utah or Boise or UTEP for that matter but his comments are just flat out an insult to the Nebraska coaches, fans, and University.

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Wow, there's a conceited, elitist comment. I can assure you it would be an insult to Utah, Boise STATE or UTEP just as it is to Nebraska. In fact, it would probably be more of an insult to Boise State because they have had more success recently.

"I just don't think the commissioners and the bowl people and the TV people should make these decisions about who plays where,'' Carr said Wednesday when asked if it was fair that his team played in the less prestigious Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, while Iowa - a team the Wolverines beat and had the same record as - gets picked to play in the Outback in Tampa, Fla. "When you choose teams based on their ability to sell more tickets, or fill more hotel rooms, that's unacceptable.

Click to expand...

Nebraska is gonna make you wish you never played in this bowl. I could understand if Michigan was playing Utah or Boise or UTEP for that matter but his comments are just flat out an insult to the Nebraska coaches, fans, and University. I hope we DRILL those son's of bitches and do to them what Tech did to Cal last year

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[SIZE=14pt]I'm feelin the same way NH....lets just continue to be that sleeping giant and everytime they make comments like this just nod your head and smile. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=14pt]On a side note, it's now being reported that Coach Gill has been named the head coach of Buffalo. I am a Buffalo fan. [/SIZE]

Congrats coach Gill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Im joining the Buffalo fan club. Does anyone know the web address for their forum?