Thursday, November 06, 2003

By Ray Fittipaldo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Michigan Wolverines can enjoy their week off knowing they now control their own destiny for the Rose Bowl.

After beating Michigan State, 27-20, Saturday, Michigan (8-2, 5-1) leads by a half-game over Ohio State (8-1, 4-1), Michigan State (7-2, 4-1) and Purdue (7-2, 4-1) and by a game or game and a half over Iowa (7-2, 3-2), Minnesota (8-2, 4-2) and Wisconsin (6-3, 3-2).

The Wolverines will like their perch even more after this week. All of the teams looking up at them in the standings play each other Saturday. Michigan State plays at Ohio State, Wisconsin plays at Minnesota and Iowa plays at Purdue.

After its off week, Michigan plays at Northwestern and then at home to close the season against Ohio State.

There is the possibility the conference champion(s) will have multiple losses for only the second time since 1990. Michigan, Northwestern and Purdue shared the championship in 2000 with 6-2 records.

"It's a dogfight at the top," Michigan State coach John L. Smith said. "I feel like it could happen. Will it happen? I doubt it. The conference champion will have one loss. I don't know why I feel that way, but I think it will work out like that."

Isn't it ironic?

If Penn State fans are looking for a scapegoat in Saturday's 21-20 loss to Ohio State, don't look to the officials, look to Ohio State athletic director Andy Geiger.

Penn State coach Joe Paterno said he had 66 votes last spring that favored using instant replay this season. He had the votes of the 11 coaches and the 55 officials in the conference. David Parry, the supervisor of officials, confirmed his group fully supported such a move. That left it up to the athletic directors to pass the measure. It failed, 6-5. Geiger cast the deciding vote.

"He said he didn't think we needed it," Paterno said.

Record breaker

Purdue receiver John Standeford broke the conference record for career receiving yards in the Boliermakers' 34-14 victory Saturday against Northwestern.

Standeford, a 6-foot-4, 191-pound senior from Monrovia, Ind., had four receptions for 88 yards against the Wildcats, giving him 3,418 career yards. He broke the record of former Illinois receiver David Williams, who had 3,392 yards from 1983-85.

"For him to be in first place, to us, is nothing short of remarkable in light of the fact that when he first got here we didn't think he was going to play for us for a year or two," Purdue coach Joe Tiller said. "Of course, he started as a true freshman, had a good freshman year, and that's why he's in the position he is today."

Standeford needs 22 more receptions to break Williams' record for career receptions (262).

What's up, Doc?

Indiana coach Gerry DiNardo has a long way to go in rebuilding the Hoosiers' program. Apparently, high on the list of improvements is a better line of communication with the school's medical staff.

DiNardo learned Friday night at a Minneapolis hotel that starting quarterback Matt LoVecchio would not be available because of a concussion. Backup Graeme McFarland had to play, and Minnesota routed the Hoosiers, 55-7.

"Letting the head coach know Friday night that the quarterback who practiced all week cannot play is a flaw in our organization and our system, but it's also an indication of the work we have to do on and off the field to build a program," DiNardo said.

In the rankings

The Big Ten is the only conference to place three teams among the top 10 in both major polls, as No. 7/6 Ohio State, No. 8/8 Michigan and No. 10/10 Iowa all appear in the first 10 of The Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today rankings. Six conference teams are in the top 25 of both polls, which leads all conferences, as the three top 10 programs are joined by No. 14/15 Michigan State, No. 16/14 Purdue and No. 24/18 Minnesota.

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