Weekly Release #12
11/12/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
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#12 Ohio State (8-2, 5-2 Big Ten)
Saturday, November 18, 2000 (Noon EST)
Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Complete Release in PDF (16 pages, 170 KB)
Projected Attendance: 95,346-plus
Radio Coverage: WJR (760 AM Detroit) will originate the game on the Michigan Football Network. Frank Beckmann handles play-by-play, Jim Brandstatter is the analyst and Steve Courtney provides sideline reports and analysis. WUOM (91.7 FM) has Tom Hemingway doing play-by-play and Tom Slade as analyst.
TV Coverage: ABC Sports will broadcast the game to a national audience. Brad Nessler handles play-by-play duties, Bob Griese provides commentary and Lynn Swann covers the sidelines.
Series History: Michigan and Ohio State will meet on the gridiron for the 97th time, with the Wolverines holding a 55-35-6 advantage in the series. U-M has a 26-19-2 record at Ohio State and is 20-18-1 at Ohio Stadium. The Wolverines have compiled a 7-2-1 record in the last 10 meetings between the schools, but lost 31-16 in their last appearance at Ohio Stadium (1998). Head coach Lloyd Carr has a 4-1 record against the Buckeyes.
Last Meeting: (No. 10 Michigan 24, Ohio State 17 -- Michigan Stadium, November 20, 1999) An NCAA-record 111,575 fans witnessed Michigan score two touchdowns in the final 16 minutes to beat Ohio State 24-17. Anthony Thomas led U-M with 111 rushing yards on 31 carries, while adding five receptions for 51 yards. Tom Brady went 17-of-27 for 150 yards and tossed two touchdown passes. Defensively, Cato June tallied a career-best 10 tackles and recovered one fumble. Tommy Hendricks added 10 tackles, forced a fumble, and recorded a sack. Ian Gold made nine tackles and an interception, while Dhani Jones registered eight stops (two TFL's) and a sack.
QUICKLY ON COACH CARR ...
Lloyd Carr (Northern Michigan, 1968)
Sixth season as Michigan Head Coach
56-16 overall record at Michigan; 36-11 Big Ten Conference Record
Lloyd Carr has a 7-3 record in his sixth year as Michigan's head coach. Carr posted a 32-5 record over the last three seasons (1997-1999) and led the Wolverines to three consecutive bowl victories (Rose, Citrus and Orange bowls). He was named the 1997 national coach of the year after guiding the program to a perfect 12-0 record and the Associated Press national championship. Carr led the Wolverines to back-to-back Big Ten Conference titles (1997-98), and his teams have finished in the top 20 nationally each of his first five years. Carr, previously a Michigan assistant coach for 15 years, began his college coaching career as a defensive backs coach at Eastern Michigan (1976-77) before joining Gary Moeller's staff at Illinois in the same role (1978-79). Carr came to Michigan in 1980 as Bo Schembechler's secondary coach. Carr served as defensive coordinator (1987-94) and was assistant head coach (1990-94).
2000 TOP STATISTICAL LEADERS ...
Rushing: Anthony Thomas (258 attempts, 1,491 yards, 16 TDs)
Passing: Drew Henson (117 completions, 192 attempts, 1,549 yards, 13 TDs)
Receiving: David Terrell (58 receptions, 895 yards, 11 TDs)
Punt Returns: Ronald Bellamy (24 returns for 295 yards, 48-yard long)
Kickoff Returns: Walter Cross (10 returns for 188 yards, 28-yard long)
Punting: Hayden Epstein (45 punts, 1,820 yards, 40.4 avg., 15 inside 20-yard line)
Tackles: DeWayne Patmon (71 -- 52 solo, 19 assists)
Sacks: Victor Hobson (3 for 12 yards)
Tackles for Loss: Larry Foote (9 for 21), Eric Brackins (9 for 31), Victor Hobson (9 for 31)
Interceptions: Todd Howard (6 for 1 yard)
Pass Break-ups: Todd Howard (11)
MICHIGAN TEAM AND PLAYER NOTES ...
"The Big Game"
Selected as the greatest rivalry in all of sport by ESPN.com in 1999, Michigan and Ohio State will meet for the 83rd consecutive year on the gridiron. The two programs have played every year since 1918, a streak that ranks ninth in Division I-A for the longest uninterrupted series. The overall series dates back to 1897, when the Wolverines claimed a 34-0 victory over the Buckeyes in Ann Arbor.
Televised for the 34th Consecutive Year; 45th Time Overall
The annual "Big Game" will be televised for the 45th overall time today and for the 34th consecutive year. Since 1967 every game in the series has been televised, including 17 national television appearances. This will be the 14th consecutive year that ABC Sports has televised the Michigan-Ohio State game, with all but the 1995 game being a national television broadcast. The first game ever televised between the two programs was a 21-0 win by the Wolverines in Ann Arbor during the 1947 national championship season.
U-M When Ranked 19th by the Associated Press
The Wolverines enter Columbus ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press media poll and No. 18 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' poll. Michigan has compiled an 8-3 record when ranked 19th in the AP poll, and has won six straight games when listed at that spot (2-1 all-time on the road). The Buckeyes, ranked No. 3 by the AP, beat No. 19 Michigan by a 31-14 score at Michigan Stadium on Nov. 23, 1957, the only game between the two programs when U-M was listed No. 19 by the AP.
| Date | Rank | Opponent | Site | Result |
| Oct. 7, 1950 | 19/-- | Dartmouth | H | W, 27-7 |
| Oct. 25, 1952 | 19/-- | Minnesota | H | W, 21-0 |
| Nov. 23, 1957 | 19/3 | Ohio State | H | L, 14-31 |
| Oct. 18, 1958 | 19/17 | Northwestern | A | L, 24-55 |
| Jan. 1, 1982 | 19/-- | UCLA | 1 | L, 14-24 |
| Sept. 21, 1985 | 19/11 | South Carolina | A | W, 34-3 |
| Sept. 19, 1987 | 19/-- | Washington State | H | W, 44-18 |
| Sept. 24, 1988 | 19/-- | Wake Forest | H | W, 19-9 |
| Oct. 1, 1988 | 19/-- | Wisconsin | A | W, 62-14 |
| Nov. 10, 1990 | 19/17 | Illinois | H | W, 22-17 |
| Nov. 12, 1994 | 19/-- | Minnesota | H | W, 38-22 |
1 -- Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif. | ||||
Two-Loss Conference Champion(s)
This will be the fourth time in the history of the Big Ten Conference that the champion(s) will have at least two losses in conference play. The winner of the Michigan-Ohio State game will earn at least a share of the conference crown, with Purdue and Northwestern also looking to claim a piece of the title. The Wolverines were a part of the last two-loss championship season, tying Michigan State, Illinois and Iowa in a four-way tie for the 1990 title (6-2 records). The other seasons in which this happened were 1959 (Wisconsin, 5-2), 1981 (Ohio State and Iowa, 6-2) and 1984 (Ohio State, 7-2).
Wolverines on Nov. 18
The Wolverines have compiled a 13-2-1 record all-time on Nov. 18. This will be the first time that Michigan and Ohio State have played each other on this day in November. This is the earliest game by date in the series since 1979, a Nov. 17 showdown that No. 2 Ohio State won 18-15 over No. 13 Michigan at Michigan Stadium.
Thomas Nears Rushing Yardage Mark
Senior tailback Anthony Thomas (Winnfield, La./Winnfield HS) heads into the "Big Game" within 165 rushing yards of equaling Jamie Morris (1984-87) for the Michigan career rushing yardage record. Thomas is second all-time at U-M and lists eighth all-time in the Big Ten Conference in rushing yards. He holds the school records in career rushing attempts (863) and rushing touchdowns (53), with his 4,228 yards trailing Morris' 4,393 rushing total.
Michigan's Career Rushing Yards
| | Player | Yards | Years |
| 1. | Jamie Morris | 4,393 | 1984-87 |
| 2. | Anthony Thomas | 4,228 | 1997-2000 |
| 3. | Tyrone Wheatley | 4,178 | 1991-94 |
Thomas Sets 100-Yard Rushing Mark
With his 171-yard rushing performance against Penn State, Anthony Thomas broke a tie with Tyrone Wheatley (20, 1991-94) for career 100-yard rushing games. Thomas has gained 100 or more rushing yards in eight of the 10 games this season and has reached 150 yards in five contests this season. He has a school-record 21 career 100-yard rushing games and has surpassed the century mark in 13 of the last 16 contests.
Anthony Thomas' Michigan Records:
Career Rushing Attempts: 863
Career Rushing Touchdowns: 53
Career 100-Yard Rushing Games: 21
Career 150-Yard Rushing Games: 8 (Tied)
Season 150-Yard Rushing Games: 5 in 2000 (Tied)
Season Average Yards Per Game: 149.1 in 2000
Career Rushing/Receiving Plays: 945
Season Rushing/Receiving Plays: 334 in 1999
Career All-Purpose Plays: 976
Season All-Purpose Plays: 345 in 1999
Thomas Eyes 1,492 in Columbus
Anthony Thomas, a Doak Walker Award semifinalist and All-America candidate, is in the midst of a stellar final campaign that is tearing up the Michigan record books. Thomas has rushed 258 times for a career-best 1,491 yards (5.8 avg.) and has scored 16 rushing touchdowns. He gained 171 rushing yards on 35 carries against Penn State, and scored a seven-yard touchdown run in the game (also added a 46-yard reception). Thomas has gained 100 or more rushing yards in eight of the 10 games this season, and his 149.1 yards per game average is currently the best season rushing average in school history (ranks fourth nationally in rushing offense and second in the Big Ten Conference). He needs four rushing touchdowns to break Ron Johnson's 32-year-old school record for rushing touchdowns in a season, and lists third n rushing yards in a season. Thomas needs 212 rushing yards to reach Jamie Morris (1,703 in 1987) for second place and is 327 yards away from Tshimanga Biakabutuka's single-season rushing record of 1,818 yards in 1995.
Michigan's Season Rushing Attempts
| | Player | Attempts | Years |
| 1. | Tim Biakabutuka | 303 | 1995 |
| 2. | Anthony Thomas | 301 | 1999 |
| 3. | Jamie Morris | 282 | 1987 |
| 4. | Gordon Bell | 273 | 1975 |
| 5. | Lawrence Ricks | 266 | 1982 |
| 6. | Tony Boles | 262 | 1988 |
| 7. | Anthony Thomas | 258 | 2000 |
Michigan's Season Rushing Yards
| | Player | Yards | Years |
| 1. | Tim Biakabutuka | 1,818 | 1995 |
| 2. | Jamie Morris | 1,703 | 1987 |
| 3. | Anthony Thomas | 1,491 | 2000 |
| 4. | Rob Lytle | 1,469 | 1976 |
| 5. | Butch Woolfolk | 1,459 | 1981 |
Michigan's Season Rushing Touchdowns
| | Player | TDs | Years |
| 1. | Ron Johnson | 19 | 1968 |
| 2. | Anthony Thomas | 17 | 1999 |
| 3. | Anthony Thomas | 16 | 2000 |
| 4. | Anthony Thomas | 15 | 1998 |
Thomas Eyes Scoring Record
With his seven-yard touchdown run against Penn State, Anthony Thomas enters the Ohio State game within one score of equaling Tyrone Wheatley (1991-94) for the modern era record for scoring and overall touchdowns scored. Thomas lists second with 318 career points and is one touchdown shy of equaling Wheatley's overall touchdown record (54 -- 47 rushing, 6 receiving and one kickoff return). Thomas has scored 53 career touchdowns (all rushing), and is the first player in school history to score 15 or more touchdowns in three straight seasons. He ranks tied for 11th in the nation in scoring (9.60 avg.) and is second in the Big Ten Conference.
Henson Nears 2,500 Passing Yards
Junior quarterback Drew Henson (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) heads into the "Big Game" looking to surpass the 2,500-yard career passing mark. He has 2,349 yards on 185-of-329 passing (56.2 pct.) and has tossed 19 career touchdowns. Henson lists 10th in career touchdown passes at Michigan, while he ranks 13th in completions (185) and 14th in attempts (329). He is the school's career leader in lowest career interception percentage (six interceptions in 329 career attempts-1.82 percent). Henson has career highs in every passing category this season, completing 117-of-192 passing attempts (60.9 pct.) for 1,549 yards and 13 touchdowns. He is second in the Big Ten with a 221.3 passing yards per game average and leads the group of starting signal callers in the conference with a 147.9 pass efficiency rating. Henson completed 14-of-29 passes for 212 yards and tossed two touchdowns against Penn State, but had his interception streak come to an end with three picks (attempted 193 passes dating back to last season without tossing an interception-last interception came at Michigan State on Oct. 9, 1999). He has thrown for over 200 yards in five games this season.
Dynamic Duo
Junior wide receivers David Terrell (Richmond, Va./Huguenot HS) and Marquise Walker (Syracuse, N.Y./Henninger HS) have combined to form one of the most prolific receiving duos all-time at Michigan. They have combined to make 98 receptions for 1,424 yards and 15 touchdowns. Terrell and Walker are currently the seventh-best receiving combination in Michigan school history, and need 408 receiving yards to surpass last year's record-setting tandem of Terrell and Marcus Knight (1,832 yards on 110 receptions).
Michigan's Top Receiving Tandems in a Season
| | Players | Year | Rec. | Yards |
| 1. | Marcus Knight and David Terrell | 1999 | 110 | 1,832 |
| 2. | Mercury Hayes and Amani Toomer | 1994 | 90 | 1,685 |
| 3. | Mercury Hayes and Amani Toomer | 1995 | 92 | 1,681 |
| 4. | Tai Streets and Marcus Knight | 1998 | 109 | 1,638 |
| 5. | Desmond Howard and Yale Van Dyne | 1991 | 101 | 1,485 |
| 6. | Desmond Howard and Derrick Alexander | 1990 | 94 | 1,475 |
| 7. | David Terrell and Marquise Walker | 2000 | 98 | 1,424 |
| 8. | Anthony Carter and Craig Dunaway | 1982 | 78 | 1,332 |
| 9. | Anthony Carter and Vince Bean | 1981 | 66 | 1,288 |
| 10. | Paul Jokisch and Eric Kattus | 1985 | 75 | 1,263 |
Walker Eyes 1,000 Career Receiving Yards
Marquise Walker enters the Ohio State game having set career highs in receptions (40), receiving yards (529) and touchdowns (four) this season, while topping the 100-yard mark in receiving yards twice this season. He caught two passes for 21 yards against Penn State, and has caught at least one pass in 22 consecutive games. Walker needs 44 receiving yards against the Buckeyes to surpass the 1,000-yard mark in his career. He ranks 17th on Michigan's career reception list with 81 catches for 956 yards and six touchdowns. An All-Big Ten Conference candidate, Walker has caught 34 of his 40 receptions and gained 483 of his 529 receiving yards this year during the Big Ten Conference season. Walker lists 10th in the conference in receptions (4.0 avg.) and receiving yards (52.9 avg.).
Terrell Looks to Reach 1,000 Yards ... Again
David Terrell heads into the Ohio State game within 105 yards of 1,000 receiving yards for the second straight year. He is looking to become the first player in Michigan history to achieve this milestone twice in his career. A Biletnikoff Award semfinalist, Terrell has a team-leading 58 receptions for 895 yards (15.4 avg.) and 11 touchdowns. He caught three passes for 45 yards against Penn State, but had his school-record streak of nine consecutive game with 75 or more receiving yards snapped (two 100-yard receiving games-101 yards vs. Indiana and 117 at Northwestern). An All-America candidate, Terrell has been named a semifinalist for the Football News Player of the Year award. He ranks third in both receptions (5.8 avg.) and receiving yards (89.5 avg.) in the Big Ten Conference, and is ninth in scoring (6.6 avg.).
Terrell in the Michigan Season Records
Receptions: 58 (6th)
Receiving Yards: 895 (9th)
Touchdown Receptions: 11 (T3rd)
Most Games, 75-Plus Receiving Yards: 9 (1st)
Terrell Nears Career Records
David Terrell heads into the Ohio State game looking to move up Michigan's career receiving charts. Terrell lists tied for third in receptions (143), ranks fourth in receiving touchdowns (20), and is seventh with 2,082 receiving yards. He needs two catches to surpass Tai Streets (1995-98) for second place all-time at Michigan and is 18 catches away from Anthony Carter's (1979-82) school record of 161 receptions. Terrell has made at least one reception in 23 consecutive games.
Michigan's Career Receptions List
| | Player | Rec. | Years |
| 1. | Anthony Carter | 161 | 1979-82 |
| 2. | Tai Streets | 144 | 1995-98 |
| 3. | David Terrell | 143 | 1998-2000 |
| | Amani Toomer | 143 | 1992-95 |
Michigan's Career Receiving Yards List
| | Player | Yards | Years |
| 1. | Anthony Carter | 3,076 | 1979-82 |
| 2. | Amani Toomer | 2,657 | 1992-95 |
| 3. | Tai Streets | 2,284 | 1995-98 |
| 4. | Greg McMurtry | 2,163 | 1986-89 |
| 5. | Desmond Howard | 2,146 | 1989-91 |
| 6. | Mercury Hayes | 2,144 | 1992-95 |
| 7. | David Terrell | 2,082 | 1998-2000 |
Michigan's Career Touchdown Receptions
| | Player | TD | Years |
| 1. | Anthony Carter | 37 | 1979-82 |
| 2. | Desmond Howard | 32 | 1989-91 |
| 3. | Derrick Alexander | 22 | 1989-93 |
| 4. | David Terrell | 20 | 1998-2000 |
Perry Provides Complement to Thomas
True freshman tailback Chris Perry (Advance, N.C./Fork Union Military, Va.) enters the Ohio State game providing workhorse Anthony Thomas with a spell offensively. Perry is second on the team in rushing with 71 attempts for 404 yards (5.7 avg.) and five rushing touchdowns. He gained 65 rushing yards on 14 carries and scored on a one-yard run against Penn State, and he returned his first career kickoff for 21 yards. Perry lists seventh in true freshman rushing yardage and needs 63 yards to surpass Bob Wiese (1942) for sixth place.
Michigan's True Freshmen Rushing Records
| | Player | Att. | Yards | TDs | Year |
| 1. | Ricky Powers | 144 | 748 | 4 | 1990 |
| 2. | Jamie Morris | 118 | 574 | 2 | 1984 |
| 3. | Rick Leach | 113 | 552 | 5 | 1975 |
| 4. | Anthony Thomas | 137 | 549 | 5 | 1997 |
| 5. | Tyrone Wheatley | 86 | 548 | 9 | 1991 |
| 6. | Bob Wiese | 133 | 466 | 5 | 1942 |
| 7. | Chris Perry | 71 | 404 | 5 | 2000 |
Epstein Regains All Kicking Duties
A Ray Guy Award finalist, junior punter/kicker Hayden Epstein (Cardiff, Calif./Torrey Pines HS) has been a major factor for the Wolverines in the field position game this year. Epstein has knocked a career-best 15 punts inside the opposition's 20-yard line, and has helped the kickoff coverage team list tops in the Big Ten Conference by allowing just 17.0 yards per return. He has punted 45 times for a 40.4-yard average (1,820 yards) and has connected on six-of-11 field goals this season. Epstein hit a pair of field goals (31 and 33 yards), connected on three PATs and made one special teams tackle against Penn State. His 40.4-yard average this season ranks 10th-best all-time at Michigan, with his 40.2-yard career average listing fifth in school history. In his career, Epstein has punted 86 times for a 40.2-yard average (3,459 yards), booted nine for 50-plus yards and pinned the opposition inside its 20-yard line on 29 occasions.
Hutchinson Named Lombardi Award Finalist
Senior left guard and All-America Steve Hutchinson (Coral Springs, Fla./Coral Springs HS) enters the regular-season finale after being named one of four finalists for the 2000 Rotary Lombardi Award, presented annually to the nation's premier college lineman (offense or defense). A three-time All-Big Ten Conference first team performer, Hutchinson joins fellow Big Ten player Ben Hamilton of Minnesota, Nebraska's Dominic Raiola and Florida State's Jamal Reynolds as finalists for the 31st annual honor. Hutchinson has started 43 career games and is currently 10th on Michigan's all-time career starts list. He currently lists sixth on the school's career starts list by an offensive lineman.
Backus Continues Starts Streak
Senior left tackle Jeff Backus (Norcross, Ga./Norcross HS), an All-Big Ten Conference and All-America candidate, heads into Ohio State game looking to tie former U-M All-American Greg Skrepenak (1988-91) for second place on the school's career starts list for an offensive lineman. Backus has started 47 consecutive games (every game of his career) and is currently tied with former Wolverine quarterback Rick Leach (1975-78) for fifth place on Michigan's all-time career starts lists.
Michigan's Career Starts by an Offensive Linemen
| | Player | Starts | Years |
| 1. | Jon Jansen | 50 | 1995-98 |
| 2. | Greg Skrepenak | 48 | 1988-91 |
| 3. | Jeff Backus | 47 | 1997-2000 |
| 4. | John Vitale | 46 | 1985-88 |
| 5. | Jumbo Elliott | 45 | 1984-87 |
| 6. | Steve Hutchinson | 43 | 1997-2000 |
Michigan's All-Time Career Starts Lists
| | Player | Starts | Years |
| 1. | Jon Jansen | 50 | 1995-98 |
| 2. | Mark Messner | 49 | 1985-88 |
| 3. | Greg Skrepenak | 48 | 1988-91 |
| | Vince Bean | 48 | 1981-84 |
| 5. | Jeff Backus | 47 | 1997-2000 |
| | Rick Leach | 47 | 1975-78 |
| 7. | John Vitale | 46 | 1985-88 |
| | Jarrett Irons | 46 | 1985-88 |
| 9. | Jumbo Elliott | 45 | 1984-87 |
| 10. | Steve Hutchinson | 43 | 1997-2000 |
Howard Leads Secondary in Big Plays
Junior cornerback Todd Howard (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook HS) enters the regular-season finale as the team's leader in both interceptions and pass break-ups this season. Howard has 11 PBUs and six interceptions (one return yard), while contributing 38 tackles, two TFLs and one forced fumble. He tallied five tackles, one TFL, two PBUs and his second two-interception game of the season against Penn State. Howard has recorded back-to-back double-digit PBU seasons (14 last year), and is tied for third on Michigan's career pass break-up list with 26 PBUs. Howards lists tied for fifth place on the school's PBU list this season. Howard is currently tied for seventh on Michigan's season interception list, and ranks tied for sixth nationally with six interceptions (0.60 average per game). His six picks are the most since Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson recorded eight during the 1997 national championship season.
Foote Note
Junior inside linebacker Larry Foote (Detroit, Mich./Pershing HS) heads into the Ohio State game looking to make his 15th career start and play in his 35th career contest. Foote is second on the team with a career-high 67 tackles this year, including nine TFLs, one sack, six PBUs, one interception and one fumble recovery. He recorded eight tackles, one PBU and one interception (returned 21 yards) against Penn State, raising his conference statistics to 52 stops, four tackles for loss and four PBUs. Foote has recorded 113 career tackles, 17 tackles for loss, five sacks, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and eight pass break-ups.
Patmon Leads Team in Tackles; Nears 200 Career Stops
Senior free safety DeWayne Patmon (San Diego, Calif./Patrick Henry HS) enters the "Big Game" as the team leader in tackles this season, while approaching the 200-career tackle mark. Patmon has recorded double-digit tackle games in the past two games, tallying 11 against Penn State and a career-best 16 at Northwestern. He has 71 tackles this season, one tackle for loss, two interceptions and four pass break-ups. Patmon ranks tied for 20th in the Big Ten Conference with a 6.7-tackles per game average. He lists tied for eighth all-time at Michigan with 10 career interceptions, and needs one pick to move into a tie for fifth place with Rick Volk (1964-66), Thom Darden (1969-71) and Vada Murray (1988-90). Patmon has started 26 career games and played in 43 contests, making 171 tackles, two TFLs, 11 PBUs, 10 interceptions and one fumble recovery.
Hobson Eyes 50th Tackle
Junior/sophomore linebacker Victor Hobson (Mt. Laurel, N.J./St. Joseph's Prep HS) heads into the Ohio State game two tackles shy of 50 this season. Hobson has recorded a career-high 48 tackles this year, bettering his 40-tackle season as a redshirt freshman in 1999. He tallied five solo tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack against Penn State. An All-Big Ten Conference candidate, Hobson leads the team with three sacks, while tying for top honors with nine tackles for loss. He looks to make his 15th career start in the Ohio State game, and needs 12 tackles to reach 100 in his career (88 tackles-62 solo).
Curry's Fury
Junior/sophomore strong safety Julius Curry (Detroit, Mich./Bishop Gallagher HS) looks to play in his 20th career game and make 10th career start in the Ohio State game. Curry has recorded 42 of his 50 tackles this season and all four tackles for loss during Big Ten play, while contributing three pass break-ups, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He has started nine games at strong safety this season and played in all 10 games, recording five or more tackles in every conference game except Indiana. He has recorded 59 career tackles.
Whitley Nears PBU Record
Senior cornerback and co-captain James Whitley (Norfolk, Va./Norview HS) heads into the regular-season finale with Ohio State second all-time at Michigan with 28 career pass break-ups. He is three PBUs from breaking 1997 Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson's (1995-97) school record of 30 break-ups. Whitley has tied his career high with nine PBUs this season (also had nine last season). An All-Big Ten Conference candidate, Whitley is fifth on the team with 45 tackles this season, and has added two TFLs and one sack. He needs five tackles to surpass the 50-tackle mark for the third consecutive season, and is nearing the 200-tackle mark for a career. He recorded two pass break-ups, his first interception of the season (returned 13 yards) and blocked a field goal attempt against Penn State. Whitley leads the entire team with 183 career tackles, while adding 13 TFLs, five sacks, six interceptions, one fumble recovery and the 28 pass break-ups.
Michigan's Career Pass Break-ups List
| | Player | PBUs | Years |
| 1. | Charles Woodson | 30 | 1995-97 |
| 2. | James Whitley | 28 | 1997-2000 |
| 3. | Todd Howard | 26 | 1998-2000 |
| | Marion Body | 26 | 1979-82 |
Diggs Has Impressive Starting Debut
Stepping into the starting lineup against Penn State for senior/junior Eric Brackins (Pigeon Forge, Tenn./Gatlinburg-Pittman HS), redshirt freshman inside linebacker Carl Diggs (Warren, Ohio/Harding HS) turned in a career-best performance. Diggs tied for the team high with 11 tackles against Penn State, including three tackles for loss. He heads into the Ohio State game with 20 tackles and six TFLs (10 yards) during his first season of action.
First-Quarter Success
The Wolverines have been a dominant first-quarter team this season, outscoring the opposition by an 86-16 margin. Michigan has allowed field goals by Wisconsin, Purdue and Penn State, and gave up a touchdown during the first series to Northwestern. U-M has outscored the opposition by a 405-188 margin during Lloyd Carr's six seasons (see chart below).
First-Quarter Scoring Under Carr
| Year | U-M | Opp. |
| 1995 | 89 | 16 |
| 1996 | 44 | 22 |
| 1997 | 37 | 30 |
| 1998 | 78 | 80 |
| 1999 | 70 | 24 |
| 2000 | 86 | 16 |
Offense Clicking on All Cylinders
The Wolverines are one of just seven teams in the nation averaging over 200 yards per game both rushing and passing (Boston College, Clemson, Kansas State, Northern Illinois, Northwestern and San Jose State are the others). Michigan is averaging 233.4 rushing yards per game, and is gaining 217.5 passing yardage per contest. The Wolverines are in the top three in four offensive statistical category in the Big Ten Conference and list in the top 11 nationally in three areas. U-M leads the conference in pass efficiency rating (147.2) and rates seventh in the nation, while it is tied for third nationally with four interceptions thrown this season.
Michigan in the Rankings
| Category (Avg.) | Big Ten | NCAA |
| Rushing Offense (233.4) | 3rd | 11th |
| Passing Offense (217.5) | 5th | 57th |
| Total Offense (450.9) | 3rd | 10th |
| Pass Efficiency (147.2) | 1st | 7th |
| Scoring Offense (33.5) | 2nd | 22rd |
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
