Next game is still The Big One for Blue

Alan Goldenbach The Bronx Bomber

MADISON - As Lloyd Carr made his way from the barrage of television cameras and headed for the lockerroom of Camp Randall Stadium, he and rookie defensive coordinator Jim Herrmann spotted one another. The two embraced proudly and congratulated themselves in front of the raucous Wisconsin crowd as Michigan had just clinched a share of its first Big Ten title since 1992.

For a program that many thought would continue a downward spiral that had begun with its first of four straight four-loss seasons the year after that last Rose Bowl appearance, Michigan's stunning charge to the top of the national polls is all the more incredible. Carr and Herrmann deserve to pat each other on the back. It is simply a marvelous effort on their parts and because of it, they should be considered top candidates for Coach of the Year and the Broyles Award (the nation's top assistant coach).

Quarterback Brian Griese said that winning a share of the title is "what Michigan needed." The Wolverines needed a label like this to tangibly restore their confidence.

Saturday evening was a moment when Carr and Herrmann rightfully stopped what they were doing and relished the moment.

"I simply say that these guys, it's tough when you're down and when you have all the critics who tell you you're mediocre, that you don't have it anymore, you can't coach, you can't play," Carr said. "All those things make it tough for guys to continue to believe."

Because of that, Carr should be lauded not just for his talent with x's

and o's, but for his ability to motivate this team. It is safe to say that this far into the season, Michigan's national ranking is not commensurate with its talent level; the Wolverines have overachieved more than any other team in the country.

And that is nothing for Michigan to be ashamed of nor does it compromise its achievements this season.

Sports is often about underdogs rising up against the odds and knocking off the powerhouse, proving that talent is not the sole indicator of a championship ballclub.

"I think the great thing about this group is that they had great resolve," Carr said. "They were tired of four-loss seasons, and we hadn't got it done, for whatever reason."

Now, Michigan has gotten something done. A share of the championship of the nation's toughest conference is a huge accomplishment. But it's not enough of an accomplishment for this Michigan team.

"We don't want to share (the conference title)," Charles Woodson said. "We want to win it outright."

"We didn't say in our goals we wanted to win a share of the Big Ten championship," said Brian Griese, perhaps the biggest overachiever on this team.

No one on this team will be satisfied coming this far and collapsing at the finish. Ohio State has come into "The Big Game" each of the past two years undefeated and ranked second in the nation, while the Wolverines were prohibitive underdogs.

"The roles are exactly reversed from the last two years," Griese said. "Believe me when I tell you, our team knows what we did to them last year and we're not going to let that happen to us this year."

If Ohio State returns the ugly deed that Michigan has given to the Buckeyes two straight years - and the Buckeyes' chances of doing so this year are much greater than Michigan's the past two Novembers - whatever bowl the Wolverines wind up going to will be underachievement, however ridiculous that may seem.

"We want to win the Big Ten championship," Griese said. "So our goals have not been satisfied yet and we have one week to go."

And don't think for a second that Ohio State does not know about ending Rose Bowl dreams for Michigan; the Buckeyes made a habit out of it in the early 1970s. Ohio State victories in 1970, 1972, 1974 and 1975, and a tie in 1973, sent the Buckeyes to Pasadena and the Wolverines home (except a trip to the 1976 Orange Bowl).

The scene is set for the Wolverines to cap a historic regular season. Every November, even if a Rose Bowl bid is not on the line for either team, Michigan and Ohio State's seasons are deemed a success with a victory in this game.

Now, a victory over the arch-rival and a trip to the most tradition-laden bowl before it loses that tradition, hang in the balance of this game.

"It's great to win a championship or at least part of it," Carr said. "But we got our biggest game ahead of us in Ohio State."

Years from now, Michigan can say it was Big Ten champion in 1997, which has a wonderful ring to it; no pun intended. But a victory next week means Carr and Herrmann can really celebrate.

A loss to the Buckeyes won't offset the 10 victories, but it will make them seem a whole lot fewer.

- Alan Goldenbach can be reached via email at agold@umich.edu

11-17-97