Cameron gears up for old team

The last time Cam Cameron witnessed Michigan football from the sidelines, he was an assistant coach for the Wolverines. That was in 1993, his last year at Michigan after serving 10 years as an assistant.

Lloyd Carr was also an assistant coach when Cameron was in Ann Arbor. Carr used to walk alongside Cameron on the sidelines as the Wolverines' defensive coordinator until he replaced Gary Moeller as head coach in 1995.

Now, when No. 6 Michigan (3-0) travels to Bloomington to play Indiana (0-1 Big Ten, 1-3 overall) tomorrow at 12:20, the former Michigan assistants will be reunited - this time as opposing head coaches.

Cameron joined the Wolverines in 1984 as a graduate assistant, and then became the youngest full-time assistant on the Wolverines' staff when he became the quarterbacks and wide receivers coach in 1986.

He left Michigan to become the Washington Redskins' quarterbacks coach in 1994. And this year, he returned to his alma mater to try to turn around Indiana's program, which floundered under former coach Bill Mallory the past two seasons.

SARA STILLMAN/Daily Sophomore offensive lineman Chris Ziemann had his hands full against Baylor earlier this season, and probably will again tomorrow against Indiana.

So far, the Hoosiers have struggled as they head into their second Big Ten game, but Cameron has a solid track record developing quality offensive players.

While at Michigan, he worked with and developed current NFL quarterbacks Jim Harbaugh, Elvis Grbac and Todd Collins and receivers Amani Toomer, Mercury Hayes, Desmond Howard and Derrick Alexander. During his tenure, those players helped Michigan win the Big Ten title six times between 1986-1992 and the Rose Bowl in 1988 and '92.

While at Washington, he worked with quarterbacks Heath Shuler and Gus Frerotte.

At Indiana, Cameron inherits sophomore quarterback Jay Rodgers, who won the starting job seven games into last season - against Michigan. Rodgers has struggled at times this season, but still managed to set a school record for passing yards, with 408 against Ball State.

Last season, Rodgers almost led the Hoosiers to an upset of Michigan in Ann Arbor, when he completed 10 of 18 passes for a season-high 124 yards in Indiana's 27-20 loss.

"Indiana had a great opportunity to beat us a year ago," Carr said. "They're a dangerous team. They're well-coached. As a coach, you always worry. Now you've got to deal with the fact that you've got to go away from home and play a team which has made this their Homecoming game, so evidently they're going to put a lot into it."

The Hoosiers have injuries to contend with, most notably to starting wide receiver Dorian Wilkerson, who is out with a shoulder injury. Receiver Jean Paul is doubtful with an abdominal strain, but running back Jason Spear, who has a hip injury, is expected to start.

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