Are you ready for some football? Michigan isn't yet

It was business as usual for Lloyd Carr two Thursdays ago when he met the press at Michigan's annual media day, marking the beginning of fall practice.

Business as usual, of course, except for the fact that the Wolverines were starting practice on Aug. 21 - a late date by Carr's estimation. Just two seasons ago, Michigan had a game on Aug. 25.

But NCAA rules mandate that a school can only conduct 29 practices before its first game - a Sept. 13 matchup at home against Colorado. So with two-a-days and a late start to the season, that means a late start to practice.

"I think that gives our first opponents a huge advantage, but those are the rules," Carr said. "I'd rather start 29 practices before your first opponent's first game."

Carr also spent a lot of time dismissing a quarterback controversy and hedging on questions about Michigan's treacherous schedule - a taboo topic around Schembechler Hall.

But, Carr had plenty of praise for the freshmen - who began workouts three days earlier - and his returning players. And though he refused to name a starting quarterback, he said there was plenty of healthy competition at the position.

"If you could have seen our mile-and-a-half run this morning, we had Brian Griese and Scott Dreisbach in the same heat and they finished 1-2," Carr said. "It was a thrill to watch these two guys compete."

Carr had said he would pick a starting quarterback by now, but he won't announce his decision until at least a week before the Colorado game. Though Carr said all four quarterbacks - Griese, Dreisbach, sophomore Tom Brady and redshirt freshman Jason Kapsner - are in the hunt, all indications are that Griese and Dreisbach are on the top of the depth chart with a slight edge going to Griese.

Dreisbach was the starter for most of last season, but Griese, one of only five fifth-year seniors on the team, took over for an injured Dreisbach in the second-half of the Ohio State game. Behind a 69-yard touchdown toss to Tai Streets, Griese led Michigan to a win over Ohio State for the second-straight season.

Griese also got the nod in the Outback Bowl, turning in a solid performance marred only by a late-game interception that Dwayne Rudd returned for the game-winning touchdown.

"That game is where Griese got an opportunity and made a lot of it," Carr said. "He came in in one of the most pressurized situations I can remember and was stellar."

But who ends up under center isn't Carr's only questionable area. Promising sophomore fullback John Anes left school for what Carr termed personal reasons. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Anes was expected to compete for the starting fullback position after a successful freshman season.

In a statement, Carr stressed that it was Anes' decision to leave school and was not a disciplinary action of any kind. The loss of Anes means true freshman Demetrius Smith will probably back up starter Chris Floyd.

There is also some uncertainty on the offensive line, where the Wolverines must do without three starters from a year ago. Carr announced last week that redshirt freshman Jeff Backus will move to left tackle, fifth-year senior Zach Adami to center and sophomore Chris Ziemann to right guard.

Redshirt freshman Steve Hutchinson gets the nod at left guard and junior Jon Jansen stays put at right tackle. Inserting Ziemann into the starting lineup leaves sophomore Steve Frazier on the bench.

And while three spots in the defensive backfield are locked up - All-America selection Charles Woodson at one corner position and Marcus Ray and Daydrion Taylor as the safeties - there is intense competition at strong-side cornerback, a hot spot for opposing quarterbacks throwing away from Woodson.

Redshirt freshman Le'Aundre Brown left school after falling two spots on the depth chart, leaving junior Andre Weathers and true freshman James Whitley in a heated battle for the job. Woodson, who started all but one of Michigan's games as a freshman, said Whitley "has better skills than I did when I was a freshman."

Kudos: It's official: Charles Woodson is a two-way star. The Heisman Trophy hopeful is sure to be the front-runner to win the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive back.

But last week Woodson, who caught 13 passes last year for the Wolverines, was announced as a finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the nation's best receiver. Junior receiver Tai Streets joins Woodson as a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award.

Class of 1998: Defensive End Dave Armstrong of Doylestown, Pa., generally considered one of the best players at his position, announced last week that he will attend Michigan.

Armstrong, a 6-4, 255-pounder who can run a 4.7-second 40-yard dash, went to the same high school as Michigan senior Rob Swett.

Armstrong is the seventh player to orally commit to the class of 1998, highlighted by blue chip quarterback Drew Henson of Brighton.

FILE PHOTO/Daily
Junior All-Everything Charles Woodson, a Heisman Trophy and Jim Thorpe Award hopeful was recently named a finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the nation's top receiver.

09-03-97