Three years later, Vinson proves he has the leg to kick for Blue

Jason Vinson got to watch a lot of football games his freshman year. All of them were on TV.

Vinson nearly gave up on his college football aspirations during his first year at Michigan. He had to pester the Michigan coaching staff just to watch him kick.

After two unsuccessful try-outs, Vinson walked on to the team before the 1995 season. Now, the Troy High School product is Michigan's starting punter.

"He was just tremendous," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "I told you guys he had a good leg. He got that ball to turn over. He kept us in great shape field-position wise."

MARGARET MYERS/Daily Michigan's defense harassed Colorado quarterback John Hessler, sacking him three times. Even when he got the ball away, Wolverines like Juaquin Feazell made him pay.

And if Vinson had faltered, Carr would have had no reservation at letting Baker, a placekicker by trade, try his hand (foot?) at it. But Vinson delivered, nailing a 37-yarder in his first collegiate attempt followed by a 48- and a 45-yarder.

"That's amazing for a kid who walked on," Carr said. "You know those are great dreams kids like him have. There are a lot of guys out there who can learn a thing or two from him."

Family affair: Brian Griese played almost flawless football for the Wolverines. His 258 yards passing are the second most he's ever thrown for and Carr lauded the fifth-year senior for making good decisions. Griese was even cheered for throwing a ball out of the end zone when he had no receiver open.

The day was especially important to Griese, whose father, Bob, a former quarterback himself for Purdue and the Miami Dolphins, was announcing the game, the first time ABC let Bob cover a game in which he knew his son would play.

"I'm glad to be here watching my son play" the elder Griese said. "Given a choice I'd rather be here doing the game than at home watching it on TV."

The Dark Side of Halftime: The Michigan Marching Band added a new song to its repertoire for the halftime show. It also received a special, although uninvited, guest to perform along with it.

As the band played "The Imperial March" from the movie "The Empire Strikes Back," fourth-year medical student Chandan Devireddy appeared on the field, fully clad in a Darth Vader costume, dancing alongside the band to the song.

But as well-rehearsed as Devireddy's performance appeared, it was not planned.

Making Devireddy's appearance all the more surprising was that there was an increased security presence in the stadium checking tickets and making sure everyone was in the correct seats.

But security knew where to draw the line; don't cross over and mess with the Dark Side.

Poll-vaulting: Michigan's victory propelled the Wolverines from No. 14 to No. 8 in the latest Associated Press poll and from No. 13 to No. 9 in the USA Today/ESPN poll.

The jump of six places in the AP poll matches the movement made by Michigan after upsetting No. 2 Ohio State last November. Before that, the Wolverines' biggest leap in the polls came on the heels of a season-opening 22-14 upset of top-ranked Miami (Fla.) in 1984. That victory sent Michigan from No. 14 all the way up to No. 3.

The high-ranking did nothing but show that the No. 3 spot was too high for the Wolverines. Michigan went out the following week and lost to No. 16 Washington, 20-11, sending Michigan back down to Earth to the Huskies' old spot in the poll the following Monday.

09-15-97