The key to Michigan's surprising run at the title could be right under - feet

CHRIS FARAH Farah's Faucet

BOSTON - I've got a secret. I know what all the scouts have been looking for, what all the coaches have been trying to find on tape, and what Boston College would pay lots and lots of money to learn before Saturday's NCAA championship game.

I know why Michigan wins. Specifically, I know why the Wolverines are about to make a very unexpected trip to the national title game after falling in the second round of the CCHA Tournament just weeks ago.

Sure, you could think of the obvious reasons. The Michigan defense, playing basically only four deep, holding high-powered offenses well below their usual output.

The Wolverines' offense finding a way to put the puck in the net at the right times. Goaltender Marty Turco making the kind of miracle saves that would leave God shaking his head in wonder. Grit, hard work, determination, blah, blah, blah ...

Silly fans, you could think of the obvious reasons, but you'd be wrong.

Only I know why Michigan has been winning, and maybe, just maybe, I'll let you in on my little secret. Oh, what the heck.

The special ingredient, the one thing the Wolverines have that no other team has, the one factor keeping them alive in the NCAA playoffs (drumroll, please) ...

My mom's socks. Yeah, you heard me right. My mom's lucky socks. They're a pretty unassuming pair. Wool, yellow (maize, actually). Nothing special, really.

Except for one thing. They make Michigan teams win big games. The national football title? Wouldn't have happened without my mom's socks. The reason the basketball team lost in the second round of the NCAAs? Sorry Robert Traylor, but the lucky socks were in the wash that day.

You can imagine, then, how adamant I was that my mom wear those magical pair of stockings during the hockey team's run at the national title. After all, the last time she didn't wear her socks, Michigan lost to Ohio State in the CCHAs.

Whoops. Sorry guys.

Wait a minute. Do I hear some skepticism coming from the tried and true-blue Michigan hockey fans? Maybe some snickering? A couple laughs?

Oh ye of little faith.

Think about it a little.

Michigan shutting out a New Hampshire team that features three players with more than 55 points on the season? Michigan defenseman Bubba Berenzweig scoring two goals in one game for the first time since he played in high school? Turco making two unbelievable saves in the second to keep the Wolverines in the clear? Come on.

Without those lucky maize socks, who knows what would've happened? OK, so maybe the strength of Michigan's defense isn't all that much of a surprise. Berenzweig thrives off extended playing time - he seems to just get better the more he's on the ice. Mike Van Ryn has been strong all season long, and senior Chris Fox has been playing like a four-year starter.

With the season-long progression of freshman Dave Huntzicker into one of Michigan's best blueliners, the Wolverines' defense has dominated, even without Sean Peach, who is still on the bench due to his third concussion of the season. And fine, so maybe Berenzweig's goals aren't all that surprising. They did come as a shock, but Berenzweig is one of Michigan's most offensive-minded defensemen. He's joked about being a left wing instead of a defenseman, but that joke became a pretty serious matter for the Wildcats.

And maybe Turco's saves aren't all that surprising, either. He's been a little inconsistent this season, but he's been in this kind of high-pressure situation before. We've all seen Turco make unconscious saves before, so maybe it isn't all that strange that a goalie who lives for big games would make them - and just when Michigan needed them.

Maybe Michigan's success as a team isn't even that shocking. Even when the Wolverines have lost, they haven't usually lost by very much. Michigan may not always be the most talented team on the ice, but the Wolverines can play with anyone in the nation. So maybe it isn't too surprising that Michigan is playing with any team in the nation - and beating them, too.

And the way the Wolverines looked after yesterday's victory in the post-game press conference - a certain glow, a certain gleam of confidence, but no cockiness and no premature celebrations - well, maybe these guys are for real. Maybe it really is all about hard work and dedication and grit. Maybe the cliches all hold true for Michigan, and maybe the Wolverines can really ... (I won't say it - no jinxes from me)

After all, like captain Matt Herr said in the beginning of the season - if Michigan didn't win the NCAA title as the most talented team in the nation last year, maybe the Wolverines can win it as the hardest-working team in the nation this year.

Maybe it wasn't the magic of those maize, wool socks. Maybe the Wolverines are winning these ones all by themselves.

And maybe I can even tell my mom that she doesn't have to wear her lucky socks during tomorrow's game. She can save them for when a Michigan team really needs them. And after all, she usually does the wash on Saturdays ...

On second thought ... nah. Better safe than sorry.

Ma, wear the socks - Michigan fans will thank you for it.

- Chris Farah can be reached via e-mail at cjfarah@umich.edu

04-03-98