Travel could be toughest foe

This season's not over yet. Michigan still has a game left. It's a must-win game because, well, who wants to lose to a team that has lost 11 games this season? And which bowl would want them? The Rose Bowl might. Might. Michigan coach Lloyd Carr isn't ruling it out.

But Carr is never one to look past an opponent. Even the Rainbow Warriors.

But Carr's worried. And not about the Rainbow Warriors' two-quaterbacks scheme. Carr is worried about the effects that a day - Thanksgiving Day - of travel, and a game that will be played at what will be 9:30 p.m. for his players.

"It will definitely be a change," Michigan offensive tackle Jon Jansen said. "I don't think that that will have a big effect on the team."

But if the Wolverines survive a team whose mascot can be found in a Lucky Charms box (they're 0-1 so far, after losing to Notre Dame), and get a lot of help from a shakeup in the Bowl Championship series rankings, the Wolverines just might be headed to Pasadena again.

A Rose by any other way would still be as sweet, just not very likely. But still possible. There's a chance, althougth it seems as distant as the state of Hawai'i right now, that things could still come up Roses for the Wolverines.

If Ohio State, currently sixth in the BCS rankings, plays in the Fiesta Bowl, the Rose Bowl would get a choice of Big Ten teams, rather than being locked into Wisconsin. And despite Wisconsin's large contingent of traveling cheeseheads, the Rose Bowl selection committee might not want to take a team with a cream-filled 10-1 record.

"Whether or not they would choose Wisconsin, I don't know, "Carr said.

Either way, Carr was displeased with the Big Ten's tiebreaker system that seems to have a weak Wisconsin team destined for Pasadena.

"I think they should look at that," Carr said.

But in Pasadena, teams other than the 8-3 Wolverines probably look more attractive. The selection committee could take a look at 10-1 Notre Dame this weekend, as the Irish come to Los Angeles to play Southern Cal. But even a 10-2 Notre Dame team might outshine the Wolverines in the eyes of the Rose Bowl selection committee. Also, the BCS rankings would need a shakeup of San Andrean magnitude to thrust Ohio State into the championship game. So, despite Carr's optimism, bitter Citrus or an exile to the Outback are more likely options. By any name.

Injury Update: Carr said that running backs Demetrius Smith, who blew out his knee before the season, and Ray Jackson are likely to make it to spring practice. Tackle Chris Ziemann, who broke his leg aginst Michigna State, is questionable.

11-24-98