Williams is back on ball after early struggle

MARGARET MYERS/Daily After being hampered by a nagging back injury, running back Clarence Williams had what coach Lloyd Carr calls "his best game at Michigan" against Michigan State. The senior ran for 88 yards on 17 carries against the Spartans.

By Jim Rose
Daily Sports Editor

Clarence Williams has been through a lot in the past few weeks.

He didn't exactly start the season off they way he'd have liked, fumbling away a momentum-turning kick return that eventually yielded a touchdown at Notre Dame.

Then he got hurt, courtesy of a knee in his lower back, and though he's played in all four games, he's been less than 100 percent.

But against Michigan State, Williams played what coach Lloyd Carr called "his best game at Michigan." That's strong praise for a senior who's been playing since he was a true freshman.

"Not only did he run the football well, but he made some good blocks, too," Carr said. "He played a complete football game."

For Williams, who had 88 yards on 17 carries, the fact that he played so well against Michigan State was especially gratifying. For the Detroit native from Cass Tech High School, the emotion that accompanies the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry was ingrained in Williams long ago.

And after struggling in the early part of the season, Williams didn't want his last shot at the Spartans to be one associated with disappointment. Carr said he thought the Michigan State game held "special significance for" Williams. So, in a team meeting, with his teammates surrounding him, Carr challenged his senior tailback to pick up his level of play.

"I challenged him last week, that it was time for him to play like he was capable," Carr said. "And I think he did. He picked up his play."

Williams admitted that he was happy to play well against a longtime rival, but also said that he thought he could - and should - continue to play as well in coming weeks. And with the bulk of the Big Ten season still ahead, the Wolverines will need the depth he provides at running back.

"I thought we did a good job keeping them off-balance," Williams said. "We mixed it up very well, and Michigan State didn't know what to expect.

"I think we can do that every week, if we play together and listen to the coaching staff."

A very Brady weekend: Quarterback Tom Brady was named the co-offensive player of the week by the Big Ten for his performance against Michigan State. Brady was 15-of-26 passing for 208 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.

His touchdown pass was a five-yard jump-ball to Tai Streets that pulled the Wolverines out of a 10-10 tie. Later, Brady scored Michigan's final points of the game with a one-yard sneak in the fourth quarter. It put Michigan up 29-17, and came just one play after Brady hit Marcus Knight with a 48-yard strike down the left sideline.

Brady has completed 65 of his 105 passing attempts (61.9 percent) in four games, for a total of 707 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.

Brady shared the weekly honors with Wisconsin's Ron Dayne, who ran for 168 yards on 22 carries in a 38-7 victory over Northwestern.

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