Ready to rebound?

McNabb's style brings up memories of Colorado '94

Attempting to predict the Michigan game plan for tomorrow's matchup with Syracuse at 3:30 p.m. should not be difficult.

After all, this is a familiar position for the Wolverines.

Coming off a brutal loss - whether to a traditional foe or to an upstart - Michigan traditionally responds in superior fashion.

So, it has been determined, the identity of this week's foe matters little. After all, with destiny on their side, why should the Wolverines care about Syracuse quarterback Donovan McNabb?

MARGARET MYERS/Daily Hard-hitting Tommy Hendricks plans to continue laying licks this week against Syracuse. After a subpar game last week when they allowed 30 second-half points, the Michigan defense contends it is ready to lay out the Orangemen.

Michigan coach Lloyd Carr knows why.

"There isn't a way he doesn't test you," Carr said earlier this week about the Heisman trophy candidate. "He's very reminiscent of Kordell Stewart."

Ah, Kordell. Michigan fans who are about to witness their first football game in the Big House may not remember Colorado's devil incarnate. But for the 106,427 spectators at Michigan Stadium on Sept. 24, 1994 Carr strode the Michigan sidelines that day as the defensive coordinator the name 'Kordell' tears at the very heart of the Wolverines.

Like McNabb, Stewart was an agile quarterback, able to create the spectacular from a broken play.

His explosion came in the form of a bomb. Stewart's 64-yard, last-second connection with Michael Westbrook began a four-season string of heartbreaking defeats, culminating with last week's loss at Notre Dame.

But each time, Michigan has fought back with a vengeance. Six days of sorrow can do wonders, and the Wolverines have borne this out.

Since the Colorado heartbreaker four years ago, Michigan's rebound record is 10-1. The mark speaks to the adjustment ability of the Michigan coaches, but a deeper examination begs the question: Why did the losses occur in the first place - and more importantly - how long will it stay with the Wolverines?

With the examination of last week's game a sore spot, co-captain Jon Jansen put the latter question to rest upon leaving Notre Dame Stadium.

"We'll use the same theory as last year - it was 24 hours to celebrate," he said last Saturday. "This year it'll be 24 hours to look at this."

When Sunday's period of mourning expired, the bleak picture barely improved. The film of McNabb's scrambles and the vaunted Syracuse offense scrolled by like a horror film.

The Orangemen ran up 33 points and more than 400 yards of total offense on Tennessee last week with the bulk of the production emerging from the quarterback position.

McNabb's 300-yard passing day far exceeded his previous accomplishments, not to mention his 78 percent accuracy in Syracuse's one-point defeat.

MARGARET MYERS/Daily Despite an un-Anthony Thomas-like performance against Notre Dame, carrying 10 times for just 16 yards, the Michigan running attack was impressive. The Wolverines will need a strong ground game again this week to defeat Syracuse.

So Michigan is left to plan for the unpredictable. Wherever No. 5 moves, the Michigan defense will travel - at least nose tackle Rob Renes hopes so.

"If you don't get 11 guys to the ball," he said warily, "they'll get through on the other end."

Fortunately for Michigan, the other end is where most of last week's defense came from.

Emerging cornerback James Whitley led the entire defense in tackles last week, while snagging the prettiest interception of week one.

Should Whitley McNabb another pass this week, the holes in the defense may begin to close quickly for the Syracuse quarterback.

Preparing for the option attack has not been a easy task for these Wolverines, though.

"From the standpoint of having a rabbit to chase (in practice) it hurts," Renes said. "But when you have a Michigan defense ..."

Throughout the week, that's been the Michigan attitude: cautious confidence.

Confidence that the "Michigan defense" will return to contain McNabb.

Confidence that last Saturday was an aberration and the basic elements missing last week - kicking, tackling and scoring - will thrive once again.

And confidence that the rebound will be in true Michigan fashion - an attempt to prove the naysayers wrong.

"It doesn't matter what is said in the press," Jansen said.

Carr, whose disdain for the press is equally documented, maintains faith in his team and how it will perform tomorrow.

"There isn't any doubt in my mind they'll respond to a tough loss," said the man who remembers Kordell.

09-11-98