Jordan jumps at his chance

Of all the Michigan football fans watching last Saturday's debacle, there were probably only a few who were actually happy with the game.

One happy person was Anthony Jordan's father.

"I didn't even tell my father that I was starting this week," Jordan said. "So he found out when he watched the game."

And boy, did he get a surprise.

Jordan, a redshirt freshman linebacker, got his first chance to start for the Wolverines. And he didn't disappoint, recording 13 tackles - enough to make a dad feel good.

WARREN ZINN/Daily Anthony Jordan made the most of his chances last Saturday, even if the rest of the team didn't. His 13 tackles led the Wolverines.

"He said he was very proud of me," Jordan said.

Instead of showing off and calling friends and family to come down and watch him play, Jordan concentrated on stopping Syracuse's offense.

"I really didn't tell many people," Jordan said. "The only way people found out was if my roommate, James Whitley, told people. I don't know. I guess I really didn't want to focus on it too much."

And although quarterback Donovan McNabb was scampering all about the field, one linebacker was at least doing his job the best he could. Jordan's best was, in fact, the team's best - he led the Wolverines in tackles.

"Here at Michigan, we say that the 'expectation is for the position,'" Jordan said. "That means it doesn't matter who plays, he just has to get the job done. So we had a couple guys who were out and fortunately I got the chance to play.

"And I just wanted to do my best."

More than just a couple of guys are out for the Wolverines. Essentially, if you are a linebacker at Michigan this season, odds are that you aren't at 100 percent.

Linebacker and co-captain Sam Sword is hobbled by an upper leg/neck injury anomaly.

Linebacker Ian Gold has a cast on his left leg. Linebacker Eric Rosel was not in uniform on Saturday.

So, out of necessity, Jordan got the job.

"I was practicing with the first team last week, and they were trying to see if Ian (Gold) was ready to go," Jordan said. "Obviously he wasn't. By yesterday, I knew I was going to be the starter this week."

With these gaping holes in the defense, it provides a prime opportunity for a third- or fourth-stringer to make an impact.

Jordan took that opportunity and did a better job than most would in his situation - his first game was in front of the biggest crowd in NCAA history.

"It was pretty much a challenge for me, making my first start," Jordan said. "I was pretty nervous, but I figured I knew what we had to do. And it was just a matter of going out and doing it."

Throughout the year, the Michigan defense has been referring to itself as a family, with defensive coordinator Jim Herrmann in place as the father figure.

Jordan talked to "Dhani (Jones), Sam, Ian - Ian talked to me a lot," Jordan said. "And before the game, I had a talk with Marcus (Ray). That helped calm me down a little bit."

Whatever they said got Jordan riled up - at least enough to see him stop McNabb and the Orangemen more effectively than anyone on the team.

"The guys on the team, they helped me out," Jordan said. "They gave me pointers and just told me to relax and play just how I knew how to play. And everything would take care of itself."

Making plays on the football field is nothing unusual to Jordan, a Jersey City, N. J., native. Jordan was a top linebacker recruit coming out of high school. In fact, Jordan was awarded the high school Heisman Trophy by the same people who name the 'real' Heisman.

With the linebackers hurting, Jordan will probably get more and more playing time. And if he starts again, hopefully he'll tell his dad.

"He said the next game he's coming out for is Penn State," Jordan said.

By then Jordan might be firmly in place as a linebacker.

09-17-98