'M' defeats State, 29-17

Although the game had been over for nearly 15 minutes, Michigan football coach Lloyd Carr entered the postgame press conference still sweating from the sideline humidity.

He looked up before speaking and displayed an under-worn expression on his face.

"This is the first time I've smiled in a month," Carr said jokingly. "I forgot how."

Carr and the Wolverines (1-0 Big Ten, 2-2 overall) were all smiles Saturday after defeating nemesis Michigan State, 29-17, in front of 111,238 at Michigan Stadium. The attendance against the Spartans (0-1, 1-3) was a new NCAA record, breaking the old mark set two weeks ago against Syracuse.

The record-breaking audience bore witness to a Michigan victory in the 100th year of the two schools' in-state rivalry. And just as important for the Wolverines, they opened conference play with a victory and evened their record.

"I can't remember when I wanted to win a game more," Carr said. "It's a game with great intensity in it. I don't think that either team played great football but both teams played extremely hard.

"There was a will to win out there on both sides."

For Michigan, the turning point came at 9:31 in the second quarter. With the score knotted at 10, Michigan quarterback Tom Brady lofted a pass to the corner of the end zone. Michigan's 6-foot-4 inch wide receiver Tai Streets leaped over Michigan State's 5-11 cornerback Renaldo Hill to snatch the ball out of the sky and come down with six points.

"As a receiver, anytime the ball is up in the air, I expect to make a play," Streets said. "I tell the quarterback to give me a chance. I made the play and I'm just happy he gave me a chance."

Streets' catch, and the ensuing successful extra point attempt, gave the Wolverines a 17-10 lead.

The Wolverines quickly got the ball back on the next Michigan State series when Michigan defensive backs DeWayne Patmon and James Whitley converged on Plaxico Burress and forced the Michigan State receiver to cough up the football.

Patmon recovered the ball, and after a Jay Feely field goal gave the Wolverines a 10-point lead, the Spartans managed just one more score. A one-yard plunge in the second quarter by quarterback Bill Burke was Michigan State's final score of the game.

In the second half, Michigan's defense put the clamp down, defensively.

"For the most part, our defense didn't give up big plays," Carr said. "And that was my major concern for the game."

After allowing Michigan State standout tailback Sedrick Irvin to rush for 85 yards in the first half, including a 40-yard run, the Wolverines held him to a

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