Last play evokes nightmares of past seasons

Whitley prevents miraculous Indiana victory

BLOOMINGTON - As Antwaan Randle El's desperation heave to the end zone on the last play of Saturday's game rose into the clear Indiana sky, images were flashing through the heads of the Michigan players on the field.

As the ball reached its apex, flashes of 1994 - when Kordell Stewart connected with Michael Westbrook on a Hail Mary pass in the end zone to beat the Wolverines - were gaining in strength.

"The coaches always refer back to the Colorado game in 1994 in practice," cornerback James Whitley said. "They said that it happened because one player missed their assignment. I wasn't going to do that."

So as Randle El threw the ball from the left hashmark, Whitley sprinted from the right sideline of the end zone over to the glut of Hoosiers and Wolverines stationed on the other side of the field.

DANA LINNANE/Daily Anthony Thomas had a career day for himself, rushing 42 times for 197 yards and helping to prevent a third straight loss.

"I saw Randle El sprint toward the left and throw the ball," Whitley said. "In most cases, I would stay and contain the receiver on the other side of the field. But they lined all their receivers up on the other side, so I starting running as fast as I could."

But as he was sprinting, the ball was hurtling downward toward the end zone in the direction of Indiana wide receiver Jerry Dorsey. Dorsey had been a thorn in Michigan's side all afternoon, catching five passes for 154 yards - including a 70-yard touchdown reception to tie the game at 31 with five minutes to go at the game.

It looked as if Dorsey would get the last laugh again, as the ball fell from the sky and hit him square in the arms.

For a split second, some Michigan players thought that Dorsey had pulled a Westbrook and stole the game.

"I thought he caught the ball," linebacker Ian Gold said. "He had it in his hands. But then I saw one of the DBs rip it out."

That DB was Whitley. As the ball hit Dorsey, Whitley hit him, too. Dorsey, who was struggling with safety DeWayne Patmon, saw the ball drop from his hands on to the Memorial Stadium turf after the Whitley hit.

"He actually had the ball," Whitley said. "I sort of deflected it. I was just trying to make a play. When you have a three-point lead with four seconds left, you have to go all out."

Block some punts, will ya?: Coming into Saturday's game with Indiana, Michigan had only blocked one punt all season. But in one series Saturday, the Wolverines came up with two blocked punts against Indiana's Drew Hagan.

With Michigan up 10-0 in the second quarter, Indiana faced a fourth-and-two at its own 28. As Hagan was attempting to punt, linebacker Anthony Jordan broke through the line and blocked the kick.

But Jordan blocked the ball into Hagan's chest. After catching the ball, Hagan ran four yards to the right sideline for a first down.

"I don't remember ever blocking a punt and allowing the other team to get a first down," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "I've never seen that before."

That just delayed the inevitable, though, as Cato June broke through the Indiana line and blocked another Hagan punt four plays later. June recovered the ball at the Indiana 15 and Anthony Thomas rushed for a touchdown on the next play to put Michigan ahead, 17-0.

But Michigan's punt blocking prowess cost them later in the quarter. With 26 seconds left and Indiana seeming content to run out the clock, Michigan called a timeout - Carr thought the Wolverines had another block in them.

The Hoosiers, thankful for the extra time, converted the third down and drove from their 34-yard line to the Michigan 6 during the last seconds of the half, resulting in a 23-yard Andy Payne field goal and a 17-10 halftime score.

"I made the decision at the end of half to give us a chance to block another punt," Carr said. "Unfortunately, we couldn't stop them on third down."

11-01-99