Walking with the enemy

Walker hopes to get last laugh at Syracuse

This Saturday's Michigan-Syracuse football game is a big one. Many Michigan fans circled it on the calendar as soon as the Orangeman whomped the Wolverines, 38-28, in Michigan's home opener last season.

While the loss to Syracuse was painful for many people in the Michigan football family, their pain was nothing compared to that of sophomore wide receiver Marquise Walker.

Walker was one of the top receiving prospects in the nation in 1997, coming out of Henninger High School in the heart of Syracuse. Needless to say, his pro-Orange friends got on his case went he went home after his freshman year.

"I know a lot of people on the Syracuse team," Walker said. "They were talking a whole lot of junk to me about that game this summer."

Michael Jackson - The king of pop invented a whole new way to walk.

A lot of the junk that was said was a result of spurning local school Syracuse for the maize and blue.

Syracuse tried hard to keep Walker at home in central New York, even enlisting the services of Michigan's eventual archnemesis, Donovan McNabb.

"I talked with him a few times," Walker said of the star quarterback, now with the Philadelphia Eagles. "He tried to get me to come to Syracuse, but I just wanted to get away from home for a while."

Not that Walker wasn't tempted to stay home for his college years.

Having lived in Syracuse since he was eight years old, Walker followed the Orangemen throughout grade school, junior high, and high school.

"I've watched all their games since I have lived there," Walker said. "I watched every single regular season game and every bowl game."

The fact that McNabb was Walker's favorite player at Syracuse almost tipped the scales in favor of the Orangemen. In fact, Walker had Syracuse atop his list at the beginning of the recruiting process.

"I was very close to going there," Walker said. "They were number one on my list for a while, since they were close to home and they were my favorite team when I was a kid."

Despite old emotions and home cooking,Walker ended up choosing Michigan, joining fellow sophomore wide receiver David Terrell to make-up the most highly-regarded one-two freshman punch in the nation last year.

But Walker didn't put up the big numbers last season. Stuck on the bench behind Tai Streets and Marcus Knight, Walker managed to catch only four passes.

Walker has already eclipsed that total this season though, earning six passes in Michigan's first two games.

"I've just learned the system more," Walker said. "I basically had to start over last season as a freshman, so I had to adjust."

Walker seems to have adjusted. After getting spotty playing time in 1998, Walker dedicated himself to improving for this season. A lot of this improvement was shown at spring practice, Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said.

"Marquise is a hard worker with a great work ethic. You'll see Marquise Walker become a very good receiver at Michigan," Carr said.

The win over Rice showed a glimpse of how good Walker can be. After having only five career catches - four in 1998 and one in the opener against Notre Dame - Walker broke out, catching five passes for 59 yards.

Walker's production wasn't limited to just offense, though. Walker also blocked a Rice punt in the third quarter which Michigan turned into an Anthony Thomas touchdown. He also returned a punt 23 yards on the next play.

"Marquise is a great player who had a great game," Michigan quarterback Tom Brady said. "He has improved significantly in the last year. We need him to make great plays like that if we are going to continue to win."

Although Walker is starting to enjoy the success which was predicted of him coming out of Henninger, he's taking it with a grain of salt.

"The ball just happened to come to me," Walker said. "I'm just learning the system and trying to make plays."

Walker might have more of a reason to make plays Saturday. Walker will have 30 to 40 family members and friends at the Carrier Dome to watch him play.

While Walker emphasizes that Syracuse is just another game, he can't help but be excited at the prospect of playing in front of close friends and family.

"There is no doubt that I'm excited," Walker said. "It's always fun to play in front of friends and family. But this game is just as important as the other games we've played."

If Michigan turns the tables, though, the 'junk' that Walker might talk to his friends back home might be the most important thing of all.

Walker who?

Marquise Walker isn't the first person with the name Walker to be in the spotlight. Here are some other famous Walkers.

Jimmy Walker - 80's comedian who starred in Good Times.

Luke Skywalker - Ran for a while in Star Wars, then walked away without any good movie deals.

Moses Fleetwood Walker - After breaking Michigan's color barrier, he became the first black major league baseball player in 1884.

Christopher Walken (almost) - Weird actor who made a movie about 'his mind' that's coming out this fall.

LOUIS BROWN/Daily Michigan sophomore receiver Marquise Walker hails from the heart of Syracuse. He'll try to help the Wolverines exact revenge on the Orangemen on Saturday.

09-16-99