Howard earns rst picks of career; Foote to return

By Stephanie Offen

Daily Sports Editor

Bill Howard comes to all his son's home games.

And this Saturday he saw something from his son that he has never seen before - a collegiate interception. Actually two of them.

Against Wisconsin, junior Todd Howard had a game he calls one of his best and his father describes as "outstanding." He racked his first interceptions of his career and two of the team's three picks for the game.

"I was very excited he got two picks," Todd's father Bill Howard said. "That was something that hampered him last season with the broken hand. I know coming into this year his goal was to get some picks and to be competitive. Hopefully this is a sign of what's to come."

Howard's first interception came on Wisconsin's first drive of the quarter. Howard intercepted the ball in the endzone as Wisconsin quarterback Brooks Bollinger attempted a ten yard pass to receiver Nick Davis.

His second pick of the game came on the last play. With eight seconds left in the game, Howard solidified the 13-10 win for the Wolverines by picking off Bollinger on his last attempt to get Wisconsin the victory. Bollinger threw a 34-yard pass to receiver Chris Chambers but Howard grabbed his second interception and the victory instead.

"Good things come in twos, so I got two on the day," Howard said.

Broken Foote?: They took up an entire bench on the sidelines.

Unfortunately junior Larry Foote took his place on the bench next to his three fellow fallen linemen - Jake Frysinger, Eric Wilson and Norman Boebert.

But fortunately for Foote he will probably be back next week suffering only a twisted ankle.

Foote twisted his ankle last week and had treatment throughout the week. His ankle bothered him early in Saturday's first quarter so he was carted off the field in the second.

Carr said after a few days of practice, Foote will be fine and cleared to play next weekend against Purdue.

The victory over Wisconsin was the first collegiate game that Foote has missed.

"It hurts but when we win it feels good, it replaces it," Foote said.

Frysinger and Boebert are still questionable for next weekend. Frysinger is sitting out with a reinjured foot and Boebert missed the game with a high ankle sprain. Wilson said he is feeling better and thinks he will back next weekend.

"I'm feeling very good," Wilson said. "I've been running the last two days and we'll take it day by day this week and hopefully get in some practice. Hopefully you'll see me in the field down in West Lafayette."

Look who's kicking: Saturday, a different foot was the center of attention at Michigan Stadium.

It looked like neither Wisconsin or Michigan could score a touchdown and the field goal become that much more important.

But the field goal is where the Wolverines have been struggling this season. Before Saturday's game, field goal kicker Hayden Epstein was one for five for three points.

So while Epstein was struggling, Carr chose to put Jeff Del Verne in his place. Del Verne completed two of three against Wisconsin. He missed his first attempt from 29 yards, but then completed his next two, both 33-yard completions.

"I went out on the first one and I don't know if my head is in it but I missed it," Del Verne said. "I told the older guys that it wasn't going to happen again. Hayden and I have been struggling lately but those guys have been working really hard and we are trying to pull it out for them."

Del Verne replaced Epstein for extra points against Illinois and made all three attempts.

Epstein has been struggling with his accuracy lately, but Del Verne admits that his range is not as long as his teammate's.

MARJORIE MARSHALL/Daily

After having words with the Big Ten office last week, coach Lloyd Carr had to deal with more questionable calls by the referees.