Four in a row: Daily outmuscles State News

David Den Herder

Double down

It was an otherwise ordinary night in Ann Arbor this past Friday - the air damp with anticipation for Saturday afternoon's festivities, the bars slowly filling to their usual weekend hum.

But under the lights at Elbel Field, the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry was already boiling over.

The State News, Michigan State's student newspaper, had descended on South Campus to do one thing.

No, there were no riots to cover or highly touted hoopsters to watch.

The State News had come to defeat The Michigan Daily in an annual game of "touch" football, and snap its three-year losing streak.

But as the minutes rolled carelessly into hours and dusk gave way to the pitch of night, the lights above Elbel could reveal only one thing.

Another weekend of broken hearts, and another year of quasi-bruised egos at The State News.

Daily Editor-In-Chief Mike Spahn caught the game-winning touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal to secure The Daily's fourth-straight victory over The State News - a streak that began during Michigan's undefeated national championship season of 1997.

"Four years ago I traveled to East Lansing to help begin this streak, and this was a fitting end to a dominant era in journalistic football," Spahn said. "There was never any doubt who would win this one."

The Daily never trailed in the game, but bruised its way to victory, 10 touchdowns to 8.

Daily sports writer and team captain Dan Williams, who had three interceptions before going down with a severe ankle sprain, said that injuries may have kept the game close, but could not stop the momentum.

"The fanatics on this team began focusing on this game and operating as a football unit since early in the summer. Expectations have been festering for a long time, and it's satisfying to see our team make the kind of game-changing plays that are necessary to maintain a four-year winning streak."

Junior sports writer Jeff Phillips had been sidelined three weeks with torn ligaments in his left ankle, but hobbled on to keep the game-winning drive alive with a 20-yard reception up the near sideline. Laid out by a teammate accidentally and left gasping for air early in the game, junior Geoff Gagnon returned to join senior Chris Duprey for impressive performances at wide receiver. Duprey led the team with three touchdowns.

"We were so amped up before the war, we were hitting each other," said Daily junior Rohit Bhave, who anchored the defensive line.

Freshman Steve "Action" Jackson led the Daily's defensive backfield, which stonewalled The State News in the second hour of play, allowing the Daily to open up a slight lead.

Sports writer Shawn Kemp's touchdown reception capped a long drive that put the Daily up 8-5, but a quick answer and recovery of the ensuing on-sides throw brought The State News within a touchdown.

But Daily arts editor Chris Kula was seen "doing the robot" on the sideline as the Daily defense stopped the State News on the goalline.

That was all the battered Wolverines needed to push them through the final two drives.

"I had so many bruised ribs by the time this thing was over, I needed seven Motrin just to fall asleep," an unidentified Daily sports editor said after the game.

Spahn's game-winning catch inspired the Daily bench to rush the field and chant "Four! Four! Four!" while jumping frantically.

Daily Arts Editor Gabe Fajuri, who played the final play wearing jeans and hiking boots, was particularly emotional.

"I don't own active wear," he said.

Fajuri then joined his blood-stained colleagues in a rousing chorus of "The Victors," which officials are calling the loudest, proudest rendition ever sung by student-journalists on Elbel Field - a venue fittingly named after the composer himself.

- David Den Herder could use some more Motrin. He can be reached at dden@umich.edu.