Acts louder than words for 'M'

By Stephanie Offen

Daily Sports Editor

Everyone from Heisman-trophy winner Desmond Howard to Republican vice-presidential candidate Dick Cheney was on hand Saturday to see the Paul Bunyan trophy return to Ann Arbor.

One was wearing a Michigan alumni T-shirt and one was dressed in suit-and-tie campaign attire, but both witnessed Michigan's most intense game this season.

Michigan's lowest-scoring affair of this year was highlighted not by Anthony Thomas' two rushing touchdowns nor the celebrities watching the rivalry game, but by the obvious hatred between these two teams on the field.

At the Oct. 16 football luncheon, Larry Foote said that fans would be able to see on Saturday how much these two teams hated each other.

They did.

Six personal fouls and a lot of trash talk spanned the three-hour battle.

Running back Chris Perry said the majority of trash talk was done when Michigan State had the football. But the Michigan defense backed up its words by blanking the Spartans for its second-straight shutout of the season.

"I expect that everybody was pushing a little bit," offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson said. "But since it's Michigan State, the referees are looking for it."

The Spartans, who have almost 100 more penalized yards this season than their opponents, are no strangers to the blown whistle.

After two offsetting personal fouls in the first half, the Wolverines laid off the late hits. But not the Spartans. Two 15-yard penalties in the third quarter were costly in their hopes of getting their first Big Ten win of the season.

Michigan State gave up two key scoring chances with its roughing-after-the-whistle style of play.

Eight minutes into the second half quarterback Drew Henson connected with David Terrell for a first down at Michigan's 39 yard line. Michigan State - acting out of frustration after T.J. Duckett turned the ball over two yards away from scoring its touchdown of the game - pushed Wolverines after the whistle. The infraction brought Michigan to the Spartans' 30-yard line. Thomas scored his second touchdown of the game on the next play.

The Spartans threatened to score again when they handed themselves a fourth personal foul. After Ron Bellamy fumbled a punt return Michigan State took over on Michigan's 28-yard line and looked to score. But one play later the Spartans were penalized 15 yards and forced to punt the football instead of cutting the Wolverines' lead to one touchdown.

Before the game, coach Lloyd Carr stressed that the Wolverines needed to control their emotions to win. And Victor Hobson said that for the most part, that was the case for Michigan.

"Sometimes people lose their heads but we did try to keep cool throughout the game," Hobson said.

The Wolverines trash talked more through their actions than their words. The defense recorded six sacks of Van Dyke and compiled 15 tackles for a loss of 53 yards.

Thomas' first touchdown of the game set a school record for career rushing touchdowns with 48. He also finished with 175 rushing yards. Duckett, who has been compared to Thomas all season, only had 70 yards in the game.

And even the special teams made their mark. Two missed field goals were overshadowed by two amazing punts by Hayden Epstein. Both punts were downed by Justin Fargas who forced the Spartans to start two drives on the their own one-yard line.

These actions proved louder than the Spartans' words as Michigan sealed the victory. Celebrities, last year's loss and the Michigan State's three-game losing street was all overshadowed by the restraint the Wolverines showed to get the win.

"Being a fifth-year senior this is the way to go out," Hutchinson said. "I'm 4-1 against the Spartans. That's something to be proud of."

Jessica johnson/Daily

Linebacker Larry Foote chases after Michigan State running back Tyrell Dortch. The Wolverines held the Spartans to only 64 rushing yards in the shutout.