Weekly Release #3
9/10/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
at
#14/#17 UCLA (2-0, 0-0 Pac-10)
Saturday, Sept. 16, 2000 (3:30 p.m. EDT / 12:30 p.m. PDT)
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.
Complete Release in PDF (12 pages, 172 KB)
Projected Attendance: 100,000-plus
Radio Coverage: WJR (760 AM Detroit) will originate the game on the Michigan Football Network. Frank Beckmann handles play-by-play, Jim Brandstatter is the analyst and Steve Courtney provides sideline reports and analysis. WUOM (91.7 FM) has Tom Hemingway doing play-by-play and Tom Slade as analyst.
TV Coverage: ABC Sports will broadcast the game to a regional audience. Keith Jackson handles play-by-play duties, Tim Brant provides commentary and Todd Harris covers the sidelines.
Series History: Michigan and UCLA will meet for the 11th time on Saturday (Sept. 16). The Wolverines hold an 8-2 advantage in the all-time series with the Bruins, including wins in the previous three games. Michigan's only two losses came during the 1982 season (a 31-27 loss at Michigan Stadium and a 24-14 setback in the Rose Bowl).
Last Meeting: (No. 7 Michigan 38, UCLA 9, Michigan Stadium, September 28, 1996) Tailback Chris Howard paced the offense with scoring runs of 31, 16, 6 and 7 yards. Howard rushed 16 times for 109 yards and four TDs, while running back Clarence Williams added 65 yards on 14 carries and caught three passes for 83 yards (scored on a 53-yard TD pass from Scott Dreisbach in the second quarter). The Wolverines offense racked up 559 total offensive yards (300 rushing, 259 passing). Scott Dreisbach completed 13-of-25 passes for 236 yards. The Michigan defense limited UCLA to seven first downs and just 170 yards of total offense (108 rushing, 62 passing). The Bruins scored on a 25-yard Scott Merten field goal in the second quarter, and Philip Ward's 42-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
U-M vs. UCLA
| Year | W/L | Score | Site | Rank |
| 1956 | W | 42-13 | H | 13/-- |
| 1961 | W | 29-6 | H | --/9 |
| 1971 | W | 38-0 | H | 4/-- |
| 1972 | W | 26-9 | A | 12/6 |
| 1981 | W | 33-14 | 1 | 16/19 |
| 1982 | L | 27-31 | H | 20/12 |
| 1982 | L | 14-24 | 2 | 19/-- |
| 1989 | W | 24-23 | A# | 5/24 |
| 1990 | W | 38-15 | H | 7/-- |
| 1996 | W | 38-9 | H | 7/-- |
1 -- Bluebonnet Bowl, Houston Astrodome, Houston, Texas
2 -- Rose Bowl game, Pasadena, Calif.
# -- played as a regular-season game at Rose Bowl Stadium
QUICKLY ON COACH CARR ...
Lloyd Carr (Northern Michigan, 1968)
Sixth season as Michigan Head Coach
51-13 overall record at Michigan; 31-9 Big Ten Conference record
In his sixth year as Michigan's head coach, Lloyd Carr has a 2-0 record and posted his 50th career victory in the season opener against Bowling Green (51-13 career record). Carr posted a 32-5 record over the last three seasons (1997-1999) and led the Wolverines to three consecutive bowl victories (Rose, Citrus and Orange bowls). He was named the 1997 national coach of the year after guiding the program to a perfect 12-0 record and the Associated Press national championship. Carr led the Wolverines to back-to-back Big Ten Conference titles (1997-98), and his teams have finished in the top 20 nationally each of his first five years. Carr, previously a Michigan assistant coach for 15 years, began his college coaching career as a defensive backs coach at Eastern Michigan (1976-77) before joining Gary Moeller's staff at Illinois in the same role (1978-79). Carr came to Michigan in 1980 as Bo Schembechler's secondary coach. Carr served as defensive coordinator (1987-94) and was assistant head coach (1990-94).
2000 TOP STATISTICAL LEADERS ...
Rushing: Anthony Thomas (37 attempts, 239 yards, 3 TDs)
Passing: John Navarre (25 completions, 34 attempts, 394 yards, 7 TDs)
Receiving: David Terrell (11 receptions, 184 yards, 2 TDs)
Punt Returns: Ronald Bellamy (7 returns for 98 yards, 48-yard long)
Kickoff Returns: Walter Cross (2 return for 52 yards, 26-yard long)
Punting: Hayden Epstein (7 punts, 299 yards, 42.7 avg., one inside 20-yard line)
Tackles: Larry Foote (10 tackles, 8 solo)
Sacks: Four players tied with one sack
Tackles for Loss: Larry Foote (3 for 14 yards), Grant Bowman (3 for 4 yards)
Interceptions: Michael Manning (1 for no yards)
Pass Break-ups: Seven players tied with one break-up
MICHIGAN TEAM AND PLAYER NOTES ...
Michigan Remains Third in Both Polls
After a pair of victories against Bowling Green (42-7) and Rice (38-7), the Michigan football team remained third in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches' polls announced Sunday afternoon (Sept. 10). The Wolverines received one first-place vote in the AP poll.
Road Openers
Michigan will play its first road game of the season against UCLA at the Rose Bowl. The Wolverines are 4-1 under head coach Lloyd Carr in road openers, with the only setback coming at Notre Dame in 1998. Michigan has entered each of the games ranked in the top 15 nationally.
Road Openers Under Carr
| Year | Rank | Opponent | W/L | Score |
| 1995 | 13/25 | Illinois | W | 38-14 |
| 1996 | 11/5 | Colorado | W | 20-13 |
| 1997 | 6/- | Indiana | W | 37-0 |
| 1998 | 5/22 | Notre Dame | L | 20-36 |
| 1999 | 6/- | Syracuse | W | 18-13 |
Road Openers in the Rose Bowl
Michigan has a 1-0 record in road openers played in the Rose Bowl with a 24-23 victory over UCLA in 1989. It was the first U-M start for Elvis Grbac, who completed 13-of-23 passing attempts for 130 yards and one touchdown.
Road Warriors
U-M heads into the Rose Bowl vs. UCLA with a 276-142-16 all-time record on the road (includes neutral-site games). Head coach Lloyd Carr has compiled an 18-7 overall record on the road (not including bowl games), and has claimed victories in eight of the last 10 away games.
U-M Seeks Third Non-Conference Win
The Wolverines look to complete the non-conference season undefeated for the fifth time in Lloyd Carr's six seasons at the helm of the program. Michigan has compiled an impressive 17-2 record under Carr in regular-season non-conference games. Carr and the Wolverines have won seven straight contests against non-conference foes. Michigan claimed victories in Carr's first 10 non-conference games before suffering back-to-back 1998 setbacks against Notre Dame (20-36) and Syracuse (28-38).
Strong September Starts Under Carr
The Michigan football program has started strong under head coach Lloyd Carr, posting an 18-2 record during the month of September. Carr won the first 10 games of his career in September, and has outscored the opposition by a 605-288 differential during the ninth month of the year. Carr is 13-1 at Michigan Stadium, 5-1 on the road and 5-2 against top 25 teams in September. Michigan has a 116-27-3 (.805) all-time record during the month of September.
Carr Seeks 20th Victory vs. Ranked Opponents
Michigan enters the UCLA game looking to win its 20th game against a ranked foe under Lloyd Carr. The Wolverines have compiled a 19-8 overall record against nationally ranked team under Carr, including an 11-1 mark against Top 10 opponents. Michigan has won two consecutive games against ranked teams and six of its last seven contests.
Wolverines from California
The University of Michigan football program has 10 players from the state of California on its roster who could return to the state for the UCLA game. Following is a list of California players listed alphabetically:
Freshman WR Calvin Bell (Simi Valley, Calif./Simi Valley HS)
Sophomore FS Charles Drake (Los Angeles, Calif./Westchester HS)
Freshman TE Tyler Ecker (El Dorado Hills, Calif./Oak Ridge HS)
Junior P/K Hayden Epstein (Cardiff, Calif./Torrey Pines HS)
Junior/sophomore TB Justin Fargas (Encino, Calif./Notre Dame HS)
Freshman LB Zach Kaufman (Claremont, Calif./Claremont HS)
Redshirt freshman OL Courtney Morgan (Los Angeles, Calif./Westchester HS)
Junior/sophomore FB Scott Panique (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei HS)
Senior S DeWayne Patmon (San Diego, Calif./Patrick Henry HS)
Freshman LB Jeremy Read (San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo HS)
Navarre Leads Nation in Pass Efficiency
Redshirt freshman quarterback John Navarre (Cudahy, Wis./Cudahy HS), last week's Big Ten Player of the Week for his performance against Bowling Green, looks to make his first career road start at UCLA. Navarre leads the nation with a 238.8 pass efficiency rating. He has completed 25-of-34 attempts for 394 yards and seven touchdowns in two games. Navarre completed 15-of-19 passes for 265 yards and a school-record-tying four TDs in the opener with Bowling Green, and followed that performance with a 10-of-15 passing game for 129 yards and three touchdowns vs. Rice.
Backus Eyes 40th Consecutive Start
Fifth-year senior left tackle Jeff Backus (Norcross, Ga./Norcross HS) heads into the UCLA game looking to become the 13th player in school history to start 40 or more career games. Backus could make his 40th consecutive start in the UCLA game, and would tie Rod Payne (1993-96) and Tom Dohring (1987-90) for sixth all-time on U-M career starts list for an offensive lineman. Backus needs two career starts to equal Mike Husar (1985-88) for 10th in all-time career starts at Michigan and become fifth on the career starts list by an offensive lineman.
Career Starts by an Offensive Lineman
| | Player | Starts | Years |
| 1. | Jon Jansen | 50 | 1995-98 |
| 2. | Greg Skrepenak | 48 | 1988-91 |
| 3. | John Vitale | 46 | 1985-88 |
| 4. | Jumbo Elliott | 45 | 1984-87 |
| 5. | Mike Husar | 41 | 1985-88 |
| 6. | Rod Payne | 40 | 1993-96 |
| | Tom Dohring | 40 | 1987-90 |
| 8. | Jeff Backus | 39 | 1997-present |
| 9. | Dean Dingman | 37 | 1987-90 |
| | Zach Adami | 37 | 1994-97 |
| | Clay Miller | 37 | 1982-84 |
| | Tom Dixon | 37 | 1980-83 |
Hutchinson Looks for Second Rose Bowl Start
Senior two-time captain and All-America guard Steve Hutchinson (Coral Springs, Fla./Coral Springs HS) enters the UCLA game looking to make his 36th career start along the offensive line. Hutchinson made his 35th career start against Rice and needs two career starts (including UCLA game) to reach ninth on Michigan's career starts list by an offensive lineman. An Outland and Lombardi Award candidate, Hutchinson and his left tackle partner Jeff Backus are the only two starters remaining from the 1997 national championship team that beat Washington State in the Rose Bowl (Jan. 1, 1998).
Thomas Nears 3,000 Yards
Senior tailback Anthony Thomas (Winnfield, La./Winnfield HS) enters the UCLA game needing 24 rushing yards to become the sixth player in U-M history to gain 3,000 career rushing yards. Thomas has gained 2,976 yards on 642 carries and ranks second with 40 career rushing touchdowns. He needs 97 rushing yards to surpass Billy Taylor (1969-71) for fifth place on the all-time rushing list and 341 yards to equal Rob Lytle (1973-76) for fourth place. Tyrone Wheatley (1991-94) holds the record for career rushing touchdowns (47).
Thomas Seeks Third Straight 100-Yard Rushing Game
With his back-to-back 100-yard rushing games to start the 2000 season, co-captain Anthony Thomas looks to reach the century mark for the third straight game and 16th time in his career. Thomas is tied for fourth with 15 career 100-yard rushing games and has gained 100 yards in seven of his last eight games (did not gain 100 yards in the Orange Bowl). He needs five 100-yard rushing games in the final nine regular-season games to equal Tyrone Wheatley (20, 1991-94) for the school record.
'Justin' Time -- Fargas Returns Home
Junior/sophomore tailback Justin Fargas returns home to California after playing in the first two games of the 2000 season. Fargas missed the entire 1999 season after breaking his leg against Wisconsin on Nov. 14, 1998. He has rushed 14 times for 77 yards and returned the opening kickoff of the 2000 season for 11 yards. Fargas has played in 12 career games, rushing for 354 career yards on 91 attempts and scored one TD. He has returned 17 kickoffs for 322 yards (18.9 avg.).
Terrell Eyes 100 Career Receptions
Junior wide receiver David Terrell (Richmond, Va./Huguenot HS) heads into this weekend's game against UCLA needing four receptions for 100 in his career. Terrell ranks 12th in career receptions (96), 15th in receiving yards (1,371) and is tied for 12th all-time in receiving touchdowns (11). Terrell has turned in back-to-back solid receiving performances in the first two games, registering five catches for 93 yards and one TD against Rice and hauling in six receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown vs. Bowling Green. He has caught a pass in 15 consecutive games and has scored a receiving TD in three straight contests.
Walker Catches Touchdowns; Eyes 50 and 500
Junior flanker Marquise Walker (Syracuse, N.Y./Henninger HS) enters the UCLA game with a career-high three touchdowns on the year and a streak of 14 straight games with a reception. Walker's first three catches of the 2000 season went for touchdowns (four, six and 11 yards), including his career-best two touchdowns in the Rice game. He caught four passes for 31 yards against the Owls after collecting his only catch on a four-yard TD pass from John Navarre against Bowling Green. Of his five catches in 2000, Walker has accounted for three TDs and a first down. He needs four receptions for 50 in his career and is 38 yards shy of 500 for his career (46 receptions for 462 yards and six TDs).
Bell Notches First Career Catches
Freshman wide receiver Calvin Bell heads to UCLA after catching his first career reception in the Rice game. Bell caught three passes for 37 yards against the Owls on receptions of 6, 7 and 24 yards from redshirt freshman quarterback Andy Mignery (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton HS), all three of Mignery's career completions. Bell lined up as the punt returner vs. Rice, and has played both at wide receiver and special teams in the first two games.
Perry Off to Quick Start
Freshman tailback Chris Perry (Advance, N.C./Fork Union Military, Va.) enters the UCLA game second on the team in rushing with 22 attempts for 172 yards and one touchdown (42-yard run against Bowling Green). Perry is averaging a team-best 7.8 yards per carry and lists 42nd nationally in rushing with an 86.0 yards per game average.
Bellamy Providing Field Position
Sophomore wide receiver and punt returner Ronald Bellamy (New Orleans, La./Archbishop Shaw HS) enters the UCLA game ranked 29th nationally in punt return average. Bellamy has seven punt returns for 98 yards and a 14.0-yard average. He had a career-best 48-yard punt return against Rice. Bellamy caught three passes for 53 yards in the season opener with Bowling Green, including a pair of touchdown receptions. He has started both games at wide receiver and has played in 11 career contests.
Foote Pursuing Tackles
Junior inside linebacker Larry Foote (Detroit, Mich./Pershing HS) leads the Wolverines in tackles and TFLs after two games with 10 stops (eight solo) and three tackles for loss (14 yards). He is tied for tops on the squad with one sack. Foote has recorded 56 career tackles (40 solo, 16 assists), 11 TFLs and five sacks, while playing in 26 of a possible 27 games. A Butkus Award candidate, Foote has started six career contests entering the UCLA game.
Patmon Second in Tackles
Senior safety DeWayne Patmon (San Diego, Calif./Patrick Henry HS) heads to his home state after leading the squad with six tackles and one TFL against Rice. Patmon stopped Rice's second quarter scoring drive with a one-yard tackle for loss on a fourth-and-one play from the three-yard line. He is tied for second on the team with nine tackles this season, including one TFL and one PBU. Patmon has played in 36 career games and started 19 contests, recording 109 career tackles (80 solo), two TFLs, nine PBUs, eight interceptions (58 return yards) and one fumble recovery.
Williams Sets Career High in Tackles
Just two games into the 2000 season, sophomore cornerback Brandon Williams (Omaha, Neb./Central HS) has surpassed his entire freshman year tackle total (six stops in 1999). Williams is tied for second with nine tackles (six solo) and one PBU. He has registered 15 career tackles (10 solo) and five PBUs in 11 career games.
Whitley Eyes 150th Tackle
Senior co-captain and cornerback James Whitley (Norfolk, Va./Norview HS) heads into the UCLA game nine tackles shy of 150 for his career. Whitley has a current team-best 141 career tackles (107 solo), including 11 TFLs, four sacks, five interceptions and 19 PBUs. He tallied two solo tackles in limited action vs. Rice, but did return one punt for four yards and held on field goal and extra point attempts. Whitley has played in 38 career games and started 26 contests at cornerback.
Epstein Third in Scoring; Tallies 50th Point
Junior kicker/punter Hayden Epstein heads to California after tallying his 50th career point in the Rice game (51 career points on six field goals and 33 extra points). Epstein has connected on all 11 PATs this season and hit a 27-yard field goal against Rice after having his 48-yard field goal blocked against Bowling Green. He has punted seven times for a 42.7-yard average with one inside the 20-yard line. A Lou Groza (placekicker) and Ray Guy (punter) awards candidate, Epstein has booted nine of his 14 kickoffs into the end zone, with eight of those being downed for a touchback.
Wilson Eyes 70th Career Tackle
Senior co-captain and defensive tackle Eric Wilson (Monroe, Mich./Monroe HS) heads into the UCLA game after matching his career high with four tackles and tallying a career-best two TFLs against Rice. Wilson started at defensive tackle in both games this year and has started 11 career contests. He has 67 career tackles (39 solo), six TFLs, two sacks and recovered two fumbles. Wilson has played in 38 career games.
Michigan vs. Pac-10
U-M has compiled an impressive 43-16-1 (.725) overall record against the Pacific-10 Conference schools. The Wolverines have claimed their most victories against UCLA (eight), with six wins against California, Stanford and Washington. Michigan has a .500 record or better against every Pac-10 school except Arizona State (lost 22-15 in the 1987 Rose Bowl).
| School | W | L | T | Pct. |
| Arizona | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Arizona State | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 |
| California | 6 | 2 | 0 | .750 |
| Oregon | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Oregon State | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Southern California | 4 | 4 | 0 | .500 |
| Stanford | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 |
| UCLA | 8 | 2 | 0 | .800 |
| Washington | 6 | 4 | 0 | .600 |
| Washington State | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Totals | 43 | 16 | 1 | .725 |
Michigan Tabbed Big Ten Preseason Favorite by Media
The Wolverines were tabbed as the Big Ten Conference preseason favorite as voted upon by the media members attending the 29th annual Big Ten Conference Football Media Day and Kickoff Luncheon at the Sheraton Chicago (July 26-27). The Wolverines received the preseason nod, followed by two-time defending Big Ten Champion Wisconsin in second place and Purdue in third.
Michigan Two Away From 800th Win
The Wolverines enter the UCLA game needing two victories to reach the 800-win plateau in school history (798-259-36 record). In its 121st season of gridiron action, Michigan ranks second in all-time wins (all division), trailing Yale University (799 wins entering this season--first game is Sept. 16 vs. Dayton). The Wolverines list first in Division I-A history in all-time wins, and rank second in all-time winning percentage.
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
