The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS MAIZE AND BLUE NOTEBOOK SELLING OUT • The Jan. 3 Sugar Bowl matchup pitting Michigan against Virginia Tech will be well attended, by U-M fans at least. The Wolverines had sold 14,923 of their 17,500 allotted by Dec. 18, a representative from the Mich- igan ticket office said. The Hokies, however, are having problems sell- ing their same allotment, with only 10,000 sold, Roanoke.com reported Dec. 18. In the past two years, with Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl both seasons, the Hokies sold 3,342 and 6,500 of their 15,000 allotment. "We have every expectation that we'll have 15-to-20,000 people at the ballgame," athletics director Jim Weaver told Roanoke.com. "It's just that they will not have all purchased their tickets from the university. And that's all part of this process right now, and we've got to deal with it." The Sugar Bowl has averaged better than 70,000 fans eight of the past nine years, with the bowl's director of communi- cations telling the Web site the game is "essentially a sellout" at present day. ON HOLD • NCAA legislation, passed in October, that would have given some Division I athletes a $2,000 per year stipend to help pay for out-of-pocket college costs, has been put on hold after 125 schools — the necessary number of programs to suspend a rule passed by the NCAA — asked for it to be halted. The NCAA's Division I Board of Directors will revisit the issue at a January convention. • Michigan will have to deal with Notre Dame linebacker Getting To Know Women's Basketball Freshman Brenae Harris Freshman point guard Brenae Harris hasn't racked up a lot of playing time yet, just 51 total minutes through 12 games, but her superior athleticism and work ethic have caught Michigan head coach Kevin Borseth's eye. With the Wolverines' scheduling ramping up in the com- ing weeks, her pesky defensive skills should come in handy. Nickname: "Just 'B,' the letter B. People have called me that since elementary school." Her Favorite Restaurant In Ann Arbor: "I order a lot of Happy's Pizza. I don't know if it's my favorite, but it's conve- nient. I'll get hot wings, pizza and Sprite." Her Favorite Class At U-M: "Definitely my sports manage- ment class. You learn a lot about the politics behind sports that you don't necessarily think about. It's really interesting." Her Favorite Professional Basketball Player: "[Chicago Bulls point guard] Derek Rose. He can go to the basket whenever he wants to. He's a role model of mine." The Best Meal She Can Cook By Herself: "Oh boy, cereal. I cannot cook. That's awful, I know, but I can't cook. I can boil a hot dog. But if it's cereal, I gotta go with Frosted Flakes." Her Role Model: "My mom and dad, Gwendolyn and William. They're always so encouraging and support- ive. They're two successful people, and when I grow up, hopefully, I can be like them." Other Sports She Enjoys Playing: "I actually really like playing tennis. I'm just not good at it. It's fun, and it's a lot of running, probably more than basketball." Her Dream Vacation: Harris said her favorite class at U-M is sports management, while "That's a tough one. The Vir- gin Islands? Dream come true [the Wolverines played a preseason tournament there earlier this year]. I'll say Paris." Her Overall U-M Experience: "I love U-M. There is so much her role models are her parents. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN you can do, so many ways you can interact with people, so many activities you can participate in. People are always saying, 'Hey, there's this or this, or you can go here,' so there is a lot to do, always." — Andy Reid JANUARY 2012 THE WOLVERINE 11 Manti Te'o for at least one more season after the junior an- nounced he would be returning for his senior campaign. Te'o was projected a first-round pick by ESPN.com's Mel Kiper and Todd McShay. CHANGES ON THE WAY • In the ever-evolving landscape of college athletics, the Big East announced Dec. 7 that it will be adding Central Florida, Houston, Southern Methodist, Boise State and San Diego State to its conference in 2012-13, though Boise and SDSU will be football-only members. The three other schools will compete in all Big East sports. The conference is losing Syracuse and Pittsburgh (to the ACC) and West Virginia (to the Big 12). • Illinois has hired Toledo's Todd Beckman to replace Ron Zook, fired after the Illini lost their final six games to finish the 2011 season 6-6. The 46-year-old Beckman was 21-16 in four seasons with the Rockets, including 8-4 this past year. With his announcement, and Ohio State's decision to hire Urban Meyer, Penn State is the only school with a current coaching vacancy after the Nittany Lions fired legendary coach Joe Paterno amid a child sex abuse scandal that has engulfed the university and football program. BONUS • Michigan football coach Brady Hoke will receive a $125,000 bonus for leading the Wolverines to the Sugar Bowl. Hoke's contract stipulates that he receives a $75,000 bonus for any bowl game, a $125,000 bonus for a second- or third-place conference bowl. Hoke would have earned a $300,000 bonus had U-M qualified for the Big Ten Champi- onship Game, and $500,000 for winning it and taking the Wolverines to the Rose Bowl.