The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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9 nebraska • nov. 9 Nebraska Needs Breakthrough Campaign Under Bo Pelini By Ryan Tice The dual-threat signal-caller has assaulted the ead coach Bo Pelini enters his sixth year school record books in his first three years of in Lincoln after leading the Cornhuskers eligibility and needs just 2,409 passing yards to at least nine wins in all of his campaigns, and 142 rushing yards to become the second and the squad has been ranked FBS player in history to reach in the final AP poll each of the 9,000 yards passing and 3,000 last four years. Nebraska has yards rushing; former Nevada also played for the Big Ten and current San Francisco crown two times under the 49ers quarterback Colin Kaecoach, but has not yet won a pernick is the only other to title, and three straight bowl reach both plateaus. losses have Pelini's seat getJunior running back Ameer ting warmer. In fact, Athlon Abdullah burst onto the scene named him the coach on the for second-team All-Big Ten hottest seat in the Big Ten. honors from the coaches last Pelini's squad certainly Quarterback Taylor Martinez year after he rushed for 1,137 won't lack for talent this year, earned first-team All-Big Ten yards and eight scores. The reespecially on offense, where honors from the coaches last ceivers are led by another reseason after throwing for 2,871 the Cornhuskers return last yards and 23 touchdowns, and turning All-Big Ten honoree in year's only quarterback to at- rushing for 1,019 yards with 10 Kenny Bell, a redshirt junior tempt a pass, two 1,000-yard additional scores. who accumulated 863 yards photo courtesy nebraska and eight touchdowns on 50 rushers and each of the top three receivers, to go along with a trio of recatches last year. Senior Quincy Enunwa and turning starters up front, including secondjunior Jamal Turner are also back, and each team All-American guard Spencer Long. totaled more than 400 yards through the air However, they can't repeat last year's 35 last season. turnovers, a total worse than every other FBS team except Idaho. Players To Watch Fifth-year senior quarterback Taylor MarOFFENSE: Ameer Abdullah, Jr., RB — Despite just tinez was the coaches' All-Big Ten first-team seven starts, Abdullah totaled 1,137 yards and eight scores on the pick last year, and he has continued to imground and was named secondprove every year. Last season, he threw for team All-Big Ten by the league's 2,871 yards and 23 touchdowns, and rushed coaches … He recorded 24 catches for 1,019 yards with 10 additional scores. H Date Aug. 31 Sept. 7 Sept. 14 Sept. 21 Oct. 5 Oct. 12 Oct. 26 Nov. 2 Nov. 9 Nov. 16 Nov. 23 Nov. 29 2013 Schedule Opponent Wyoming Southern Miss UCLA South Dakota State Illinois at Purdue at Minnesota Northwestern at Michigan Michigan State at Penn State Iowa 2012 Result — W, 49-20 L, 36-30 — — — W, 38-14 W, 29-28 W, 23-9 W, 28-24 W, 32-23 W, 13-7 for 178 yards and two scores, while he also returned 17 kickoffs for 360 yards and 16 punts for 209 yards and a score … The 5-9, 190-pounder has eclipsed 1,000 all-purpose yards in both of his years on campus; he has 2,915 through 27 games. DEFENSE: Ciante Evans, Sr., CB — Evans leads the way for an experienced group of cornerbacks … He was named firstteam All-Big Ten by CBS and ESPN in 2012, while the league coaches and media named him all-conference honorable mention … Evans finished last fall with 56 tackles, eight pass breakups, two sacks and an interception, which he returned for a score. the wolverine Staff Prediction Why Michigan Could Win: The Wolverines have the playmakers in their front seven to neutralize Nebraska's option and power-run attacks, doing so effectively in both 2011 and 2012. They should be 2-0 against the Cornhuskers of late, but Denard Robinson's injury last season, and U-M's inability to replace him within the game, handed UN the win. Determined to redeem itself after such an awful showing — one that cost Michigan a Big Ten title-game berth — U-M will play like a team possessed even after a tough rivalry game. Why Michigan Could Lose: Though opposing fans and media often degrade him, Nebraska QB Taylor Martinez continues to be one of the league's most dangerous dual-threat signal-callers. He also has won his share of big games, leading UN to the top spot of the Legends Division in 2012. Surrounded by an underappreciated yet talented supporting cast, Martinez should have no problem putting points on the board in every game this season. 184 ■ The Wolverine 2013 Football Preview Prediction: When Nebraska came into the league, fans of the Big Ten likely expected these two to duke it out for supremacy and championship berths for years to come. Unfortunately, this is the last season for that possibility, with UN moving to the West and Michigan to the East in 2014. Both teams should be at the top of the standings this fall, but U-M has the more complete team. Michigan 31, Nebraska 21. The squad boasts just five returning defensive starters, and they must also replace Brett Maher, who handled kicking and punting duties for the last two seasons. All five top tacklers and the top two in interceptions from a year ago have departed, and the Cornhuskers were hammed on the ground in 2012, allowing an average of 192.5 yards per game, which ranked 90th nationally. Fifth-year senior defensive end Jason Ankrah and classmate Thad Randle, a tackle, are the only returning starters in the front seven, and have combined for 24 starts, 81 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and four sacks in their careers. Senior cornerback Ciante Evans will have to lead the defense from the backline and should contend for all-conference laurels. Three other experienced corners return after they helped the unit allow just 168.1 passing yards per game, which ranked fourth nationally. Former four-star recruit Jonathan Rose is eligible after his transfer from Auburn. The hurry-up spread attack puts up plenty of yards and points, although Nebraska was turnover-prone. The defense will be what could hold this team back from a breakthrough season that could equal job security for Pelini. Notes Athlon ranked Nebraska's quarterback group as the eighth-best in the nation … Despite the loss of two of the team's top five rushers from a year ago, Nebraska returns 2,480 rushing yards and 27 total touchdowns between Ameer Abdullah, Taylor Martinez and sophomore Imani Cross … In the four losses last year, the Huskers allowed 2,380 yards (595 yards per game) and 214 points (53.5 points per game). ❏ Quick Facts All-Time Series: U-M leads 4-3-1 First Meeting: U-M 31, Nebraska 0 (Oct. 21, 1905, at Ann Arbor) Last Meeting: Nebraska 23, U-M 9 (Oct. 27, 2012, at Lincoln) Head Coach: Bo Pelini, 49-20 at Nebraska and overall (6th year) Off./Def. Systems: Multiple/Multiple 2012 in Review: 10-4 overall, 7-1 Big Ten (1st Legends Division) Final 2012 Ranking: No. 23 USA Today Coaches and No. 25 in Associated Press Returning Starters: 12 (7 offense, 5 defense) Last Bowl Appearance: 2012 (Capital One, vs. Georgia, L 45-31) Big Ten Conference Championships (last): 0 (Have won 43 conference titles since 1894, with the last coming in the Big 12 in 1999) Returning Leaders Passing: Taylor Martinez (2,871 yards, 23 TD, 12 Int.) Rushing: Ameer Abdullah (1,1237 yards, 8 TD) Receiving: Kenny Bell (863 yards, 8 TD) Tackles: Ciante Evans (56) Sacks: Jason Ankrah and Ciante Evans (2) Interceptions: Stanley Jean-Baptiste (2)