ROSE BOWL / DAILY REPORT : MICHIGAN : Things Warming Up for Wolverines

The temperature was 25 degrees in Ann Arbor when Michigan left for Southern California on Friday. It was in the mid-60s when the Wolverines hit the practice field Saturday morning at Orange Coast College, but Coach Gary Moeller would like it even hotter.

“I hope it gets hotter yet tomorrow,” Moeller said as he looked out the window of the Waterfront Hilton at surfers riding the waves near Huntington Beach pier. “I’d like it up to where we can work up a good sweat, but I’d like it to cool down for the game.”

Michigan had nine workouts at home before coming West, and the Wolverines have four more scheduled here, including a walk-through at the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Eve.

“Back home, we spent most of our time studying Washington films,” Moeller said. “We want to know everything possible about what to expect from the opposition, to get as familiar as possible with their tendencies. But we still have to be flexible enough to adapt during the game to the changes they’ll make.

“We’ll be ready, but in truth, a coach never feels he’s completely ready. There are always things you’d like to touch on right up to when you walk into the stadium before the game.”

Steve Morrison, Michigan’s top linebacker, says that Washington is better off with Mark Brunell at quarterback than with Billy Joe Hobert, who directed the 34-14 victory last New Year’s Day over the Wolverines.

“Brunell is a much better scrambler,” Morrison said. “That is an advantage they have over when Hobert was at quarterback.”

Hobert was dropped from the team after it was revealed that he received $50,000 in loans based on his future as an NFL player.