ROSE BOWL / DAILY REPORT : MICHIGAN : Powers Fills the Gap Left by Johnson

Running back Jesse Johnson was left home for disciplinary reasons when Michigan came to the Rose Bowl, but if Illinois Coach Lou Tepper is right, he won’t be greatly missed in Friday’s Rose Bowl game against Washington.

“Imagine having Ricky Powers as your third-string tailback,” Tepper said. “I’d love it if we could get him on waivers.”

Powers was first team all-Big Ten in 1991, but lost his job to Tyrone Wheatley and then his backup role to Johnson, after suffering a sprained ankle that caused him to sit out three games.

Powers has rushed for more than 100 yards in 10 games, but none this season.

Steve Everitt, Michigan’s all-Big Ten center, didn’t play against Washington last time because he suffered a twisted right knee and ankle three days before the Rose Bowl game, but the senior from Miami did accomplish something while in Southern California.

He scaled the cliffs above Los Angeles and swung from the HOLLYWOOD sign.

Contrary to some thinking, Michigan Coach Gary Moeller believes that all the problems surrounding Washington’s athletic program could make the Husky football team even more difficult to beat than normal.

“It’s not like they were fighting among themselves, the offense against the defense, or against a player or two,” he said. “It’s outside influences, and it may bring them closer together. It could make them mad so they could come out and play harder.

“I don’t see it as a problem for them.”