Michigan Preparations to Begin in Earnest

The Michigan football team is scheduled to arrive in Southern California this morning, almost a week ahead of schedule, to get a jump on preparations for the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl game against USC.

Since the end of its regular season, a Nov. 22 victory over Ohio State, the team has conducted limited practices. Senior tailback Chris Perry missed one of those sessions because of travel problems returning from a postseason awards ceremony.

Perry was a Heisman Trophy finalist and winner of the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back.

“I’m not happy yet,” he said. “We still have a Rose Bowl to play.”

The Wolverines will stay at a Dana Point hotel and hold two-a-day practices at Saddleback College until Wednesday, when they are scheduled to move to Los Angeles for the start of bowl activities and official workouts at the Coliseum.

“Our two-a-days are trying to get back into shape,” a team spokesman said. “A lot of teams don’t even come out there this early.”

-- David Wharton

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Former NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh was hired as coach at Division I-AA San Diego.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity and what the school stands for,” said Harbaugh, who is finishing his second season as Oakland Raider quarterbacks coach. “I’m just thrilled.”

The Toreros play in the non-scholarship Pioneer League. They were 8-2 last season and tied for the Pioneer League North Division title. Coach Kevin McGarry was fired in October for reasons the school never explained.

Harbaugh will remain with the Raiders through the season’s final game, which will be Dec. 28 at San Diego.

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Georgia receiver Michael Johnson and cornerback Kenny Bailey were ruled academically ineligible by the Southeastern Conference. The Bulldogs (10-3) play Purdue (9-3) in the Jan. 1 Capital One Bowl. Coach Mark Richt also said receiver Mario Raley won’t play against the Boilermakers because of a shoulder injury.

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Florida State fullback B.J. Dean is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a knee injury and is expected to play when the No. 9 Seminoles face No. 10 Miami in the Jan. 1 Orange Bowl. Dean missed the Seminoles’ last two games because of a torn knee ligament and broken leg.

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Mississippi running back Ronald McClendon has probably played his last game for the Rebels. McClendon has been held out of the last four games while the school and the NCAA investigate a possible rules violation.... Grambling State Coach Doug Williams did not break NCAA rules when he held up a team jersey with suspended Ohio State tailback Maurice Clarett’s number on it and the NCAA will not penalize the school, Athletic Director Al Dennis said.... Mount Union (13-0) tries to extend its NCAA-record winning streak to 56 games today when it plays St. John’s (13-0) in the Division III championship at Salem, Va.... Illinois, Texas A&M; and Colorado each played 10 bowl teams this past season, most among Division I schools. At nine were Arizona, Notre Dame, Penn State, Duke and Iowa State. Ohio State, Oklahoma and South Carolina played eight.