Kicking Game Gets Special Attention

With his team beginning a week of practices at the Coliseum this morning, Coach Lloyd Carr said special team play remains among his biggest concerns.

Earlier this week in Mission Viejo, the Wolverines devoted their mornings to the kicking game.

“We certainly have a lot of work to do there,” he said. “It’s hard to simulate that part of the game.”

The Wolverines might have gone unbeaten this season if not for special teams miscues.

In their first loss at Oregon, they gave up a 61-yard punt return for a touchdown and had a punt blocked for another score. Two weeks later at Iowa, they surrendered more long returns and had another punt blocked.

The going doesn’t figure to get any easier against USC in the Rose Bowl.

The Trojans have a dangerous returner in Reggie Bush and average 23 yards a kick return compared to Michigan’s 19.

USC’s Ryan Killeen ranks among the best kickers in the nation after making 19 of 23 field goal attempts this season. Michigan’s Garrett Rivas has made nine of 11.

The Wolverines hold an advantage in punt returns, where Steve Breaston ranks ninth in the country with a 14-yard average.

But there is something of a mismatch with the punters.

Michigan’s Adam Finley averaged 39 yards, but the Trojans have Tom Malone, an All-American with a 49-yard average.

“He’s a weapon,” Carr said. “There’s no question.”

*

Michigan has gone to Florida bowl games in each of the last four seasons -- Orange, Outback and Citrus twice -- which means the Wolverine players have put in a fair amount of time at Disney theme parks.

So it would be understandable if not all of them were thrilled with the prospect of visiting Disney’s California Adventure with USC today.

After morning practices, the teams will attend a ceremony at the park, then go on rides for the rest of the afternoon.

That sounded just fine to tailback Chris Perry.

“I look forward to any place with roller coasters,” he said. “Get me on a roller coaster and I’m happy.”

*

With inclement weather the last few days, older members of the Michigan staff were reminded of the 1972 Rose Bowl when it rained so hard the team could not find a dry practice field.

“We went over the mountains,” said Gerald O’Connor, the team physician. “We went to ... what’s that cowboy town?”

The Wolverines practiced for three days in Bakersfield. O’Connor recalls the coaching staff being surprised to walk outside one day and see tumbleweeds rolling down the street.