Error processing SSI fileMichigan: Notebook
Paterno refuses to make players available after loss
Penn State coach made similar move the last time teams met, a 27-24 U-M victory in overtime.
Michigan cornerback Leon Hall tries to break up a pass intended for Penn State's Derrick Williams.Related links
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ANN ARBOR -- Penn State lost for the first time in nine games, going back to last season, as Michigan ruined the eighth-ranked Nittany Lions' quest for an undefeated season.
But how the Nittany Lions players felt about the 27-25 loss to the Wolverines on Saturday at Michigan Stadium was a great mystery.
Penn State coach Joe Paterno did not make his players available to the media following the game. He did the same thing the last time the teams met, a 27-24 overtime loss for the Nittany Lions at Michigan Stadium in 2002.
"You're going to ask them the same questions you'd ask me," said Paterno, who has lost seven straight to the Wolverines. "It was a great football game. Our kids hung in there. I'm proud of them. I'm disappointed for them."
Paterno said his defense was in a difficult position during Michigan's final, winning play. Chad Henne threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Mario Manningham with one second remaining.
"You have to go out there and suck it up, because who knows what's going to happen," Paterno said. "That's the most the crowd (was) into it. We were in good defensive position, and there was one second to go, and they made a play, and they beat us."
Quotable
U-M coach Lloyd Carr, on the victory over Penn State: "We've got to prove we can handle a big win."
For the fans
Sophomore tailback Mike Hart, who had 23 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown, said the Wolverines could not bear to lose another game at Michigan Stadium.
Michigan has lost to Notre Dame and Minnesota at home. The Wolverines have not lost three games at home since 1994.
"We lost two straight in the Big House, (and) that's not acceptable at all," Hart said. "That was the biggest thing -- we wanted to win at home. We wanted to come out here and show our fans we're not disrespecting our stadium. We wanted to show them that, and we came out and didn't quit, and they didn't quit on us, either."
Injury update
As expected, starting safety Willis Barringer, who left the Minnesota game because of a knee injury, was not in uniform for Saturday's game.
Starting strong safety Brandent Englemon, who left the Minnesota game because of a shoulder injury, was in uniform but did not play. Jamar Adams started in his place.
Defensive end Jeremy Van Alstyne, out since suffering an injury in the Northern Illinois game, returned Saturday.
Senior tight end Tim Massaquoi, who is playing with a screw in his right wrist to stabilize a break he suffered in the Notre Dame game, had a smaller protective cast on his arm Saturday.
Support for Lloyd
Former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler said he takes issue with criticism of Carr, who is in his 11th season as head coach.
"I support him 100 percent," Schembechler said Saturday. "I would never even give that a second thought. And I can say that without knowing what's going to happen the rest of the season. You know, it could be disastrous. And even it is, I would support him all the way."
Schembechler, who took over at Michigan in 1969, experienced similar disappointment during his career. In 1984, his Wolverines went 6-6, 5-4 in the Big Ten for a sixth-place tie. He had never had a .500 or losing season before that.
"They should have fired me in 1984, no questions asked," Schembechler said, earnestly. "They should have fired me. And they didn't do it, and it didn't hurt them that much what I did the rest of the time."
Criticism of the program has clogged the local and national media, but Schembechler is certain Carr and his staff have largely ignored it.
While Schembechler won't join in the criticism, he said, like any other Michigan fan, the up-and-down nature of this season has been hard to take.
"I hate it, but I don't hold the coaches responsible for that, although everybody has got some responsibility," he said. "They just got off to a bad start, and they had some back luck with injuries ... and then you're going to blame it all on the coach? I just can't buy that. I just can't do it."
U-M making radio plans
Michigan athletic director Bill Martin said he would like to have a new radio deal in place by early next year to broadcast football and basketball games.
Michigan found out last week that WJR 760, which has broadcast the Wolverines since 1977, has signed a five-year contract to carry Michigan State football and basketball.
Martin said he thought Michigan was negotiating in good faith with WJR and its president and general manager, Mike Feezey.
"It's an emotional thing when you have a long-term partnership, and it was clearly my intention, our intention, to stay with them," Martin said Saturday. "Obviously we wanted to get the best economic deal we could for Michigan. That's what everybody would expect us to do. But at no time -- and I think this is the important thing -- did we ever entertain, call or contemplate not being with those guys (WJR).
"I thought it was totally inappropriate, because we had discussed, well, should we get competitive bids, and I said, 'Absolutely not. They're our partner, we want to stay with them.' They never told us ... Mike Feezey never picked up the phone and said to me, 'Hey, Bill, we're talking to Michigan State, if you want to keep us, here's the deal.'"
Host Communications owns the rights to Michigan football and basketball broadcasts, and Martin said he feels confident the Wolverines will find a more beneficial deal.
"I think this opens us up to some interesting new options," Martin said.
Navarre visits
Former Michigan quarterback John Navarre, who holds the school career passing record with 9,254 yards (2000-03), attended his first Michigan game since graduating. Navarre is with the Arizona Cardinals, who have a bye today.
You can reach Angelique S. Chengelis at angelique.chengelis@detnews.com.
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