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Friday, September 14, 2018

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FootballSaturday Free from his past, senior Zach Gentry stands on the precipice.

» Page 1B CITY

Citizens say city plans for police review inadequate Council hearing about AAPD review board features contentious comments LEAH GRAHAM Daily Staff Reporter

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Disaffiliated fraternities form new independently-governed Council Greek life organizations cite zoning codes, deferred rush as reasons for disaffiliation RACHEL CUNNINGHAM Daily Staff Reporter

Fraternities that disaffiliated from the Interfraternity Council at the University of Michigan created their own independent Ann Arbor Interfraternity Council this month. In a statement released by IFC last week, six fraternities have disaffiliated due to new city zoning code restrictions implemented by the Ann Arbor City Council in July and the University’s

decision to defer rushing to the winter semester beginning January 2020. The six fraternities that have disaffiliated as of publication are Theta Chi, Psi Upsilon, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Alpha Sigma Phi, Delta Chi and Phi Sigma Kappa. This disaffiliation means the fraternities can still operate on campus but will be denied certain programs and resources such as safety and anti-hazing task forces. However, disaffiliated fraternities are still subject to national body and University rules, but their national

charters are not affected by the decision to disaffiliate. A new AAIFC Business junior Michael Salciccioli, president of the newly formed Ann Arbor Interfraternity Council, wrote in a statement AAIFC remains concerned about protecting student rights and fraternal corporation property rights. The zoning codes passed unanimously by City Council require fraternities and sororities to maintain affiliation with a

university in order to keep their housing permits. If a chapter loses their affiliation, they can apply for a two-year exception before their housing will change back to singlefamily or two-family units. The regulations apply to new chapters and do not affect existing chapters at the University. “Our top priority is the health and safety of our members and guests, which is why we have committed to standards that meet or exceed the policies put in place

Ann Arbor City Council heard conf licting recommendations Thursday night from City Administrator Howard Lazarus and a citizen task force regarding the formation of a police oversight board during a work session at City Hall. The meeting focused on the content of the task force’s proposed ordinance, which calls for the establishment of a citizen-led police review commission. Members of the task force repeatedly emphasized their desire to lay the groundwork for an “independent” and “impartial” commission, one that would not be too closely tied to either the Ann Arbor Police Department or City Council. Addressing the City Council, task force member Monica Harrold said she was “literally stunned” when she was informed of Lazarus’s response to the proposed

ordinance. “What I read seemed to cast aside all the work of the task force and creates a commission that is in essence created by the city attorney and the city manager and serves as an arm of the Ann Arbor Police Department,” Harrold said. Harrold also took issue with suggestions the commission’s findings would be “advisory” as opposed to “binding” and that complaints the commission received would be forwarded to the police department. While both the task force’s vision and Lazarus’s plan retain similar 11 voting member structures, Lazarus recommended two of the spots be held by a city council member and a member of the Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission. He also called for a staff attorney from the City Attorney’s Office to work with the commission, while the task force emphasized a

See GREEK, Page 3A

See REVIEW, Page 3A

University admin, free speech experts ‘U’ nursing Intros: 1L respond to Bias Response Team suit Martese students

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weigh in on union vote

Researcher predicts University will move to dismiss lawsuit by Speech First

Profs. say action won’t affect any clinical rounds for upper-level students

A month after Judge Linda V. Parker of the U.S. District Court denied Speech First’s motion to halt the University of Michigan’s Bias Response Team, the University administration and free speech experts reflect on the ruling and predict the case will likely move to becoming a legal moot point. The ruling in early August followed a lawsuit filed by the nonprofit against the University claiming the BRT interfered with free speech. University spokeswoman Kim Broekhuizen said the litigation is still ongoing and the University continues to support BRT and its efforts. “As we stated in July, we are pleased to see the court has affirmed our definitions of bullying and harassment and agrees that the mission of the University’s Bias Response Team is educational, not punitive and does not violate the First Amendment,” Broekhuizen wrote in an email

GRACE KAY

Daily Staff Reporter

As Michigan Medicine nurses continue to vote on a potential strike, the University of Michigan administration reassures students at this time, the potential work stoppage will not negatively impact the School of Nursing. “At this time, there is no impact on the clinical studies for nursing students,” University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald said. Some students still expressed concern regarding how the situation might change with the nurses’ decision. Nursing senior Rachel Sabin explained her professors said there will be no impact as of now, but Sabin expressed See NURSES, Page 3A

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interview. Online records published by the BRT detail more than 120 individual bias reports lodged with the office since April 2017. The log has not been updated, however, since the lawsuit was filed in May 2018. Faith Sparr, a lecturer in

the Communications Studies Department, researches free speech and its usage in public events and on the internet. Sparr said Judge Parker’s opinion seems well reasoned. “The judge has explained that Speech First’s allegation that the Bias Response Team

procedure violates free speech rights is not sustainable, because the BRT has no authority to discipline students through that procedure,” Sparr wrote in an email interview. “As such, there is no concrete

Johnson talks plans

Former UVA student details police brutality case and protest in interview

See LAWSUIT, Page 3A

RIYAH BASHA

Managing News Editor

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INDEX

Four years ago, University of Michigan Law student Martese Johnson, then a junior at the University of Virginia, made headlines across the nation after police officers pinned him to the ground with brute force during an arrest in Charlottesville. Images and videos of Johnson’s arrest went viral, and students on campus began demanding justice and answers. Johnson graduated from UVA in 2016, and recently settled with the Virginia Department of Alcohol Beverage Control for $3 million after a long legal battle. He’s now in his first year at the University of Michigan Law See JOHNSON, Page 2A

NEWS.........................2 OPINION.....................4 ARTS......................5

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News

2A — Friday, September 14, 2018

MONDAY: Looking at the Numbers

TUESDAY: By Design

WEDNESDAY: This Week in History

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THURSDAY: Twitter Talk

FRIDAY: Behind the Story

BE HIND THE STORY Every Friday, one Daily news staffer will give a behind the scenes look at one of this week’s stories. This week, LSA sophomore Sayali Amin got opinions from experts on the University’s ongoing lawsuit related to bias and free speech. “I worked on an update for the Bias Response Team lawsuit that has been ongoing since earlier this year and one thing I learned and that I thought was interesting was I got to talk to a research expert on a free speech... I learned a little bit about what goes into free speech and how it should be dealt with on campuses and that there’s a thin line between protecting free speech and protecting your students and it can be hard to walk on sometimes. Sayali Amin: “Free speech experts, administration weigh in on Speech First lawsuit”

ALEXIS RANKIN/DAILY

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“

This was driven by austerity, this was driven by environmental injustice and racism and discrimination... It was driven by a lack of democracy. A disrespect for science. It was these ideologies that were the real villians in the story.”

University alum and Flint pediatrician Mona Hanna-Attisha on her role in bringing the Flint water crisis into the public eye

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me from being seen as just another Black man. TMD: You mentioned in a ref lection a few years ago that your name is now mentioned alongside those of Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, Alton Sterling and all these Black women and men who have been killed by police brutality. But though you’re a hashtag, you lived. Is that a heavy thing to carry with you? MJ: I’m a few years out of undergrad at the University of Virginia, and worked in communities in New York and Chicago in the two years in between. I navigated a few different spaces, some more diverse than others, but I learned that I — and Black men at large — will always be seen as other. These experiences are traumatic, yes, but there are also all the social standards that we have to contend with afterwards, too. Every space I navigate is one in which I’m more protective (of myself ) ... meticulous. I think that as Black men at these elite schools and in these spaces, we also carry this idea at

times that because we are the JOHNSON few, we are untouchable. I From Page 1A learned that isn’t true. TMD: Having been an organizer on campus before School, and sat down with and after your case, you The Daily to talk about his have a lot of experience with experiences in organizing, movement building. Where with police brutality and do you think students of color plans for this campus. need to be right now, and what The Michigan Daily: This should we be working on? experience with police MJ: I’ve been extremely brutality, in many ways in inspired by Generation Z, the media, has been made to and the generation after us define you. But obviously, you that’s organizing against gun were an organizer, leader and violence. They successfully so much more before that. found ways to grow What are the pros and cons sustainably. of the platform you have now I’m in law school now that came with the incident? because of that. I started Martese Johnson: I organizing in protests on the definitely found myself jaded street in Chicago, then with and angry in the last few the Black Student Alliance on years of undergrad. Those campus, then made an effort five minutes came to define to learn about communities my entire persona ... but I also and attend rallies in New knew everything I had done York. But in ref lecting back on up to that moment prepared undergrad, I know I may have me for what I was going opened people’s eyes, and through. The more important started conversations. But lesson that I learned …which what did I do in a sustainable so many men of color must way? Ten years ago, Black come to terms with … is that students on campuses were my Loading personal achievements organizing for living wages, “Sudoku Syndication” and accolades didn’t stop better living spaces, more Black faculty, for Black student populations — like at the University of Michigan — to accurately ref lect state demographics, HARD and on and on. They were organizing for the same things 20, 30 and 40 years ago, too. With this fouryear turnover of students, we need to figure out how we can create systems for sustainable change. TMD: We’ve reported here on disparate policing of Black and brown students: Ann Arbor police have used brutal force on Black students in ways that other communities don’t deal with. Having born the brunt of this violence yourself, what do you think we need to do with campus police? Is it diversity trainings, more inclusive hirings or something beyond that? A lot of the © sudokusolver.com. For personal use only. MJ: HEAT WAVE puzzle by sudokusyndication.com answers we’re asking have been written in some manual ... whether Generate and solve Sudoku, Super Sudoku and Godoku puzzles at sudokusyndication.com!

SUDOKU

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it’s the 21st-century guide to policing or with different organizations. Whatever ideas you want to bring up, we’re out there already talking about it. The real problem is not with ideas, but with the pacing of demands. At UVA, there are four different law enforcement agencies: the university police, the Charlottesville police department, state police and campus monitors — all who work to “ensure the safety” of students. The interaction of all these departments and officers is usually poor, and it’s students of color who pay the price. TMD: After all that you had been through, what was it like watching white supremacist rallies on your campus and in Charlottesville? MJ: I had graduated the year before, and I remember sitting at dinner when I got a call from DeRay Mckesson who was like, “Are you seeing these people with torches on your campus right now?” Everyone was expecting them but not Friday 1/29/09Saturday, 1:41 PM night. I think it showed me that these spaces are still breachable; to be a minority walking in this world is to have that embedded trauma. But it’s also an example of young people coming together to organize. TMD: What’s next for you at Michigan? MJ: I want to get connected with the community at large. To bridge the undergrad and graduate divide. The law school can be something of a bubble, and it’s important to me that I own my stake in what happens on campus, and that my peers have the same aspirations. I also want to learn about students of color, what they’re pushing for, and how I can be an ally. I feel like in a lot of ways, Michigan is similar to UVA— it’s a public school with many of the same problems and potential. I think I can bring a lot of what I learned here ... I’m passionate about making this place home.

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The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the University OF Michigan. One copy is available free of charge to all readers. Additional copies may be picked up at the Daily’s office for $2. Subscriptions for September-April are $250 and year long subscriptions are $275. University affiliates are subject to a reduced subscription rate. On-campus subscriptions for fall term are $35. Subscriptions must be prepaid.

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Friday, September 14, 2018 — 3A

AWA R D W I N N I N G P H O T O G R A P H E R LAWSUIT From Page 1A

ALEXANDRIA POMPEI/Daily Osborne Macharia, award winning photographer and singer-songwriter “Blinky” Bill Sellanga, presents at the Penny Stamps Speaker Series in the Michigan Theatre Thursday.

GREEK From Page 1A by the University and the UM IFC,” Salciccioli wrote. “As the Ann Arbor IFC, we remain concerned about protecting students’ associational rights — a concern also clearly stated by the leadership of the UM IFC last spring, as well as the property rights of fraternity house corporations. As we move forward, we will continue to seek a resolution with both the University of Michigan and the city of Ann Arbor.” With representatives from the six disaffiliated fraternities, AAIFC has already convened meetings. Stephen Bernstein, attorney counsel for Alpha Epsilon Pi, said disaffiliation is an ongoing trend and topic of conversation across the country. “There is a whole issue in the Greek world about whether it is advantageous to be affiliated with the constituent university,” Bernstein said. “At some universities, the houses are right on campus. … Then, there are other places like the University of Colorado where the entire fraternity system disaffiliated from the university. The students are still students. They still have to observe the conditions of the student code, but the organizations are independent. U-M has recognized that there’s a right to do that.”

REVIEW From Page 1A desire to retain independent counsel. Task force member Richard Soble said getting legal advice from the City Attorney’s Office would be a conf lict of interest. “The task force said we are not comfortable at all with receiving advice from the city attorney who represents the Ann Arbor Police Department and us if there’s a dispute,” Soble said. “We said if there’s going to be judgment, respected legal judgment that’s respected by the community, we need to have independent legal counsel.” Lazarus, who said he hoped City Council would have an actionable resolution by the start of October, also noted several instances where proposals for the commission could potentially conf lict with

Bernstein said University Greek life’s recent shift to more stringent regulation — such as enforcing winter rush and fraternity action plans — affects working relationships. “Historically, the University of Michigan Student Life and Greek Life Office has really been the best to work with over the years,” Bernstein said. “They seem to have gone back 50 years in time, and part of that has to do with government regulation, to in loco parentis. I think that that is the core of the problem. For what it’s worth, we are glad to discuss this with the University. If we can work through this, I think everyone thinks it would be better to have a working relationship.” According to Bernstein, the Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter at the University consulted with their national body before disaffiliation. CSG President Daniel Greene, Public Policy senior, said student government respects the jurisdiction of IFC and will continue to support university students and IFC. “We remain committed to ensuring the best Michigan experience for all students,” Greene wrote in an email interview. “We will continue to monitor the situation, and we will provide support if deemed necessary by IFC.” IFC and CSG have collaborated on projects in the past, including Football Saturday water

stations. Heather Kirk, chief communication officer of the North-American Interfraternity Conference, wrote in an email interview the conference will continue to work with the city and University to find solutions that address issues pertaining to Greek life. “All of our member fraternities with chapters at UM — whether affiliated or in the Ann Arbor IFC — are concerned about the impact of the city’s new zoning ordinance and the University’s decision to restrict students’ association rights,” Kirk wrote. “The NIC will continue to advocate for all of its members as we work with City and University to find reasonable solutions that address the critical issues in the community and fraternities’ concerns.” City Councilmembers confront loopholes Councilmember Julie Grand, D-Ward 3, who serves as a prehealth advisor in LSA, said she’s skeptical about the true reasons fraternities are choosing to disaffiliate from the University. “The skeptical side of me is wondering, ‘Is this really about the zoning ordinance or are they trying to sell something to fraternities that might be other benefits –– shortterm benefits –– to disaffiliating in terms of the changes that are coming down the line, in terms of fall recruitment?’” Grand said. “I think there’s a loophole that they’re

state law, the city charter or the Ann Arbor Police Department’s collective bargaining agreement. Possible gray areas include the ordinance’s proposed subpoena powers and confidentiality of information. The ordinance confers subpoena to the commission, but Lazarus said whether or not the City Council could grant that authority warranted further legal review. The proposed ordinance also states that when people file complaints, the commission will assume they are doing so anonymously, unless they indicate they do not want to remain anonymous. However, because the commission would be a government agency, it would fall under the purview of the Freedom of Information Act, meaning that members of the public could submit requests to view certain documents. Lazarus said he hoped to have an actionable resolution

to bring before the City Council for a vote by the start of October so that members could be seated on the commission by January 2019 and could play a role in naming a new chief of police. Councilmember Sumi Kailasapathy, D-Ward 1, cautioned against rushing the creation of the commission. “I don’t think that should be the goal,” Kailasapathy said. “It it takes a longer time, let it take the time.” One of the co-chairs of the task force, Richard Friedman, repeatedly discussed the importance of maintaining the independence of the commission. “It’s meant to provide a perspective on policing that is and is perceived to be by the normal public outside the hierarchy of city administration,” Friedman said.

looking for. I suspect that that may be a stronger driver than the issue about zoning.” Grand remains suspicious of the disaffiliation due to some of the fraternities’ reputations. In a meeting with Greek life representatives in 2015, President Schlissel claimed Greek life’s connection to issues like alcohol abuse and sexual assault tarnish the University’s reputation. Last year, IFC self-suspended all social activities in response to a litany of charges such as hazing, sexual misconduct, hospitalizations and more. “By having some of those groups that have not always had the best reputation in the system to disaffiliate, it definitely makes me raise an eyebrow,” Grand said. “I think that the landlords of these houses are looking out for themselves.” Chapter stances Alpha Sigma Phi Gordy Heminger, president and chief executive officer of Alpha Sigma Phi International Body, released a statement to The Daily on Thursday affirming the fraternity’s commitment to health and safety remains the same despite the decision to disaffiliate. “Our commitment to health and safety has not changed, which is why we have worked with other fraternities to support a new independent IFC that has already developed standards that meet or exceed the university’s own health

NURSES From Page 1A concern regarding the future ramifications if the nurses decide to strike. “Nothing is set in stone yet,” Sabin said. “No one knows what’s going to happen because everything is so up in the air. They said the head of the course has been in contact with the hospital and it will be the hospital’s priority (to ensure) we can still complete our clinicals, though they cannot promise we will be able to stay with our initial nurse or on the same floor.” Katie Oppenheim, chair of the University of Michigan Professional Nurse Council, said the union hopes to reach an agreement with the University on fair labor practices and avoid a strike. The group is set to vote Sunday on the action. The union’s main argument

harm that is cognizable under the law with respect to the BRT.” In Parker’s statement, she said there was no instance when BRT criticized the speech of an individual who was reportedly engaged in bias conduct. The Daily reached out to Free Speech President Nicole Neily but did not receive a response before publication. In a previous Daily article, Neily explained the motives behind the lawsuit. “We have multiple members of the organization at the University,” Neily said. “The University of Michigan also has a combination of a very bad speech code that is very vague, a very active bias response team that is very proud of its achievements because it keeps a log and we have numbers there, though not all were listed in the complaint. These were the three things we needed.” Sparr said because the BRT doesn’t hand down discipline, its process does not infringe on free speech. “I don’t believe (based on what I’ve read) just having the BRT process and responding to alleged bias incidents are a free speech violation,” Sparr wrote.

and safety standards,” Heminger wrote. “We seek to find solutions with the city and university that address our concerns as Alpha Sigma Phi believes the fraternity experience is at its best when there is a true partnership between the University and the Fraternity.” Theta Chi Ben Hill, chief communications officer of Theta Chi, confirmed in an email the frats’ disaffiliation came about from the zoning code and deferred rush changes. “This decision was — and still is — about preserving our property and association rights in response to a recent Ann Arbor zoning change and the University’s announcement to restrict firstsemester students from joining fraternities,” Hill wrote. “We seek to find solutions with the city and university that address our concerns.” Theta Chi has drawn criticism in the past after they attempted to host a “Hood Ratchet” themed party in 2013. Delta Chi Ben Ely, director of communications and publications for U-M’s chapter of Delta Chi, wrote the international headquarters supports the chapter’s decision to disaffiliate. “The Delta Chi Fraternity recognizes the actions taken by our Michigan chapter in collaboration with other fraternities and support their decision to disaffiliate from the

centers around safer staffing levels. “We are here today to demand a say in our nursing practices and we are unwilling to make concessions that jeopardize patient safety,” Oppenheim said at a union rally for safer staffing on July 14 with more than 2,000 other nurses in attendance. Since the rally, the union has also filed an unfair labor practice charge against the hospital. “Our goal is not a work stoppage, but a fair agreement, which respects nurses and guarantees safe staffing,” Oppenheim wrote in an email interview. “The University can remedy this situation immediately, by stopping their unfair labor practices and bargaining in good faith.” A potential strike would have the greatest impact on juniors and seniors in the Nursing School. While freshmen nursing students follow a

“There is no discipline meted out by the BRT. They are a resource for students who believe they have been targeted. You can speak freely, but if I interpret your speech as problematic (if I believe it is racist, or misogynistic, or homophobic, or xenophobic), that is my right as well.” Sparr wrote any concerns of vagueness are likely moot as the University changed the definitions for harassment and bullying to mirror state law. “I suspect that the procedural steps that might occur next is the University might ask the court to dismiss the case,” Sparr wrote. Sparr also wrote about the University’s obligation to protect free speech while also protecting its students. “I’d emphasize that while the University certainly has obligations to uphold vigorous notions of free speech on campus (ethically, pedagogically, legally) it also has obligations to ensure that students who live and work on campus are not bullied or harassed by other community members,” Sparr wrote. “In fact, some of these obligations are specified by federal law to ensure that the educational setting is not a hostile environment based on race or sex.”

University of Michigan,” Ely wrote. “We’ve worked with our interfraternal partners to support a new independent IFC that has developed standards that meet or exceed the university’s own. … We remain committed to pursuing solutions with the city and university that address our concerns.” Phi Sigma Kappa Phi Sigma Kappa leadership did not respond to requests for comment. Psi Upsilon Thomas Fox, executive director of Psi Upsilon, said the fraternity disaffiliated due to the zoning code changes and deferred rush as well. According to Fox, Psi Upsilon supports a new and independent IFC and continual work with members and alumni. “ … (W)e have full time staff members on campus currently working with our members to educate our members about these standards and best practices for a safe, productive chapter experience,” Fox wrote. “The alumni corporation that manages the chapter house has also hired a live-in director to help guide the chapter. … We seek to find solutions with the city and university that address our concerns and will continue to work with our interfraternal

Read more at MichiganDaily.com

Opinion

4A — Friday, September 14, 2018

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

JULIA MONTAG | COLUMN

Pulling yourself up by your climbing straps

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DAVID HAYSE | COLUMN

‘And that’s the way it is’

ebate over “fake news” and “alternative facts” is a force currently subverting our country’s ability to hold civil and practical discussion. As a kid, especially one who was always interested in politics, I liked to watch the news. In early middle school, I used to come home and immediately turn on CNN’s “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.” I had a romantic notion of reporters being like Walter Cronkite, a CBS news anchor in the ’60s and ’70s who was regarded as the most trustworthy person in America because he was seen as unbiased. My mom would often make fun of my older brother and me for being “nerds” watching the news, but it just seemed too interesting to ignore. I trusted the news, not only to give me the facts of each story, but to choose the stories for me. From as early as elementary school, I was taught to check several sources to compare and contrast and weed out the bias in order to find the facts of the case. I found it to be a harder task to continue this method with politics than with the biography of Mark Twain I wrote in third grade. I tried FOX, MSNBC and the New York Times, among others, and heard they were all biased. CNN, according to my brother, was the most centrist, so I decided to trust them. My hope was that the most centrist source would focus more on facts rather than their own opinion or bias, allowing me, without undue influence, to make my own judgment. From then on, I watched CNN religiously — that is, until the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. Every day I would come home from school, walk to my living room, turn on CNN and see simulations of the airplane crash, and “experts” making guesses as to where the plane was or coming up with ludicrous explanations for what happened to it. I started to get frustrated. Why, when there were so many stories to report on, was this one story dominating CNN’s entire focus? I realized then that I wasn’t just watching the news, I was watching a television show. Any television show relies on ratings, whether it be a news program like “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer” or

“The O’Reilly Factor,” a reality show like “Fear Factor” — which my family loved — or a classic from our generation’s childhood like “Teen Titans” or “Drake and Josh.” I started to notice that the commercials shown on each of these channels seemed to target specific audiences and that by targeting specific parts of the consumer market, their impartiality was compromised. Gone are the days of any “fair and balanced” news source. This escalation has only been made worse with the advent of news sources whose exclusive domain is the internet. This leaves the American public with a difficult decision.

I wasn’t just watching the news, I was watching a television show. First, we could just accept that this is the way things are now. We could just watch and read the sources most in line with us politically and not ask questions. Second, we could accept the status quo but instead take on the responsibility of reading several sources on the same issue to decide for ourselves the facts of the case and, from there, our opinion on the matter. Third and most favorably, is to try and hold the “news” accountable for their manipulation of the trust of the American public. Each site or station now has some apparent bias attached to it. The average American cannot open an article from a major news source without seeing traces of bias littered throughout. Middle school students with the same interest in politics I had are being introduced to a political sphere of increasing adversity and bias. This trend is causing distrust of media on all sides. Whether it be people crying “fake news” or attacking reporters and calling them snitches, there is a crisis on America’s plate. What are we to do about it?

EMILY WOLFE | CONTACT EMILY AT ELWOLFE@UMICH.EDU

The first step, I believe, is to admit that there is a problem. Not with a specific station, but with the entire current concept of the press. I believe strongly in the role of the press as the Founding Fathers saw it. The media is at its best when it acts as a watchdog serving the people — presenting facts for the public to form their own opinions. What the media has become is an inf lammatory body that has exploited our political and social climate to get “clicks” or “views” in order to satisfy its own ideological or business agenda, not the interest of the people. I certainly don’t believe there should be violent backlash against the media, as seen at recent antifa protests, but the time has come for us to do with the media what they are supposed to do with the government: Call them out where they are wrong, when they try to exploit our passions or when they intentionally drive a wedge between us based on our ideologies. Whether we always agree or not, we are a community unified by our title as Americans — a community that has seen and fought through so much for our common goals and ideals throughout history. From the inception of our nation, rooted in selfgovernance and resistance to oppression, to the Civil War, where we abolished the tyranny of slavery, and even through the World Wars, we have persevered through great trial and tribulation. This current political climate is often talked about as some great conflict that threatens the future of our nation, but frankly, it seems a small task to overcome, compared to what the generations before us have faced. Walter Cronkite once said, “As anchorman of the CBS Evening News, I signed off my nightly broadcasts for nearly two decades with a simple statement: ‘And that’s the way it is.’ To me, that encapsulates the newsman’s highest ideal: to report the facts as he sees them, without regard for the consequences or controversy that may ensue.”

David Hayse can be reached at dhayse@umich.edu.

hat comes to mind when you hear about Columbus, Ohio? Maybe you remember that it’s the state’s capital, or it’s Guy Fieri’s hometown, or it’s where the very first Wendy’s opened in 1969. (You definitely wouldn’t think of the home of the “School We Don’t Speak Of” whose mascot is named Brutus). Columbus is also home to the Academy for Urban Scholars, a dropout and recovery high school for students who are at risk of dropping out, or who already have. The city, compared to Ann Arbor, has an 8 percent lower graduation rate and nearly three times the crime. To remove students from the physical or neighborhood environment that lured them away from class and toward trouble, the school provides an abundance of extracurricular activities. Both during and after school, you can find students playing basketball and volleyball, visiting the local YMCA or even putting their minds to work in the music studio. “Many of our students have experienced trauma, and it is our responsibility as educators to provide our students with access to resources that support the development of resilient mental health,” said Ryan Marchese, who works as a teacher for AUS, said in an interview with The Daily. What’s the key to resilient mental health? Ask Mr. Marchese, and he’ll tell you the answer is his rock climbing club. It started as an idea. Marchese, an AUS educator by day and seasoned rock climber by night, teamed up with his pal, Steve Carnahan, who managed the local Lifetime Fitness climbing wall. They wanted to introduce Marchese’s students to the benef its of climbing — an entire world to which they had never been exposed. In the fall of 2016, Marchese wrote a proposal to the AUS administration to request f unding for a student climbing club. Af ter the proposal was quickly approved, Marchese coordinated with the school to develop a prog ram in which students could earn physical education credit through rock climbing. Marchese wanted to blend teaching and climbing for reasons beyond bringing together his occupation and

his hobby. When asked about his motives when creating this program, he responded that the “(AUS) staff are strong believers in the idea that students need to know that we care before they care (about) what we know, and experiences like rock climbing with students help to build the relationships that establish our classrooms as safe learning environments for our students.” After-school youth development programs have been examined and evaluated for their ability to engage teens, foster growth and intervene with delinquency, and have appeared to be extremely successful when children like the club, feel treated well and have relationships with club staff members. The climbing club has followed suit over the

What’s the key to resilient mental health? Ask Mr. Marchese. years as interest in the program continues to grow. “When the climbing club first started, only a few students were interested,” Marchese says. “After those students came climbing and had a great time, they brought their friends and the club grew quickly.” As inner-city teens deal with jobs, family responsibilities and “the lure of the streets”, they face more challenges in their after-school hours. The same study showed that in urban communities, there are low wages and consequently high work demands, leaving no adult at home when school gets out. Schools in the same communities tend to lack extracurricular clubs and athletic programs that could occupy students in the afternoon, pushing students to roam neighborhoods that are often “plagued by gang violence and the drug trade,” the study said. Marchese recognizes this concept and expressed to me that he’d love to be a part of encouraging other schools in comparable cities to lead similar programs. Detroit is a prime example of a city that would benefit from Marchese’s ideas. Only 79 percent of Detroit residents aged

25 and older have graduated high school, while in Ann Arbor, that same statistic is 96.8 percent. Detroit’s shockingly high rates of crime have led the city to create several violence prevention programs geared toward teenagers. In one, police officers work as teachers and mentors, and promote paths that involve education, jobs and careers. In Detroit, there exists quite a lengthy list of opportunities for youth afterschool programs, but the list lacks a rock climbing program. In addition to getting the students engaged, climbing gets them active and assists in mental health development. “I’ve experienced the mental health benefits of climbing in my own life,” Marchese attests. But we don’t have to just take Marchese’s word for it. The benefits of climbing, especially those relating to depression and psychotherapy, have been made clear in a study done by the University of Arizona. Researcher Eva-Maria Stelzer found that the endurance required for bouldering (a form of climbing) materializes in social, mental and physical ways, “building muscle while reducing stress.” In the Huffington Post series “Go Rogue, which comprises stories about the advantages of outdoor sports, Abigail Wise addresses how rock climbing strengthens our minds and bodies. On top of the benefits of exercise, such as decreased stress levels and improved mental health, climbing introduces a unique workout that gets hearts pumping and muscles burning. The sport requires significant muscle power and training, as well as a set of problem-solving skills as handy as your gear belt. So, if Columbus high school students are becoming acquainted with a new sport that promotes wellbeing and teaches them to work hard (and hopefully stay in school), perhaps other cities can and should adopt this model of youth development. Inner-city youth, such as teens in Detroit, would benefit from Ryan Marchese expanding out of Columbus and climbing up north. School programs should continue to promote athletics to redirect students towards activities that expand instead of contract their options for the future.

Julia Montag can be reached at jtmon@umich.edu.

STEPHANIE MULLINGS | WOLVERINES ABROAD

No one ever tells you this

I knew during my senior year of high school that in college I would want to study abroad. I remember making the final decision on the exact location and program my freshman year at the University of Michigan after a heartbreak. I am pretty sure my immature thought process was that this would evoke some sort of longing on his part. He would see me traveling and “living my best life” and eventually come crawling right back. My mother leaped at the idea of me starting the process with the Center for Global and International Study, always reflecting upon her regrets of not being able to participate in international travel as an undergraduate student. “No one ever told me about that kind of stuff,” she said, impressed by CGIS being such an accessible and advertised resource on campus — a contrast to what she had experienced during her college years. It was a few days before Christmas when I found out I had been accepted into the “Contemporary London” program for the upcoming spring term. By this point in time, the heartbreaker had come crawling back prematurely, ruining my foolproof plan of making him jealous with an aesthetically pleasing Instagram page of worldly travels. I had become overwhelmed in an attempt to find my place on campus. I didn’t have many friends, let alone know anyone else who would be studying abroad as a freshman. Needless to say, I panicked. I was going to be alone, for the first time ever, on an entirely different side of the planet for seven weeks. As my departure neared, I had the ugliest meltdown,

expressing my fears and anxiety to my mother, who said something along the lines of, “I already bought the plane ticket. You’re going.” The eight-hour flight from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport to London’s Heathrow Airport was probably the most nervous I had been in my entire life. However, I found solace in the sweet older woman who was watching “Finding Nemo” in the seat next to me. Once we landed, I was immediately lost, even after going through the map of the airport with my father the night before, highlighting all of the checkpoints, customs and where I would eventually meet the rest of the group. The pit stains in my grey Michigan hoodie I had worn as an identifier were growing more prominent by the minute. The humidity had made my hair frizz and I knew my morning breath had to be something vicious. This may seem pointless to you. Why is she telling me about looking like a hot mess? Crying? Or feeling lost and alone? I say this because each and every part of it will be a part of studying abroad. You will feel alone, anxious, confused and things will come at you quickly. You may even have a meltdown or two, during which you probably won’t look your best. You learn to adapt, you grow, you experience, you challenge yourself to try new things and you jump at opportunities you may have never before. You see. You explore. You taste and you listen. Surprise yourself — you often don’t realize how easy and enjoyable it can be to delve into something outside of your comfort zone. I often look back on what my

mother told me in her excitement of my decision to study abroad, “No one ever told me about that kind of stuff.” So, I take this opportunity to tell everyone about this kind of stuff. I graduated from Michigan in April. I am writing this now at the kitchen table in my surprisingly spacious but studio apartment in the Fenway-Kenmore area of Boston, just adjacent to Boston University where I have started graduate school. I can say with ease that I am comfortable here, in this old studio apartment, by myself, away from everything that I know and the ones I care about most (the same heartbreaker stuck around this time) because of my study abroad experience. Quite frankly, it taught me how to grow up and become comfortable with my independence. Upon completion of a Master of Fine Arts degree, Boston University provides fellowships for graduates to participate in global travel — receiving funding after they select anywhere on the globe they choose to spend time after graduation. I know that I can do this, I know that I want to do this and I know that I will do this because of the foundation my prior experience abroad built. The difference between then and now is that now I know exactly what no one ever tells you.

Stephanie Mullings graduated in 2018. To search for education abroad opportunities and register your travel visit global.umich.edu.

Arts

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

Friday, September 14, 2018 — 5A

Daily TV Writers make their Emmy predictions Best Drama Series Who will win: “The Handmaid’s Tale” Who should win: “The Handmaid’s Tale”

Even without Margaret Atwood’s novel to fall back on, the second season of “The Handmaid’s Tale” impressed. Though at times hard to watch, the Hulu series continues to demand a reaction from viewers

Best Comedy Series

and force them to recognize the tactics of a toxic society. It captures the spirit of our age with artistry and memorable scenes, often weaving together love and punishment to drive home its messages. After a

well-deserved win last Emmys season, “The Handmaid’s Tale” is worthy of a repeat and can be expected to get one. —Samantha Della Daily Arts Writer

Fera,

AMAZON

Who will win: “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” Who should win: “Atlanta” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” is deservedly being recognized as one of the best shows of the year. It is unapologetically bold, confident and witty, all while astutely highlighting some of the ridiculousness of widely held social norms that persist even today, decades after the

time period in which it is set. However, FX’s “Atlanta” continues to be one of the most daring and innovative shows in recent memory. The show’s creator and leading man Donald Glover described it as “Twin Peaks for rappers” before the start of the second season, and somehow, it exceeded the

expectations that were set on it. Delving into topics such as depression as well as delivering surreal masterpieces such as “Alligator Man” and “Teddy Perkins,” it was the biggest TV achievement of the year. —Sayan Ghosh, Daily Arts Writer

HULU

Best Actor in a Comedy Who will win: Bill Hader, “Barry” Who should win: Ted Danson “The Good Place

FILM REVIEW

‘Sierra Burgess’ is a loser he would be able to re-accept her when she has spent the entirety Daily Arts Writer of their relationship lying to him. On top of that, the light-hearted morality of “people are more Coming only a few weeks than they appear” is hardly one after the Netflix book-to-film that is original to this film and teen romcom “To All the Boys has been done better in many I’ve Loved Before” other high school took the internet rom-coms, most by storm, “Sierra obviously “To All Burgess is a Loser” the Boys,” which attempts to cash in was released less on that craze, but than a month ago. Netflix stumbles at times With “Sierra along the way. The Burgess is a film is a retelling Loser” it’s clear of classic French play “Cyrano that Netflix has adopted an de Bergerec,” but unlike everything-and-the-kitchensome similarly-themed teen sink mentality when it comes to reimaginings of classic works — their original release slate. For a like “She’s the Man” — “Sierra traditional studio, releasing both Burgess” fails to leave a mark this film and “To All the Boys” of its own. It features a cast that in such a similar time frame seems perfectly curated to draw in the desired audience, with Shannon Purser (of save Barb from “Stranger Things” fame) and Noah Centineo (“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”) having the majority of the screen time. However, unlike the other teen soaps from which these stars were born, “Burgess” is about as uninspired and trite as it gets. Helmed by first-time feature director Ian Samuels and penned by Lindsey Beer, who has no other credits to her name, the film stumbles from one contrived plot point to another, making a fairly simple story about mistaken identity into a convoluted mess of relationships and drama, with some highly questionable storytelling decisions made along the way. The core story follows the not classically “high-school pretty” Sierra as she attempts to gain the affections of the stereotypical nice-guy football player Jeremy, by pretending that she is the uber popular Veronica (Kristine Forseth). For the majority of the runtime, Jeremy believes he is texting Veronica when he is actually texting Sierra. The film treats this as a win for Sierra, and when Veronica eventually becomes involved in plots that include tricking Jeremy into kissing Sierra while his eyes are closed and having fake Skype calls with him in which Veronica is speaking for Sierra, it becomes clear the filmmakers haven’t thought through the ramifications of the story they are telling. It’s questionable if it’s a violation of Jeremy’s autonomy to make him think he’s kissing one girl when really he’s kissing another, but the level of deception inherent in the entire relationship between him and Sierra makes it hard to believe IAN HARRIS

“Sierra Burgess is a Loser”

would be ludicrous. For Netflix, so long as one of them succeeds, crashing the market with this kind of low budget low risk fair is a no brainer. Netflix has released almost a half dozen romantic comedies just this summer alone, and they don’t seem to be slowing down. Between high profile, high concept releases like David Ayer’s “Bright” and the continued to development of their original series like “Orange is the New Black” and the potentially bizarre final season of “House of Cards,” Netflix seems to have but one goal when it comes to their original output: release as much as possible. Quality be damned. Endless output be rewarded. A new original movie every single week, even if this week’s is just a pale imitation of the last.

Known best for his wide range of impressions on “Saturday Night Live,” Bill Hader brings the deadpan side of his humor to life in his first TV breakout as the titular role in HBO’s “Barry.” Hader has received a lot of buzz this Emmy season surrounding “Barry,” facing off with Donald Glover (“Atlanta”) in a whopping five different categories. While

Glover took the award last year in this category, Hader’s nuanced performance shows promise to win in 2018. All this “Barry” buzz, however, distracts from the stand-out performance delivered by Ted Danson as Michael in “The Good Place.” Danson takes his character from a shining ray of positivity to a face of evil to a

reformed demon with ease and grace. Danson’s performance is surely the glue that holds both the show and the world of “The Good Place” together, but on such an easy-viewing TV show, his contribution may be sorely overlooked. —Sofia Lynch, Daily TV/New Media Editor

HBO

Arts

6A — Friday, September 14, 2018

CONCERT PREVIEW

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

CONCERT REVIEW

On the road, Terry Bozzio FIDLAR unites punks & seeks constant innovation indie kids at their show with him throughout college and continued to influence him Daily Arts Writer throughout his life. “I have three major schools It’s overwhelming to think of influence,” Bozzio explained. about how many bands there are. “The first is the classical European It’s even more overwhelming to school, with composers like think about how many people Bartók and Revel. Then, in jazz — are behind these bands. For not swing jazz but generic jazz à these players, it can be tough to la Miles Davis — I learned about distinguish themselves. open-ended improvisations. Band members and session Atmospheres. And then the players, third is ethnic unfortunately, percussion from Terry Bozzio usually go around the music unnoticed by the from traditional Sept. 16, 2018 @ 7 public — apart musicians. Every p.m. from their names country in Africa Token Lounge appearing in has a different Detroit liner notes and style of drumming, maybe a quick and they all speak $25 shoutout or two to me.” on tour. However, While in with his incredible talent and college, Terry began to realize the passion for music, Terry Bozzio significance of music. His friends didn’t fall into the same trap at the time turned him on to the that many musicians from the “authenticity and quality of the ’70s and ’80s found themselves artists instead of copycat artists,” in. Distinguishing himself as an Bozzio said. “I’d bring them an incredible drummer during his artist and say, ‘Hey, check this time with Frank Zappa, Bozzio out,’ and they’d say, ‘Oh yeah, well went on to gain praise from critics Tony Williams was playing that and fans alike while playing with three years ago.’” groups like the Brecker Brothers, After working as a musician for Korn and Beck before branching a short while after college, Bozzio off and writing his own music. eventually got his big break when From the very beginning, he auditioned for Frank Zappa’s Bozzio found himself drawn band. After an incredibly tough to the world of percussion. His audition process, he got the gig father, an avid accordian player, that would push him to levels he introduced him to the world of had never been pushed before. music. “When I played with Zappa,” “He could silence the room just Bozzio recalled, “it was like by playing one chord,” Bozzio said Marine Boot Camp for a in an interview with The Daily. musician.” “And I saw that power and what Zappa began to take on a sort music was, and it really inspired of father-figure role with Terry, me.” giving him advice on his career But while creating his own and fostering his musical talent. instruments out of paper and And after a few years, Zappa, like trash cans, he eventually begged a mother bird, thought it was time his father for drum lessons after for Bozzio to fly and take the reins seeing The Beatles on the Ed in regard to his own music. Sullivan show. The rest is history. While playing with other While most kit players tend groups, Terry picked up to avoid other percussion sponsorships from various instruments like the plague at companies and began playing solo a young age, Bozzio was drawn shows, showcasing his immense to orchestral instruments, like talent. the timpani. This interest stuck “At first, I didn’t like it,” Bozzio RYAN COX

said, “but then I realized I had a captivated audience of talented drummers and no commercial restrictions.” From there, he started to take some chances; unsurprisingly, people enjoyed it. And he continued to develop his sound and his craft. “There’s a classic quote from Buddy Rich that says, ‘There’s only two bad kinds of music I don’t like: country and western,’ and that’s not true. You know, there’s good music and there’s bad music; there’s music that’s authentic and there’s music that’s being played to be popular and make a living. And it’s OK to do the latter, but it’s not for me,” Bozzio said. One of the most recognizable things about Bozzio is how huge his drum kit is. Many drummers are often criticized for having huge kits yet not utilizing the whole kit — essentially using it for show. However, every piece of Bozzio’s kit serves a purpose. All of the bass drums are pitched diatonically, while his many toms are pitched chromatically. With access to all these tones, he’s able to explore not only rhythmic concepts, but also tonal concepts, making solos eclectic, and not just “thrashing drum solos,” as Bozzio mentioned. After all these years of being on the road and perfecting his craft, one would think an artist would start to grow tired and banal, but assuming these things about Bozzio would be a grave mistake. Continuing to listen and learn has proved for Bozzio to keep his music fresh, complex and interesting. “I think it (has) gotten a whole lot more impressive melodically, and it’s on a whole different level of coordination,” Bozzio explained. “I can sit down at a practice pad and practice rhythmic exercises, but utilizing the whole kit is a whole different thing, and it (has) been growing by leaps and bounds.” Terry Bozzio will be at the Token Lounge in Detroit on Sept. 16 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $25.

Release Date: Friday, September 14, 2018

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

ACROSS 1 Mortify 6 Late bloomer 11 Education basic 15 Starbucks order 16 Laughing, say 17 Et __ 18 Complimentary thoughts? 21 Half a Caribbean federation 22 Breitling competitor 23 Where some long drives begin 24 Certain octet member 25 Subtitle for “Further Adventures of Jack and Jill”? 32 U.K. singer Rita 33 Like the sticks 34 Tentative statement 38 Collaborative website 40 Classic slot images 41 Emanation 42 “He that hath no beard is __ than a man”: Shak. 43 Battery post 44 Capt.’s heading 45 Reason to open another register? 50 Lean (on) 53 Balloting time: Abbr. 54 Flotilla locale 55 Keep up (with), as fashion trends 62 Rate hike at a tanning salon? 64 Goa garment 65 Edible bulb 66 Macabre fiction middle name 67 State of France 68 Some red marks 69 Knish purveyors DOWN 1 Stage flankers 2 When doubled, one of the Leeward Islands 3 Trendy berry 4 “Way of the gods” belief 5 Get a move on 6 French mine

7 Posted 8 Display, with “out” 9 Sea eagles 10 White alternative 11 Class for dogs and cats 12 “Guardians of the Galaxy” figure 13 Slight suggestion 14 Attacked 19 Squeezed (out) 20 Arias, usually 24 Comrades 25 Postseason game 26 Historic canal 27 Runs on 28 Nottingham’s river 29 Laugh producer 30 Undercut 31 Comprising standard glazing 35 Local bond, briefly 36 The Ponte Vecchio spans it 37 [What a bore!] 39 “Scout’s honor!” 40 Attacked, with “into” 46 Kendrick of “Pitch Perfect” films

47 Meter, e.g. 48 “Heart of Darkness” author 49 Deal in electronics? 50 Put out 51 Eye-popping display 52 Ancient Jordanian archaeological city

55 Trig function 56 Labor 57 Oodles 58 Hungers 59 Prepare for sowing 60 Actor Morales 61 They’re often secured at tellers’ windows 63 Commitment

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:

09/14/18

DOMINIC POLSINELLI Senior Arts Editor

FIDLAR is a very difficult band to pin down; songs like “Bad Habits” and “Cocaine” are, well, frankly about abuse wrapped up in a pop-punk bow, while “Leave Me Alone” and “Why Generation” point to deeper themes of isolation and disenchantment. Yet in performance, these dark themes bubble to the surface with much more heart and spunk than one would gather on paper alone. FIDLAR crowds are an interesting amalgamation: The pop punks, skate punks, indie rockers and metalheads all seem to unite in their love for the West coast band. If a FIDLAR show is any proof, it seems songs about drug abuse and isolation just might be the threads that hold the alternative scene together. The band — who only have two albums under their belt currently, with their most recent release Too being from 2015 — have only dropped a few new singles recently, adding some diversity to their set. Walking onto a minimal stage set up with some broken TVs displaying their name in rotating fonts, they pleasantly surprised the crowd by opening with new song “Alcohol” (although, the massive reaction from the crowd certainly was not the least bit shocking). And these reactions are what make a FIDLAR show so special. The band and their fans share an incredibly tangible love that vibrates through the room. This was especially evident during one of their most popular songs “40oz. On Repeat,” when lead singer Zac

Carper left the stage while the crowd kept yelling, “I’m gonna lock myself inside my room / With this 40oz. on repeat!” Oddly enough, there was a pervasive sense of camaraderie while singing about drunken isolation. What’s also important about FIDLAR is that this camaraderie isn’t male exclusive — an issue that has plagued the punk scene for decades at this point. Before launching into the instantly classic “9 to 5,” Carper made a call for an all-female mosh pit, kindly letting the crowd know, “If you see a dick in the pit, punch him right in the face.” With this warning in mind, the

male-identifying individuals of the crowd watched as the women took over the entire center of the floor, before the two mixed together again in harmony after the song ended. There’s really nothing more a concert attendee can ask for in a performance: a phenomenal band, an energetic crowd with unexpected diversity and passion radiating from both performers and watchers. People truly love FIDLAR, and it’s for good reasons. I used to revel in the band’s deprecating ethos; now I understand depreciation is a mental ailment that can also bring us all together.

2018 Schedule

The Michigan football team dropped its season opener to Notre Dame, falling to the No. 12 Fighting Irish, 24-17. Seven days later, the Wolverines dominated against Western Michigan at home, 49-3. This week, SMU travels to Ann Arbor on Saturday with an 0-2 record and a chip on its shoulder. The matchup is the second of a three-game stretch at Michigan Stadium, with Nebraska visiting next week before the Wolverines hit the road to face Northwestern.

3 4 6 8

Notre Dame (Sept. 1): Touchdown Jesus? Where is Touchdown Moses?

Wisconsin (Oct. 13): There’s no “I” in Chryst.

Western Michigan (Sept. 8): Tim LESS-ter.

Michigan State (Oct. 20): The Michigan Daily has beaten the State News 13 years in a row.

SMU (Sept. 15): More like Methodisn’t

Penn State (Nov. 3): The App State game gave us flashbacks even without the 7,000 replays on BTN.

Nebraska (Sept. 22): Nebraska is undeniably the worst state to drive through.

Rutgers (Nov. 10): Seriously, someone needs to drain the hot tub.

Northwestern (Sept. 29): No. No one cares that you went to Medill. Crawl back in your hole.

Indiana (Nov. 17): We spent 5 minutes debating who their coach was.

Maryland (Oct. 6): They need more swing sets in College Park.

Ohio State (Nov. 24): Brett XcXurphy

TABLE OF CONTENTS Scott Bell, a sports editor for the Dallas Morning News, gives his take. Jim Harbaugh’s first Michigan quarterback recruit, Zach Gentry, has aspirations and a chance to be an NFL tight end. The Daily breaks down Michigan’s matchup with Southern Methodist. Here’s what you need to watch for during Michigan’s game Saturday against SMU.

STAFF PICKS The Daily football writers pick against the spread for top-25 and Big Ten teams.

Max Marcovitch

Mark Calcagno

Mike Persak

Finn,

Ethan Wolfe

Copy Chief, finally has a headshot

No. 1 Alabama (-21.5) at Ole Miss

Alabama

Georgia Southern at No. 2 Clemson (-33)

Clemson

Middle Tennessee State at No. 3 Georgia (-33.5)

Georgia

No. 4 Ohio State (-12.5) vs. No. 15 TCU

Ohio State

TCU

Ohio State

No. 5 Oklahoma (-17.5) at Iowa State

Iowa State

Oklahoma

BYU at No. 6 Wisconsin (-22)

Wisconsin

BYU

Wisconsin

No. 12 LSU at No. 7 Auburn (-10.5)

LSU

Auburn

LSU

Auburn

Vanderbilt at No. 8 Notre Dame (-13.5)

Notre Dame

Vanderbilt

Notre Dame

UC-Davis at No. 9 Stanford (No line)

Stanford

No. 10 Washington (-5) at Utah

Washington

Utah

Washington

Utah

Penn State

Kent State at No. 11 Penn State (-35)

Penn State

Louisiana-Lafayette at No. 16 Mississippi State (-33.5)

Mississippi State

Louisiana-Lafayette

Mississippi State

No. 17 Boise State at No. 24 Oklahoma State (-2.5)

Boise State

Oklahoma State

Boise State

Oklahoma State

SMU at No. 19 Michigan (-35.5)

Michigan

SMU

Michigan

San Jose State at No. 20 Oregon (No line)

Oregon

No. 21 Miami (-10.5) at Toledo

Toledo

Miami

No. 22 USC at Texas (-3.5)

USC

Texas

No. 23 Arizona State (-6) at SDSU

Arizona State

SDSU

Arizona State

Troy at Nebraska (-11)

Nebraska

Troy

Nebraska

Temple at Maryland (-17)

Maryland

Ball State at Indiana (-14.5)

Indiana

Ball State

Indiana

Miami (OH) at Minnesota (-13.5)

Minnesota

Rutgers at Kansas (-2.5)

Rutgers

Kansas

Missouri (-6) at Purdue

Missouri

Purdue

Akron at Northwestern (-21)

Akron

Northwestern

FootballSaturday, September 14, 2018

Behind Enemy Lines: A conversation with Dallas Morning News editor Scott Bell Through eight quarters, the No. 19 Michigan football team has already shown its fans the good, the bad and the ugly. A 24-17 ETHAN loss to No. 8 WOLFE Notre Dame took some shine off the Wolverines (1-1 overall), while a 49-3 blowout of Western Michigan showed that the hype might not be for naught. On Saturday, Southern SMU at Methodist (0-2), another Michigan middling team Matchup: with a first- SMU 0-2; year coach, Michigan 1-1 will stroll When: Saturday into Michigan 3:30 P.M. Stadium. Where: The Michigan Mustangs Stadium are playing TV/Radio: ABC their second consecutive ranked opponent after suffering a 42-12 defeat against No. 15 TCU last week. The Daily spoke to Scott Bell, an editor for the Dallas Morning News, to learn about SMU’s strengths and weaknesses, and what to expect facing Michigan on Saturday. The Michigan Daily: The current line has Michigan as the 35.5-point favorite. Does that sound fair or is there recency bias? Scott Bell: I think that sounds about right. I think SMU and Western Michigan, at least this year, are kind of comparable teams. SMU basically lost all of its big playmakers from last year’s team, (and) coming off of a big rivalry game last week, I think mid-30s sounds about right. It’s one of those games where I think it’ll be comfortably out of reach by halftime. Whether they cover or

not depends on whether the (Michigan) second-team offense scores in the fourth quarter, or do the defensive substitutes for Michigan hold up in the second half? I think it’s pretty fair. I think the game opened closer to 30. We do picks at the Dallas Morning News against the spread and almost everyone is taking Michigan. TMD: From Michigan’s perspective, there is more to lose than gain from a game like this. Where do you think SMU can cause trouble? Bell: The first half of last week’s TCU-SMU game sort of shows what they can do, and at the end of the North Texas game, too. They can explode for big plays. Braeden West had a big touchdown to start off the game to give SMU an early lead. SMU had two other 50-plus yard touchdowns at the end of the North Texas game. I don’t expect SMU to have long, sustained drives where they can pound it out, but they do have some playmakers that can break bigger plays. Like I said, Braeden West has a long touchdown run and catch this year. James Proche, who was SMU’s third best receiver last year, had a big play and is their top receiver now. I think it was a 60-yard touchdown against North Texas. TMD: From the SMU perspective, what’s the most positive outcome for them if not a win? Bell: No injuries? I don’t mean this to disparage them, but it seems like going to Ann Arbor is kind of like — I don’t want to say that they’re happy to be there — but they seem excited for the possibility of going to the Big House. I don’t think many people expect it to be a particularly close game. As weird as it sounds with them losing by 30 last week, I think they really did take a step forward in terms of, “Hey, they played a pretty competitive first half against TCU, which

“SMU has sort of been torched in a variety of ways...”

AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines are looking to go 2-0 at Michigan Stadium with a matchup against SMU.

is a pretty good team.” But it’s gonna need to be something like that where they take positives out of a losing effort. Braeden West has established himself as the top back. Something that this group needs is for Ben Hicks — returning as their starting quarterback — he’s struggled this year so far. For their sake, ideally, he’ll have a better game and have some momentum going into conference play. I think any positives they take from this game (are) going to have to be more from a moral victory variety. TMD: Are there any glaring deficiencies with SMU that you would expect Michigan to try and exploit? Bell: Just from it being a Power Five team against a Group of Five team, you’re gonna see a big difference in the trenches, which is probably good for Michigan because SMU needs to build some confidence in their offensive line. I think just when you look at the difference of size in the trenches, Michigan can and should dominate on both sides of the ball in terms of the battle up front. SMU has sort of been torched in a different variety of ways the first few weeks. North Texas in the first game dominated their secondary.

Against TCU, it was different because the game was basically in a rainstorm. The way TCU was scoring was a special teams touchdown, a fumble recovery touchdown, some more weird stuff. If that was a game indoors, I think you’d see TCU have some more success. I think Michigan can probably have its way both on the ground and through the air. TMD: SMU has a first-year coach in Sonny Dykes. What were the expectations for him, especially with a more depleted team than last year? Bell: It’s a real tough ask the first month’s schedule for anyone, let alone a first-year coach. SMU had to start a road game against North Texas, and North Texas was in the Conference USA title game last year and basically returned everyone. And the next two weeks taking on TCU and Michigan, a pair of ranked opponents who a lot of people thought going into the season could be in the CFP mix. I think it’s unreasonable to expect SMU to be anything but 0-3 or

1-2 if they could surprise North Texas. It’s been a slow start, but if you look at it from a practical standpoint, it’s where it had to be. Once you get towards the middle of the year, I think you’ll see whether or not how much the team has bought in at that point. I think in general, he’s a good person to have in that spot. Similar offense to what (current Arkansas and former SMU coach) Chad Morris ran last year, not a huge learning curve there. And unlike Morris — who was kind of the big hot commodity offensive coordinator from Clemson when he came to SMU, and it kind of looked like SMU would be a steppingstone job — Dykes is more of a Texas guy. He’s done the Power Five deal with Cal before and it didn’t work out. There’s a better chance of him settling in and being a good long-term fit for SMU. TMD: Prediction? Bell: Probably something similar to Western Michigan. Put me on record for 42-6.

“Braeden West has established himself as the top back.”

TheMichiganDaily, www.michigandaily.com

ON THE Free from his past commitment as a quarterback, Zach Gentry now hopes to make his NFL dream a reality

as a tight end.

ach Gentry was supposed to be the next Andrew Luck, or something like that. Back when a reference to Jim Harbaugh came with an obligatory preface of “quarterback whisperer.” When Harbaugh turned Luck into the surest prospect since Peyton Manning. When he dared start Colin Kaepernick and — three NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl appearance later — changed the way NFL offenses operated for the time being. When any young quarterback would dream of playing for Harbaugh. When Gentry was next. He remembers the joy he felt when he picked up his phone one day late in 2014 and saw the Ann Arbor area code. “I was hoping for a call from him, you know?” Gentry said Monday evening. “It was unbelievable. The guy working with all these great quarterbacks, was a great quarterback himself. It was definitely exciting for me.” Much has changed since then, Gentry’s position on the field among them. Gentry would like to politely tell you 4B

he isn’t a quarterback anymore; he hasn’t been one in four years. He’s a tight end and could be quite a good one. Named to the Mackey Award watch list of 52 players before the season, Gentry is more than just, “Jim Harbaugh’s first quarterback recruit at Michigan.” He’s looking to become Harbaugh’s first NFL tight end recruit at Michigan instead. He thinks he has a chance. He’s done with what could have been or almost was. He’s ready for what is now, for what is coming. He’s not defined by his past, nor bound to a predetermined future, just like you or I. He’s just Zach Gentry. Tight end. Basketball enthusiast. Albuquerque, N.M. native. Sitting at a table in the back of Pizza House, towering over anyone in the vicinity, Gentry — now a redshirt junior — knows he’s being counted on to be an offensive weapon this season. He’s long been up-front about his desire to improve his blocking in order to justify a regular spot on the field. He says he’s never been more comfortable in that department. And there’s no doubt he has the athletic potential to achieve what he wants. So is he sick of being asked, three years after the fact, about the move from quarterback? “Ya know,” Gentry sighs, “makes a good story, I guess.” Ten minutes later, Gentry is summoned on stage for his appearance on a local radio show. It only takes a few minutes. “When you had… what was it… the conversion from quarterback to tight

FootballSaturday, September 14, 2018

end,” the host says. “Take us through that.” *** There are remnants of his past that still linger with Zach Gentry, though they grow ever fleeting by the day. He rattles off the names the best football players to come out of New Mexico — Brian Urlacher chief among them — with impressive precision. At this point, you can count the New Mexicans ahead of Gentry on two hands. A stranger donning a maize Michigan golf polo approaches Gentry, introducing himself by offering a mutual connection. Gentry makes small talk. Eldorado gonna win the state title? the man presses. Gentry smiles and shrugs. He has no clue. Gentry’s high school career was a cavalcade of absurd feats and gaudy statistics. Nobody will ever confuse New Mexico for a recruiting hotbed, but perhaps that’s what made Gentry’s lure so appealing. Coupled with an unusual maturity — and from all indications, a rare humility — Gentry became legend in the area. “Inescapably, Gentry finishes his career with the Eagles as the most accomplished QB in the school’s history — on a prep level,” wrote James Yodice, a reporter for the local Albuquerque Journal in 2014. “He leaves as one of Albuquerque’s most celebrated and recruited, and respected, football athletes of the last half-century.”

But then the eyes drift to the next quote in the story from former Eldorado head coach David Williams. “His real legacy is what he does at the collegiate level.” Both Gentry’s high school coach, Charlie Dotson, and Yodice single out a game against Cleveland High School his senior season. Gentry orchestrated a 52-51 comeback win, notching over 500 total yards. It wasn’t just that he did it, but how. “I remember that night, in particular, and just thinking it was all gut comprehension that someone that size could come along and play the quarterback position that well, here,” Yodice said over the phone this week. “It was just a dazzling thing to watch. “I don’t want to say man amongst boys because that’s a tired cliche. He just never looked like he belonged.” Yodice still has a photo of Gentry from that game on his desk. It’s the only photo of a local athlete he’s ever kept. When Gentry left Albuquerque, he left Albuquerque. But though he may not be bound to his past, his past will always be bound to him. There was hardly an initial yearning to leave the state, as might be expected from an uber-talented recruit in a state that rarely breeds them. His grandfather, Bill, was a legendary New Mexico high school coach for 38 years. The University of New Mexico came calling during the recruiting process, and it’s where Gentry’s older brother, Sam, walked-on as a quarterback, punter and holder (yes, all three). Zach developed a close relationship with the Lobos, but it

Max Marcovit

became clear early that the younger Gentry was destined for more. Louisville, and coach Charlie Strong, came first. Then-Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin spearheaded Alabama’s quest. Oklahoma State was firmly in the mix. Baylor. Tennessee. Nebraska. You name it. Strong temporarily secured Gentry’s commitment in May of 2014, after the coach was hired at Texas. Once Harbaugh was hired by Michigan, though, the Wolverines nabbed Gentry in one fell swoop. It started with the phone call Gentry had quietly desired. Then Harbaugh came to New Mexico. The next weekend, Gentry was in Ann Arbor. Within the span of a few weeks, Harbaugh had secured Gentry as his first quarterback commit at Michigan. Retrospectively, the whole process strikes Gentry, now 22, as rather arbitrary. He remembers getting his first offer at age 14 from San Diego State. Soon after, he flipped on the television to see the Aztecs play. He liked their jerseys. “Recruiting process happened really quickly,” Gentry said. “When you’re 14 years old you don’t know what kind of weight that carries. It kinda flew by. I don’t think a lot of the things that I think are important now. Maybe I would’ve looked at more if I could do it over again.” The position change seemingly happened just as quickly. In late September of his freshman season, the Wolverines coaching staff asked Gentry to mimic a taller

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RECIPICE

tch, Daily Sports Editor

receiver on BYU for the scout team in practice. “I had made some plays in the scout team,” Gentry recalled, “(ran) some routes that opened their eyes a little bit to that.” One such route was a deep post which culminated in Gentry nabbing a pass over the safety, putting every inch of his 6-foot-7 frame to use. The coaching staff saw something in Gentry. Toward the end of the season, Harbaugh sat down with Gentry and outlined the reasons he felt a permanent move would be best for both parties. Gentry reluctantly obliged. “At the time, it was upsetting,” Gentry said. “I had never played another position other than quarterback my entire life. Being recruited to be one, it was a little upsetting.” Adjusting from quarterback to tight end caused frustration, but frustration that needs to be put into context. It wasn’t just a new position that bothered Gentry. He had moved from New Mexico to the University of Michigan. He was not a big fish in a small pond anymore; he was just another fish in the vast ocean. To boot, the first quarterback Jim Harbaugh came after at Michigan lasted just a couple months at the position. He wasn’t Andrew Luck. He wasn’t Colin Kaepernick. For two whole years, he wasn’t even on the field. Imagine going from those heights to these depths. Imagine expecting success from yourself — and having an entire region banking on it — then, suddenly, things don’t go as planned. For two years, you don’t sniff the field, and the disappointment extends far beyond

yourself. To those back at home, it defied logic that their prodigal son wasn’t playing quarterback at Michigan, no less playing at all. “I think there were some people in Albuquerque in the community that were a little upset about it,” Gentry said, “(They) didn’t really understand what was going on being here.” *** Zach Gentry wants to be an NFL tight end. He’s wanted to play in the NFL for as long as he can remember. There was a time when that destiny was as an NFL quarterback. It took some time, but he’s now determined to be an NFL tight end. He’s worked on tailoring his game to meet the prerequisites of playing at the next level. Gentry came to Michigan weighing around 230 pounds — plenty big for a quarterback — but was asked to bulk up after the position change. He’s now listed on the Michigan website at 262 pounds. “I think he’s gonna fit right in when he gets (to the NFL), because of the style of offense that he’s been a part of,” said tight ends coach Sherrone Moore. When. The confidence — sheer inevitability — conveyed in that word is enough to be convinced. After all, there are plenty of reasons to believe that is the path Gentry will take. Tight ends who are 6-foot-7, run a 4.6 40-yard dash and have quarterback instincts don’t grow on trees. There have been flashes of it littered throughout Gentry’s time at Michigan.

During the 2017 Spring Game, thenredshirt freshman quarterback Brandon Peters hit Gentry for a 55-yard touchdown. Gentry caught the pass down the seam, and offered a juke that left the safety on the ground. A flash. He scored on a 15-yard crossing route at Purdue last season, using his speed to gain space, his strength to power into the end zone. A flash. He’s even developed an ability to run block, his self-proclaimed weakness after becoming a tight end. But for all of the flashes, for all the tantalizing potential built in his NFL frame, there are still facts. Namely, a level of production that has yet to meet the preseason Mackey watch list hype. Last year, 14 tight ends were taken in the NFL Draft. They averaged 81.8 catches, 997.5 yards and 8.8 touchdowns for their careers, including several drafted for their blocking ability first and foremost. To this point in his career, Gentry has 20 catches, 324 yards and two touchdowns. While college production often has little correlation with professional success, Gentry’s lack thereof still sounds alarm bells. Potential is a glistening word, but ultimately hollow until it’s realized. Gentry lists off several items he thinks will need to be improved upon to reach the next level. Take care of his body. Work on the run game. Improve his pad level. To his credit, Gentry thinks

he’s close. He’s still learning how to work with the extra weight, still grasping the nuance of all that comes with playing tight end. His progress is noticeable in runblocking in particular two games into the season. “I think I’m getting close to being a complete tight end,” Gentry said. “I think I put together some good blocking games throughout the last couple years. And I made some plays downfield catching the ball. I think I’m getting there.” Added Yodice: “I can hardly probably think of 10 kids who have come from New Mexico high school football and gone onto the next level and had a successful career. If Zach were to get to the

NFL — and I think everyone expects that he will — that would be an enormous boost for this community.” And I think everyone expects that he will. There’s that pesky expectation again.

Breakdown: No. 19 Michigan vs. SMU If you’re an Ohio State or Michigan fan (I’m guessing the latter) who had nothing better to do, you probably MARK found yourself CALCAGNO tuning into the TCU-SMU game last Friday night. Those expecting an early preview of Week 3, however, got a rainsoaked slugfest and eventual blowout win for the Horned Frogs. Now, SMU (0-2 overall) heads to Michigan Stadium as heavy, 36-point underdogs against the Wolverines (1-1). It could get ugly fast — just like it did last Saturday when Michigan rolled over Western Michigan, 49-3. Or, the Mustangs could hang around and reignite frustration for Wolverines fans. Regardless, TCU-Ohio State should be a far more entertaining contest with potential College Football Playoff implications, but that’s not what you’re here to read. So here’s how SMU matches up against Michigan. Michigan’s pass offense vs. SMU’s defense Shea Patterson is already making the elite plays fans hoped to see when he announced his commitment. Last week, the junior quarterback threw touchdowns to sophomores Donovan Peoples-Jones and Nico Collins, ending Michigan’s 364-day streak without a touchdown from a wide receiver. Both scores displayed increasing comfortability between Patterson and his receivers, who showed improvement finding open space when their quarterback scrambled against the Broncos. “Just feeling that the receivers are doing the things that receivers need to do,” Harbaugh said during Saturday’s postgame press conference. “Number one, creating separation — create space first. And then gain separation, and then catch the ball. Saw that out of Nico (Collins), saw that out of Donovan, Grant (Perry) is doing that. … (I) feel good about the way they’re ascending.” While the weather prevented 6B

AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh heads into Saturday’s matchup with SMU 1-1 after splitting the first two weeks of the season against Western Michigan and Notre Dame.

TCU from doing much through the air last week, SMU allowed 444 passing yards and three touchdowns to Northern Texas in Week 1. Get ready to have a day, Shea. Edge: Michigan Michigan’s run offense vs. SMU’s defense Patterson threw just 17 times against the Broncos because of Michigan’s dominance in the run game. Fresh off a disappointing 58-yard effort in South Bend, the Wolverines ran for over 300 yards last Saturday, breaking off long runs left and right. Michigan’s offensive line was notably improved against an undersized and overly aggressive Western Michigan

FootballSaturday, September 14, 2018

front seven, generating a number of big running lanes. “There was holes you could drive a car through, and people in there with nobody to block, because everybody was blocked and taken care of,” said junior running back Chris Evans. Expect the Wolverines to establish the run game first Saturday against a respectable but still overmatched defense. Edge: Michigan SMU’s pass offense Michigan’s defense

vs.

SMU quarterback Ben Hicks had a quarterback rating of 8.6 against TCU. Yeah, you read that right: Eight point six. Hicks went 18-of-38 for 111 yards and no touchdowns, meaning he averaged just 2.9

yards per attempt. The weather was undoubtedly a factor, but Hicks still isn’t the threat that, say, Notre Dame quarterback Brandon Wimbush was. But the Mustangs do provide Michigan a look at the spread offense, something it’ll see next week against Nebraska and at various points throughout the Big Ten slate. “They’re a perimeter team, so they wanna get the ball on the perimeter and f lank,” said linebackers coach Al Washington. “The head coach there is known for being a fastbreak, that type of offense. … When they space you out like that, it’s all about being assignment sound. It’s just like, it’s no different than tripleoption back in the day. You got a job, you gotta do your job. Your eyes need to be where they need

to be.” Discipline is the key for Michigan, but the Mustangs could struggle offensively nonetheless Saturday. Edge: Michigan SMU’s run offense Michigan’s defense

vs.

SMU rotates three main running backs through their backfield. Last week, Braeden West carried 11 times for 71 yards, while both Xavier Jones and Ke’Mon Freeman received

For in-game updates

Follow @MikeDPersak, @ethanewolfe, @Max_Marcovitch and @MWCalcagno on Twitter during Saturday’s game.

seven carries for 22 yards. Without a true bell cow option, the Mustangs will likely split carries similarly this week. Against Michigan’s front seven, however, it might not matter. The Wolverines — just as they were last week — are significantly stronger and more talented in the trenches. With sophomore Aubrey Solomon and junior Lawrence Marshall “week to week,” look for junior Carlo Kemp to make his second consecutive start at threetechnique defensive tackle.

Edge: Michigan Special Teams Special teams have been a bright spot for Michigan in the past two weeks. Sophomore Ambry Thomas ran back a kickoff against Notre Dame, leading the coaching staff to reconsider using him offensively. Last Saturday, junior VIPER Khaleke Hudson blocked a punt while junior Will Hart continued to establish himself as a competent punter — something the Wolverines lacked a season ago.

“Made a big play in each of the first two games.”

“Made a big play in each of the first two games,” Harbaugh said of the special teams unit. “This group is solid.” What hasn’t been solid, however, is Michigan’s kicking game. Redshirt sophomore Quinn Nordin missed a 40-yard attempt last week and is 1-for3 on field goal attempts for the year. Nordin’s leg won’t affect the outcome against SMU. But his consistency is something to watch for as conference play rolls closer. Edge: Michigan Intangibles The stats tell you Western Michigan isn’t a quality opponent, but that probably

doesn’t matter to the Wolverines. In their eyes, they got a monkey off their back with their first win of the year and temporarily quieted critics with a complete performance. Michigan seems confident and internallyfocused this week, which is the right strateg y against a heav y underdog. “We’re more focused on what we gotta do,” Washing ton said. “And it’s no disrespect to them, cause they’re a good team, but we gotta do what we gotta do. We gotta be on our game and that’s what we’re all focused, since

the beginning of time.” Edge: Michigan Prediction When Michigan was up 35-0 last Saturday, The Daily tweeted my overly conservative pregame prediction. I was exposed. So, I’ll pick with the experts in Vegas this week: Michigan wins by f ive touchdowns, 42-7.

“We’re more focused on what we gotta do.”

Here’s to hoping my newspaper can’t dunk on me again.

AMELIA CACCHIONE/Daily

Senior running back Karan Higdon rushed for 157 yards and a touchdown in Michigan’s 49-3 win over Western Michigan last Saturday, opening a three-game home stretch at Michigan Stadium.

TheMichiganDaily, www.michigandaily.com

What to Watch For: SMU The Michigan football team proved last week that it can still beat up on bad teams. MIKE That isn’t PERSAK anything new. The 19th-ranked Wolverines have blown out lesser opponents pretty consistently in coach Jim Harbaugh’s tenure, though last season’s games against Cincinnati and Air Force weren’t awe-inspiring. Still, after the Week 1 loss to No. 8 Notre Dame, Michigan (1-1) needed a big win to get a good feeling back into the program. This week, the Wolverines have an opportunity to build some momentum, as SMU (0-2) rolls into town coming off two blowout losses to No. 15 TCU and North Texas. The Daily breaks down what to watch for in Saturday’s seemingly lopsided matchup. Continued offensive improvement

line

Michigan’s offensive line has been the most hot-button issue over the first two weeks of the season. After the loss to the Fighting Irish, many blamed the line’s poor play for the lack of offensive potency. Then, after the Wolverines’ 49-3 win over the Broncos, the unit was praised for its immediate improvement, albeit against lesser competition. “(The line was) much better in week two than in week one, but it’s a work in progress still,” said offensive line coach Ed Warinner. “(It was redshirt junior tackle) Jon Runyan’s first two starts as an offensive tackle. He’s played solid and continues to improve there. (Fifth-year senior tackle) Juwann BushellBeatty has improved, and I think he’s played better as well. I still want them to push and develop.” Runyan and Bushell-Beatty, in

ALEXIS RANKIN/Daily

Senior left tackle Jon Runyan Jr. will play against Western Michigan Saturday despite being overmatched against Notre Dame.

particular, were heavily maligned after the Notre Dame game, with some calling for their backups — freshman tackle Jalen Mayfield and redshirt freshman tackle James Hudson — to replace them. That notion wasn’t quieted when Michigan dominated Western Michigan, and Hudson and Mayfield got in late during the game and played well. It may have even picked up steam after Harbaugh and Warriner both praised the freshmen. “It was good to see Jalen Mayfield get in the game, it was good to see James Hudson get in the game and do well,” Harbaugh said during Monday’s press conference. “We’ve got good hopes for both those tackles. It’s kind of a race to see how fast they can get up to speed. “... They’re in the ballpark (of starting). So that bodes well for us. (We) want depth there. … Whether they’re the best player at the position? Time will tell.” That saga notwithstanding, the general message from the offensive linemen this week was a positive one, brushing off the criticisms from the past to keep an eye on what’s to come. It’s hard to compare SMU’s defensive line to the Broncos’, just as it’s hard to compare a moldy loaf of bread to a curdled gallon

“(The line was) much better in week two than in week one...”

FootballSaturday, September 14, 2018

of milk. The Mustangs gave up 239 rushing yards and had zero sacks against the Horned Frogs last week. The Wolverines can and should dominate SMU in the trenches. Watch to see if Michigan can top its 308 yards on the ground from last week, how much Hudson and Mayfield play and whether or not the unit can continue its upward momentum. Defense against tempo Sonny Dykes, the Mustangs’ first-year head coach, brought with him an up-tempo, highpaced offense when he came from California. In weeks one and two, that offense has struggled to get off the ground. First, against North Texas, SMU had 48 total yards through most of the game. The Mustangs were down 36-0 until they scored three touchdowns in garbage time, inflating their offensive stats all around. They did fare a bit better against the Horned Frogs, scoring on their first drive before floundering the rest of the game en route to a 42-12 loss. When SMU did have success, though, its up-tempo offense was hitting on all cylinders. The Wolverines struggled

with that type of offense in the first half of the Notre Dame game before buckling down in the second half and then suffocating Western Michigan’s no-huddle attack. With that said, it doesn’t feel like the Mustangs have a ton of hope of breaking out of their slump. But quarterback Ben Hicks did set the program record for touchdowns in a season last year, and there are some athletes on that side of the ball. If SMU is to move the ball at all, it will likely have to click on all cylinders and give Michigan’s defense no time to breathe. Hilarity There is only one thing I feel confident in guaranteeing about this game. There will be something weird that happens, if not many odd things. The Mustangs’ one touchdown last week came on a 51-yard touchdown run from running back Braeden West, who should have been tackled at least twice. SMU then went up 9-0 on a play that I’m going to try and describe very carefully. For context, this game was delayed for hours by a thunderstorm. Alright, here we go. TCU lined up for a punt with the ball on its own 28-yard line.

“We’ve got good hopes for both those tackles.”

The snap bounced off punter Adam Nunez’s hands, careening toward his own end zone. He scooped up the rain-slicked ball and tried to get a kick away, but the ball slipped out of his hands at the last second. The Mustangs’ Ben Redding tried to slide and recover the loose ball, but misjudged and kicked the ball through the back of the endzone for a safety. Truly an extraordinary football moment. Later in the game, SMU gave up a fumble return for a touchdown when Hicks had the ball knocked out of his hands after a sloppy mesh point on a zone read. Also, the Mustangs gave up a kickoff return for a touchdown to erase all hopes of a comeback against North Texas. Bottom line and prediction One of two things will happen in Saturday’s game. Either SMU finds a way to hang around through deep shots and weird stuff, or the Wolverines dominate like they did last week in all facets of the game. My bet is on the latter, with some exceptionally strange plays along the way. Michigan keeps its momentum rolling against the Mustangs. Prediction: SMU 6

Michigan

45,

BY THE NUMBERS

Michigan vs. Southern Methodist

308

Rushing yards by Michigan against Western Michigan

Sacks allowed by Michigan against Western Michigan

339

Passing yards by SMU against TCU last week

Interceptions thrown by SMU against TCU