Doubts persisted about Michigan freshman Michael Hart as he was leading his high school team to three straight state titles in New York's small-school division. But after ripping up another Big Ten foe last week, any suspicions about his ability to play major-college football have subsided.
Hart piled up 206 yards on 33 rushing attempts in a 16-14 win over Purdue -- his second consecutive 200-yard game -- and he's even begun drawing superlatives from curmudgeonly Michigan coach Lloyd Carr.
"He's a special kid," Carr said. "He has a durability that is just amazing for a kid who just graduated from high school a few months ago."
The 5-foot-8, 185-pound Hart set a national record with 204 touchdowns during his prep career and rushed for a monstrous 11,045 yards while leading Syracuse's Onondaga Central High School to 39 straight wins.
He didn't enter college with as much fanfare as Oklahoma freshman Adrian Peterson, but Hart is proving to be Peterson's equal.
"I knew I could play, but I didn't ever think I'd do this well," Hart said. "It's definitely harder, though. In high school, I could bounce off one guy and go to the end zone. Here, you bounce off them, they get up and come after you again."
He played sparingly in the Wolverines' first two games but has rushed for a Michigan freshman-record 936 yards this season, 87 fewer than Peterson. And Hart isn't the only newcomer thriving in Ann Arbor.
Freshman quarterback Chad Henne has completed 61 percent of his passes while throwing for 216 yards per game -- the third-best mark in the Big Ten. And another heralded freshman, Max Martin, has excelled as the backup tailback.
Hart figures the motivation for the rookies comes from proving the naysayers wrong.
Hawkeye `D' stifling
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has developed so much faith in his defense that he went against the norm with a 6-2 lead on Penn State midway through the fourth quarter last week, taking an intentional safety instead of punting from his own end zone.
"They've earned that confidence," he said after the 6-4 win.
The Hawkeyes look nothing like the unit that surrendered 435 passing yards in a 44-7 loss at Arizona State in September, having given up just 27 points during a three-game winning streak.
Alvarez's hunch
Wisconsin is 8-0 for only the fourth time in its 115-year history, and even coach Barry Alvarez senses that something extraordinary is taking shape.
The Badgers beat Northwestern, 24-12, last week with its top defenders sidelined, including pass-rusher Erasmus James.
"Sometimes you have special years," Alvarez said. "I said during two-a-days I thought this team had a spirit about them."
The Badgers host Minnesota after a bye this week and finish the season with road games against Michigan State and Iowa.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely