Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • 37

The Detroit News Section ft BOB iWOJtSOVSKI '4 High schools Splendid Saturday Matt Pickens, right, and Brother Rice stop Orchard Lake St. Mary's; also, the finals in girls tennis and boys golf. Page ID SportsWire 30 NHL 60 For the record 150 Golf 160 T)m Detroit Msvt Sports ji All day. every day. rrttpydetnews com Rogersgrows Sunday, October 17, 2004 fpn mm WW into an All-Pro, becomes force on Lions defense We keep poking and peering, one eye open, one eye shut, inspecting the product, pondering the imponderable.

Are they different? They look different. They sound different. They smell different (I'll take their word fork). The Lions are different in record (3-1 according to my newspaper) and construction (younger and faster). They appear so different, we sit at a fascinating crossroad today, wondering if they're ready to blast past the battered Packers.

The Lions are in the formative stages of something here, transforming into newborn nnn nn LTU Stanton, offense erupt for 636 yards By Dave Dye The Detroit News EAST LANSING OK. it's definitely time for a reassessment of Michigan State's fwtball team. The Spartans' chances of a Freshman runs over Illinois for record By Angelique S. Chengelis The Detroit News CHAMPAIGN, HI. This one took some heart.

Pardon the typo. This one Kquired Michael Hart. The I4th-ranked Michigan Wolverines trailed at half-time, but remain MSU 51 U-M 30 winning season and a bowl bid appeared bleak after a 3 start against mostly mediocre competition, but the outlook changed unbeaten in the Big Ten after a 30-19 victory at Illinois on Saturday. Michigan's MINN. 17 ILL 19 LoYp-V 1 Vv -J ft 1 football threats.

Sort of like Big Baby. Ah, and a babe shall lift them. As Shaun "Big Baby" Rogers has grown, so have the Lions. As the defensive line has grown, so has the defense. Don't let the playful nickname fool you.

In his fourth season, Rogers is becoming, perhaps, the dominant defen-- sive tackle in football, and the long-sought answer to the long-asked question. Are they truly different? As long as Big Baby remains truly different, the Lions have a difference-maker, and a chance. Strong defensive lines can make a huge impact in the NFL (see: Carolina last year). Before we checked in with Big Baby, we checked with the boss Big Daddy. "Shaun's one of those guys who comes to work every day with a chip on his shoulder," said Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson, the Lions' other starting tackle.

"He's out to prove he's one of the league's best, and I think he's done that." Rogers has the size (345 pounds), quickness (3.5 sacks) and attitude to pull it off. He I made an impact even as a rookie, after lasting until the second round because of an injury coming out of Texas. Then Rogers got a little large, and played a little small He rebounded to become a Pro Bowl alternate last season. Now 25, with his contract due to expire, Big Baby is growing fast, along with linemates such as the underrated James Hall. "I'd love for my peers to think of me as the focal point of our defense, but that's not something you elect yourself to be," said Rogers, who surely will draw a double-team from Green Bay.

"I've got the ability to do a lot of things but I'm not going to blow my own horn. I really think our attitude as a D-line has become infectious and spread throughout the defense. Our demeanor is fun, kind of kiddish." That's Rogers' demeanor, fun-loving and hard-driving, with a grin that fills a camera. It spawned his nickname years ago, one he still likes. It no longer spawns misconceptions, as Rogers has hardened into a player who can be disruptive, giving the Lions a defensive swagger they've lacked.

Ask Michael Vick, sacked DateG. Young The Artroft News Drew Stanton set an MSU individual record for yards with 410 308 passing, 102 rushing. significantly with Saturday's 51-17 pounding of No. 19 Minnesota on MSU's I Iomecoming. Don't look now, but the surprising Spartans are not only back in the running for a postseason bid, they're also in contention in the Big Ten race midway through the conference season.

MSU (4-3. 3-1 Big Ten), which has a bye week before its next game at Michigan on Oct. 30, must win three of its final five games to become bowl-eligible. "Forget bowl, we're thinking championship," linebacker Ronald Stanley said. "It's wide-open right now." The rout undoubtedly will raise some eyebrows around the conference.

Who knew? "I think we made a statement," receiver Kyle Brown said. "A lot of people have been sleeping on us. But we showed everybody what we can do. Minnesota's a good team. They're ranked in the top 25.

"I said before, when we start catching the ball, you're going to see something, and you did." Please see MSU, Page 12D once-maligned running game gained 294 yards against the 111 i ni, mostly because of Hart, who set a U-M freshman rushing i record with 40 carries for 234 yards. Fellow freshman Max Martin had 12 carries for 67 yards. Each scored a touchdown. The Illini, who entered the game with the 99th-ranked defense, have lost 12 straight Big Ten games. Michigan is 6-1, 4-0 in the Big Tea Hart, who is 5-feet, 195 pounds, averaged 5.8 Carry, and befuddled the Illinois defense with his slippery elusiveness.

"I Ie's so small I don't know if we saw him half the time," said Illinois linebacker Matt Sinclair. Knowing strong wind would be a factor it ranged between 26 and 35 miles an hour the Wolverines prepared all week for a run-first approach. Of their 88 plays, 61 were rushes. It also didn't hurt the game plan knowing Illinois was ranked ioth in the Big Ten against the run. "It was pretty hard to throw the ball," Hart said.

"We knew it was going too be real windy, so we knew we were going to have to run the ball." Please see U-M, Page 13D Big turnaround Knott leaves the doghouse to make a pair of TD catches. Page 120 Fine line Stanton attributes MSU's success to his offensive linemen. Page 120 Fry's disciples Seven former Iowa assistants are Division I head coaches. Page 130 Title push begins Associated Press Michigan is undefeated in the Michael Hart, who rushed for 234 yards and a touchdown, stiff arms Illinois' Morris Vir- conference with four games gil during Michigan's victory. remaining Page 13D Darius Walker, riaht and Notre SQONERS CRUISE Adrian Peterson, right, who had 130 yards rushing, helped No.

2 Oklahoma dominate Kansas State, 30-21. Page 100 BRUISING BULLDOGS D.J. Shockley, right, and No. 12 Georgia won their ninth straight against woeful Vanderbilt, 33 3 Page 100 Js. I Dame won their 41st straight game against Navy, extending an NCAA -Tl record Page 10D l-jp '2 Packers vs.

Lions: Cards debate greatness p.m. Sunday Channel 2 WKRK97.1, WXYT1270 Lions expect Packers' best Diamondbacks reel Former Wold Series champs teeter on edge on bankruptcy. Page8D Today's games New York (Hernandez 8-2) at Boston (Wakefield 12-10), 8, Ch. 2 St Louis (Marquis 15-7) at Houston (Oswatt 20-10). 4:30, Ch 2 twice by Rogers last week, six times overall by the Lions.

Energetic Dre Bly returns today, further helping the defense lift the struggling offense. You watch the Lions use their speed and depth, rotating defensive linemen, and you start to see the plan. Then you look across the field and spy the plan-wrecker, Brett Favre. We're not making any bold proclamations because the Packers remain dangerous. But when you've got a chance to knock a nemesis out, in front of a wild home crowd, you've got to do it.

Favre is 35, not a baby anymore, and he can be rattled. The difference for the Lions? Big Baby has a rattle, and knows how to use it. Bob Wojnowski's column appears regularly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Reach him at wojofanaol.com 3rJ season broadcasting St. l.ouis games.

Asked if this team is the best ever, his eyes lit up. "In a lot of ways," he said. "I 00k at all the ways they can heat you. Look at the defense. Rut don't forget that 1942 group.

It still holds the franchise record for wins (106)." Musial, 83, a Hall of Famer who won seven N.L. batting titles, was 21 and in his first full season with the Cardinals in '42. His memory is vivid. His opinion is just as strong. The '42 Cards, managed by Rilly Southworth and captained by Terry Mixire, stormed down the stretch, overtook the Brooklyn Dodgers and, after dropping the first game of the World Series to the Yankees, won the Musial says '42 team still stands as best in franchise history.

Detroit News wire services ST. LOUIS Stan Musial chewed on the question for just a few seconds. "No, this is not the best Cardinals team ever," he said without hesitation. "Our club in 1942 was better." Stan the Man says 2004's juggernaut is No. 2.

The buzz around this baseball-rich city as the race for another National I-eague pennant St. Louis has won 15 picks up steam is that no Cardinals team can equal this one. Mike Shannon, a standout player in the 1960s, is in his By Mike O'Hara T7ie Detroit News DETROIT There is a strange sign that this really might be a turnaround season for the Lions. The Green Bay Packers skid into today's game at Ford Field with a four-game losing streak. On the surface, it looks like a prime opportunity for the Lions to build on a 3-1 record and maintain at least a share of first place in the NFC North.

Coach Steve Mariucci's mes sage to his players all week has resounded like a drum beat in an echo chamber don't be overconfident, and be prepared for the Packers to play their best game of the season. Overconfidence what an unusual psychological obstacle for the Lions to face. They are breathing rare air already this season. Their won-loss record after four games has been o-4, 1-3 and 1-3 the last three years. Please see MSU, Page XXD next four.

It was New York's first loss in the Series since 1926, when the Cards won. "The last game was tied 2-2 in the ninth inning with Walker Cooper on first base when Whitey Kurowski hit a home run off Ruffing to win it." Musial said. Associated Press Pitcher Roger Clemens hopes he can give the Astros an edge over the talented Cardinals. 30 YEAR MORTGAGE $150,000 Mortgage Monthly Payment Call Today To Be Pre-Approved 1800-678-6663, www.shoremortgage.com iVx XL 1 Year ARM rate S.75 and 4.88 APR tncfadet point and applicable cloatiig eoata lor qualified hommars. DU approve! aiifihla.

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