The South Bend Tribune from South Bend, Indiana • 11

SECTION O) o) SPOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2001 Muffet McGraw not neutral on NCAA plan Page B5 Editor: Bill Bilinskl (219) 235-6331; bbillnsWSMInfo.com SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE Roberts unique approach helps ND By ALLESAX Tribunt Staff Writer just not like everyone else, the native of Lawnside, N. J. said. I dont choose to be or do things like everybody else. I dont start trouble I try not to draw attention to myself If he plays Saturday at Boston College like he has the past two weeks, Roberts will get all the attention he can handle.

Two weeks ago, he caught West Virginia tailback Avon Cobourne from behind after a 22-yard gain. Against Southern Cal, Roberts chased speedy receiver Keary Colbert 29 yards and tackled him at the 1-yard line, giving the Irish an opportunity for a goal-line stand that turned the game around That tackle was just one of Roberts highlights in the win over the Trojans. He registered nine tackles, including four quarterback sacks to spark a strong defensive effort. "Obviously, that was one of the best games of my career, said Roberts, who has, fittingly, had a different career. Roberts freshman season was spent dealing with a back problem that ultimately required surgery He saw limited ac tion as a sophomore, then stepped to the forefront last year when Grant Irons went down with a seasonending shoulder injury in the Nebraska game.

Roberts went on to collect 23 tackles, including five quarterback sacks, and recover two flimbles against Rutgers in his home state. This season, Roberts has jumped ahead of Irons on the depth chart and, with senior Anthony Weaver, gives defensive coordinator Greg Mattison the luxury of having three solid ends in a rotation. Roberts already has 20 tackles this season. We are always going to play the guys See ROBERTSPage B4 Irish vs. Eagles What Notre Dame (3-3) vs.

Boston College (5-2) When: Saturday, 6:45 p.m. (ESI) Where: Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Mass. Television: ESPN Radio: WNDV-AM (1490), WNDV-FM (92.9). Quote: (Last weeks win over Pittsburgh) was a crossroads game. We.

wanted to try to break away from the middle of the pack (in the Big East)." Boston College coach Tom O'Brien SOUTH BEND Chasing receivers and tailbacks 20 yards downfield and catching therti isnt in the normal defensive ends job description. But Ryan Roberts is different. The 6-foot-2, 262-pound senior on the Notre Dame football team is a non-conforming individual who always has his motor running. Different, in this case, means unique. When Irish coach Bob Davie was asked about Roberts personality, thats the only word that came to mind.

"Different," Davie said. Hes different. I love him as a kid. Hes different. I think the players respect him because hes his own person.

Theres really no explanation for it. Im Notre Dame defensive end Ryan Roberts has a reputation as a different kind of guy. Theres really no explanation for It, he says, Im just not like everyone else. Tribune Puerto JOE RAYMOND Sooners atop first BCS poll a 7 Vv By RICHARD ROSENBLATT Associated Press Writer riSi ivm ij I jii AP PhotoUAVIO SNODGRASS Jared Jeffries will be in the spotlight this season for the IU basketball team. Hi; A .1 tL -'Vr 7 TX' jin i ff '7y, nvv, Hoosiers hope rests on Jeffrie 1 11 ft Mit.m iff Mi 7 i if' if By CURT RALLO Tribune Staff Writer Miami, No.

1 in the AP media poll and the coaches poll, was fourth in rankings that determine which teams will play for a national championship at the Rose Bowl in January The Hurricanes, thanks to a first-half schedule ranked 92nd of 117 teams, were behind Oklahoma, Nebraska and UCLA in the first Bowl Championship Series standings released on Monday night Unbeaten Miami is on the outside looking in because its first five op-ponents have a combined 8-19 record against major colleges. The second-half schedule gets tougher, with season-ending games against Washington (5-1) and Virginia Tech (6-0). I dont need a computer. Teams are going to fall, Miami coach Larry Coker said. The month of November is as critical as December.

We saw three undefeated teams fall last week. The only thing we can control is to make sure were not one of them. The BCS rankings are based on a formula that incorporates the AP poll plus the USA TodayESPN coaches poll, eight computer rankings, strength-of-schedule and number of losses. New this year are bonus points for a win over a team in the BCS top 15. Final standings will be released Dec.

9, with the top two teams playing in Pasadena on Jan. 3. With the standings out a week later than originally planned, the timing couldnt be better for the See BCSPagfl C4 AP SANCETTA New fork Yankees celebrate their American League championship Monday after defeating the Seattle Mariners 12-3 to advance to the World Series against tna Arizona Diamondbacks. Yankees staid tall. New York off to Series after defeating Seattle I have never been prouder of a Arizona Diamondbacks at Bank group of men In my life, manager One Ballpark on Saturday night.

Joe Torre told his team. Whatever The Yankees Jumped out to a 4-0 motivates us, I know the NY on your lead in the third inning thanks to Mfu; rm. cap had a lot to do with it. This ball- third baseman David Bells error NLW YORK The New York club will be remembered by me for- and Williams third homer in as Yankees made a liar out of Lou ever. many days.

Piniella. MVP Andy Pettitte took a shutout The rest was just a formality as The AL championship series nev- into the seventh inning, Bernie the Yankees brought a swift ending er made it back to Seattle, as the Williams and Paul ONeill homered t0 Seattles record-tying 116-win sea-Mariners manager promised, and the Yankees put the bumbling son and won their 38th pennant. thanks to a 12-3 victory in Game 5 Mariners away early You need a different hero every Monday night that gave the Yankees Next up for New York is Camel of Fortu- sSaZrinere a chance to win their fourth straight the World Series against aces Curt natety we have 25 heroes. their knees by the New forit World Series. Schilling, Randy Johnson and the Se YANKEESPage B2 Yankees.

BLOOMINGTON. Ind. Indj ana University basketball coacft Mike Davis hoisted his three-yeah old son Antoine above his head ii front of the basket at the south end of Assembly Hall after an hausting Hoosier practice. Antoine, putting a firm grasp on the basketball, slam-dunked the bat through the hoop. i Hoosier fans hope that Mike Davis can maintain his firm grasp on Indianas basketball program this season.

Davis struggled early last season in the aftermath of the Bob Knight firing. The Hoosiers won early games against Pepperdine and South Alabama but then came two gut-wrenching losses in the NIT finals and a particularly tough loss against Kentucky, a loss that had Davis wondering whether he was the man to replace Knight. But then ffie Big Ten season rolled around and Davis and the Hoosiers meshed. Indiana held opponents to a conference record 382 percent field-goal shooting, finished 21-13 overall and reached the championship game of the Big Ten tournament Hampered by an injury to point guard Tom Coverdale, the Hoosiers suffered a first-round loss to Kent State. Although the Hoosiers didnt have any seniors last season, Indiana still suffered a staggering loss.

Kirk Haston declared for the NBA draft, taking his 18 points a game average with him. Indiana builds its hopes this season around 6-foot-lO sophomore Jared Jeffries, who said he doesnt mind being the focus of attention. I dont look at scoring as pressure," Jeffries said of carrying the load. "Scoring is ftm. Thats what I want to da I have a chance to come out this year and try to put up some big numbers on offense (and) help my team win.

Weve done a lot of work this year on moves and counter moves. Hopefally with my size, and the things I can do with the ball and without the ball, even if they do double. Ill be able to score." StiU, Jeffries knows that Indianas offense cant be a one-man show See JEFFTJIESPage B3 Bears lose Robinson for remainder of season By JOHN MULLIN Chicago Tribune CHICAGO For the third time in the past four years the Bears have lost a critical element in their offense to a torn knee ligament, with No. 1 wide receiver Marcus Robinson scheduled for season-ending knee surgery after injuries suffered in Sundays 24-0 win at Cincinnati. Robinson tore the anterior cruciate and lateral cruciate ligaments In his left knee as he was being tackled in the second quartet of the Bears' victory He underwent an MRI exam Sunday night and will have surgery after swelling in the knee subsides.

Estimated rehabilitation time for the career-threatening injury is 8-12 months. It marks the third time In his five NFL seasons that Robinson has wound up on injured reserve. He went on IR in 1997 with a broken thumb that cost him his entire rookie season, then missed the final fourgames last season season. The vacancy In the starting lineup is expected to be filled by Dez White, not rookie David Terrell, who led the Bears with seven receptions for 91 yards Sunday. Coach Dick Jauron said Terrell has not been playing the position Robinson played.

White has been Robinsons backup. The Bears, however, are expected to use more three-receiver personnel groups, an approach that served them well Sunday when they passed for 232yards and rushed for 203 with receivers throwing effective downfield blocks to help spring tailback Anthony Thomas. That Terrell has been considered Marty Bookers backup suggests that coaches planned for the rookie to be starting and Booker ultimately to replace Bobby Engram as the No. 3 receiver. But Booker has played too well to be taken out of the lineup, and Terrell missed time in training camp and has only recently begun to satisfy coaches with his route running.

See ROBINSONPage B3 Xlarcus one of the best athletes on our team, and It's a big loss for us. But Its an opportunity for myself and the other guys on the team. Its tragic that I get to play at the expense of one of my favorite players on the team. We all have to come up, step up together, especially the receivers corps. Chicago Bear wide receiver DWayne Bates after Injuring his back.

He eventually required surgery last July 27 and was limited In the Bears opener at Baltimore. Robinson, who emerged as the Bears leading receiver In 1999 with 84 catches, 1,400 yards and nine touchdowns, even though he didnt start the first five games, leaves with 23 receptions, 269 yards and two touchdowns thi3 AP File PhoWAL BEHRMAN Chicago Boars wide receiver Marcus Robinson will miss the rest of the season after suffering torn knee ligaments Sunday against Cincinnati..