By Dennis Dodd
CBS SportsLine Senior Writer
Oct. 17, 1998
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Michigan continues to write its Dear John letter.
The Armageddon that is Michigan-Ohio State is still more than a month away, but the Wolverines are playing knock-knock with nation's No. 1 team. Who's there? Michigan, sneaking in the back door of the Buckeyes' cerebellum.
And the Wolverines have company. Riding the breakout performance of
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What looked like a pitiful resemblance of the 1997 national champs in September is now rolling in October. The defense has not allowed a touchdown in 10 quarters. The offense has seemingly found a star in the 18-year-old Fargas who rushed 31 times for 120 yards. Both were career highs.
"We're really trying to forget as much as we can about the past," Michigan nose tackle Rob Renes said. "We look back to it for inspiration but we're 11 different, older guys ready to go."
THE RESULT SUMMARIZED MICHIGAN'S CLIMB from the gutter since its 0-2 start. Playing in a steady, sometimes heavy, rain the entire game, the Wolverines (4-2, 3-0 in the Big Ten) had just enough to win. Tai Streets caught a touchdown pass, the only one of the game. Fargas, arguably the nation's top running back recruit last February, played his most significant role of the season -- running effectively between the 20s.
And, oh by the way Ohio State, Michigan has now won four in a row. Maize and blue momentum is amassing at the Ohio state line. Wisconsin leads the Big Ten at 4-0 and, fittingly, Ohio State and Michigan are tied for second at 3-0.
"In the last two weeks, I think we've gotten better," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "I know we got better tonight. Regardless of what that game looked like, Northwestern played hard, they were well prepared. In those conditions, your defense better be playing lights out."
Whether Michigan can win the Big Ten title -- its goal since starting 0-2 -- is up for debate. Whether it can be a factor is a certainty. It's a different Michigan team now that the defense has jelled and Fargas is the star of the future.
On a night when there were 10 combined fumbles by both teams (three lost), a freshman from sunny Southern California was being trusted to take care of the ball at the end. The Wolverines ran out the last 4 minutes, 6 seconds with Fargas picking up two first downs and carrying on six of eight plays.
"THIS IS BIG TEN, this is why I came out here from California to play in all types of conditions, play that physical football," Fargas said. "Whether it's dry or rain, I want to be ready to run. I knew all the
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Michigan freshman running back Justin Fargas mopped up Northwestern with 31 carries for 120 yards in the Wolverines' sloppy 12-6 victory. (AP)
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It was a night that made you beg for more if you were a Michigan fan. Only the deplorable conditions kept Fargas from really breaking out. After starting tailback Clarence Williams dropped a pitch on Michigan's sixth play of the game, Fargas became a boy among men. Carr kept it between the tackles for the most part. But even then Fargas was able to bust one for 27 yards on his third carry of the game, only the 18th of his career.
The former prep All-American from Encino, Calif., was known more for his father than his skill. Antonio Fargas, a career B-movie actor, produced an A-list son. Antonio was best known for his role as "Huggy Bear" on Starsky and Hutch. Justin is anything but huggy.
"We needed a guy who can run the football aggressively without turning it over," Carr said. "Certainly, in those conditions that kid showed a lot. When we can get him on a dry field, he'll have a chance maybe to break a play because that's what he does the best."
Never mind going into the game Michigan was only 35th in the country in total defense. Northwestern (2-5, 0-4 in the Big Ten) was limited to only 35 yards rushing.
"Anytime you win and not allow a touchdown in the second half, you really grow as a defense," Renes said. "We know coming in to watch film tomorrow we're going to see a lot of mistakes we can't make if we hope to be beating Penn State and Ohio State down the road."
There they are, the "O" word. Michigan couldn't help seeing Ohio State win again on television Saturday afternoon while lounging around the hotel. Good, bad or indifferent, Michigan has been able to beat Cooper in eight of 10 meetings.
DON'T BET AGAINST THEM right now. Virtually the only strategic mistake by Michigan was safety DeWayne Patmon allowing teammate Jason Vinson's punt to hit him in the back in the first quarter. Northwestern recovered the muff to set up Brian Gowins' cheap field goal. A 6-0 Wildcat lead stood up until 35 seconds remained before the half.
After Gowins' second field goal, Fargas returned the kickoff 28 yards to his own 44. On one of the sloppiest nights it will ever see, Michigan was succinct going 56 yards in three plays in 18 seconds. Streets went up over Northwestern's Harold Blackmon to pull in a 30-yard touchdown pass. That huge play might be looked back upon as the one that turned around Michigan's season.
Carr can thank Northwestern coach Gary Barnett for a coaching job that matched the weather. Terrible. Barnett opened the second half with superstar receiver D'Wayne Bates at quarterback. Bates had been a quarterback in high school but gave that up long ago to become Northwestern's best receiver.
While Barnett was closing practice all week, he should have paused to open his mind. In four snaps as quarterback Bates rushed for two yards and threw an incomplete pass.
"Michigan is a fast defense and the reason I was at quarterback was because of their speed," Bates said. "I was a quarterback coming in here. I still have the talent."
Talent that is being wasted as long as Northwestern continues to lose. Since winning back-to-back Big Ten titles in 1995 and 1996, the Wildcats are 7-12. Michigan, meanwhile, continues to take an increasingly smooth road toward Armageddon.
Dennis Dodd is a senior writer in CBS SportsLine's Kansas City bureau.