Cautious Wolverine Also Warns Cougs

Michigan’s defense led the nation in every major statistical category, but Washington State’s high-flying offense is getting equal billing heading into the Rose Bowl.

Even the Wolverines are taking notice.

“I’m very impressed with the things they can do offensively,” linebacker Sam Sword said. “They have five great receivers who all caught over 20 passes this year. They have a running back who has rushed for over 1,000 yards, so we can’t go into this game thinking we’ve just got to stop Ryan Leaf and their receivers.”

Michigan, accustomed to facing more traditional offenses in the Big Ten Conference, will have to make several changes in its base defense. A nickel package, with extra defensive backs, is a given.

“I mean, you put eight or nine guys in the box and you’re going to get murdered because there’s five wide receivers out there and three of them are open,” defensive coordinator Jim Herrmann said.

Michigan’s secondary, led by Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson and safety Marcus Ray, should be up to the challenge, Sword said.

“We have the best secondary in the country, so their receivers kind of play into our favor,” Sword said. “I think they’re going to have to establish the running game if they’re going to have a chance to beat us. If they pass the ball all the time, it’s going to be a long day for them.”

Ray passes geography test - barely

Michigan safety Ray, speaking at a press conference in Ann Arbor earlier this month, was bragging about his Jeopardy prowess, particularly concerning U.S. cities, when he was thrown a curve ball.

“Where is Washington State University?” Ray was asked.

Silence befell the room as Ray squirmed in his chair, head bowed. Did he know? Finally, he raised his head.

“Yes, I do,” he said. “Pullman. Pullman.”

Sorry, Marcus, but the answer must be phrased in question form.

WSU sets up office for ticket questions

WSU athletic department officials request that all Rose Bowl ticket-related questions be directed to the school’s Rose Bowl Headquarters at the Century Plaza Hotel at 2025 Avenue of the Stars in Los Angeles.

Fans who have questions related to the purchase of their tickets, including lost and stolen tickets and tickets that have not yet arrived in the mail, should call (800) 813-4038.

Fans can also visit the headquarters, staffed daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Wednesday. Game-day questions and delivery of tickets will be handled at the WSU will-call window at the Rose Bowl, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

A different kind of tour

They were somewhat wide-eyed visitors, most of them from the Midwest, and they wanted to see L.A. So Russell Shaw gave them a glimpse. Of his world.

Shaw, the Michigan flanker, who grew up in Watts, attending Locke High School, says he and several teammates crammed into three courtesy vans on Christmas Eve and drove from stately Pasadena to his side of town. He was a bit amused at some of the reactions.

“They wanted to hurry up and get out of there,” Shaw, with a laugh, said Friday of his teammates.

What did Shaw include on the excursion?

“Just a tour of South Central,” he said. “We went to a club. I showed them where they filmed ‘Boys in the Hood.’ USC. The Shrine (Auditorium).”

Shaw said he drove near where the riots began in 1992, but not to the ignition point at Florence and Normandie.

“One time, the third van didn’t make it through a light, and the other two of us had to pull over and wait for them,” said Shaw. “It was in a bad neighborhood. Even I was scared.”

Curfew imposed

WSU instituted a midnight curfew starting Friday. The Cougars also announced that practice will be closed Monday and Tuesday.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

The following fields overflowed: BYLINE = Mike Sando Staff writer The Los Angeles Daily News contributed to this notebook.