Wolverines Out To Continue Bowl Streak

Under former coach Bo Schembechler, Michigan often bungled bowl games, going 5-12 from 1969 to 1989. But the 14th-ranked Wolverines (9-3) have won six of their last eight in postseason, including three straight.

Now it’s their opponent in tonight’s Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, No. 19 Texas A&M (8-3), that has the postseason problem. Under coach R.C. Slocum, the Aggies are 1-4 in bowls.

Slocum tried not to sound defensive, saying how unimportant he considers his bowl record.

“I think we gain more if we beat Michigan,” Slocum said. “If we lose to Michigan, people will say, ‘So what, they lost another bowl game to a good football team and Slocum can’t win the big one.’ I can write your lines for you now, but that’s already been written.

“I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about that. When you play in bowl games like we have against Florida State (1992 Cotton), Notre Dame, twice (1993, 1994 Cotton), and Michigan, you have a chance to lose those games, regardless of who you are,” Slocum said.

“It’s not a life or death thing for us. I know next week, win or lose, I will be on the road, recruiting, and we are going to recruit some more good players to Texas A&M.”

More may be at stake than Slocum is admitting, though. A loss by the Aggies could affect their head-to-head recruiting battles with Michigan, which has lured away some of the top talent in Texas over the past few years.

Both coaches agree that establishing the run will be the key to the game.

Michigan will match its powerful offensive line, led by 6-foot-8, 299-pound tackle Jon Runyan, and slashing running back Tshimanga Biakabatuka against the swarming blitzes of Texas A&M’s “Wrecking Crew” defense.

UCLA interviews two

UCLA offensive coordinator Bob Toledo and defensive coordinator Bob Field interviewed for the school’s head coaching job Wednesday - two days after the team played its final game under Terry Donahue.

Toledo, 49, came to UCLA in 1994 from Texas

A&M, where he was offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for five seasons. He was an assistant coach at Oregon from 1983-88.

Field, 47, has been UCLA’s defensive coordinator and coached outside linebackers for 17 seasons. He began his career under Bear Bryant at Alabama before going to Mississippi State in 1973.

Among other possible candidates to succeed Donahue are Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Greg Robinson, a former UCLA assistant coach; Northwestern coach Gary Barnett; and Kansas State coach Bill Snyder.

Barnett has indicated he will remain with the Wildcats, who play Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. Snyder’s team faces Colorado State on Friday in the Holiday Bowl.

Go Duck Station

University of Oregon fans began sending their mail from “Go Duck Station” on Wednesday.

The U.S. Postal Service is offering the special postmark to celebrate the Ducks’ trip to the Cotton Bowl.

The postmark features a jumping Oregon Duck inside a circle of type that reads “Oregon Ducks, Cotton Bowl Classic 1996.”

Fans could bring their mail to the university bookstore. The Eugene post office will offer the Cotton Bowl postmark by mail through Jan. 26.

Customers should send self-addressed, stamped envelopes inside a larger envelope to: Ducks Cotton Bowl Postmark, Postmaster, 520 Willamette St., Eugene, OR, 97401-9998.

Buckeye sent home

Ohio State backup safety Damon Moore was sent home from workouts for the Florida Citrus Bowl for what coach John Cooper called “a violation of team rules.”

Cooper declined to say what rules Moore broke.

He said the violation occurred in Orlando.

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