Web posted January 4, 1998

 Osborne, Huskers satisfied with split title
 Vegas: Make it Huskers over Michigan

Associated Press

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- After waiting 49 years, Michigan fans were in a gracious mood Saturday about sharing the national college football title with Nebraska.

Ed and Carol Hammerle, both 60, said they were not disappointed with the outcome of the competing polls.

But even so, ``It would have been great to get it outright,'' Ed Hammerle said.

Michigan easily topped The Associated Press poll of 70 sports writers and broadcasters, but in the third split national title this decade, Nebraska (13-0) edged Michigan (12-0) in the USA Today/ESPN coaches' poll.

It was a bittersweet outcome for some of the Wolverines' fans, who wanted sole possession of the title.

Carol Hammerle said she believes Nebraska won the balloting in the coaches' poll as a concession to the retirement of their coach, Tom Osborne.

``I wasn't sure if sympathy's the right word. Maybe it's just out of honor,'' she said.

Another fan, Michael Samuelson, 50, of Ann Arbor, called the split title ``pure sentimental cronyism.''

``It's like they said, `Here's one for your 25 years. Good work, Tom.' It's a coaches' gift that's easy to give,'' he said as he walked toward the campus' Crisler Arena for the presentation of the AP title trophy at halftime of the Penn State-Michigan basketball game.

Most football players and students were not yet back from semester break, so Wolverines fans will hail the team as conquering heroes at a rally set for Jan. 11.

Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said he was disappointed with the split vote, but it did not take away from the meaning of the AP poll.

``I think every guy who has played at Michigan takes great pride in this,'' Lloyd Carr said from his Pasadena hotel room early Saturday of the Wolverines' AP ranking, two days after the school's 21-16 Rose Bowl victory over No. 8 Washington State.

The Wolverines, coming off four straight four-loss seasons, were ranked No. 14 in the preseason poll and steadily climbed, reaching No. 8 after a season-opening win over Colorado, then No. 4 after its Oct. 25 victory over rival Michigan State.

Until the final poll, the biggest day of the season occurred Nov. 9, when the Wolverines leapfrogged Nebraska and into the top spot.

In the final AP poll, Michigan received 51 1/2 first-place votes and 1,731 1/2 points from a national panel of 70 sports writers and broadcasters in winning its first AP title since 1948. Nebraska got 18 1/2 first-place votes and 1,698 1/2 points. Seven voters split their ballot.

Carr was conciliatory to Nebraska.

``I think, obviously, Nebraska has a great football team,'' he said. ``But I also think we've played a tremendous schedule.

``When you consider all the great teams that we've had at Michigan, and the fact it's been 50 years in a rich football tradition since we've won it. I think it's something we'll appreciate even more in years to come.''

Though the shared title might renew debate about a playoff format to decide the national champion, Carr was skeptical.

``I'm not a playoff proponent,'' he said. ``I don't think there's any way in our sport you can do (a playoff) and determine a true national champion. I know there's a lot of people who want to see that happen, but I think there will always be controversy.''