Wheatley has experienced highs, lows of football

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Feb. 19—CHAMPAIGN — Illinois' new running backs coach, Tyrone Wheatley, had a brilliant career as a Michigan running back.

From 1991-1994, he gained 4,187 rushing yards and left the school second on the career yardage list behind Jamie Morris. He still stands fifth at a school where running is a vital part of the DNA.

He is fourth on the school's career rushing touchdown list with 47.

After leaving the Wolverines, Wheatley had a productive run in the NFL, playing 10 seasons with the Giants and Raiders and gaining another 4,962 yards on the ground.

After his NFL career ended, Wheatley jumped into coaching, first at the high school level, then college and the NFL.

When the Illinois media gets a chance to meet with Wheatley — hopefully soon — the questions are going to be mostly routine: Do you like to rotate running backs or count on just one? Who are coaching mentors? When you were at Michigan, did you consider Illinois a rival?

Stuff like that. I'm really looking forward to getting to know Thad Ward's replacement. During two stints at Illinois, Ward was always friendly and helpful. Just a guess: Wheatley will be too during his stay on Bret Bielema's staff.

With the hiring of Jordan Thomas to coach the Illinois defensive line, the changes on the Illinois staff appear to be complete. Five guys moving on in the same cycle is a change for Bielema. Entering his sixth season, he just lost two guys — defensive coordinator Aaron Henry and defensive line coach Terrance Jamison. That duo had been with him from Day 1 at Illinois.

What Bielema has now that he didn't have before is former head coaches on his staff. New defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck was at Montana, tight ends coach Jared Elliott is the former head coach at Western Illinois and Wheatley was in charge at Wayne State (Mich.) and Morgan State.

Touchy subject? Hope not

Wheatley has a history against his new school. One that I might be wise keep to myself. What fun is that?

During Wheatley's four seasons in Ann Arbor, Michigan went 2-1-1 against Illinois. Sounds pretty good, right? Normally yes, but the Wolverines had dominated Illinois home and away before the early 1990s.

In 1992, Lou Tepper's first Illinois team tied Michigan at the Big House, 22-22. That ended the Wolverines' 19-game win streak.

Michigan still went on to take the outright Big Ten title and represent the conference in the Rose Bowl, where it beat Washington, 38-31. Interesting they are both now in the same league.

Back to the point, Michigan finished the season ranked No. 5. Despite no losses but … three ties.

The Wolverines tied their opener at Notre Dame 17-17, late in the season against Illinois 22-22 and in the finale against Ohio State 13-13.

The games against Illinois and Ohio State were in consecutive weeks.

Everyone else Michigan played that season — except for Washington and Purdue (a 24-17 win) — it destroyed: 35-3, 61-7, 56-38, 35-10, 31-3, 63-13 and 40-7.

Rough patch

I was in the Michigan Stadium press box for the 1992 game, my first trip to Ann Arbor for football.

On a cold, windy, overcast day, the Wolverines in general and Wheatley in particular had a difficult time hanging onto the ball.

They fumbled 10 times and were fortunate to recover six of the bobbles.

After the game, then-Michigan coach Gary Moeller was none too pleased.

"How sickening. Very disappointing," Moeller said.

Tepper acknowledged the help.

"The turnovers certainly kept us in the game early," he said.

Michigan fumbled on its first play from scrimmage. At the end of an 18-yard pass play from quarterback Elvis Grbac to wide receiver Derrick Alexander, the receiver lost the ball. Fortunately for Michigan, it recovered the ball to the keep the drive alive.

That was a good thing. Two plays later, Wheatley took a pass from Grbac and raced 50 yards near the sideline for a touchdown and 7-0 lead.

On Michigan's next drive, Wheatley ran 22 yards but lost the ball on a hit by Illinois linebacker John Holecek. Robert Crumpton recovered for Illinois at the Michigan 26-yard line.

On Michigan's next drive, Wheatley had a 16-yard run to set up a drive that moved to the Illinois 23. But again, the Wolverines coughed up the ball, with tight end Tony McGee fumbling and Illini Jeff Arneson recovering.

The fumbling, obviously, wasn't done. On Michigan's final play of the opening quarter, reserve running back Jesse Johnson fumbled into the end zone, where Illinois linebacker Kevin Hardy fell on it for a touchback.

Early in the second quarter, Michigan's Ricky Powers and Wheatley fumbled, but both were picked up by teammates.

It wasn't the last fumble for Powers against Illinois. In the 1993 game, also in Ann Arbor, his late fumble set up an Illinois upset victory on Johnny Johnson's pass to Jim Klein. A story for another day.

Let me make this clear: The fumbleitis for Michigan wasn't just Wheatley. A bunch of guys participated.

And it is important to point out the hard hits of the Illinois defense, led by future Butkus Award winners Hardy and Dana Howard, longtime NFL standouts Holecek and Simeon Rice and one of the hardest-hitting defensive backs in school history, Tyrone Washington. "The Grenade" forced receiver Amani Toomer to fumble in the second quarter and Fred Cox recovered.

Illinois' Chris Richardson hit a pair of field goals in the second quarter to cut the gap to 7-6. Johnson scored on a short run early in the third quarter to put Michigan back up by seven.

In the third quarter, Illinois' Darren Boyer scored on an 8-yard run to make it 13-12, but Richardson's extra point try missed low.

Early in the fourth quarter, Richardson made it 15-13 on his third field goal.

Michigan gained the advantage back, 19-15, on Johnson's 11-yard run. The two-point conversion pass fell incomplete, setting up an odd final seven minutes.

With 2:26 left, Illinois quarterback Jason Verduzco put his team ahead with a 2-yard TD run.

Using mostly passes to Toomer and McGee, Grbac drove Michigan to the Illinois 22. On fourth down and 15, Pete Elezovic nailed the 39-yard field goal for the final 22-22 score. It was his only field goal of the day.

Wheatley finished the game with 14 carries for 91 yards and went over 1,000 yards rushing for the season. He had another 55 yards on catches.

Johnson led the Wolverines with 121 yards and two scores.

His long day against Illinois could be a valuable talking point for Wheatley. He didn't let what had to be one of his low points as a player define him or slow him down. He had enough confidence and ability to play 10 years in the NFL. At a high level.

Of course, fumbling is a no-no for running backs. The worst thing you can do. But it is never intentional. And sometimes it happens because the running backs are trying so hard for that extra yard.

Can't fault them for that.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos