Football
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Manningham may return for Michigan's game vs. Ball State

ANN ARBOR, Michigan - Second-ranked Michigan has
struggled offensively in three games without star receiver Mario
Manningham. Even if he does not return this weekend, the
Wolverines likely will not have trouble putting points on the
board.

Michigan looks to post a comfortably victory at the "Big House"
on Saturday when it takes on Ball State for the first time.

The Wolverines (9-0) had averaged 33.5 points in their first six
games before Manningham underwent arthroscopic knee surgery.
But the sophomore, who had nine touchdown catches in six games,
has resumed practicing and may return to the field on Saturday.

"I don't know when it will be, but I have every confidence that
unless there's a setback that he's going to play pretty
shortly," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said Monday. "We'll just
have to see how he does (Tuesday) or Wednesday and he can run, I
can tell you that. He can run. He's ready to do that. Now
the next thing is how he comes out of a break and how it holds
up. But we're very much encouraged and excited, because he
brings a great spirit and attitude."

The Wolverines are coming off a 17-3 win over Northwestern here
in which Mike Hart ran for 95 yards and a touchdown in limited
action. Hart injured his back after landing on a down marker,
but he is expected to be fine.

Michigan's defense again was dominant, limiting the Wildcats to
minus-13 rushing yards. The Wolverines lead the nation in
rushing defense at 28.4 yards per game.

The Cardinals (3-6) improved to 3-3 in Mid-American Conference
play with a 20-17 win at Miami of Ohio last Saturday.

Nate Davis threw a go-ahead one-yard touchdown to Madaris Grant
with 1:11 to play for Ball State, which scored the final 10
points of the game. It was the first career catch for Grant, a
redshirt freshman tight end.

Ball State coach Brady Hoke was Michigan's defensive line coach
from 1995-2002. Cardinals offensive coordinator Stan Parrish
was Michigan's quarterbacks coach from 1996-2001 and offensive
coordinator from 2001-02.

"Coach Carr is a great man who I admire more than anybody in
football," Hoke said. "He is an outstanding football coach, but
even more important he is a better man. This game came about
because we needed a game and they needed a game. ... We talked
when the possibility of this game came about, and from a
regional standpoint it made sense to play."

Michigan is 21-0 all-time against MAC teams.

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