Continued: 'Soft' play is a sore point for Michigan's Rodriguez

A week ago, first-year Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez he said he would be embarrassed if somebody said his players "looked like they quit or were soft or lazy." On Monday, he was that somebody.

"I thought we played a little soft," he said, referring to Saturday's 45-20 home loss to Illinois. "That was the most disappointing part about it. ... Unless we become a tougher football team mentally and physically, we'll have a lot of problems."

After Michigan jumped out to a 14-3 lead, the Wolverines surrendered 28 unanswered points. Illinois quarterback Juice Williams -- who earned Big Ten offensive player of the week honors for his play Saturday -- began meticulously picking apart the Wolverines' experienced defense.

Rodriguez refused to pin all of the blame on the veteran defense, instead calling out all three units: offense, defense and special teams.

"I'm not saying we have soft guys," he said. "But if we have one of 11 guys play soft on one play, that's unacceptable. And it will never be acceptable."

The message seems to have reached the players.

"It's a main point," Michigan quarterback Steven Threet said. "Just because we're a spread team doesn't mean we're a finesse team. We've got to go out and play hard every play."

Rodriguez added: "It's a mindset you have to have each and every day. ... Some coaches say you're either the hammer or the nail. I'd rather be the hammer."

Etc.

• Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson said he wants to see how quarterback Rudy Carpenter's sprained left ankle responds before deciding whether the senior will play at No. 8 Southern California. If Carpenter can't play, the Sun Devils would turn to junior Danny Sullivan, who has completed one of eight passes for a 1-yard loss this year.

• Coach Bob Stoops expects No. 1 Oklahoma to be at full strength this Saturday when the Sooners face No. 5 Texas in Dallas. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and center Jon Cooper suffered injuries vs. Baylor, but Stoops said both could return this week.

• Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said there was insufficient evidence to prove Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel's claim that a Cornhuskers player spat on him Saturday. Pelini said he talked with Tigers coach Gary Pinkel and characterized his investigation as a lot of "he said-he said."

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