IT'S ALL FUN AND THE GAME.

Byline: Eric Noland Daily News Staff Writer

Shortly after Michigan had completed its stirring, 20-12 victory over Ohio State to earn a trip to the Rose Bowl, Wolverines safety Marcus Ray was told his presence was requested in the media room.

He first reached into a bag in his locker and pulled out a garment that he had hidden there. When Ray, a Columbus, Ohio, native, arrived for the interviews - with all the sports world watching - it was in a scarlet and gray pullover with ``Ohio State'' emblazoned across the front.

Imagine the reaction the stunt would have drawn - imagine the fallout - if the perpetually grumpy Bo Schembechler had been coach of Michigan at the time.

Today, the football players operate in a vastly different environment, under a coach, Lloyd Carr, whose stony sideline expression belies a tolerance for a healthy blend of business with pleasure.

``When Bo coached, obviously his demeanor, his personality were much different than what I have,'' Carr said Wednesday in Pasadena at the first of a series of Rose Bowl hype events. ``And yet there are a lot of things that he believed that affected me and impacted me.''

The contrasts are evident in No. 1 Michigan's preparations for its New Year's date with No. 8 Washington State in Pasadena. Most notably, the Wolverines will break with a long-standing tradition of traveling here on Christmas Day and instead arrive on Dec. 19 - a full 14 days before the game is to be played.

Schembechler hated bringing his teams to the West Coast far in advance of the game. So much sightseeing. So many photo ops. He wanted to work, and work the Wolverines did - to excess. It was often said that Michigan was ready to play the game about three days after it arrived, and by the time the Rose Bowl actually rolled around, all the players could think about was getting it over with and getting home.

Perhaps not surprisingly, in 10 visits to the Rose Bowl under Schembechler, from 1970 to '90, Michigan lost eight times.

Carr, who was an assistant coach at Michigan during the latter part of Schembechler's reign, obviously learned the importance of striking a balance between the fun and the game.

When the volume came up on his microphone, Carr mentioned nothing of weakside blitzes or the condition of a rain-saturated field. His mind, instead, appeared to be on Diamond Jim Brady cuts of prime rib and one-pound baked potatoes. ``Lawry's,'' he said, beaming broadly. ``That's probably the thing I'm looking forward to the most.''

Long after the press conference had ended, he stood off to the side and articulated his philosophy of managing players on such a trip, saying softly, ``It's a fine line, because you can work the kids too hard and you obviously can give them too much freedom. They're still young men and they're in a great city where there are a lot of things to do.

``I think the key is to balance it so they can enjoy the experience. Someone told me the theme of this bowl is having fun. I want the players to enjoy it, but I also think it's important for them to understand that what happens out on the field New Year's Day is something that they're going to remember the rest of their lives.''

Lying low: It's clear Washington State coach Mike Price plans to revel in his team's status as a prohibitive underdog. First, he whipped out a floppy, leather helmet from Washington State's last Rose Bowl visit - in 1931.

Then came a cheerful flurry of self-effacing remarks: ``Whether you like it or not, the Cougars are going to be in the Rose Bowl every 67 years.''. . . . ``I know we're all going to heaven, because hell did freeze over.'' . . . ``I think we're the Rodney Dangerfield of college football.''

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PHOTO Washington State coach Mike Price, left, shows off a Cougars helmet from the 1931 Rose Bowl as Michigan coach Lloyd Carr looks on.

Associated Press