CoCo and company house Wolverines

Appalachian State 34, Michigan 32. Hope this doesn’t mean the Wolverines have to drop down to I-AA.

The leading receiver for the Mountaineers, with four catches, was CoCo Hillary. Wonder if he’s related to Sir Edmund Hillary.

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Boise State last year, Appalachian State this year. What’s next, USC getting knocked off by Wottsamatta U?

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Number of the Week: 90,851.

According to my calculator, that’s the difference in the seating capacities of Michigan Stadium (107,501) — the celebrated “Big House” — and Appalachian’s Kidd Brewer Stadium (16,650).

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A TV cameo waiting to happen: Travis Henry on “All My Children.”

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Did you see Henry, the Broncos’ well-traveled running back, has sired nine kids by nine women? Who does he think he is, Henry VIII?

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I’m a little confused about the nine women, though. I thought the NFL only let you carry eight on your practice squad.

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On the plus side, when Henry’s football career is over, he can teach Lamaze.

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Speaking of offspring, the Sunday Column is disappointed that Bridget Moynahan gave the child fathered by Tom Brady the name James Edward Thomas Moynahan — J.E.T. Moynahan. Especially when she just as easily could have named him Patrick — Pat for short.

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Is it my imagination, or did Joe Gibbs stick with Mark Brunell longer than he did with the Chevrolet Grand Prix?

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Idle thought: Instead of scrapping all those Vick V sneakers sitting in its warehouse, Nike should return ‘em to the factory and add prison stripes — in Falcons colors.

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It’s such a shame. The Swoosh People, I hear, had already shot a commercial in which a guy wearing an Inferior Brand of Sneaks slows to a stop and laments, “Man, my dogs are barking.”

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Once again, the NFL preseason was about as exciting as a fair catch, but it wasn’t always thus. Consider the events of Aug. 8, 1964, one of the greatest days in exhibition history:

c In the Vikings’ 21-7 win over the Giants, New York rookie Clarence Childs returned a kickoff 108 yards for a touchdown — 2 yards longer than the existing record held by Al Carmichael.

c On the last play of the Bills’ 26-13 victory over the Jets, Buffalo rookie Pete Gogolak kicked a field goal that measured 57 yards — 1 yard longer than the existing mark held by Bert Rechichar.

They don’t play meaningless games like they used to …

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In the span of a week, the Orioles gave up 30 runs in six innings against the Rangers and 11 runs in one inning against the Devil Rays. It’s the first time that’s happened in baseball history — to a team, that is, that wasn’t managed by Billy Bob Thornton.

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The only thing the 30-3 loss to Texas was missing, from an O’s standpoint, was a pinch-hitting appearance by Eddie Gaedel.

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Mark Cuban on “Dancing With the Stars”? What, did Abe Pollin turn them down?

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Have you noticed who’s tops on the PGA Tour in greens in regulation? You’d think GIR would be one of the truest indicators of excellence, but this year’s leader is none other than Jeff Gove at 70.13 percent (almost half-a-percent better than Tiger Woods, who’s No. 2).

Gove was the very last qualifier for the FedEx Cup, 144th on the points list (and was eliminated at the Barclays when he missed the cut). He has one top 10 this year, a T-6 in the John Deere Classic, and has banked a modest $350,289.

In other words, if you want to get the ball on the green, Jeff is your man. But if you want to make some green, that’s another matter.

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Ichiro Suzuki update: Going into today’s game, the amazing Mariner has 2,830 career hits — 1,278 in Japan and 1,552 in the U.S. At his current rate, he’ll get No. 3,000 not long after the 2008 All-Star break — by which time he’ll be 34 (and nine months). For the record, Ty Cobb was the youngest 3,000-hit man at 34 years, eight months.

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Why should we count Ichiro’s hits in Japan? Hey, why not? Is there any doubt he could have been a major league star long before he came to Seattle in 2001 (at age 27)? And had he done that, he might already have 3,000 hits — or close to it. After all, in Japan he never played more than 135 games in a season; with the Mariners he has never played fewer than 157.

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It also bears mentioning that the next triple by the Tigers’ Curtis Granderson will give him 22 for the season, the most since 1949. Trivia question: Who had 23 in 1949, and what is his baseball claim to fame? (Answer below.)

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Granderson even has a shot at 40 doubles, 20 triples and 20 homers. (He had 35, 21 and 19 through yesterday.) The only other members of the 40-20-20 club are George Brett (42/20/23 in ‘79) and Jim Bottomley (42/20/31 in ‘28). Both, of course, are in the Hall of Fame.

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Answer to trivia question: The Indians’ Dale Mitchell had 23 triples in 1949. He’s better remembered, though, for being the guy Don Larsen struck out to end his World Series perfect game in ‘56 (when Mitchell was with the Dodgers).

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And finally …

It won’t be long before the sidewalk vendors outside Busch Stadium are hawking Ankiel bracelets — to be worn, naturally, just above the shoe top.