TRAINING ROOM: Ford expects to be back training fairly soon "because I can move it (the ankle), and I can stand on it," even though trainer Tom Iriye has her using crutches for now.

She doubts she'll be allowed to compete at Nebraska much. "If I could I would," she said, but she doubts Marsden will listen to that kind of talk from her anymore. She told him she was OK for floor Friday and then hurt an already stinging ankle more.

The senior captain is perhaps ready to be a little more patient after the scare. "To find out that nothing was broken this morning was a sigh of relief. I'm not ready for my season to be done yet, or my career.

Freshman Annie DiLuzio, who missed a week of training and a meet with an ankle, will be eased back into training this week. She didn't like observing at the Michigan meet, and when Ford got hurt, she told Iriye, "'Tom, can you tape me really fast because I need to go.' I'm ready to get back, but we'll see what Tom has to say."

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