Saturday, September 28, 1968
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Saturday, September 28, 1968 THE MICHIGAN DAILY
0
Mason: From
Niles
to
Big
Ten
Oklahoma goes after first win;
Texas Tech eves, rival Texas
By JIM FORRESTER
He coaches football, some say'
quite well.
During a game he paces the
sidelines, yelling to his team.
He is heavy set and not parti-
cularly tall.
No matter what the weather, he
is on the football field in a short-
sleeved shirt.
Ah ha, you say, the following
is about Head Coach Woody Hayes
of Ohio State.
Wrong. The above description
fits Michigan football's offensive
backfield coach, Tony Mason. Any
resemblance to Hayes is co-inci-
dental.
"If you compare any talent I
might. have as a'coach to that of
Hayes, then I am honored," smiled
Mason. "But if you start talkingf
of Hayes' personality then I might
be . . . let's just say there is no
fondness lost between the two of:
us." However,,two aspects of the
coaches' personalities are q u i t e
similar. Both are very intense
and have a great enthusiasm for
football.
The other day Mason was show-
ing films and giving pointers to
sophomore Dan Dierdorf, a fine
looking offensive tackle. This was
in early afternoon and Mason had
not eaten at all that day.
"I like to work hard. I want to
work hard," comments Mason.
"It's the only way to have a good
football team and the only way
to attain my goals as a coach."
Mason's goal was to be a suc-
cessful coach and if possible in
some capacity at a big university.
And while, his path _was not strewn
with boulder-sized obstacles, he
sdid start with a few prominent
stumbling blocks to coaching suc-
cess.
First, he played his college foot-
ball at small Clarion College in
Clarion, Pennsylvania.
"I have never seen any rela-
tionship between the ability of' a
coach and the size school he play-
ed football for," remarks Mason.
"The difference lies in what kind
of job the school can help you get
after graduation. Clarion couldn't
offer me the job I wanted and
didn't have the contacts to help
me get it."
s Second, Mason was not well
known while he played college
ball.#
"I was not an All-American
and didn't get a great deal of
press while in college," explains
Mason.
IM FOOTBALL
BULLETIN
Fraternity "B" games for
Sunday, Sept. 22 are
postponed to Sun., Oct.
13. Remainder of games
to be played as sched-
uled.
As a result Mason had to start
at the bottom of the coaching
ladder, high school. For the de-
cade 1953 to 1963 he was football
coach at first Brookfield and then
Niles McKinley High Schools in
Ohio.
"I had to start out in high
schools, and not just for a year or
there were two
gan. First; it is a big v
ball, and second; Bump
with big football, and second, effect on Mason. But the backfield
Bump Elliott." mentor refuses to place any blame
This led to discussion of the for the play of the team on any-
unfavorable press Bump has re- thing or anyone else but himself.
ceived, the past year in particular. "The mistakes the backs or any-
M4ason is extremely high on one else I coach make in a game
Elliott. "If you give him a I have to take the blame for,"
thorough-bred, he'll produce a says Mason.
winner" This is the first year for Mason
wnr.: ;: as the offensivebackfield coach.
I Needless to say, the portly coach
reasons I came to Mich- was not pleased with the team's
play in the loss to California, but
iniversity with big foot he does want some of the team's
present problems understood.
Elliott. "One problem is depth. Two
two. I had to produce winners over
a period of years to show any1
success I may have had wasn't a
fluke," Mason explains. "My teams
had to play the best and beat the
best."
This Mason did as he compiled
an 87-9-7 overall won-loss-tie re-
cord as a high school coach. He
had several undefeated teams and
the Niles McKinley team of 1961
was rated the number two high
school team in the nation.,
Then in 1964 Mason was offer-
ed the offensive line job at Mich-
igan. "I had many offers to coach
at other schools. In fact I received
several offers at almost the same
instant I got the call from Bump
Elliott," reminisced Mason. "There
were two reasons I came to Mich-
igan. First, it's a big university
Ohio, Indians
SACATON. Ariz. (P) - The
Gila River Indians, citing their
military and historical heritage,
denied use of their reservation
yesterday for a proposed Cassius
Clay - Zora Folley heavyweight
fight Oct. 26.
"The reason I oppose having
this fight here is it would dese-
crate the land some of our brave
boys have walked on," said Mrs.
Mary Anna Johnson, a member of
the tribal council.
Mrs. Johnson and other council
members referred repeatedly to
the Gila River youth who have
served in the armed forces, in-
cluding the legendary Ira Hayes,
a medal of honor winner as a
Marine on Iwo Jima in World War
II.
The vote was unanimous against
allowing a fight involving Clay,
who was stripped of his title after
his conviction on charges of re-
fusing to be inducted into the
U.S. armed forces. He has an ap-
peal pending.
Folley, Clay's last opponent be-
fore the ex-champions career was
interrupted, announced that he
had signed for the match on this
desert reservation south of
Phoenix. The former heavyweight
champion said in Chicago t h at
"everything is on" for the fight.
"Michigan has only 30 to 35 foot-
ball tenders to offer every year,
while many schools have 45 to 50.
Then a Big Ten rule limits a team
to carrying only 44 players on its
traveling roster, while the non-
conference teams we play bring as
many as 60."
These problems and limitations
upon the team have a proportional.
daily
sports
NIGHT EDITOR:
ELLIOTT BERRY
more sports on page 6
years ago we had Sharpe, and
Johnson behind Wardhand Fisher
Now . . . " and Mason let the sent-
ence hang.
"Our other big problem is in-
juries," explains Mason. "The in-
jury to Kramer was especially
crippling. And his back-up, Jim
Wilhite, has a bum shoulder.
Some of the passes John Gabler
dropped were related to a sore
shoulder he is nursing."
A good summation might be
that winning teams of healthy
players are made. And a winner is
what Mason feels Michigan can
be this year.
Mason has no fear of confer-
ence power houses Minnesota. In-
diana and Ohio State. "We
haven't played them so they
haven't proved anything to me
yet." And he adds, "A team
doesn't win its games on paper."
But while Mason may seem over
By JEFF LISS
Last week's spoilers and spoiled,
surprises and disappointments,
and favorites and underdogs will
clash again asscollege football
heads into its second full week.
Highlighting the national scene
are two important battles in the
southwest.
Oklahoma will try to rebound
from its 45-21 thrashing at the
hands of Notre Dame, with North
Carolina State providing the op-
position. The, Sooners" offense,
spearheaded by quarterback Bob
Warmack, registered a respect-
able total against the Irish, but
the defense was porous.
Compounding Oklahoma's woes,
NC State scored 38 points in its
opener against traditional rival
North Carolina. If the defense
pulls together, the Sooners could
dispense of the Wolfpack very
easily. But if the game turns into
a wild offensive spree, anything
could happen.
At Texas Tech, the Red Raid-
ers will host the Texas Longhorns.
Tabbed as a possible national
champion, the Longhorns escaped
with a 20-20 tie against Houston
last week. They will run iito a
Raider team which traditionally
reserves one of its best efforts
for them.
In the deep South, Miami and
Georgia Tech will test their un-
TONY MASON
confident, he is not. The. inten-
sity of his speech convinces you
the Wolverines just might win.
You begin to feel the upcoming
game is like starting the season
all over again, and that no chance
exists for the previous week's mis-
takes to be repeated.
So if you see a heavy-set man
of medium height, smoking a
cigar, and wearing a short-sleev-
ed shirt in a blizzard, prepare to
look with optimism on Michigan
football. It could be Tony Mason.
Or prepare to be sick.
It could be Woody Hayes.
last weekend.
nix Clay bout
It was announced by the promot-
ers that proceeds from the fight
would be used to build a swimming
pool for Indian youths, with Clay
contributing part of his purse.
Meanwhile, the Columbus Box-'
ing and Wrestling Commissionj
apparently will reject a bid by
Clay to fight in this city.
Clovis J. Nogawick, the Com-
mission's recording secretary,
said today that Clay's request for
a permit would be rejected at a
meeting Friday evening. -
fBillbod
The Advisory Committee on
Recreation, Intramurals, and
Club Sports will hold an open
meeting on Tuesday, October 1,
at .7:30 p.m. in the Student
Government Council chambers
on the third floor of the S.A.B.
All interested persons are invit-
ed.
* * *
The Michigan s o c c e r team
will meet Cleveland State today
at 2 p.m. on Wines Field. To-
morrow they face Waterloo,
same time, same place.
beaten records against each other.
The Hurricanes blew a 28-7 storm
over Northwestern last Friday,
while the Engineers topped TCU
17-7 the next day.
Clemson and Georgia, both par-
ties in ties last week, will look for
their first win at Georgia today.
Clemson tied ACC favorite Wake
Forest, 20-20, while Georgia
fumbled away several shots at a~
victory and settled for a 17 - 17
tie with Tennessee.
Florida, pre-season favorite in
the SEC, will journey to Florida
State, a highly-regarded indepen-
dent. The Gators sneaked by Air
Force, 22-20, last week, while the
Seminoles trounced Maryland 24-
14. Quite a bit is at stake for both
teams, as each has high hopes for
nationa'l recognition.
A 12-6 victor over Missouri last
week, Kentucky will stretch its
luck against Mississippi, which
triumphed over Memphis State
21-7. The game promises to be a
defensive clash.
In the East, Penn State should
have little ' trouble with Kansas
State. The Nittany Lions easily
topped Navy, 31-6, while Kansas
State shut out Colorado State 21-1
0. The ranking power of the East,
Penn State should show too much
strength for its rently rejuvenat-
ed opposition.
Counted on to be a powerful
independent, West Virginia looked
and played the part last week.
While its opponent for this week,
Pittsburgh, was bowing to UCLA,
the Mountaineers blanked Rich-
mond 17-0. Pittsburgh is vastly
improved,; though, and certainly
will not roll over and play dead.
AAWU contender UCLA will
host Washington State, a team
which should be easy prey for the
Bruins.
Oregon State will try to rebound
from its upset loss to Iowa when
the Beavers visit Utah. California,
Wolverine killers last week, will
try to continue its success against
Colorado.
Meanwhile, Stanford, which ran
up an amazing 68 points against
San Jose State, should run into
some tougher opposition in Ore-
gon. The Indians are favored.
Finally, in the biggest match of
the week, St. Norbert visits Riv-
er Falls. St. Norbert carries the
smart money, but the fierce riv-
alry generated by these two teams
insures that neither will escape
I with an easy win.
..:{..,. *KA :'": .J...L. .1 . M.. .. E R.'; .M ^. M.1 sY
One, more vote
for Gibson
r
"i4
i
Happiness is Rugby
Following last weekend's 35-0 whitewashing of Windsor, the Michigan Rugby Football Club wil
try for its fourth straight victory in Southwest Ontario league action at Sarnia tomorrow. An 'A
and 'B' team will travel to John Carrol today, looking for its first victory in the Mid-west Rubgy
League.
SOCCER
TODAY 2:00, Wines Field
vs Cleveland St. University
Tomorrow 2:00, Wines Field
vs University of Waterloo
Come see the Wolverines extend their
unbeaten record against these fine
intercollegiate soccer teams
By JACK HAND
ST. LOUIS (I)-Bob Gibson's pitching makes the well-
balanced St. Louis Cardinals the 8-5 favorites over the slugging
Detroit Tigers in the World Series opening Wednesday at Busch
Stadium despite the threat of the Tigers' Denny McLain, base-
ball's first 30-game winner in 34 years.
Gibson, winner of five straight Series games, will be trying
to tie the Series record, held jointly by Lefty Gomez and Red
Ruffing of the old New York Yankees, when he faces McLain in
l the big showdown battle on opening day.
Most batters, especially lefthanders, love to hit in Tiger
y Stadium, although the mileage in right field, 325 feet, is only five
feet shorter than St. Louis. Busch Stadium is a symetrical park,
330 feet down each line and 414 up the middle.
Detroit measures 340 in left, 365 in left center, 440 in penter
370 in right center and 325 in right.
Both clubs clinched the pennant early and have been playing
indifferently in recent days. The Cards waltzed all the way after
a slight relapse in late May but have been in a batting slump for
weeks.
After Gibson and McLain meet in the opener, it is likely that
Nelson Briles of the Cards and Mickey Lolich of the Tigers will
hook up in the second game.
That would leave Ray Washburn of the Cards and Earl
Wilson of the Tigers for the third gameat Detroit on Saturday.
They probably will go back over the same route in the fifth and
sixth games if Gibson and McLain do meet three times.
Mayo Smith, the Detroit manager, has been trying to decide
between Lolich, a lefty, and Wilson, a good-hitting right-hander,
for the second game with both due for tuneups in the final game
of the regular season Sunday.
The Tigers pack havy power. In gamesthrough Tuesday,
Sept. 24, they had hit 183 home runs to 72 by the Cards. The
National League champs had the batting edge, .248 to .235, and
had stolen 107 bases to 25 by Detroit.
I
I
BLACK POWER
CONFERENCE
ADAM C. POWELL
DICK GREGORY
JULIAN BOND
Sept. 29-2:00 P.M.-Hill Auditorium
Sponsored by CONTROVERSY '68
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