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October 03, 1968 - Image 8

Resource type:
Text
Publication:
The Michigan Daily, 1968-10-03

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Page Fight

THE MICHIGAN DAILY

Thursday, October 3, 1968

Page Eight THE MICHIGAN DAILY Thursday, October 3, 1968

1. .1

TONIGHT,
And Every Thursday

Philosopher

Mans sparks

unified

diversity

a

daily
sports
NIGHT EDITOR:
ROBIN WRIGHT
tions for failure, according to
Coach Mans. Either the coach has
chosen the wrong personnel or he
has chosen good people whose
failure does not indicate lack of
potential.
In the cases of Bill Harris and
Jerry Imsland, he feels experience
is the key to improvement. "No-
body wanted to catch that ball
more than Harris. Maybe he want-
ed to too much."
The ultimate football team may
operate like a well tuned machine.
But concern with the "wants" of
players encompasses more than
their physical performance! Mans
emphasized, "You've got to build
confidence. Let them know that
you think they should be out there
playing. And that they can do it."
The confidence that Mans would
like to build is a true one, based
on the experience of success. If
practice is rough, it's because
Mans wants his players "to be
prepared for the toughest compe-
tition. And if it's not that tough,
allright."
George Mans can draw a mean
diagram. To help explain the
meaning of rough, he outlined the
possible patterns of tight end,
flanker, and split end with red
marker. It looked like spaghetti.
But diagrams are not football.
Coach Mans worries. Complaints
that there is too much emphasis
on football at the University seem
unjust to him. "We're doing the
same thing here that sociology
professors are doing over in the
Lit. School," he explained. This
should not be misconstrued as a
warning of insurrection.
As Mans says, "coaching is aj
full time job. We don't teach any
I Ceds:I

Y

Fitzgerald develops competitors,
remains champs' unsung hero

GEORGE MANS

classes." A chart of a week begin-
ning with Saturday, rather than
Sunday, including "game," "re-
cruiting," "film," "opp.," "plan,".
"consolidate," "p o 1 i s h," and
"wrap," illustrated .this point. He
outlined his own schedule at the
edge of a practice schedule which
listed: "Kickoff-'til we are satis-
fied with it (maybe all day)."
Mans has six years of exper-
ence with Michigan football; three
as a player (one as captain) and
three as assistant coach. For his
future, "just like everyone else,
I'd like to reach the top of my
field." He'd like to be a head
coach.
In attempting to outline the
philosophy that he would put into
practice after reaching the top,
the familiar "X's" and "O's" on
charts, the arrows and the circles
were ignored. Instead, gestures
and figures of speech established
his ideal team as a solid block of
diversified individual parts.
For George Mans, "football is a
great game. It's great in terms
of the effect is has on the people
involved with it."
Mans' personal parallel between
his job and that of a sociology'
professor is easy to extend. "I've
gotten a great deal of enjoyment
and satisfaction out of the game.
Harris wanted to catch that ball
too nluch. Sure you've got to treat
them as individuals." F 1 a m e
kindles flame.

it

By BILL CUSUMANO
The forgotten man in college
football is the assistant coach.
Dennis Fitzgerald, Michigan's de-
fensive line coach, is one of 'these
men. While his players may get
headlines for their performances,
few people realize how much
Fitzgerald contributes to the de-
velopment of their skills.
Fitzgerald doesn't mind the
anonymity of his position how-
ever, since he finds "satisfaction"
in coaching. He calls the hours
on the practice field the "fun
part of coaching."
To him working with a player
and producing a complete athlete
is a satisfying chore. It is the ac-
tion of sports, the actual confron-
tation of opposing forces that
Fitzgerald loves.
His attitude is that of a true
competitor. Michigan fans remem-
ber Dennis Fitzgerald as a tough
blocking back for coaches Benny
Oosterbaan and Bump Elliott.
His was not usually a scoring
position, but he had the ability to
come through in the clutch as
witnessed by a 99-yard touchdown
run against Michigan State in
1960.
WRESTLING CHAMP
Fitzgerald likes to win, and he
has been a winner in both football
and wrestling. He was Pan-Amer-
ican 177 pound champion in 1960
and a member of the United
States touring team.
His winning background is re-
flected in his coaching style. As
an assistant he strives for perfec-
tion in his field, the defensive
line.
He is a man of'pride, in himself,
in his players and in the "tradi-
tion of Michigan." Born in Ann
Arbor, and a graduate of the Uni-
versity, he has deep-seated Wol-
verine background.

0
U

DENNY FITZGERALD, (right) 1960 Pan-American wrestling
champion strains to retain his hold on Bruce Campbell (Okla-
homa State) during their semi-final bout in the 167-1b. division
of the NCAA Wrestling Championships in 1961. Campbell even-
tually won the match, 4-3.
He considers Michigan "a fine an assistant earns nis pay. Fitz-
place for athletes, both in the gerald's work is with his linemen.
academic field and in the playing While it is true that there is a
field. There is a great opportunity 'system' of defense that he has
for a player to be on a winning to adhere to, the basic responsi-
team at Michigan and to advance bility for developing individuals
himself as a player and a person." and molding them into a cohesive
P D Bline unit is his.
FiLAYerldFso hasThe job of building a football
Fitzgerald also has a deep re- team is a year round effort, ac-
spect for head -coach Bump El- cording to Fitzgerald and a coach
liott and feels that there is a is never free from it, It begins
"mutual closeness" between mem- ihrreeitIngn
bers of the coaching staff, which with recruiting.
is a great aid to the football pro- T GH COEITR
grm.Fitzgerald considers a tough-
gA coaching staff does not, al- competitor the essential prere-
ways have the opportunity to work quisite to success in. any sport and
together though, and that is where his own career demonstrates the
.._-_ _- __________truth of this beliefs. As a coach
he does his utmost to bring out
the comptitive nature in players.
He claims there is no such thing

'p

SOS:

"Let us style a
FLATTERING HAIR CUT
to your individual needs."
--no appointment needed
The Dascola Barbers
Near Michigan Theatre

MSCA airs. problems

Big problem.

It

J

Last night's meeting -of the
Michigan Sports' Club Association
(MSCA) was highlighted by a dis-
cussion of the question of insur-
ance.
Nancy Hessler from the Office
of Student Affairsrwas present as
they considered the three areas
involved: travel, liability, and
medical. Dale Phelps, assistant di-
rector of intramurals, added that
he is preparing a questionnaire to
be sent to several schools concern-
ing this problem.
The question will be followed up
by the subcommittee appointed at.
Tuesday night's meeting of the
Advisory Committee on Recrea-
tion, Intramurals, and Club Sports.

The various club representatives
also aired their individual troubles.
The foremost was, once again, lack
of space.
Bob Gillon, president of MSCA,
relayed a suggestion by Larry Mc-
Kay, the coordinating vice-presi-
dent of SGC, that SGC recognize
only MSCA, which in turn would'
take care of recognizing the indi-
vidual clubs.
Sandy Morris was placed in
charge of publicity for the asso-
ciation. His job, defined as mostly
one of coordinating the individual
club .efforts at present, will even-
-tually be expanded to full cover-

as "non-competitor," just "bad
ones and good ones." What he
hopes to make his players is "bet-
ter competitors than the other
team has."
Fitzgerald has been with the
Michigan staff since 1963, serving
until 1966 as freshman coach be-
fore assuming his present role.
Despite one damaging injury (to
Jon Kramer) this year, and a
line that is relatively small, he has
developed a noticeably determined
contingent, which performed well
in the Duke game.
The suspicion is that Fitzgerald
will never be satisfied until he
reaches his idea of perfection. He
wants to be a member of a "win-
ning system," and will not be
satisfied until he reaches that

/I

age of all the clubs. pinnacle.

Simple solution:

s

f
F
Y
i
1
t
1

I

I

MI CHGRAS '69
is now accepting petitions for the Central Committee.
Petitions are available at th6 UAC office, 3rd floor,
Michigan League and must be returned
by 5 P.M. Saturday, October 5.
UNION-LEAGUE

0

M

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