Thursday, November 21, 1968
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Page Eleven
Thursday, November 21, 1968 THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Eleven
I'll.
. -,_,,.
from the seat
Bill Levis
of my pants
The last four years of Michigan football have certainly been
frustrating.
In 1965, following the Rose Bowl, the Wolverines were picked by
many experts to be first in the conference and first in the country.I
Why not? Michigan had a great cast of performers returning, in-i
cluing offensive guard Tom Mack, halfbacks Carl Ward and Jim
Detwiler, and linebacker Bill Yearby. Not only that, but they were
supposed to have a great quarterback in Dick Vidmer. Vidmer had
beaten out Bob Timberlake for the starting position the year before,I
AW only to have his leg broken.
Well, the Wolverines of 1965 went nowhere, skidding to a;
4-6 record.
That year, also, Michigan introduced the 20-20 offense. The
Wolverines, under Vidmer and more often, Wally Gabler, John's
brother, performed brilliantly outside the 20 yard line. Once inside
the mystical barrier, however, Michigan suffered strange cases of
mistake.itis. The result was a 2-5 record in conference play.
The next year, Michigan was again picked to finish near the
top in the nation. After all, the Wolverines still had an overabundance
of talent in Ward, Detwiler, fullback Dave Fisher, All-American end
Jack Clancy, and a wondrous defense led by Frank Nunley and Rick
Volk.
Unfortunately, the talented Wolverines had rehearsed 1965's]
4 mistakes too often as they tripped and fell to a miserable 6-4+
record. With Vidmer installed as the full time signal caller,1
Michigan was never better than when it blew Oregon State and
Minnesota right off the Michigan Stadium turf with 42-0 and'
49-0 whitewashes.
Dee Andros, the Beaver coach said, after the debacle, that heI
had never seen a team in such fine shape early in the season. Un-
fortunately, Michigan didn't stay in shape for long. The Wolverines
soon suffered through three hideous weeks as they rolled over and
played dead'against North Carolina, lost a heartbreaking 20-7 deci-
sion to national champs Michigan State and then gave a game to
Purdue, the eventual Rose Bowl representatives, 22-21.
A Purdue punt nicked a Michigan player and went into the end-
zone for a safety. A Stan Kemp kick was blocked in the end zone and
recovered by a Boilermaker for a score. If that wasn't enough, Vidmer
fumbled twice on consecutive plays within the Purdue five. The second
time the Boilermakers recovered the ball, and with it the game. To add
insult to injury, the Wolverines attempted and missed an impossible
field goal against a cross wind in the last minute of play.
To demonstrate how strong the 1965 and 1966 versions of the
Wolverines were, all one has to do is scan the pro draft lists fol-
lowing those two years. Yearby and Mack were both high draft
choices folowing the 1965 season. Mack was so good that he was
the only rookie to start on the 1966 Los Angeles. Rams, and he
is still a fixture on their offensive line.
The next year was even more productive. Linebacker Nunley was
drafted by the 49ers while John Rowser went to Green Bay and
defensive backs Mike Boss and Rick Sygar were picked up by the
Lions.
Clancy, the captain of the 1966 Wolverines, became a sure handed
receiver for the Miami Dolphins. In 1967, he combined with former
Purdue star Bob Griese to form the best one-two rookie threat in the
AFL. This year, however, he has been out with an injury.
But the best pro prospect on that Michigan team was defen
sive back Rick Volk. He has been a outstanding performer for
the Baltimore Colts for two years.
Last year was a different season, however, and the Wolverines,
decimated by the loss of most of its talent, were expected to
finish somewhere near the middle of the Big Ten. For the only
time in the last four years, Michigan did not disapppoint the
pollsters, winding up with a mediocre 4-6 record.
Little more was expected of them this season. True, Ron
Johnson had set a Michigan record for most yards rushing in
one year but the rest of the team didn't really excite anyone With
most of the same team returning, not much was expected from
this year's team.
For the third time in four years, the writers were wrong. The
1968 Wolverines, picked to finish about seventh in the Big Ten, have
been the wonders of the nation. The key has been that Michigan
unveiled a 20-20 defense this year, replacing its offensive counterpart.
Now the opposition looks great between the 20s, but rarely, if ever,
M scores.
Besides that, Johnson has outstripped his 1967 performance
while Dennis Brown, Jim Mandich and Garvie Craw also improved
on last year's statistics. Cecil Pryor, the timid kitten of 1967, turned
into a vicious cat this season. Stan Broadnax, who had shared the
right guard position with Bob Baumgartner, came into his own and
has been one of the most valuable players on offense, opening up holes
* for Johnson and providing pi'otection for Brown.
And finally, there is Tim Killian, who everyone has criticized
for missing extra points this fall. Well, that, same Mr. Killian
has proven to be Michigan's greatest field goal kicker.
He tied the Big Ten record when he kicked three field goals
against Minnesota and he has five for the season. And Killian's boots
have not been short 15 yarders either. In addition, he is a valuable
substitute middle linebacker.
After a look at the results, it becomes apparent that the Wol-
verine teams of the last four years have been remembering the op-
posite of what the sports writers have been writing about them.
Now if they will only remember that Michigan has been. picked as
a three point underdog against Ohio State Saturday ....
Johnson
By JOE MARKER
In a mere sixty minutes of ac-
tion in the Michigan Stadium
slop, Ron Johnson last Saturday
cut a deep swath through the Big
Ten record book.'
Johnson erased three conference
and several Michigan records as
he personally rallied the Wolver-
endangers record
pace
0
in
osU
tilt
*
*
*
*
*
*
Gridders hone talents for Bucks
By JIM FORRESTER
Ines from a 9-7 halftime deficit to This year the shoe is on the
a 34-9 romp over winless Wiscon- other foot. How about that?
sin. Early October was the time
The fleet but powerful tailback when football mania struck ye olde
piled up 347 yards rushing to far campus. The arch enemies were
surpass Ed Podolak's record 286 those meanies from the banks of
set the previous week in Iowa's 68- the Red Cedar and their coach
34 rout of Northwestern. Duffy, better known as Hugh
What makes Johnson's record Daugherty. Ohio State was an
all the more amazing is that coach after-thought.
Bump Elliott pulled him from the But now, wow?! As this year's
game with nearly one quarter re- tilt with MSU approached, all the
maining. Having gained only 119 comment that could be mustered
yards in the first half, Johnson from the competitors on the prac-
added a whopping 218 yards in tice turf of fabled Ferry Field
the third quarter plus twenty sec- was a mild yawn. But OSU? A
onds of the fourth. complete switch.
In addition to breaking the : Now we're gonna have a closed
single game yardage record, the circuit television screen in the
Detroit senior also cracked two University Events Building so that
conference scoring marks. His 30 as many football maniacs as pos-
points surpassed the illustrious RON JOHNSON sible can view for themselves this
Tom Harmon's 27 (4 touchdowns, down scamper, a 67-yarder in the year's game of the century. A pep
3 PAT's) scored against Iowa in third quarter (the others covered'rally is scheduled for tonight. The
1939. He also scored five touch- 35, 1. 60, and 49 yards) broke entire campus is turned on for
downs in the process, breaking the Harmon's long-standing mark of football.
mark of four held jointly by 2,134 career yards. But does all of this excitement
twelve players. 2affect Michigan's Head Coach
twelve plays.4 yrd He also has piled up 1300 yards Bump Elliott? Not a chance. Bump
Jhsnsto"tal f 37yrd -i yk-__,__a
total offense (gained on rushing of 1005 set last year, a n d has
alone) exceeds Dennis Brown's crossed the goal line 17 times,
conference record of 338 set last once more than Harmon did in
year against Indiana. 1939.
It should be pointed out that all Although the Wolverine's work-I
Big Ten records cover only the horse has already done his sharel
period since 1939, since before that tokeep the Big Ten statisticians
time statistics were not syste- busy, he has a chance this Satur-
matically compiled. day at Columbus to increase his
Even including the period beforehares.Gn
1939, Johnson's records for rush- Jrusin Grabowski's conference
ing and total offense still hold# rushing record of 996 'yards, set
ing ad totl offnse sil o r Illinois in 1965, is within 70
up. However he must share hisyrd fJhs'sea.Wth
up oee ems hr i o liosi 95 swti 0touchdown and scoring marks with; yards of Johnson's reach. With
13 touchdowns in Michigan's six
the legendary Red Grange. conference encounters, he needs
Grange and Illinois hosted only 2 more to tie Leroy Keyes'
heavily-favored Michigan Oct. 18, record of 15.
1924. The first four times Grange 1 Johnson may have considerable
handled the ball he scored on runs trouble adding these last two rec-
of 95, 66, 55, and 40 yards, and ords to his repertoire, since the
zipped to another touchdown in Ohio State defense, as it has been
the third quarter in a long-re- all year, is the Big Ten's stingiest.
membered performance. The Buckeye defenders have al-
In addition to his Big Ten lowed only 265 yards per game,
marks, Johnson rewrote a good which is 35 yards lessthan run-
portion of the Michigan record ner-up Michigan State. What is
book. His most noticeable achieve- more important to Johnson's rec-
ment in this respect is his sur- ord possibilities, though, is that
mpntsinof Tom Harman's career the Buckeyes have given up only
passing m H 120 yards per game rushing,
rushing record. His third touch- which, incidentally, is considerably
less than Johnson alone has av-
$eraged (154).
T he lack of rushing yardage
-RagainstOhio State is not due to
the fact that opponents have not
tried to rush. They've tried 47
times a game and have averaged
N B A 2.5 per carry, reflecting a very
Yesterday's Results low return for the effort.
Cincinnati 113, San Francisco 107 Just ask Ed Podolack. The lead-
Baltimore114, San Diego1 ing rusher in the league going in-
New York at Atlanta, Inc.
Boston at Seattle, Inc. to Iowa's game with the Buckeyes
last Saturday, Podolak gained 451
Tfoday's Games yards the entire afternoon.
Milwaukee at Chicagoe However, neither Johnson ncr
Atlanta at Detroit the Buckeyes will be aiming for
any personal records in Columbus
NHL this Saturday. Rather, both teams
Yesterday's Results will be trying to tie the conference
New York 4, Los Angeles 2 mark for victories (7), which has
Montreal 3, Detroit 21been achieved only 6 times in 73
Toronto 5, Pittsburgh 2 years.
Chicago at Minnesota, Inc.
Oakland at St. Louis, Inc.
Today's Games join The Daily
Los Angeles at Bostont
Montreal at Philadelphia
Oakland at Pittsburgh
doesn't lose his cool in tight spots.
When assaulted with tough ques-
APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD
when they journey into Columbu
-Associated Press
D of Michigan's team will be playing in their home state Saturday
s to challenge Ohio State for thelBig Ten championship and a trip
es have been wearing white jerseys in practice this week, to become
away uniforms.
tions about his plans for Saturday to the Rose Bowl. The Wolverin
answered them with the expertise accustomed to playing in theira
of a Dean Rusk.
Elliott knows Ohio State is The greatest problem facing the
tough and will put up a valiant Wolverine offense is Jack Tatum.
struggle Saturday. But they are "The Ohio defense is strong and
young. The Buck fields an average they're quick," commended Elliott.
of eleven sophs every outing. The And as for Tatum-Ohio's great
great pressure and tension could roving linebacker, the Michigan
catch up with them. mentor craftily withheld comment.
Elliott, however is looking for This week's game plan calls for
few favors from the god of jitters. the same type of offense Michigan
"They've played eight games so has been running since the begin-
far and age has not interfered ning of the year, Ron Johnson.
yet. I don't see why it should "We'll throw at them what we
now." have been using the rest of the
year," says Bump. "If that doesn't
work we'll try something else. I,
don't think we can change over-
night and we wouldn't want to."
The OSU offense presents some:
definite problems for the Wolver-
ine's defense. In addition to the
fine passing of Rex Kern and re-
ceiving of Bruce Jankowski, Ohio
has a rough running game feat-
uring Jim Otis.
Otis, combined with tackles
Dave Foley and Rufus Mayes,
gives Ohio a definite threat on
the draw, a play Michigan has had
a great deal of trouble containing
this year.
Yesterday Michigan worked on
these problems extensively as the
second team offense ran OSU for-
mations against the first team
defense and the second unit play-
ed Ohio for Johnson, Brown and
company.
I
i
MICHIGAN STUDENTS, FACULTY and STAFF
You're invited to attend the Pre-Game Buffet before the Michigan-OSU Kickoff
Saturday, November 23
MENU
Only $1.85
. at the1
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Beverage
11 A.M.-1 :00 P.M.
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November 21, 1
968
I
I
7:30 P.M.
II TONIGHT
ON THE DIAG
* Coach Elliott and the TEAM
CC O
*Doc Losh
*Pep Band
Cheerleaders
- __U ur. EU 333l
Room 3D-Union 8 P.M.
s _
E ,
11
STOCKMAN
full and part time
MEAT APPRENTICES
full or part time
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* training on the job
* fringe benefits
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