Friday, November 22, 1968 THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Nine Friday, November 22, 1968 THE MICHIGAN DAILY , _ _ apoplexy doug helterj Return of the Native: Smith and Gehrig, Elliott and Johnson In scanning the nation for possible nominees for Coach of the Year, there is only one name that immediately springs to mind: Chalmers W. Elliott. Elliott-Coach of the Year? Really, he deserves even more than that. He ought to be the unanimous choice for the Mayo Smith award. You all remember Mayo. He was the fellow they almost rail- roaded out of Detroitin 1967. Smith, it seems, didn't make one correct strategical move during that whole fateful year. Not only that, but he managed to burn out four different relief pitchers during the course of the pennant race, leaving himself with nothing as the Tigers blew the pennant on the last day of the season. Well, in 1968 things were different. Smith used his relief pitch- ers perfectly, even pulling people like Don McMahon and John Wyatt out of obscurity as he won the pennant going away. And in the World Series, Smith the genius moved Mickey Stanley to shortstop, thus allowing Al Kaline to play right field. He also set up 9 his pitching rotation so that Mickey Lolich would pitch the second game, instead of the third; thus giving him enough rest so that he eventually could become the hero of the series. For Elliott, the situation has worked out much the same way. His teams of recent years succeeded in dropping all sorts of games no one expected them to lose-due to some of the most unlikely incidents. At least it was interesting, but that was all. This year Elliott has made as great a turnabout as Smith. His teams have quit making mistakes. No longer does an error cost them an important touchdown. Instead, his team is forcing the opposition into errors and taking advantage of their mistakes. Michigan's team no longer plays sloppy football. And strategy decisions don't hurt the team, only help it. In this manner Elliott has taken his team further past P original expectations than anyone else in the country has done this year. In fact, the only thing about Michigan that hasn't changed is that the Wolverines still haven't upset anybody since-the last Rose Bowl year. One reason is that in 1968, Michigan has been favored in every game it has played. But the Wolverines won't be favored Saturday. If Bump Elliott is Michigan's Mayo Smith, then Ron Johnson is the Wolverine's Lou Gehrig. Gehrig was the Hall of Fame first baseman for the Yankees who hit more grand slam home runs in a lifetime, and played in more consecutive games with- out a day off, than anyone ever has. And these two major re- cords of his will probably never be broken. But Gehrig never got the attention or publicity he deserved. The problem was he played most of his career in the shadow of Babe Ruth, who he followed in the batting order. And when Ruth left New York, Joe Dimaggio stepped in to fill his shoes so that Gehrig never even got a chance to be the number one star on the team. Things were always working wrong for Gehrig's public relations. The most outstanding example was when he hit four home runs in a single game, a feat few players have ever accomplished. But that day the great John McGraw, manager of the New York Giants, chose to retire, and the newspapers put Gehrig's performance next to the want-ads. The 'comparison between Gehrig and Johnson is obvious. Johnson is one of the greatest runners of all time in the same year O J. Simpson and Leroy Keyes are playing football. John- son may now have exceeded Keyes in the All-America balloting, but Simpson, who is Southern California's offense, gains more yardage mostly because he carries the ball more than Johnson. Simpson also plays for the country's number one team, which doesn't hurt his publicity. Even when Johnson does do something fantastic, like Gehrig, he doesn't get the attention he deserves. The most recent example is of course, this week, when the Associated Press failed to name him the Back of the Week even though last Saturday he had what was the greatest day any football player ever had. Oh, well. As long as Johnson's as good in football as Gehrig was in baseball, who cares about publicity, anyway? CORRECTION Despite what appeared in this column on Sunday, Michigan tennis coach Bill Murphy was definitely not the person who told Wolverine linebacker Cecil Pryor "That's the spirit, Cecil. Keep it up down in Columbus" after Pryor was ejected from Saturday's game. As Murphy said, "I wasn't even there.' "I don't even know where the locker room is." After Murphy contacted the Daily about the misquote, Pryor was asked who made the statement. He said it was just an alumnus who followed the team. By CINDY LEATHERMAN sparing anything." the greatest captain I've ever Approximately one-third of the Healy doesn't feel there's any worked with at any time. He Michigan football team is from one aspect or particular player could really exploit his position, Ohio. Eat your heart out, Woody. the Wolverines should be watch- but he doesn't, and people cer- Brian Healy, a junior pre-med ing for. He explained, "I can't see tainly respect him for it. He's not student and defensive halfback, is any weak links in their team- a leader by words, he's a leader from Sandusky, Ohio. He has Michigan and Ohio State are by action. After those games, I quite a few friends on the Buck- ' much the same. sometimes wonder how he gets eye squad, but this isn't the only "Ohio's always had good tack- off the field." reason Healy's anxious to see les and fullbacks and this has Healy also gives a lot of credit Columbus. "I have a lot of per- made them the good team that l to the sophomores. "They've been sonal reasons for wanting to beat they are," he continues. "But the I a second surprise. Henry Hill, Dan Ohio-a lot of my friends are on difference this year is their fine' Parks, Dierdorf, Betts, Stroba -. - the team, the fact that I'm from quarterback, Rex Kern." all those guys deserve a lot of Ohio, and Woody. I had some bad He concluded, "They do things I credit. They've done a fine job." recruiting experiences with Hayes, well, they're a powerful ball team; I LITTLE THINGS and I'd like to show him I didn't they've got tremendous strength, At the beginning 'of the year, make a mistake choosing Mich- balance, and especially speed. I Bump told us that they were going igan." think this is their most outstand- to do everything possible to make Healy's biggest mistake this ing attribute. In my opinion, us forget about the little things year was a shoulder injury he suf- they're the first team we'll be and just concentrate on playing fered in the homecoming match playing this year that could touch football and winning. We'll, we with Minnesota, and the subse- our team speed." have a carpeted locker room, fine quent three weeks he spent re- Obviously, Healy is as aware as equipment, and a lot of those cruperating on the sidelines. anyone of OSU's strengths. But little things you really do appre-f HEALY HEALED he is even more sure of Michi- ciate. And we really feel like a Last Week against Wisconsin, he gan's. A member of last year's 'class' team." had a chance to see how well he nondescript squad, Healy has had And the general attitude has had healed. Defensive coach Fonde a chance to observe the amazing changed. No one likes a loser; and commented, "For the number of metamorphasis that has occurred certainly no one is going to sup- plays he was in, Healy played in the past year. I port one. Healy puts it, "At the very well. Up until his injury he "The big difference this year is beginning of the year, if I men- was a very consistent player. that there's no dead weight - tioned the Rose Bowl, people just Brian's played really well in every there are no uninterested people laughed. The whole situation was game; he's an excellent competi- on the team this year. They're epitomized by the predictions in tar." all out there to play football- Playboy," Healy himself feels much better. not just for the letter or the pres- (Eat your heart out, Anson "This is the first week I've really tige, but to play the game and Mount.) felt good about it," he comment- win." Anyway, everyone knows how ed. "I was pretty touchy with But the first big reason for the the year went .. . and Michigan Wisconsin, but I've been working change this year is the captain," has only one game left. Only. hard this week-I 'haven't been he explained. "Ron (Johnson) is What does Healy think about the 'WE'RE NO. 1' Diag rocked by chants of grid fanatics Healy Ach? "I don't look for it to be matter of breaks, although it xd be. I read an article that : Michigan would be a worthy Ponent in the Rose Bowl, but io State would be better. Well, 11 see Saturday-the best team J be the winner. ILY ONE 'here's a feeling* of finality >ut this Saturday as well "You y play in a game like this once your life," Healy observed. "I'll )bably never be in the same sit- ion again. Witli such an opportunity and remendous responsibility rest- on his and every other team mber's shoulders, is Healy ner- is? "It's funny, but I've had feeling all week that no. one's htening up for this game. We'll sky-high on Saturday, but re not building OSU up to be >erhuman-because t h e y 'r e t" t's a healthy attitude, because chigan isn't either-they're just ter. "I've never had the feel- that we were an overpower- ball club. We're a good team h great potential and we play rdnose football-we just do ngs well ... and that's why we Sealy concluded with another, re personal reason for the Wol- Ine's success. "We want to win here's no negative element. We ve a fine captain, a fine team . and we just want to win." don't we all? GO BLUE. aims at OSU BRIAN HEALY, Michigan defensive back, makes a bone- crushing tackle in stopping a California receiver in the first game. Healy, a native Ohioan with many friends on the OSU team, has a personal stake in the outcome of Saturday's game, - - By MAZEN BLUE Athletic Supporter! A mass of partisan Michigan fans teemed to the Diag last night to voice their praise and support for the legendary Wolverine grid squad, which faces the heavies from Ohio State in tomorrow's showdown for the Western Con- ference championship., The Wolverine worshippers thrill- ed to laudatory speeches by Wally Weber, Doc Losh, captain Ron Johnson and head coach Bump Elliott during the tumultuous ral- ly, often taking up chants of "ROSE BOWL" and "WE'RE NUMBER ONE," when speakers' hesitated. The pep band got the program under way with rousing march music and a prelude version of The Victors, and injured cheer- leader Stan Goldblatt then de- lighted the crowd by reciting a trio of Michigan yells from mem- ory. Inspired by Goldblatt's per- formance, the assemblage took up the yells and within minutes the very foundation of the new library addition was shuddering from the sound. Weber followed Goldblatt to the microphone, and summoned every ounce of his oratorical talent in praising the title-bound Wolver- ines. The golden-throated defender of Michigan's hallowed traditions re- minded the gathering that "mere words will not be enough," en- I 1 E 1 treating all supporters to give ferringsto his football squad. The their all on Satur'day. coach also expressed sorrow for Weber predicted that great the fans who left last week's rout deeds would be done in the OSU of Wisconsin at half time and clash, adding that "our guys from missed Johnson's record-smashing Ohio aren't going to Columbus to second-half performance. be humiliated." Johnson followed by calling out The cheers were still echoing off the entire Wolverine team and in- the ilet fcad ofthegenraltroducing its members to the au- the silent facade of the general dience. He spoke only briefly, but library when super-hero Ron poie h as I ilb Johnson escorted Michigan's be- promisedll of age fans: "It will be loved Doc Losh to the microphone, o g Tl. . .., ..17.E .... L... .. . _ I --_ The Grape Boyce te +smittee Presents the Classic film on Migrant Labor Edward R. Murrow's "HARVEST OF SHAME" 1e TONIGHT-8:00-UGLI Tne Doc rollectup her sleeves in the traditional manner" and got into her talk. "Go Blue!" she yelled, then carved herself another niche in Michigan tradition by shouting, "Sock it to 'em, Wolverines!" Weber returned to introduce coach Elliott, recalling the 49-0 whipping Elliott and his team-I mates handed Southern Cal in the1 1948 Rose Bowl. Elliott told the gathering that he was "extremely proud to be' associated with these men," re- EROS FESTIVAL NO. 1 UNDERGROUND at the Vth Forum THUR. thru SUN.-11:00 P.M. NEXT WEEK ANDY WARHOL'S "NUDE RESTAURANT" Topless anti-war film I __ Center for South and Southeast Asian Studies PRESENTS T.R.V. 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