THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, x:965 THE MICHIGAN DAILY 1 THURSDA,SEPTEBER.2..196 THE MCHIGA DAIL rat1 F Hard Work Gets Gabler Coveted Job GE SEVEN By CHUCK VETZNER ' Wallace F. Gabler III is a1 Michigan quarterback who came from nowhere unless you consider Royal Oak, Mich., the New Mexico Military Institute, and the depths of the Michigan bench somewhere. And most people don't. He ' is the unsung hero, the proof that Horatio Alger still lives, and the man without a full schol-' arship in the age of the big give away. Mr. Gabler III likes being called Wally which is most understand. able. Wally also likes to play foot- ball, a most understandable at- titude- for a Michigan football player. Where's the Action? The catch is that until this year he didn't play much football, at least not in the games when it counted. Last season, he was in the Rose Bowl for five minutes and tacked on another five dur- ing the regular games. This inactive period of Gabler's career ended abruptly last Satur- day when he ran for a 31-yard touchdown on his first play of the season. Such a debut would make one 4 think that Gabler is headed in the direction of stardom. In fact, he is still in search of startingdom. Dick Vidmer -and Gabler are pres- ently alternating at the quarter- back spot .and neither has been able to outshine the other. Rating Improves But Gabler is certainly in a better position than he was last year. "There's a twoword reason why I didn't play 'last season, Gabler explains. "Bob Timberlake. He was just tremendous, and no quarterback could hope to beat him out." This autumn, however, Timber- lake was no more, and the Wol- verines were searching fo a suc- cessor. During the drills of last spring head coach Bump Elliott rated Vidmer his top quarterback with Gabler just a shade behind. ~ Passed By 4 Nevertheless, the football ex- perts decided to ignore Gabler. Preseason predictions praised Vid- mer and relegated Gabler to the list of other possibilities. Actually the" prognosticators could not be blmed. Vidmer had not ooked particularly effective, and Mlliott claimed he was off in timing after sitting out the season with a broken leg. If a rusty Vid- mer a better than a healthy Gabl4., the future starter appear- ed ob7 ious. Still the Underdog When fall rolled around Vidmer was back in shape, but in Elliott's words, he remained "just a bit better than Gabler." The days went by and Gabler was a degree behind, almost as good, just about equal, and thei dead even., "That was my biggest thrill in football when I made the Blue (first) team," says Gabler. So how did he do it? Well, Gabler may have been physically sound last spring, but he was just starting to learn Mich- igan's style of play complete with roll out options. Previously, Gabler' operated a pro type offense of drop back passing with running taken care of by the other backs. After graduating from high school in Royal Oak, Gabler ap- plied and was admitted to Michi- gan, the school he wanted to go to since he was a youngster. Much to his dismay he did not get an athletic scholarship, but he did plan to go out for the team. Then during the summer, when his name tag was just about up on his future quad room, the Naval Academy took a liking to him and urged him to become a midship- man instead of a Wolverine. The idea sounded fine to Gab- ler, and he dropped anchor at a New Mexico junior college for his freshman year with the thought of going to Annapolis the follow- ing season. This was a common route for Annapolis men. In fact another fellow named Roger Staubach had been at the junior college two years before. But Gabler did Jolly Roger one better. Actually three better. Gab- ler broke three of Staubach's rec- ords at the school (most touch- down passes in one game, and best completion percentage) and was a junir college All-American. Navy was hopping up and down in anxiety, but he never arrived. Gabler was no longer so fond of military life and decided he would rather teach or become a lawyer. He returned to Michigan even though he lost a year of eligibility. During the first year back in Ann Arbor, Gabler worked with the freshman team and paid his own way. I As a junior, he warmed the bench with only a tuition scholar- ship. He is getting the same schol- arship deal presently, which makes him one of the best bargains in Michigan football history. Slow Improvement Between this year and last, Gabler improved, but not with any dramatic flair. There was no time when he saw his kid brother pitch little league and suddenly realize he was throwing the football wrong, and there was no gimmick he picked up from watching films of Johnny Unitas. As Elliott simply explains, "Wally just did it with hard work." In the spring, offensive coach Hank Fonde helped him; in early summer, he went to. summer school andworked with Bob Tim- berlake; at the end of June,' he went home and ,threw to high school and college teammate Craig Kirby and Wolverine and pro star Ron Kramer. Question of Experience "It was all a question of ex- perience," Gabler explains. "I had to learn the patterns and the backfield action. I really didn't make any progress until the spring." Of course Gabler tried extra hard because this was his last chance. "I'm a senior and I know this is the last year I'll ever play football. If I don't make it now, I'll never make it. "When Vid (Vidmer) got all the publicity, it didn't bother me; it only made me want to succeed even more." In the current situation with both quarterbacks ,equal, Gabler and Vidmer are friendly rivals. Although Gabler is a strong passer, his edge on Vidmer is running ability. Not Fast, But Fakey Gabler readily admits he is no speedster,, and Elliott calls him deceptively fast at best. But he manages to avoid tacklers the way the Viet Cong avoid marines. Wally describes his opening day touchdown run as a piece of good fortune. "I got a couple of good blocks, managed to evade one man, and then staggered into the end zone." Actually his footwork is fancier than the description, and it is a talent that he has acquired since arriving at Michigan. Understand- ably, he says that he is beginning to like the roll out options as much as drop back passing. Naturally, Gabler would like to start, but he says not knowing until just before the game causes no special problems. "Of course, it would be nice to start, but winning is the main thing. At least this year I know I'll be able to play." II VIETNAM RALLY Speakers: CARL OGLESBY President of Students For A Democratic Society And Others Friday-Noon--On the Diag FRENT YOUR TV From NEJAC TV RENTALS DEPEN DABLE IMPORT SERVICE We have the MECHANICS and the PARTS. NEW CAR DEALER Triumph-Volvo- Fiat--Checker We lease cars as low as $4.50 per 24-hr. day. HERB ESTES AUTOMART, Ann Arbor Bookstores give faculty members a 10% discount. FR Rent this 19" All Channel ZENITH Portable for WHY NOT STUDENTS? S.G.C. Committee on the University Bookstore only $10 per month REE SERVICE & DELIVERY I NEJAC TV RENTALS. CALL 662-5671 TV Set on Display at Follett's Bookstore 319 W. Huron 665-3688 F 11 I -Daily-Jim Lines WALLY GABLER PICKS UP extra yardage in a recent Wolverine scrimmage. Gabler gained 44 yards in eight attempts in last week's victory over North Carolina, including a 33-yard touch- down run on his first play from scrimmage. He also completed, two of three passes for 35 yards. r- r It VARSITY At the head of the class in comfort WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ 1000 to 2000 WORDS A MINUTE WITH FULL COMPREHENSION AND RETENTION EASE PRESSURE-SAVE TIME-IMPROVE CONCENTRATION You can read 150-200 pages an hour using the ACCELERATED READING method. You'll learn to comprehend at speeds of 1,000 2,000 words a minute. And retention is excellent. This is NOT a skimming method; you definitely read every Word. You can apply the ACCELERATED READING method to textbooks and factual material as well as to literature and fiction. The :author's style is not lost when you read at these speeds. In fact, your accuracy and enjoyment in reading will be increased. Consider what this new reading ability will enable you to accomplish-in your required reading and in the additional reading you will want to, do. No machines, projectors, Or apparatus are used in learning the ACCELERATED READING method. In this, way the reader aoids developing any dependence upon external equipment in reading. An afternoon class and an evening class in ACCELERATED READING will be taught each TUESDAY adjacent to the U. of M. Campus beginning on October 12. Be our guest at a 30-minute public demonstration of the ACCELERATED READING method, and see it applied by U of M students who have recently completed the course. I r 7X35 CF COATED EINOCULAR Complete with Genuine Leather Case 11 I I I l S C martin OF CALIFORNIA Z' >,. f ,