COACHES RESPECT OPPOSING SQUADS: Here come the Spartans! The Michigan Daily-Saturday, October 14, 1978-Page 9 Spartans celebrateI even if they loseI j By ERNIE DUNBAR At least Michigan State coach Darryl Rogers is realistic about his team's chances for victory today in Michigan Stadium. He realizes that it's been nine logg years since a Spartan team knocked off the Wolverines, who enter the game ranked fifth with a 4- 0record. Even then it was only Bo Schembechler's second game in the Big Ten and his first taste of the intra-state rivalry. But since that 23-12 loss in the confines of Spartan Stadium, Michigan State has been outscored 202-70. That plus the fact that Rogers is winless against Schembechler has the third-year coach thinking twice about this 71st meeting between the two schools. "MICHIGAN IS an extremely fine opponent," said Rogers, whose team stands at 1-3). "If we could ever control the situation, it would be a doggone good deal. That's what it all boils down to. "We really feel that the opponent is so strong and creates so many problems that we're just hoping our young guys can battle it and stay in the football game." While Rogers spent much of his time praising Michigan, Schembechler had his usual accolades to hand his opponent. "This is a great series. Anytime these two teams meet, it is exciting. They are a strong team and they moved the ball very well against Notre Dame last week in the second half. We've played them and they've played us so many times, we know all there is to know about each other." The young guys Rogers is referring to are the 11 new starters he began the season with. They haven't exactly had a patsy schedule to break into the system with either. MICHIGAN STATE opened against Purdue who enters their game today against Ohio State at 3-1, and lost to the Boilers 21-14. They followed that with a 49= 21 victory over Syracuse, a 30-9 defeat at Southern , f. Since 1969 Mich- igan has outscored Michigan State 202- 70 in total points. we're healthy until such time as people are declared out." ONE THING that Rogers is willing to admit is that his offensive attack is led by 6-1 quarterback Ed Smith and his host of receivers. He is the leading passer in the Big Ten and ranks 16th nationally with 40 completions in 70 attempts for a 57 per cent completion rate. Smith will most likely look to split end Eugene Byrd who is the leading pass receiver in the Big Ten with 17 receptions. "Smith has excellent judgement, a quick release, and a fine touch," Schembechler said of the Spartan senior. "He's the best passer we'll face." When Smith can't move the ball on offense, the Spartans can always rely on punter Ray Stachowicz to boom the ball out of trouble. The sophomore just happens to be the best in the country at his specialty so far this season, hitting 23 punts for a 46.4 average. "The punting game is always important in a close ball game and it'll be important against Michigan State," said Schembechler. If you can force them to punt enough, then you're doing a good job. You may lose some field position in the process, but nevertheless that's one area where I don't feel we measure up to them." WOLVERINE TALES: Michigan State is one of only four Big Ten teams ever to beat a Bo Schembechler Michigan-coached team. The others are Ohio State, Minnesota, and Purdue. . .Michi- gan's rushing game is the best in the Big Ten. The Wolverines have rushed for 266.7 yards per game ... Michigan is also first in total defense, allowing 260 yards per game. Michigan State leads the Big Ten in passing offense with 203.5 yards per game. By DAVE RENBARGER Special to The Daily EAST LANSING-On the eve of the biggest football game of the season, the long-suffering Michigan State football fans were out and about their campus yesterday, proudly displaying their Green and White. Frought with a three year probation and frustrated by a nine year losing streak to Michigan teams, the MSU boosters' perserverence was indeed Spartan-like. They are taking nothing for granted concerning this after- noon's clash between the Spartans"and the Wolverines. Some of them, outlandish as it may seem even go so far as to predict an MSU victory. "State has a very deceiving record," said junior Dave Cupery, as he poured another round of beers for his Spartan comrades at the local Dooley's. "I think that this is our year." Generally speaking, the fans at the pub could be classified into three distinct groups. In addition to those Spartan die-hards like Cupery, there were plenty of more realistic folks who see a Wolverine victory in the offing. Then there were a few who didn't really care one way or the other, like senior Mark Upton. "We're going to see the game, but our main objective is to harass Michigan students," said Upton of the friendly intra-state rivalry. "If we win, then we're staying in Ann Arbor to party. If we lose, we're high-balling it out of town to get rowdy." Most of the bar patrons, who were enjoying a Friday afternoon T. G., conceded the upper hand to Michigan, but still subscibe to the did "on any given day" philosophy. Bartender Rick Fracassa put it well. "I doubt that we can do it," said Fracassa, who claimed to have 50-yard line tickets. "But if we do, it'll be the greatest thing in the world." I California and fell to Notre Dame 29-25, last week. One would think that following such a rouch non- conference schedule, the Spartans would be battered and bruised beyond repair. But according to Rogers, his troops are in surprisingly good physical condition. "We have a few nagging injuries, but nothing serious," he commented. "Right now I'm saying WISCONSIN PUTS RECORD ON THE LINE BARTENDING COURSE Learn to mix like the pros! Monday night sessions: Oct. 16, 30 Nov. 6, 13 in the U Club-6-8:30 p.m. $15 fee-sign up at Ticket Central on Monday from-UNION PROGRAMMING (UAC,) Defeat. By STAN BRADBURY As the Big Ten season moves into the first week of full conference action, Woody Hayes must be asking himself, "Can Art Schlichter find happiness (and Buckeye receivers) in big college football?" The freshman QB and the rest of the Ohio State squad (2-1-1) will be playing their most important game so far this season when they take on the Purdue Boilermakers (3-1) at Purdue's Ross- Ade Stadium. In three other Big Ten gridiron bat- ties this week, Wisconsin travels to Purdue a mustfor OSU Illinois, Minnesota plays host to Iowa, and Northwestern visits Indiana. The pressure is really on the Bucks this week to win against a tough and improving Purdue squad and that means the young Schlichter and defen- sive backfield will have to perform. Schlichter has completed 21 of 58 passes this season but he has also connected with defensive members on 12 aerials. The defensive backfield ranks last in the conference, allowing 912 yards and five touchdowns in their first four con- tests. Purdue quarterback Mark Herr- mann, an outstanding passer, hopes to have a field day in the backfield. Pur- due also has the two top rushers in the Big Ten in John Macon and Russell Pope. Wisconsin puts their unblemished 4-0 record onethe line as they take on a woeful Illinois bunch (1-3-1). Wisconsin features Big Ten total offense !leader Mike Kalasmiki and all-purpose back Ira Matthews., Illinois has gone through the season without great success, yielding 500 yar- ds total offense more than it has gained. Iowa (1-3) has gone 13 quarters without a touchdown and the only three they have scored all season were because of freak plays against North- western. Minnesota (1-3) has also been plagued with problems, including five turnovers which led to the loss last week against Oregon State. One thing is almost certain about the game, Iowa will not pass very suc- cessfully. Iowa QB Bob Cummings Jr. (son of Iowa coach Bob Cummings) hs thrown for only 195 yards all season. The Minnesota pass defense ranks first in the conference, allowing only 92.7 yards per game. Northwestern (0-4-1) and Indiana (1- 3) battle for the cellar of the Big Ten, a position the "Mildcats" of North- western are very acquainted with. Indiana has not played well since their upset of the Rose Bowl champion Washington Huskies. SHORT ON TIME . !f c but still looking for good food? BELL'S for lunch or anytime. S. STATE & PACKARD 995-0232 SUN-WED: open tit 1 am THURSDAY ti 2 FRI-SAT tit 3 am SQUAD REMAINS UNDEFEATED: Harriers crush MSU By DIANE SILVER Spe 1l to The Daily EAST LANSING -_ In their only dual meet of the season, the Michigan cross country team out-ran Michigan State 20-39 (low score wins) at MSU's Forest Akers golf course yesterday. Maintaining an unblemished season record, the Michigan harriers captured /their third consecutive victory by placing their first five finishers in the top seven positions. BOTH TEAMS ran nine men on the rolling six mile course, with the top five on each team counting towards the final score. Michigan's Dave Lewis and Dan Heikkinen, leading the pack all the way, surged ahead at the three and one-half mile mark to gain a 40-yard advantage over State freshman Martin Schulist. Maintaining the spread for the next two miles, Lewis and Heikkinen cruised in easily for a first place tie at 30:47.6. Schulist followed with a time of 30.56. Fourth, sixth and seventh places all belonged 'to the Wolverines with Doug Sweazy at 30:58, Gerry Donakowski at 31:12 and Steve Elliot at 31:21. Two more MSU freshmen captured fifth and eighth.place with Michael White at 31:10 and Mark Messler at 31:21. "MSU RAN better than I expected," said Michigan coach Ron Warhurst. "They have four good freshmen, and in a couple of years they should have a real good team." Michigan's strategy is to stay in a pack as long as possiblebut the deter- mined MSU freshmen kept them from staying together for too long. "We planned to surge ahead as a team at three miles, but we underestimated State's freshmen," said Lewis. "You've got to give them credit, they ran a good 20-39 race." The 'Michigan harriers trained right up to the time of the meet without taking much rest. "We didn't lay off at all going into the meet," said Heikkinen. "We were confident, but we weren't expecting State to be that good." "When you start doing more work, and working out harder and harder, you get a little flat," explained Warhurst. FREE DELIVERY daily after 4:30 44, THURSDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY BESTCEL AR PErliINS- PEriTIONS To Fill Two Open Student Member- ships on Board for Student Publi- cations. Petitions Available af Michigan Student Assembly Office, 3rd Floor Michigan Union. DEADLINE OCTOBER 16th 309 S. STATE ST. THE 995-1717 ATHLETES SHOP (v r'~s }:"f::::X .I-;";}?! :?":}::?7 i: i: ii} .._ . t,. >":...::.; :: ,;.; < >'ii ? !:>:J<1:>: '