Page 10-Saturday, October 28, 1978-The Michigan Daily
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By STAN BRADBURY
When Michigan State takes on
Wisconsin today both teams will be in a
very unfamiliar position, fighting to
keep their Big Ten Championship hopes
alive. A victory of the homestanding
Spartans (3-3) would make their title
chances the brightest they've had since
1966.
In other conference action North-
western travels to Ohio State, Iowa
hosts Purdue, and Illinois plays at In-
diana.
After Wisconsin (4-1-1), Michigan
State plays four teams with a combined
record of 5-18-3. The Badgers-who,
like Michigan State have just one con-
ference loss, have a slightly tougher
schedule remaining which includes
Ohio State.
The Spartan offense is led by Ed
Smith at quarterback. Smith set a Big
ten passing, record last week with 369
aerial yards and seems to be improving
with each game. His favorite target is
shifty Kirk Gibson, who is averaging
26.9 yards per catch.
:-State coach Darryl Rogers said of
Wisconsin, "They have to be considered
a good team. They have some class
players and postseason bowl hopes
going for them."
Wisconsin has a strong offensive pun-
ch, featuring all-purpose back Ira Mat-
thews, quarterback Mike Kalasmiki,
and split end Dave Charles.
The Northwestern Wildcats (0-6-1)
:-battle with Ohio State (3-2-1), features
IJie Big Ten's best and worst pass
defenses. But this time it's the Wildcats
who have the better statistics.

The reason? When it's so easy to run
against Northwestern, why bother to
pass?
Freshman Art Schlichter leads Ohio
State's second ranked offense with his
impressive first-year quarterback
statistics. Schlicliter has run and
passed for over 1000 yards already this
season.
The Buckeyes will also have a
healthy Ron Springs back, joining
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Paul Campbell in the offensive back-
field.
The Wildcats are experiencing a
tough season under new head coach
Rick Venturi. Northwestern opened the
season with a tie against Illinois and
has lost six games since.
Venturi understated, "Taking our
young team into Columbus will be a
great challenge for all of us. Ohio State
is a team that is improving at a rapid
rate." '
Quarterback Kevin Strasser of the
Wildcats has been doing a lot of passing
so far this season. The junior has com-

pleted 96 of 199 passes for 1076 yards in
running the Wildcats' wide-open offen-
se. Northwestern's leading ground
gainer, Dave Mishler, is out of action
with a knee injury.
The Purdue Boilermakers put their
undefeated conference record on the
line when they play the Iowa
Hawkeyes.
Purdue's defense has turned into one
of the Big Ten's toughest, leading the
conference in three of four defensive
categories. The Boilermakers lead the
league in rushing defense, total defen-
se, and scoring defense.
Purdue also has Big Ten rushing
leader John Macon, averaging 95.5
yards per game. Passing-ace Mark
Herrmann will line up at the quarter-
back slot for the Boilermakers fourth
conference match.
Purdue must garner a victory to
remain alone at the top of the Big Ten
scramble for first place.
"Purdue is the most improved team
in the Big Ten this season," said Iowa
coach Bob Commings. "They have
played consistently well, but we can
beat them if we put heat on them defen-
sively and avoid the collossal offensive
blunders."
Jon Lazar leads the Hawkeyes in both
rushing and pass receiving from his
fullback position. The Iowa quarter-
back position is still undecided because
of injuries and inconsistencies of the
four who have held that spot.
In a game involving two Big Ten
teams but not the conference title, In-

diana (2-4) plays host to Illinois (1-4-2).
Illinois has been playing improved
football in the past two games, tying
Wisconsin and giving Purdue a rough
game. On the other hand, the play of
Indiana appears to have slacked off
since their upset victory of the
Washington Huskies early in the
season.


Big Ten
Standings
Conference

Purdue ..........
MICHIGAN ..
Ohio State.....
Michigan State..
Minnesota.....
Wisconsin......
Indiana.........
Iowa ............
Illinois ..........
Northwestern ..'

W
3
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
0
0

L
0
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
4

T
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
3
1

W
5
5
3
3
3
4
2
1
1
0

All
L
1
1
2
3
3
1
4
5
4
6

T
0
0
1
0
0
1
0 .
0
2
1

NEW YORK (AP)-Dick Vitale, coach of the Detroit Pistons, was
suspended for one game by National Basketball Commissioner Larry
O'Brien yesterday for "unsportsmanlike actions," after his ejection from a
Detroit-Cleveland game earlier in the week.
Vitale, the Pistons' rookie-coach, was thrown out of Wednesday's game
against the Cavaliers when he received his second technical foul with 1:25
remaining in the third quarter. According to O'Brien, Vitale charged referee
John Borgia and had to be restrained by another official, Tom Nunez. Even-
tually, security personnel had to intervene and escort Vitale to the Pistons'
dressing room.
"This type of behavior on the part of an NBA head coach is intolerable,"
said O'Brien, who ordered Vitale to sit out Detroit's home game last night
against Kansas City.
"After careful evaluation of my actions as reported to me by members
of the Detroit Pistons organization, the media, fans and the people I love the
most, my family, I have found I responded in an immature manner and I'm
very sorry for such a spectacle," said Vitale.
Villanova striders NCAA champs
NEW YORK (AP)-Sydney Maree, a sophomore from South Africa,
set a meet record with a 5-mile time of 24:04 yesterday, leading Villanova to
the team title in the championship division of the 70th annual NCAA Cross
Country Championship.
The 21-year-old Maree, 10th last year, scored a 90-yard victory over
fellow Wildcat Amos Kip Korir of Kenya to easily better the old mark of
24:17 established by John Flora of Northeastern last year.
Villanova, winning the team title for the first time since 1971, had 36
points. Fairleigh Dickinson finished second to Jim Elliot's team with 136
points.
Massachusetts, the defending champion, wound up third with 147,
followed by Rutgers with 156 and Cornell with 160.
Women netters top profs
The Michigan women's tennis team took a strong swipe at academia
Thursday, avenging a 1975 whitewashing by defeating a team of Michigan
professors 6-3.
Winners in both doubles and singles for the Blue netters were Sue Weber,
Kathy Krickstein and Whit Stodghill.
In addition, coach Theo Shepard's charges will play an exhibition tour-
nament with Michigan State, Indiana and Purdue next weekend.
-DAILY SPORTS

Minnesota at MICHIGAN.
Wisconsin at Michigan State
Northwestern at Ohio State
Purdue at Iowa
Illinois at Indiana
Next Saturday's games
MICHIGAN at Iowa
Michigan State at Illinois
Indiana at Minnesota
Ohio State at Wisconsin
Northwestern at Purdue