The Michigan Daily-Saturday; November 4, 1978-P
HA WKE YE COACH COMMINGS UNDER PRESSURE
Pessimist
By RICK MADDOCK
Although the Michigan coaching staff has been trying to
stir interest in today's Michigan-Iowa football contest, the
game appears to be a blatant mismatch. The eighth-ranked
Wolverines are a 24 point favorite to beat the eighth-place
Hawkeyes.
EVEN IOWA COACH Bob Commings does not sound
overly optimistic about his team's chances today. Asked how
practice went this week, Commings responded, "Oh, we're a
helluva practice team. When we get ipto the games is when
we have problems."
The Hawkeyes do indeed have many problems, such as a
1-6 record including a current six-game losing streak, several
nagging injuries, and student displeasure with Commings.
Earlier this week, student newspaper the Daily Iowan, called
for a replacement for Commings. Iowa's only win came
against the Big Ten's other pathetic representative, North-
western, 20-3.
So what do the Hawkeyes have going for them today?
Well, for one thing, Michigan's offensive backfield won't be
at full strength. "(Harlan) Huckleby didn't do much running
this week. He won't start, but we'll take him," said Michigan.
coach Bo Schembechler. Huckleby's groin injury is still
nagging him. Roosevelt Smith will start at tailback.
The only other things that the Hawkeyes have going in
their favor is that quarterback Bill Dolan will start his
1c
Iowans brace for Michigan
second straight game, the first Iowa quarterback to reach said. "There were a couple of weeks where he was sick and
that milestone mark this year. Also, today is homecoming, he wasn't playing his best, but now he's ready to play."
which means a crowd of 50,000 plus will be at Kinnick He'd better be ready, since he's the man who much of the
Stadium. Hawkeye hopes are centered around. As the leader of the
COMMINGS DESCRIBED Dolan as an "adequate" defense, he has the clore of heading his troops against the
passer. How good a runner is he? "We don't run like you potent Michigan offense.
guys," Commings replied. "I look at them as every Michigan team that I ever coached
The offense which has only managed 66 points this year is-against," Commings said. "They exploit you in every way. I
led by split end Brad Reid, a 5-11, 170 pound junior. He has think they have the most valuable player in the league in
scored four touchdowns this year, three of which have come Rick Leach. Also, they have the fastest defense we've played
on the reverse. In Iowa's 34-7 loss to Purdue last week he ran all year. You'd like to be able to run the ball against them and,
57 yards for the touchdown. keep Leach on the bench. There's no secret about that."
But all the hoopla this week has been about Iowa's defen WOLVERINE TALES: This is the first time since 1973
se. Although the Hawkeyes are seventh in the league in total that Michigan has played in Iowa. . . Leach is two touch-
defense, eighth against the pass and fourth against the run, downs short of Tom Harmon's Michigan career touchdown
Schembechler has built them up all week long. "Their record by the run. Harmon had 33, while Leach has 31.
strength is their defense. It's as good as any in the league. Leach has 70 touchdowns by both passing and running which
They have great up front people, their four down people are is three short of the NCAA record set by Arizona State's Dan-
exceptional, their backs are active and tough. (Tom) Rusk is ny White ... The Hawkeyes have outscored their opponents
the strength of their defense," he said. in the first and fourth quarters, 26-10 and 41-14, respectively,
Rusk is a 6-2, 224-pound middle-linebacker, who vas a but are way behind in the second quarter, 74-3. Meanwhile,
unanimous all-Big Ten selection in 1977. He leads the Iowa the Wolverines have allowed just 14 points in the second half
defense with 43 solo tackles and 25 assists. Last year he . . . Former Michigan football coach Bump Elliott is in his
established a new Iowa record with 107 solo tackles. ninth year as Iowa's athletic director.. . The Wolverines hold
a 24-4-3 lead in the series . . . Commings is 0-2 against
"I THINK Tom Rusk is an awful good player," Commings Michigan, while Schembechler is 7-0 against Iowa.
THE LINEUPS
MICHIGAN
Gene Johnson (234)
Jon Geisler (254)
Greg Bartnick (241)
Steve Nauta (229)
John Arbeznik (243)
Mike Leoni (246)
Alan Mitchell (185)
Ralph Clayton (210)
Russell Davis (223)
Roosevelt Smith (200)
Rick Leach (194)
Jerry Meter (210)
Dale Keitz (233)
Mike Trgovac (227)
Curtis Greer (236)
Tom Seabron (214)
Ron Simpkins (225)
Andy Cannavino (217)
Gene Bell (198)
Mike Jolly (181)
Mark Braman (197)
Michael Harden (183)
OFFENSE
IOWA
TE
ST
RG
C
LG
QT
WR
WB
FB
TB
QB
(238) Jim Swift
(271) Jeff DeVilder
(244) Don Willey
(242) Jay Hilgenberg
(243) Lemuel Graysdi
(245) Sam Palladino
(170) Brad Reid
(187) Rod Morton
(215) Jon Lazar
(194) Kenny Burke
(200) Bill Dolan
DEFENSE
OLB
T
MG
T
OLB
ILB'
ILB
WOLF
WHB
SHB
FS
(250)4Oarrell Hobbs
(250) Mark Mahmen
(250) Doug Benschot
(227) Steve Vazquez
(215) Leven Weiss
(224) Tom Rusk
(205) Tim Gutshall
(190) Dave Becker
(184) Kevin Ellis
(180) Mario Pace
(174) Lou King
icers'
defense cracks;
Tech capitalizes, 4-2
"y LT "XAVli
The Michigan offense, which has been sputtering of late,
failed to get more than a small piece of the rock last night, as
the Michigan Tech Huskies dealt the Wolverines a 4-2 defeat
at Yost Arena.
The rock is Tech goaltender John Rockwell and for the
second weekend in a row he turned in a fine performance,
coming up with the big save when he needed it. The Huskies
recorded their first win alongside two losses in the WCHA.
"Rockwell is probably the best goaltender in this
league," commented a dejected Michigan Coach Dan
Farrell. "And when you're having offensive troubles, that
makes it extra tough to beat him."
Actually, Rockwell got a little help from his new-found
friend, the goalpost, as the Wolverines hit it three times. But
Rockwell did stop three breakaways in addition to some hard
point shots.
The Wolverines electrified the 4,510 fans early with a
picture-perfect. goal by freshman Dennis May. After
controlling a face-off in the Michigan Tech zone, Steve
Richmond fired a low, hard shot that rebounded off Rockwell
and right out to Jeff Tessier's stick. Tessier fed a pass
through the crease to May who just flipped over the sprawled
Tech goaltender.
It took one of those wide-open four-on-three situations for'
the Huskies to get even. A pair of high-sticking penalties to
the Wolverines' John Olver and the Huskies' Jeff Johnston
left both teams short one man until Brian Lundberg threw
some elbows that left Michigan short two men.
Mel Pearson lifted his own rebound over Michigan'
netminder Rudy Vavari after Tim Watters' shot from the
point was stopped, giving Pearson his first chance from right
in front of the Wolverines' crease.
In what was an unusually hard-hitting game, Michigan
Tech head coach John Maclnnes was fairly pleased with his
young team's performance. "I think we played better tonight
than against North Dakota last week," he said. "I saw some
positive things and some not so positive things. Rockwell
played a super game and I think our young defense is starting
to come around."
Penalties marred the game throughout as the referees
were busy calling thirty minutes of infractions, 18 to
Michigan Tech and 22 to the Wolverines. Several skirmishes
broke out although'no fighting penalties were called.
Mike Coffman and Rod Pacholzuk picked up double
minors for roughing and high-sticking as did the Huskies'
Rodger Moy. Neither team could capitalize on these power
play opportunities.
Both teams came out flying in the second stanza with the
Wolverines getting the best chances to score and Tech
getting the only goal. It was one of those frustrating numbers
that drive coaches to early retirement. Huskie center Rick
Boehm circled around behind the Michigan net and curled
the puck past Varvari on his short side, giving Tech a 2-1 lead
it never relinquished.
Gordie Salt scored from ten feet out at the start of the third
period and this forced the Wolverines to take more chances,
some of which paid off and others which didn't. Michigan
pulled back to within one on its only power play of the night
with captain Mark Miller scoring his fifth goal of the year on
an almost identical play to the Wolverines' first score.
Late in the game, defenseman John Blum tried to keep the
puck in the Tech zone but Dave Joelson tapped it by him and
the Huskies had a clean two on one breakwaya with Moy
scoring the final goal with a 1:05 remaining.
First Period
SCORING-1. M-May (Tessier, Richmond) 3:57,2. Tech-Pearson (Watters,
Haddad) 7:36.
PENALTIES-M-Olver (highsticking) 5:22, Tech-Johnston (highsticking)
5:22, M-Lundberg (elbowing) 6:41, M-Coffman (charging) 16:30, M-.-Coff-
man (highsticking and roughing) 18:56, Tech-Moy (highsticking and roughing)
18:56. Second Period
SCORING-3. Tech-Boehm 4:31.
PENALTIES-M-Eaves (highsticking and roughing) 5:03, Tech-Haddad
(highstickingand roughing) 5:03, M-Waymann (bench) 7:05.
Third Period
SCORING-4. Tech-Hay (Watters, Salt) 1:04, 5. M-Miller (Olver) 14:15,
6. Tech-Moy (Joelson),18:05.
PENALTIES-M-Pacholzuk (highsticking and roughing) 9:56, Tech-Wat-
ters (roughing) 9:56, M-Richmond (roughing) 9:56, Tech-Merkoskey (rough.
ing) 9:56, Tech-Salt (tripping) 13:03, Tech-Johansson (delay of game) 18:05,
Tech-Haddad (roughing) 19:30.
#4L114
Daily Photo by CYRENA CHANC
SCENES LIKE THIS WERE COMMON at Yost last night, as the Wolverines and Huskies seemed at times to be more
cerned with getting off the best punches instead of the best shots. The Huskies prevailed in the end, beating Michigan 4-2.
SCORES
ELECT AS
UNIVERSITY OF
MICHIGAN
REGENT
'.'avari(M)SAVES
Varvari (M ) ......................... . . . ...........
Rockwell (Tech).......................................
SCORING BY PERIODS
MICHIGAN...................................
MICHIGAN TECH .............................
Att-,S10
1
11
1
2
9
14
2
0
1
3
9
10
3
1
2
F
29
35
F
2
4
NBA
San Antonio 110, Boston 103
Seattle 102, New Jersey 81
Philadelphia 118, Milwaukee 103
Indiana 115, Kansas City 108
Detroit 99, Chicago 93
NHL
Atlana 2, Pittsburgh 0
a, measu,, zu.b
eddes Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
BLUE HARRIERS NEED SOME BREAKS:
Badgers favored in title chase
Subscribe to the Daily!
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By JOHN LIBBE
From all indications, it looks as if
Goliath will be fending off nine under-
dog Davids in the 64th running of the
Big Ten Cross Country Championships
today at Indiana.
-When the gun -sounds at 11:00 on
LU.'s spanking new 8,000-meter course,
defending champ Wisconsin, looks to be
a top-heavy favorite to occupy the top
spot, with Michigan, Indiana, Illinois,
and Minnesota battling for second. At
least, that's the consensus of opinion
among the contending coaches.
WOLVERINE boss Ron Warhurst put
it bluntly. "On paper, they look un-
beatable. We're underdogs, for sure."
Roy Griak, Minnesota coach added,
"Wisconsin is definitely a very good
team."
Griak's comment- may very well be
an understatement. Wisconsin lost only
one man from last year's team, which
placed sixth in the Nationals. Wiscon-
sin's top runner is Steve Lacy, who was
red-shirted last year. An indication of
how strong Wisconsin is comes from the
fact that Mark Miehe, who finished 17th
in the whole conference last year, is
only running seventh on his own team
this year.
Lacy looks like the favorite to suc-
ceed Wolverine Bill Donakowski as the
individual champion. "I would say
Lacy looks very, very good," commen-
ted Griak. "He's got the international
experience. He's no ordinary college
senior."
Wisconsin Coach Dan McClimon also
likes the chances of his star. "Steve
Lacy will win it, I think. He's in his last
semester. He's won either five or six
cross country championships so he's
been there before."
OTHERS WHO could challenge for
the top spot include Lacy's teammates
Jeff Randolph, Jim Stintzi, and Randy,
Jackson, the Wolverines' Dan
Heikkinen, Steve Plasencia of Min-
nesota, Jim Eicken of Illinois, and Joe
Paul of Iowa.
What will Michigan have to do to win?
It will definitely take a supreme effort,
according to Warhurst. "We need a
combination of two things: Our top
seven men running to their top potential
combined with Wisconsin's fourth and
fifth men running a bad race. From all
indications though, it doesn't look like
that's going to happen."
At least the course at I.U. is in
Michigan's favor. It is a rolling and
challenging course, something the Blue
harriers are quite accustomed to at the
University Golf Course. "We're much
better off on a hilly course," Warhurst
noted.
A final bright spot for the Wolverines
is their physical condition. The top
seven Blue harriers - Heikkinen,
Gerry Donakowski, Steve Elliott, Dave
Lewis, Gary Parenteau, Doug Sweazey
and Bill Weidenbach - all are healthy.
McCLIMON TRIED to play down the
role of the heavy favorite. "We have to
go out and beat them. We can get beat.
We'll just have to see what happens. A
lot of variables are involved."
All things considered, it looks like a
Wisconsin runaway. Griak was the
most optimistic of the coaches, though.
When asked if Wisconsin could be beat,
he replied, "Why not? They're a very
good team, but there are four other
very good teams running. I've seen
giants fall before. Stranger things than
Wisconsin getting beaten have hap-
pened. Minnesota shut out Michigan in
football last year, didn't they?"
That's right, coach. And it's possible
that Warhurst and his charges can pull
off a stunner along those lines. If what
Griak said could happen, anything can.
I SUNDAYS are for
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Free agents snatched up;
Tigers say 'no thanks'
NEW YORK (AP)-Pitchers Tommy John, Larry Gura, Elias Sosa and
Jim Slaton, plus infielder-outfielder Lee Lacy, were the Ihost popular
players in baseball's third re-entry draft yesterday, while the Detroit Tigers
expressed their protest by passing on each of the 19 rounds.
Surprisingly, Pete Rose, the popular third baseman of the Cincinnati
Reds, was not chosen by the maximum 13 teams in the rapid-fire draft,
which took only 1 hour, 4 minutes.
Rose, who set a National League record by hitting in 44 consecutive
N
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