Page 8-Wednesday, November 22, 1978-The Michigan Daily
Big
MIDWEST GEARS UP FOR CONTEST
Two vie or Roses
By JIM McKEEVER
Sports Editor Ohio State Lantern
COLUMBUS-It's finally arrived-the battle of all
battles, the game of all games and the rivalry of all rivalries.
The press calls it the "Run for the Roses." Woody Hayes
calls it "the greatest rivalry in all of sports."
"It" has been known to start fights and end marraiges.
IN LATE NOVEMBER in the midwest, "it" can only be
one thing-the phenomenon known as Ohio State vs.
Michigan.
Yes, phenomenon. Anyone who can call a meeting bet-
ween these two rivals mearly a "game" does not know the in-
tensity surrounding it,
To college football fans in Ohio and Michigan, as well as in
surrounding areas, there is nothing more important than
what will take place in Ohio Stadium Saturday.'
As has been the Big Ten custom, the winner earns the
right of playing in the Rose Bowl January 1, this time against
USC.
But what departed from custom in the Big Ten this year
was that the Buckeyes and the Wolverines did not enjor their
usual cakewalks over the formerly passive "Little Eight."
Ohio State, under the direction of freshman quarterback
Art Schlichter, had to shake off early season lethargy which
started with a home opening 19-0 loss to Penn State.
The dark clouds over Ohio Stadium lingered, as later
troubles with SWC teams Baylor and SMU made fans in
Buckeye-land wince.
A 27-16 LOSS at Purdue dampened the Bucks' conference
race chances, forcing them to play catch up football, a game
Woody Hayes hasn't played in years.
And it's a game Hayes isn't fond of.
After a 45-7 drubbing of Illinois two weeks ago (in the
middle of Ohio State's conference non-games) coach Hayes
said the ideal Buckeye game plan calls for a fast start and
then controlling the game the rest of the way.
That's exactly what the Buckeyes must do Saturday if
they are to win, but that philosophy hasn't worked too well of
late for the Buckeyes.
Against the Illini two weeks ago, the score was 7-7 until a
late first half drive that put the Bucks ahead to stay. Last
weekend against the Indiana Hoosiers, the Buckeyes trailed
10-7 at the half before eeking out a 21-18 win.
A key positonal match up that enters here is, of course, at'
quarterback.
ON PAPER, Heisman candidate Rick Leach has the:
distinct advantage over 'OSU's Schlichter because of ex-
perience.
Leach has started every game but one since his freshman
year and has the added experience of three bowl games un-
der his belt, not to mention his enviable NCAA record 77,
touchdowns running and passing.
Schlichter, on the other hand, has improved since the'
Penn State disaster when he threw five interceptions, but still
lacks the know-how that only comes with experience.
Add to that, the fact that the Buckeye secondary has been
likened to a sieve at points during the year, and you might see
an all out Michigan aerial attack..
HAYES IS expecting Leach to throw, and is undoubtedly
focusing much of this week's practice on this area.
So, when 12:50 p.m. Eastern time rolls around Saturday
all the pre-game anxiety, conjecture and second guessing
will start to unroll.
Who will win? That's for the players and the coaches to
work out for themselves on the gridiron.
But one thing's for certain-this game will be everything;
it's cracked up to be.
PREDICTION:
OHIO STATE 16, Michigan 14
This is part of an annual exchange between the Lantern
and The Daily during the week of the Ohio State-
Michigan game. Daily Sports Editor Bob Miller wrote
an articlefor Columbus readers which follows below.
MICHIGAN'S RICK LEACH runs out of the grasp of Buckeye linebacker Tom Cousineau in last year's 14-6 triumph over
Ohio State. Fellow linebacker Paul Rose watches. Leach is counted on to be the difference as his experience in M-OSU games
gives Michigan an advantage over OSU and inexperienced Art Schlichter.
1 1
1 1
Cottage INN1
p (good only with this coupon)
1 ,
Carry-Out and FREE Delivery1
FREE-2 LARGE PEPSIS
1 With any medium or large pizza 1
GOOD MON. THRU THURS.1
(DON'T FORGET to ask for your free Pepsis WHEN you place your order)1
" 12", 14", 16" PIZZAS-10 items including1
1 Zucchini & Eggplant. .
' COTTAGE INN'S Very Own SICILIAN DEEP DISH PIZZA1
S±* SANDWICHES, SUBS, PIZZA SUB, COTTAGE INN DELUXE I
" Expertly prepared ITALIAN DINNERS: Spaghetti, Lasagna,1
1 Cannelloni, Manicotti, Combination1
1 546 PACKARD at HILL-665-6005 I
MONDA Y-SATURDA Y 4-2 am; SUNDAY 4-1 am
-----i ------ -- - - --s --- -
LEACH'S EXPERIENCE KEY
Shaky Buckeye defense on spot
By BOB MILLER
Daily Sports Editor,
You can take the Big Eight, the
Pac-10, the Southwest and West con-
ferences and you can shove 'em in the
background, cause .baby, when
Michigan plays Ohio State, all eyes are
on the midwest.
This may not be the typical confron-
tation for the Big Ten title, but then
again, so what. There is enough going
for both teams to keep the anticipated
crowd of 88,000 more than slightly in-
terested.
It doesn't make a bit of difference
that the Buckeyes have slipped up on a
couple of occasions with a tie thrown in
for good measure. Michigan can't boast
an unblemished record either, as
Michigan State ended a nine-year
drought against the Wolverines with a
convincing 24-15 victory last October 14.
That might well be remembered as
"David and Goliath Day" as Purdue
dealt the Bucks their only conference
setback to date.
Another facet of the-excuse
me-THE game will be the defense of
both squads. Michigan's coach Bo
Schembechler has been saying for the
past two weeks that defense will be the
telltale factor in determing which team
goes west to the Rose Bowl.
The Wolverine defense squeezed the
life out of Purdue's high-powered offen-
se, which was minus Mark Herrmann.
They limited the Boilermakers to 123
total yards. Michigan tailback Russell
Davis accounted for more yards
rushing than Purdue could manage
both in the air and on the ground.
On the other hand, if there is one
vulnerable piece in the Buckeye
machine, it would have to be their
defense. Ohio State has given up 185
points in 10 games, an unheard of total
for a team coached by Woody Hayes.
Defense was supposed to be the main
reason that the sportswriters and
broadcasters covering the Big Ten gave
,OSU the slight nod over Michigan as
their choice to win the championship
this year.
This could be the highest scoring UM-
OSU game since 1968, because of
something called the forward pass.
Still, Leach hasn't passed more this
season than last, nor has he completed
more, nor gained more yards.
But the big difference is Leach is just
as much a threat to throw on any down
at any time as he is to run. This has to
be a primary concern for the Buckeye
defenders. If they stop Leach's passing,
then (as Michigan has so painfully
learned) running the ball will not be
sufficient in beating Ohio State.
By comparison, Schlichter has also
tossed the pigskin around, but he has
accumulated an astronomical 19 inter-
ceptions and countered with just four
touchdown strikes this year.
In all honesty Michigan appears to
have the decided edge in this area, so
much as that for the third time in four
years, the visiting team may come
away with victory.
Yet, anyone who has followed the
rivalry the past few years knows full.
well the team which dominates the
statistics doesn't automatically, come
out ahead.
Remeber last year, 0 ye faithful
Scarlet and Gray rooters? Or how about
1972-74-75 when the Maize and Blue had
their way on the field, but not on the
scoreboard.
In any event, all systems.*fe go for
Saturday, go for broke, go for the Roses
and (pardon my lack of objectivity) Go
Blue.
PREDICTION:
MICHIGAN 24, Ohio State 13.
For predictions on the big game
from The Daily's senior football
writers, seepage eight.
see
WOODY ABUSE LIN'
MARKERS.
SEE WOODY THRC
PUNCHES.
see
4E
OU
''::.ww/."i"j:.llatt;},'iaa:i:'r: +:$Sii :$;[f f;':jy(.
a
r'
,..
Wolverine feast:
turkey with trimming.
WOODY
CAP.
THROW H
seei
. i
V 0
ix :-
:. :.
......iii:.'
By BOB MILLER
Keeping in the spirit of the season,
Michigan would like to do a lot of
feasting this holiday weekend-first on
Thanksgiving turkey, then on the Ohio
State Buckeyes.
Although it didn't appear to be
headed that way, the game on Saturday
will mark the 10th time in the past 11
years that the winner of the showdown
will represent the Big Ten in the Rose
Bowl. It took a tie between Purdue and
Wisconsin (of all things) to give the
Bucks any hope.
SINCE MICHIGAN beat the Boiler-
makers and Michigan State is on
probation,.in other words after clearing
away all the fat, the meat of the matter
is that both Michigan and Ohio State
stand at 6-1 in the league, tied for first.
Defense was the key to the
Wolverines win over Purdue to set up
the classic battle, and defense is what
Bo Schembechler is convinced will
mark the difference between a third
trip west in as many years or a berth in
the Gator Bowl.
THF, WOLVERINES are fairly
healthy headed into the season
finale. Tom Seabron and John Arbez-
nik, who were felled with ankle injuries
and Bill Dufek were the extend of
Michigan's casualties, but Bo is con-
fident they will be ready when the game
begins.
"We'll all be ready," he said.
"Seabron will play. He did not practice
(yesterday) but he will (today). He had
a slight sprain,'nothing serious.
"The offensive line is alright. Arbez-
nik is back in uniform. We will make a
decision between (Bubba) Paris or
Dufek at starting tackle," Bo said.
LINING UP opposite Rick Leach and
Company will be Tom Cousineau,
perhaps the best Buckeye defenseman.
It will be his duty along with veterans
Byron Cato and Kelton Dansler to th-
wart the Michigan option offense.
WOODY HUMBLED ..
ON BIG SCREEN TV
SATURDAY, 12 TO
4 P.M., MICHIGAN
-VS- OHIO STATE.
;. .AND TACKLE
YOURSELF SOME
CHEER & PIZZA!).
Have a
SUB-perb
DAY,
'For PIZZAS Sake!