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!