The Michigan Daily-Tuesday, November 28, 1978-Page 11
Third time the
charm? Blue
hopes so
(Continued from Page 1):
they did two years ago," Schembechler
said. "We want to do a better job
offensively, so we won't have to play so
:much defense. Offensively, I think we
:can adapt to whatever they take away
,from us."
Adapting is what the Wolverines have
proved that they can do successfully.
:Against the Buckeyes, Michigan did not
run that well in the early going. Of the
:Wolverines first 11 plays, 10 were
-designed running plays and the other a
:sack, for a net yardage of 33. With 13 of
those yards coming on a Butch Woolfolk
run it was obvious that for the most
part, Michigan was stalling on the
ground.
MEANWHILE Ohio State was
moving on the ground. The Bucks
weren't scoring, but they were moving.
They finally managed to put three
Michigan eyes Roses after belting Bucks
points on the board after 13 plays in
Michigan territory.
With a three point deficit and only
1:08 remaining in the first quarter,
Michigan tried its last run before
adapting. Woolfolk went nowhere on a
pitch to the left, so the time had come to
see what was available in the air.
"We wanted to give them the illusion
that this was going to be the same old
Michigan-Ohio State game,"
Schembechler said of his all-run
strategy.
WITH that illusion fully established,
Rich Leach proved once and for all that
he can pass. He proved it three times in
a row, good for 70 yards and six points.
Doug Marsh was the first recipient with
a 26-yard gain. Woolfolk helped his
teammate out on the next play with a
one-handed off-balance grab,
advancing 14 yards.
The go-ahead hurl ended up in Rodney
Feaster's arms on a slant-in pattern.
The ball whizzed by Buckeye defensive
back Mike Guess as Feaster caught it
at the five and ran in for the score.
"The first touchdown was an
automatic," Schembechler said.
Leach added, "They stacked their
defense. Feaster was the primary
receiver."
Big Ten Standings
The offense almost managed another
score before the end of the first half
through an automatic, too. With the ball
on the Buckeye 14 on a third and one
situation, Leach called for a pass to
Gene Johnson cutting across. Johnson
hauled it in, but safety Vince Skillings
jarred the ball loose and fell on it in the
end zone.
"JOHNSON'S play was not crucial. If
we had gotten the touchdown there it
would have helped," Schembechler
said.
At halftime, Michigan's ability to
adjust was shown in its offensive
statistics. The Wolverines had 118
yards by air and 80 by ground. The
Wolverines split their first downs, five
each way.
The Buckeyes, on the other hand,
showed a one-sided offense with all ten
of their first downs by rushing and a
total of 134 yards on the ground.-Three
times in the first half they were inside
the Michigan 25-yard line. Twice they
attempted field goals, but only
succeeded on one.
The last scoring opportunity was with
3:20 left in the half, and Schlichter
fading back for a pass from the
Michigan 24 on a third-and-nine
situation. Outside linebacker Jerry
Meter blind-sided the quarterback,
jarring the ball loose. Inside linebacker
Andy Cannavino fell on the ball at
Michigan's 32-yard line.
"WHAT HAPPENED was that it was
a blitz," Meter said. "We sent more
people in than they could handle. When
I came around the corner and saw I had
a shot at him I went all out."
"In the first half we played them in
absolutely even terms. We couldn't get
a touchdown. That was the deciding
point," Hayes said. ,
The ability to adjust defensively was,
proved by Michigan in the second half,
as the Wolverine defense only allowed
one first down. That one came by air,
Schlichter to Rod Gerald for 25 yards,
with less than four minutes left in the
game.
The adjusting took awhile, but the
wait was worthwhile for Michigan. "In
the first half they were doing a good job
executing," Meter said. "We were
working a few defenses to see what it
would take to stop their attack. Finally
our coaches, and I give (defensive)
coach McCartney and the rest all the
credit in the world, worked out the
defenses that stopped the attack," the
defensive captain added.
The main reason for the offense's
problems was that early in the second
quarter Leach pulled a hamstring in his
4 Pressing the Issue
808 MILLER
Underdog Blue . .
... Bo likes role
W HO WOULD HAVE believed it?
For one of the few times since Bo Schembechler became coach
at Michigan, his team would be an underdog in a game ... and Bo was happy
about it. He wasn't exactly doing cartwheels, but he didn't look like a man
whose team was expected to lose.
Actually, there is more to the story than that. Last Saturday Bo's boys
bat Woody without giving up a touchdown and earned the right to go to the
Rose Bowl for the third straight year.
"We're happy we won. We can attribute this victory to the tenacity of the
Michigan team. Because of the problems we had preparing for and playing
this game, I think this win means as much to me as any," beamed Bo.
So, the Wolverines will head west to Pasadena for the third straight year
and the fifth time in the 10-year tenure of Schembechler in Ann Arbor. But
for the first time, Michigan will most likely be getting points on the Las
Vegas betting boards
That being the case, Bo is determined to take as much pressure off the
players as possible. "Let them (USC) worry about being the favorites," he
quipped.-
Last year Bo tinkered with the prospect of practicing out in Arizona
before moving on to Los Angeles, but the idea didn't prove feasible. "I
thought about that, I thought about a lot of different things. I want to make
some changes, but I don't know what. I am going to talk to some of the
players who have been there before and get their reactions," Schembechler
said.
Concern for players
It is not unusual to listen to Bo sounding so concerned about the welfare
of his players. What was out of the ordinary was hearing Bo explain how im-
portant it would be for his team to have a good time on the coast. Suddenly,
Schembechler was complaining about the lack (you heard correctly) of en-
tertainment in the proximity of Michigan's hotel.
Don't get Bo wrong, he thinks the Huntington Hotel, the Wolverines'
headquarters in Pasadena, is a beautiful place, "with trees and gardens all
around it." But Bo happens to think its location leaves something to be
desired. .
"There is no place within walking distance or easily accessible, evento
go to a movie," he said.
Then, to the surprise of the media at his usual Mondy press luncheom,
Schembechler unfolded his personal brainstorms for preparing for the
January 1st encounter with the Trojans.
"Ideally, I'd like to go the day after Christmas and get 4 or 5 workouts.
Here, there is no way you can prepare with zero weather outside."
"If that doesn't' pan out, Bo laid out plan "B." "I'll take headgear and
sweatshirts and stay in a dormitory at the "Y" on the beachfront until
Christmas, that's what I'd like to do. After Christmas we would put the pads
on and go into game week," said Schembechler.
Practice options
In the past, the standard procedure for the Big Ten representative was
to leave the Midwest for sunny California about two weeks in advance of the
game. "I think that was for the old days. They don't need to do it anymore,"
Bo said, citing the fact that the games are always sold out well before the
kickoff time rolls around.
"I'm going to make a proposal, a strong one," Bo added, "it's just too
long (a period of time) to stay there, in one spot, that's all."
Schembechler said he will discuss the matter with athletic director Don
Canham to see what their options are. One thing that has to be considered is
final examinations.
Schembechler does not want a repeat of the situation two years ago
when some of his players were taking tests on the team plane while en route
to Los Angeles.
"They really have to scramble," said Bo in reference to the rush his
team will have to contend with between now and when they leave for
Pasadena.
Bo would dearly love to get his initial post-season triumph against USC,
but not at the expense of taking his squad west before it is absolutely
necessary.
Bo then launched into an old familiar complaint. "They (USC) get to
stay at home, sleep in their own dorms, go home for Christmas, then play in
their own backyard."
Schembechler wasn't using that as an alibi for his 0-4 mark in the Rose
Bowl, but made it apparent the Big Ten is at an disadvantage in the
situation.
The biggest disadvantage M)ichigan will have, as Schembecher sees it, is
Southern Cal's personnel, a cofitingent Bo called "the best team in the coun-
try." "Better than Penn State?" someone asked. "They are the best team in
the country today," Bo repeated.
So the shoe is on the other foot. Michigan will face USC on New Year's
Day and by Bo's own admission, "probably be underdogs by a couple of
touchdowns." For once, however, that's the way he wants it to be.
III
FINAL
Conference
W
MICHIGAN .....!7
Michigan State .. 7
Purdue .......... 6
Ohio State.......6
Minnesota ....... 4
Indiana..........4
Wisconsin ....... 3
Iowa ............ 2
Illinois.........
Northwestern ..0
L
1
1
1
2
4
4
4
6
6
s
T
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
0
2
I
Overall
W L T
10 1 0
,8 3 0
8 2 1
7 3 1
5 6 0
7 7 0
5 4 2
2 9 0
18 -2
099 1
left leg. "This changed our thinking in
terms of what wewere, capable of
doing," Schembechler said. "We got
where we were a hand-off and play-
action passing team."
ALTHOUGH .HE was hurt, the
Heisman Trophy candidate continued
to play. He led the final scoring drive of
the day in the middle of the third
quarter. The drive covered 69 yards in
13 plays, ending on an 11-yard pass play
to Roosevelt Smith.
Leach, on third-and-goal at the Ohio
State eleven, faded back and then rolled
left. He looked for a long time,
managing to evade one rusher, and
then he lofted a pass along the left
sideline to Smith who flew in for the
score.
The senior quarterback, who was 11
for 21 covering 166 yards, boosted his
chances for the Heisman Trophy. Many
of the ballots were already in before
game time however. An estimated 40
per cent were in New York on Saturday
and another 30 per cent were believed
to have been in the mail. The winner
will be announced this afternoon.
"He is the best college football player
in-America," Schembechler said. "If he
doesn't win the Heisman I'd be very
surprised. He's the greatest football
player I've been associated with."
Hayes gave his usual show after the
game. He made the press wait for about
an hour. Then he came in and talked
very softly at first. Wheri asked how he
felt, he quipped, "Oh, happy as a lark."
Then he got tired of amusing the
press. Everyong knew an outburst
would come. It just depended on when
Hayes got tired of talking. Chicago
Tribune writer David Israel pointed out
that Ohio State hasn't scored a
touchdown against Michigan in three
years.
"I'm aware of that," Hayes said as he
rose, "I knew you'd bring that up. I saw
the things you wrote trying to get Dan
Devine fired. They were very vicious
things ... I don't want to associate with
your kind. Good night."
SCORES
College Basketball Scores
Michigan State71. Central Michigan 54
Indiana State 63,Purdue53
Duke 86,Southern Methodist 80
OSU 85, Miami of Ohio 69
Virginia 79, Johns Hopkins 54
An error in the preparation of the
time schedule resulted in the om-
mission of the following course:
Englsh 318. sec. 2, Literary Types:
Fantasy. Prof. Eric Rabkin will offer
this course as it was originally
scheduled. It meets M-W-F at 3:00
in Aud. B, Angell Hall.
Daily Photo by ALAN BILINSKf
MICHIGAN LINEBACKER Ben Needham (83) latches on to Buckeye quarterback Art Schlichter (10) during Saturday's 14-3
whipping of Ohio State. The Wolverines now head for the Rose Bowl for the third straight year.
Creek,B othwell get
top scores in tourney
By DIANE SILVER
Featuring over 150 entries in each
event, the Midwest Open in Rolling
Meadows, Illinois, provided a great op-
portunity to see some super gymnastics
this past weekend. According to
Michigan gymnastic coach Newt
Loken, two of whose athletes mounted
impressive performances in the meet,
"Some of the finest gymnasts in the
U.S. were there."
No team points were kept in the meet,
just individual scores. The top 30 tum-
blers in each event and the top 20 all-
arounders qualified for the optionals.
The top eight in each optional event
proceeded on-to the finals.
Michigan gymnasts Bob Creek and
Nigel Rothwell both posted impressive
performances in the finals. Creek
finished fourth on the high bar, missing
first by just .2 of a point, while Rothwell
placed 16th in the all-around com-
petition among over 100 entries.
In addition, Michigan's Jim Varilek
and Al Berger both qualified for the op-
tionals. Varilek in vault and floor exer-
cise and Berger in the vault.
Teams from the Big Ten and Big
Eight conferences competed in the
meet, as well as many of the Illinois
schools and teams as far away as New
Mexico State and Louisiana State. "It
was like a mini-NCAA," said Loken.
U-Mf Ski Club
Meetin
Discuss
Steamboat Jan. 3-9
and
Weekend Trips Jan., Feb.
Thurs., Nov. 30 -7:30 p.m.
Michigan Union Ballroom
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IF YES, ATTEND ON
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