I
Page 10-Wednesday, November 29, 1978-The Michigan Daily
LEACH A DISTANT THIRD
Sims edges Fusina
By The Associated Press
NEW YORK - Junior halfback Billy Sims of
Oklahoma won the Heisman trophy yesterday as the
nation's outstanding college football player, with
Penn State's Chuck Fusina a close second and Rick
Leach of the University of Michigan third.
Leach's total of 435 points (including 89 first-place
votes) fell far short of Sims' 827 points (with 151 fir-
sts) and Fusina 's 750 (163 firsts). USC running back
Charles White finished fourth in the balloting with 354
points.
Sims completed Oklahoma's regular season with
1,762 yards on 231 carries for an average of 7.6 yards
per carry. He also led the nation in scoring with 20
touchdowns.
His 77-point margin over Fusina approached the
,record close vote in 1956 when Notre Dame's Paul
Hornung edged Tennessee's Johnny Majors by 72
points.
Rounding out the top 10 Heisman finishers were
Louisiana State running back Charles Alexander with
282 points, North Carolina State running back Ted
Brown and Clemson quarterback Steve Fuller, tied
for sixth with 82 points apiece, Georgia Tech running
back Eddie Lee Ivery with 81 points, Washington
State quarterback Jack Thompson with 72 and UCLA
linebacker Jerry Robinson with 70.
IDespiteSims' victory, Fusina carried three of the
six sections into which Heisman voting is divided.
Although the actual sectional yoting was not an-
nounced, Fusina won in the northeast, mid-Altantic
and south regions, while Sims carried the southwest
and far west and Leach took the midwest
Sims is the sixth junior to win the He
award's 44-year history. The others we
chard of Army in 1946, Doak Walker
Methodist, 1948; Vic Janowicz of Ohio
Roger Stauback of Navy, 1963; and Arc
Ohio State in 1974. Griffin repeated in 1
two-time Heisman winner.
As late as Monday afternon, Sims w
wouldn't be disappointed if he didn't get
Trophy.
"I feel pretty good about my chanc
"Knowing I'm one of the top contend
nice."
But the Hooks, Texas junior said theI
"good year" is satisfaction enough, an
preparing for the Orange Bowl rematch
Sooners against Nebraska.
Oklahoma Coach Barry Switzer said
strong and explosive former prep st
"playing up to our expectations.. . pla
we always thought he could play."
Those expectations went mostly unful
seasons.
Coming from Texas with a high school
of more than 7,000 yards rushing, Sims w
the bluest of the blue chip running backs
colleges three years ago.
But injuries plagued him almost from
began to run healthy late last season
wasn't in top form until this year.
for Heisman
. First a chipped shoulder that he reinjured before it
isman in the fully healed, then a bruised rib cage, and later an
re Doc Blan- ankle injury kept the Sooner hopeful sidelined.
of Southefn Last year when the fan mail had dwindled to five or
State, 1950; six letters a week, a few well-wishers were still
!hie Griffin ofwriting they hoped Sims would make All-American or
975, the only win the Heisman. At the time, he was just concen-
,as saying he trating on making the starting lineup.
the Heisman "I'm going to surprise a lot of people," he said last
year. "Probably some are wondering what I'm doing
es," he said. or if I'm still here.
lers for it is
"What I've got to do now is run for my life. I had a
beautiful high school career. I hope I can have one
fact he had a here," he said during his bad luck'streak.
Ld he is busy It was a high school career made possible by a
that pits the move from St. Louis to Hooks, a far northeast Texas
town of, about 2,000, to live with an elderly gran-
dmother. Sims said he didn't like St. Louis and was
recently the always getting into trouble there.
ar is finally "Idmight have stayed on that road and become a
tying the way hoodlum or something," he said. "I guess if I hadn't
Ifilld fo two gone to Hooks I'd more than likely be in the service."
filled for two But the 23-year-old, who is the oldest of five
children in his family, isn't in the service, and Coach
1 career total Barry Switzer is mentioning him in the same breath
vas touted as with Joe Washington, Greg Pruitt, Steve Owens and
recruited by Elvis Peacock, all alumni of the Sooners' aweseome
powerhouse wishbone offense.
the start. He Switzer says Sims has as much speed as any of the
i, but really aforementioned backs and uses his upper body size
and his strength to run through tacklers.
Schwartz
Illustra ted
By CUB SCHWARTZ
Holday Art Sale
Featuring Gallery Artists
Nov.29- Dec.22
HOURS
Reception: TuFri 9-5
Fri., Dec.1,7-9 saturday.12-5
764-3234
FIRST FLOOR MICHIGAN UNION
REPLACED BY JOHN MARSHALL:.
Sparky Anderson fired by Reds
By The Associated Press
CINCINNATI - The Cincinnati Reds,
in a shocking move, yesterday fired
Manager Sparky Anderson and
replaced him with John McNamara.
Reds President Dick Wagner said he
went to Anderson's California home
Monday and informed him of the
decision which he said had been made
only the day before.
"The past two years have been good
ones by the standards of most clubs,"
Wagner said in a prepared statement.
PROF TAIATSAITTALMAN
Turkish Studies, Princeton University
THURSDAY, NOV. 30, 4:00 pm
3050 Frieze Building
"rumi end yuus emre; the
Poetry nd music of sasftli uf#sm
(with slides and taped music)
FRIDAY, DEC. 1, 7:30 pm
University Club, Michigan Union
"TURKSH ARTS THROUGH THEAGES"
(with slides and recitation)
Sponsored by the Center for Near Eastern and North African Studies, the
Department of Near Eastern Studies, and the Turkish Students Association
"BUT WE ARE determined to set a
higher standard. It is our decision that
the move we make is in the overall best
interest of making the Cincinnati Reds
a better team.
"Let's just say it's time for a
change."
The Reds have finished second in the
National League-West in the last two
years after winning two successive
world championships.
McNamara, who was signed to a one-
year contract, previously managed the
San Diego Padres and Oakland
Athletics and has been in the major
leagues as manager or coach for the
past 11 years. He was third base coach
for the California Angels this year and
is currently managing the Licey team
in the Dominican Republic winter
league.
ANDERSON WAS manager of the
Reds for nine years beginning in 1970
and under 'his guidance the Reds won
two world- championships; ,four
National League titles and five western
Division titles. He has one year
remaining on his contract and will be
asked to do special assignments for the
Reds.
Anderson said he had no previous in-
dication that he would be fired.
"Well, I never had no knowledge," he
said. "I guess maybe I'm not smart
enough to have the knowledge."
"I thought maybe Ron (sic) Leach would win it because he's
had four years there, he did a lot of things and he had good game
Saturday on national television."
-Billy Sims
1978 Heisman Trophy winner
WHETHER HE KNEW it at the time or not, Billy Sims explained quite
clearly exactly why Rick Leach should have won the Heisman Trophy
yesterday, and why he did not.
The most striking thing about Sims' statement, of course, is that he
didn't even get Leach's first name right. How can anyone expect 1050 spor-
tswriters to pick Leach as the nation's outstanding football player when the
eventual winner doesn't know who the hell he is.
Granted, 99 per cent of the sportswriters who voted probably knew
Leach's name. Of those, 80 per cent probably knew that Leach has quar-
terbacked Michigan's highly successful offense since the day he enrolled.
But what percentage knew that Leach is only the sixth quarterback in NCAA
history to gain 2000 yards rushing? What percentage knew that Leach owns
the NCAA record of touchdowns accounted for by both running and passing?
What percentage knew that Leach holds the Big Ten record for touchdown
passes in a career?
Records unknown
About 10 per cent is my guess. You see everybody in the country didn't
find out about Billy Sims' records by watching him on television. In fact, if
they did find out about him on Saturday afternoon football they would have
seen him fumble four times in Oklahoma's biggest game of the year.
They learned of Sims' greatness from a series of press releases, film
clops and individual statistics which the Oklahoma Sports Information
Department sent out after every Sooner game. Of course it's not just
Oklahoma, Penn State did it for Fusina, USC did it for Charles White and'I
suspect that a number of other schools did it for their Heisman candidate.
But not Michigan. The Sports Information Department here has kept
away from the individual PR business in favor of promoting the Wolverines
as a team. Reflecting on the ideals of intercollegiate competition, it's
probably better that way.
Nevertheless, if Leach for the Heisman hype had begun in September in-
stead of November Sims would have at least known his first name.
Although he did not know his name, Sims knew about what Leach has
done in his four years here. Now there are people who view the Heisman as a
one year deal-the guy who performs best that season. But the award is in-
tended for "the outstanding college football player." Nowhere does it men-
tion single year considerations.
All-around performer
Besides, match up Leach's 1978 season with Sims': The latter carried
the ball 232 times for 1762 yards, a better than seven yards per carry
average. Leach's rushing statistic was 6.3 yards per carry and when he
completed his passes, he gained another 16.4 yards. Combined, his average
was around 10 yards per play.
Oklahoma has an offensive line that can open holes my mother could run
through. Joe Washington, Greg Pruitt, Steve Owens, Elvis Peacock.. . they
all gained thousands of yards utilizing the Wishbone offense. I'm not saying
Sims' is just an ordinary back, I am saying he is not the outstanding football
player in the country.
Leach is an extremely talented, intelligent and physical football player.
Perhaps Bo Schembecher best describes his skills. "Rick has to make a
decision on every play," he said. "Then usually he takes a hit whether he
keeps the ball or pitches it. It's a very physical game for our quarterback,
but Rick has been doing the job for four years and I've never seen anyone
better at pitching, runing and throwing the football than him."
Sims can run.
Leach can run, pass, pitch, think, and remain healthy. Perhaps the
nation's sportswriters believe that perfection of a single aspect of the game
qualifies one as the nation's outstanding football player. Then again,
perhaps football doesn't even enter into the decision.
Sparky Anderson
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MONDAY-SA TURDAY 4-2om; SUNDAY 4-1 am t
FREAKED ABOUT FINALS?,
DO YOU FEAR
-freezing or blanking on exams?
-not being able to concentrate on studying 'cause you're
scared?
-not enough time to get everything done?
IF YES, ATTEND ON
THURSDAY, NOV. 30, 7-10 p.m.
THE
Preparig For Finals Workshop
offered by
The Peer Counselors In Academic Anxiety
Reduction of Counseling Services
The Daily basketball staff presents
"Tip-Off," the basketball supplement
to tell you everything you want to know
about the 1978-79 Wolverines. Be sure to
check it out in tomorrow's paper.
Michigan football fans will receive
their only chance to purchase tickets
for the 1979 Rose Bowl game on Sunday,.
December 3, who do not wish to go on
the student, staff, or faculty tours.
Ticket applications will be taken at
Crisler Arena between 8 a.m. and 5
p.m. at the cost of $18. Only one ticket
per person is permitted.
AAUP
CHAPTER
MEETING.
OPEN TO
THE PUBLIC
Thur., Nov. 30
at noon
Conference Rooms 1 & 2
Michigan League