The Michigan Daily-Thursday, September 6, 1979-Page 7C
Schembechler tradition:- Greer,
Si fih' 0 LII-+L'1-'V" i A faca
(Continued from Page 1)
mer Miami (Ohio) head coach. "First
of'aIl, the successful moves of Owens
acid Needham. Secondly, I've got to feel
they (the defense) are ready to be more
dominant. And thirdly, we have veteran
guys back, like Simpkins and Greer,
guys that want to have a good year."
As Schembechler pointed out, the
Whlverines do have -numerous players
with experience bolstering the defense
this' year. The two standouts Schem-
bechler mentioned, inside linebacker
Ron -Simpkins and defensive tackle
Cuttis Greer, comprise a big part of the
eight returning starters on defense.
Both were named to the All-Big Ten
first team last season, Simpkins for the
second time in his career. Reaping
awards is nothing 'new for Simpkins, a
6-i, 220-pound senior out of Detroit
Western High School. Last year, he was
voted Defensive Player of the Week
three times - by UPI after the Illinois
arie and by AP following the Iowa and
rdue contests.
"SIMP" MOVED into a starting role
is sophomore year and proceeded to
et'a school record for most tackles in a
eason with 174. That same year he was
oted ABC and AP Player of the Game
5 ncy v c tcl aii ucl cllac
against Texas A&M and AP and UPI
Player of the Game versus Ohio State.
Last season, the three-year letterman
continued his torrid pace, racking up
168 tackles to run his career total to 362.
Simpkins also was named Defensive
Player of the Week three times in 1978.
GREER, AT 6-5, 236, is the most for-
midable of the Blue defensemen and
returns this season as a fifth-year man,
eligible due to the freshman rule now in
effect. One of the quickest tackles in
college fiootball, the Detroit Cass Tech
graduate led the Wolverines with 11
tackles for 62 yards in losses last year.
Greer, who bench presses 425 pounds,
also earned a spot on the All-American
strength team.
Joining Simpkins and Greer on last
year's all-conference squad were a pair
of Detroit-area seniors in the secon-
dary, free safety Mike Harden (Detroit
Central H.S.) and wideside halfback
Mike Jolly (Southgate Aquinas H.S.)
These four players, according to
Schembechler, make up the bulk of the
1979 Michigan defense.
"We have four outstanding guys on
defense - Greer, Simpkins, Harden
and Jolly," observed the head coach.
HARDEN, 6/2, 183, runs the 40-yard
dash in 4.5 seconds and led the defen-
sive backs in interceptions with four for
55 yards in 1978. Jolly, 6-312, 181, plays
baseball as well as football for the
Wolverines and ranked just behind
Harden with three steals and 41 tackles
last season. Both speedsters will return
punts for the Blue gridders.
Rounding out the starting lineup of
Michigan defenders are a duo of
juniors, middle guard Mike Trgovac
and inside linebacker Andy Cannavino,
-and two more fifth year men, tackle
Dale Keitz and shortside halfback Mark
Braman.
While the Maize and Blue defense is
solid up front, it remains to be seen how
well the second and third stringers fare
in their bid to form a dependable relief
squad.
As Schembechler notes, "The defense
is pretty well established. What the
defense has to do is get 11 tough back-up
guys.
"The depth at tackle is all right,"
continued the Michigan mentor. "We
have to get depth at linebacker and in
the secondary. I won't be surprised if
two or three freshmen step in at second
string there."
Daily Photo
A SWARMING defense, that's manned by lightning-quick, strong attackers-that's what wins football games in the Bo
Schembechler football philosophy. But while a strong Blue defense is almost a sure thing this season, whether the Wolverines
can return to the Pasadena sod is another matter. A Mr. Bruce in Columbus, along with Mr. Rogers in East Lansing and a
host of others have other plans for Michigan.
Michigan's 1979 Football Schedule
DATE
.Sept. 8
Sept.15
Sept. 22
Sept. 29
Oct. 6
Oct.13
Oct. 20
Oct. 27
Nov. 3
Nov. 10
Nov. 17
TEAM
-NORTHWESTERN
NOTRE DAME
KANSAS
at California
at Michigan State
MINNESOTA
at Illinois
INDIANA
WISCONSIN
at Purdue
OHIO STATE
Last Year
59-14
28-14
Revamped Blue backfield on tap
15-24
42-10
31-0
42-0
24-6
14-3
(Continued from Page 1)
Powers. Despite the loss of talent,
Schembechler did not recruit any
players this past year for the line,
having done so the previous year.
Arbeznik hurt his knee in spring prac-
tice last April, but it is not expected to
hamper him this fall. However,
Powers, who Schembechler considers
topnotch at this position, was injured
this past spring and had to undergo
ligament surgery. He remains a
questionable starterfor the fall s
--...= 3.== mae a
The probable starter at center for the
wolverines will be George Jilja, a two
year letterman. "Lilja came up
through the system and is ready to be a
starter," remarked Schembechler.
AT THE TACKLE positions, Schem-
bechler is counting on senior Mike
Leoni and sophomore Bubba Paris to
round out the inside of the line.
On the outside of the line lies the
heart of the Wolverine offensive ex-
perience. At wingback will be a three-,
year regular, senior Ralph Clayton.
The other half of the experienced tan-
dem is senior Doug Marsh.
Adding to the experience of Clayton
and Marsh is junior wide receiver Rod-
ney Feaster. "Our most explosive guy
coming off the line," is how Schem-
bechler views him.
Michigan's offense then will be an
inexperienced one. , With only North-
western to confront ,before the big
showdown with Notre Dame on Sep-
tember 15th, the young Wolverines
must learn fast. With a wealth of un-
tested talent on offense, the Blue will
have no time to waste as they start
training during the latter part of
August.
Clayton Arbeznik
LEAGUES, CLUBS, CASUAL RECREATION
IM: Some good sporting news
By ALAN FANGER
It's the night before one of those mon-
strous Chemsitry exams, and you
haven't read a chapter of the assigned
material. Time is running short and you
begin to panic.,
To make matters worse, your in-
tramural touch football team plays its
first game that same night. Your
hallmates stream in and out of your
room, interspersing various greetings
with "c'mon, you can book later-we
got a game to play," and "We're gonna
be short if you don't show up."
A GOOD PORTION of the time, the
team member gives up his academic
pursuits and remains loyal to his squad.
And the University's intramural sports'
program can usually be credited (or
blamed) for influencing the decision.
With nearly 20 competitive leagues
and competitions offered each term,
the IM department lures both weekend
athletes and high school jocks away
from the books and onto the fields and
courts. League divisions include
residence hall, fraternity/sorority, in-
dependent, men, women, all campus,
faculty/staff, and graduate.
But that's just a, part of the oppor-
tunities offered by the Department of
Recreational Sports. If your tastes are
the rec sports buildings will, have the
equipment to assist you in your
pursuits.
Or perhaps you're interested in a dif-
ferent sort of participation which will
net some income. The intramural
'HERE LIFE after Leach? If B.J. Dickey, John Wrangler, Gary Lee, Rich Hewlett, Steve O'Donnell and company have
thing to say about it, you bet there is. They're all in the running for Leach's vacated quarterback post, for which a starter
be decided during late August. Leach, shown running the option against Ohio State last year, was a four year starter
lichigan compiled a 38-4-2 regular season record, while making four straight unsuccessful bowl appearances.
Recreational
. SPOTS'
intramural Building NCRB CCRB
M-F 8 a.m.-10 p.m. M-F 8 a.m.-10 p.m. M-F 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sat. 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat. 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat. 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sun. 3 p.m.-10 p.m. Sun. 2 p.m.-10 p.m. Sun. 1 p.m.-10 p.m.
HOURS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
geared more toward a casual game of department is always in demand for of-
squash or racquetball, plenty of time ficials in various sports, and while ex-
and space is alloted for "drop-in perience is an asset, staff members
recreation. The department feels this is provide an extensive training program
the key component of its program. for each activity.
WHEREVER you reside in the cam- YET ANOTHER off-shoot of the rec
pus area, one of the four recreational sports department is the club sports
sports buildings shouldn't be more than program, which often broadens its
a few blocks away. The three-year old, competitive scope to the intercollegiate
ultra-modern Central Campus level. Over 40 different sports clubs
Recreation Building (CCRB), the In- -operate within the University. They
tramural Sports Building -IMSB), and range from the familiar-frisbee,
the Sports Coliseum are all within a ten- sailing, soccer-to the exotic-akido,
minute walk of the Diag, while the Nor- skydiving, and cricket.
th Campus Recreation is convenient to If you're interested in entering a
residents of that area. team in intramural competition, a sim-
Once in these facilities, you'll ple $15 entrance fee allows your team
discover swimming pools, basketball playing rights in an unlimited number
and volleyball courts, running tracks, of sports.
weight rooms, paddleball-racquetball- For building users desiring locker
handball courts, and even pinball space for the upcoming year, lockers
machines. As a rule, if you want to im- will be sold on a first come-first serve
prove an old skill or take up a new one, basis September 29.
'Hall' honors Blue greats
Two months ago, when Ann Arbor
was lulling into its annual summer
silence, a monumental event occurred
on the Michigan athletic scene.
Tom Harmon and Bennie Oosterbaan.
Mid-60's basketball great Cazzie
Russell, former Wolverine and Detroit
Tiger catcher Bill Freehan, and long-
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