The Michigan Daily-Thursday, October 25, 1979--Page 11 NATIVE OHIOAN OUT FOR BUCKEYE BLOOD Needham fits into Wolverine mold Wolverine outside linebacker Ben Needham (83) penetrates the Minnesota backfield and leaps at the opportunity to sack quarterback Mark Carlson 12) Needham and the rest of the top-ranked Michigan defense appear ready to challenge Ohio State for Big Ten supremacy. THE SPORTING VIEWS Woody's presence stillfelt.. . ... beware the Bucks By DAVID POMERANTZ When Woody Hayes punched his way out of Ohio State football in last year's Gator Bowl, it seemed that an era in college football had ended. For over a decade, Big Ten football had meant the Wolverines, versus the Buckeyes on a gray day in late November. Maize and Blue versus Scarlet and Gray; North versus South; Bo versus Woody. Woody's gone now, but the Big Ten should once again be decided by the OSU game next month, and Woody deserves much of the credit. New head coach Earle Bruce lfas taken a team made up primarily of Hayes' hand- picked recruits such as quarterback Art Schlichter to a spotless 7-0 record, fifth-ranked in the nation. Despite his recruiting wizardry, Woody often drew criticism for his coaching on the field; especially his apparent inability to win "the big one". Bruce is still-relatively untested as a field general, but several factors in- dicate that he'll win his share of important games. Unlike Woody's "three yards and a cloud of dust" policy that invariably hurt him late in the season, Bruce has let Schlichter take to the airways in every game this season. Against Wisconsin, the Buckeye quarterback hit 11 of 17 aerials for 150 yards. Schlichter has a plethora of talented receivers; in fact, dominant features of this team appear to be their speed and good han- ds. Although the offense has been sound all season, averaging over 33 points ,a game, the Buckeye defense seemed suspect. Bruce has worked hard in this area, and he's beginning to reap the fruits of his efforts. Of the Wisconsin game, the first OSU shutout since 1977, Bruce said, "I think the defense is getting better. We forced turnovers, and we hit tough. It was another team performance, and we're coming closer to playing a total football game." During the off-season, reporters claimed Woody's punch heard 'round the world was also a critical blow to Ohio State's football program. It is to Bruce's credit that the Buckeyes have shaken the stigma of the Gator Bowl. Yet the Bucks still seem to have a monkey on their backs. "Basically, we don't care what the fans or sportswriters say about us," said OSU roverback Todd Bell. "But it does make you think about it. We'd like to prove to ourselves that we can play football. And basically, that's what we've been doing." No stopping the Bucks Buckeye fever is growing quickly in Columbus, and the fan reaction has been tremendous. Dooley's after a Wolverine victory pales compared to the rowdy Saturdaystight atmosphere on High Street, Columbus' main drag. Students hang out of honking cars displaying Buckeye pennants, as others dance in the streets, singing "Hang on Snoopy," OSU's unofficial fight song. With that kind of enthusiasm, it's not surprising that the players are begin- ning to gain confidence in leaps and bounds. "This team is really jelling, mentally and physically. Right now, we're on our way," said leading rusher Calvin Murray. "If we execute and play ball with no mistakes, I don't know what the limit is for our team," added receiver Doug Donley. "I don't see anybody stopping us now. Only one thing can stop us now, and that's ourselves." Hmmmm ... Well, Bo and the boys may have something to say about that a month from now. At any rate, the scalper's dream game moves to Ann Arbor this year, and although the silver-haired, outspoken coach will be con- spicuously absent, a Woody Hayes Buckeye team will dig in against the Wolverines once more. By BILLY SAIIN Unity is a concept unique to the Michigan defensive unit. The group of 11 defenders are an extremely well- coordinated force on the field. Part of their excellence is due to the fact that each starter brings an individual strength to the playing field, where all 11 are then welded together into one cohesive unit. Ben Needham, outside linebacker, exhibits the rather high skill level associated with this Michigan defensive team. His outside position usually pits him against an opposing end or receiver. But when the quarterback blitz is on, Needham is launched from the outside going for the sack. THROUGH SEVEN games the Columbus, Ohio native has compiled a total of 22 tackles and 11 assists. Needham is content with his current starting position on the squad, yet he seeks improvement. "One part of my game I would like to improve is the pass rush," remarked Needham. "Pass actions are tough to pick up," he added. However, that's to be expected since he's only been at his current position for less than a year. The Columbus native's first start coincidentally came against Ohio State last season. There was quite an element of surprise when he found out. "I was told the night before," Needham said. "I can tell you that I was nervous. I had trouble sleeping that night. The next morning I couldn't even take a shower because the water line had broken." Playing in a Michigan-Ohio State game is a thrill in its own right. But for Needham, there was the added dimen- sion of his place of birth. Here he was, in Ohio Stadium, playing for the Michigan Wolverines in front of a crowd composed chiefly of his home- town neighbors. Oddly enough, the Scarlet and Gray fever never took hold within Needham. "I always rooted for Michigan," he said. When recruited out of high school, the Buckeyes had approached Needham, but he shrugged them off because it was just too close to where he grew up. "I grew up on the Buckeye campus, but it Welcome Students TO THE DASCOLA HAIRSTYLISTS Llberty off State-668-9329 East U. at South U.-663-0354 Arborland-971-9975 Maple Vilage-7"1'-2733 was just too close to home for me to go there," said Needham. Two other schools interested in Needham were Michigan and North We (th) (I,,fees e) (ire right onl pace eio' .. Our goalI is to (honflia(lle (111(1 jf'( c( ic (1o i. -Ben N N'e%(llm Carolina State. But that choice was easy. The 6-4, 215-pound junior wanted to stay in the Midwest. What's more, he was impressed with the Wolverine program. "When I came here to see the school, I couldn't believe that they actually filled that thing up (Michigan Stadium)," Needham said. Michigan State, though; is the game which holds the most significance for the former high school basketball player. Against State earlier this season, Needham was matched up against Mark Brammer, the premiere Spartan tight end. "Brammer is the best tight end I've ever played against," Needham said. In that game, Needham effectively held the Spartan to only one pass reception, hands are full with responsibility. But the beauty of the Michigan defense is apparent in Needham's reliance on his teammates, who are within close proximity. TOD at the UI BELINDA 4 pocket billiard 4pm and 8pm in the Admissioni that coming during State's last offen- sive series after the game's fate had been decided. Covering the outside, Needham's "Playing beside Curt (Greer),. commented Needham, "I don't even: have to worry about the stuff going in-' side. I know Curtis is there." With four games left on the schedules the defense will be severely tested in at least two of those. The first test will b( their ability to contain the "Passin Machine," Mark Herrmann of Purdue:- The following week it will be a task to stop the surging Buckeyes. "We (the defense) are right on pace. now," remarked Needham. "'nm thinking about OSU because they've got momentum' and confidence,"' he con- tinued. "Our goal is f'o dominate, an4} we can do it," Needham added. AY ION CAMPOS' Is champion D Pendleton Room is FREE EVANS SCHOLARS 1979 CAR BASH. Thurs. Oct. 26 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. DIAG AREA KING OF BEERS . 4' 'ti 'p w .4 ft .' rf ' O4 *e 4 '4 1.4 \' uinm w a wwwwe SCORES Field Hockey MICHIGAN 2. Bowling (reen I NBA Detroit 104. Washington 103 Atlanta 128, Cleveland 118 Philadelphia 132, Indiana 110 NY Rangers 10, Edmonton 2 Ilartford 2. Quebec 2 (tie) Minnesota 5, St. Louis 2 We Do It Only ONE WAY ... YOUR WAY! U-M stylists at the UNION Open tit 5:15 p m. Mon.-Sat. The Amos Tuck School of Business Administration Dartmouth College- Hanover, N. 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