Page 8-Wednesday, October 31, 1979-The Michigan Daily
GETS STARTING NOD
Wangler prepared to lead ofense
SLAMMI N'
IT
By DAN PERRIN HOME
By GEOFF LARCOM
It's John Wangler's ambition to teach
once he's finished with football, and if
that's the case, one thing is for sure.
.He's got the patience needed for the
job.
SINCE WANGLER entered Michigan
out of Royal Oak Shrine in 1976, patien-
ce, waiting quietly for the time when
he'd finally get a chance to prove him-
self, has been the name of his game.
Wangler's first two years at
Michigan were spent learning as one of
starting slot. Wangler was perhaps the
better thrower, but the agile Dickey
held an edge in running Michigan's in-
tricate option attack.
Runner or passer? For Bo Schem-
bechler, the selection seemed
academic, and it was. Dickey started
the opener.
Yet Schembechler still maintained
that his squad was a "two quarterback
team." The results bore his claim out,
Wangler starting the game and leading
the Wolverines to victory in the second
half against California, moving
Michigan smoothly in its last-ditch
drive against Notre Dame, and finally,
throwing that magical last-second pass
to Anthony Carter against Indiana.
BUT THIS week the script's changed
with Wangler playing a new role.
Dickey is out with a slight shoulder
separation, leaving Wangler as number
one. The waiting game is over, at least
for the moment.
"It's helpful; I'll beabe eto prepare,"
said Wangler. "Just the fact you know
you'll be starting is helpful.
"We emphasize passing and power
football when I'm in there. We haven't
called the option as much."
PRIOR TO this year, of course,
Michigan hadn't called much of
anything with Wangler at the helm. In
his three years at Michigan, he had
thrown just four passes.
Early on, Wangler debated leaving
Michigan for less competitive
situations, but unlike what Gary Lee
did this year, he elected to stick it out.
"In my sophomore year I thought
about it (transferring). I said if I didn't
come out of spring ball that year as
second string quarterback, I might go,"
Wangler said.
"BUT LAST season was really hard. I
was hurt and resigned myself to that.
Everyone's discouraged if they're a
competitor and want to play. I could
understand his (Lee's) point of view.
It's something you have to work out for
yourself."
In splitting duty with Dickey this
year, it seems Wangler has had little
trouble working things out. Despite the
frustration of not playing full time, he
maintains a good relationship with his
counterpart and his coach.
"Bo figures I understand. He figures
B.J. and I know how things ar'e. It's an
unspoken relationship," Wangler said.
"We realize we have strengths and
weaknesses. We're good friends.
"HE'LL COME off the field and ask
what he did wrong on a play. We talk
and help each other out."
Both Dickey and Wangler have
another year of eligibility, so that
scenario could continue for a while. "If
they want me to come back, I will,"
Wangler said.
Would that mean another in-and-out
year as a starter? If it did, Wangler
could cope with it. He's sure heard that
tune enough already.
NO EFFECT ON OUTCOME:
Duke investigates Reid 'fumble'
John JWangler
Rick Leach's understudies, while last
year even more patience was called for.
Wangler sat out the entire season with
a pinched nerve.
But Leach, with a truckload of recor-
ds to his credit, left for the baseball
pros, and it appeared that 1979 would be
Wangler's year. It just was not to be,
however..
HE FOUND himself competing with
smooth-running B. J. Dickey for the
CHICAGO (UP I )-Big Ten Com-
missioner Wayne Duke said yesterday
the conference will "internally review"
a controversial play, in the closing
minute of Michigan's 27-21 victory over
Indiana last Saturday.
Duke said the ruling was a
"judgment call" and denied the of-
ficial in question had made a wrong call
on the play.
THE CONTROVERSIAL call came
before Michigan's winning touchdown
on the last play of the contest.
On the play in question, Michigan
fullback Lawrence Reid caught a pass
but fumbled the ball out of bounds. In-
diana Coach Lee Corso filed a formal
protest charging the ball was
deliberately thrown- out of bounds by
the runner to stop the clock.
"The rule in question in the recent
Indiana-Michigan game is rule 7, sec-
tion 2, which says a runner may hand or
pass the ball backwards at any time ex-
cept to throw the ball intentionally out
of bounds to conserve time," Duke said.
"IT IS A judgment call by the official.
The conference office is following the
normal procedure involved with any
controversial decision by an official."
V
Duke said league supervisor of of-
ficials Herm Rohrig and crew chief
Gene Calhoun have been contacted about
the play but the league would only
review the matter internally after
looking at the coaches' report and a
film of the game.
The win kept Michigan tied with Ohio
State for first place in the league with a
5-0 mark.
Bill Russell ...
...:.more than an ex-jock
I RECENTLY HAD the pleasure of witnessing WJR-AM radio's "Focus"
show, the noontime interview program hosted by the reknowned J.P.
McCarthy. I made the trip to the Detroit station with my Radio/TV class to
"see how the professionals do it."
I left thoroughly impressed, having picked up quite a few tips on how to
successfully interview a guest. McCarthy is a real pro. He's been in the
business for years and is considered by many to be the top interviewer in the
country.
But what really made the visit worthwhile was the man answering Mc-
Carthy's questions-former basketball great Bill Russell.
Here is a man who was one of the greatest athletes of all time. Basketball
was his life for a long, long time.
Russell came out of a poor part of Oakland and starred on the University
of San Francisco team that won 55 straight games, an NCAA record and a
pair of consecutive NCAA Championships. After playing on the 1956 gold-
medal winning U.S. Olympic squad, Russell played a pivotal role on a Boston
Celtic team that won 11 championships in 13 years.
After retiring as a player in 1969, Russell had a brief stint as an ABC
basketball commentator. In 1973, he accepted the job of head coach and
general manager of the Seattle SuperSonics. He stepped down in 1977.
So, Bill Russell has been active and successful, to say the least,in the
world of sports.
Yet, Russell refuses to step into the stereotyped mold of today's athlete.
This man has a lot to say about a lot of things. He's far from your average-
Joe Jock who knows only of the goings-on in the world of sports.
The key to Russell's uniqueness is the way he thinks about himself. This
is where he separates himself from the rest of the pack.
"I never did think of myself as a basketball player," Russell admitted
during the "Focus" interview. "I'm a man who happened to have played
basketball in my life."
And what a man he is. Russell is the most articulate, opinionated, well-
versed athlete I've ever come across. His intelligence and knowledge of sub-
jects outside of sports amazed and impressed me throughout the interview.
Russell lets you know what's on his mind and people listen when he
speaks. He's well-known for his basketball feats and through the sport has
found a place in the public eye, even after retiring from active participation
in athletics. But Russell insists it's not all that easy to be rich and famous in
this day and age.
He gets no respect
"In this society, it's very difficult to be in a position of notoriety because
people don't respect you," noted Russell. "There's no institution that I know
of where a person of notoriety is not under attack.
"Take the pope for example," Russell continued. "He's a marvelous,,
warm person. He talked about love and understanding (while touring the
U.S.), yet half of the reporting was on the negative aspects, like 'Well, he
didn't heal our problems."
Russell explained why he thought the press acted that way. "We're in a
"period in this country of negative attitudes. This country is represented byR
special interest groups who each want THEIR needs fulfilled. If they don't
get what they want, they're bitter."
Russell spent much of the time he was at the microphone discussing the
philosophies he wrote about in his new book, Second Wind: The Memoirs of
an A Opinionated Man. In the book, co-written by Russell and sportswriter
Taylor Branch, Russell expounds on such topics as himself, society, race,
celebrity status, competition, prejudice and freedom,to name a few.
Some of the best excerpts include the following:
On himself: "I am a misfit-and a triple threat at that. Not only am I tall
enough to make people feel uncomfortable, but I am also black and in-
famous as an athlete. No wonder I have my quirks."
On our society: "Most of us today are like cows; we quietly stand in line
or fill out any form if there's a sign telling us that's what we should do. As a
result, the country is filled with people who either paint signs or stand in line.
I don't like doing either one."
And probably the most meaningful quote in the whole book is on
prejudice: "Show me a person with no prejudices and I'll show you a person
with no taste. The struggle is to keep the prejudice from turning into bigotry
and hatred. Some people try to guard against that by surrendering their
point of view to others or to an institution. It doesn't work."
What does work is hearing Bill Russell speak out for what he believes in.
At least it worked for me. I am now thoroughly convinced that Russell was,
is and always will be much, much more than just an ex-jock. No doubt about
that.
Gridde Picks
"I am the genie of the lamp. Close
your eyes'and make three wishes. I can
give you riches, status or happiness
beyond belief." Aladdin closed his eyes
and thought for a long time.
"Oh great genie, there is one wish
more precious than all the riches in the
world. Who will win the Daily Libels vs.
KCIA football game this Saturday?-
"Aladdin, that's impossible for me to
reveal. The laws of Hogie forbids it.
And besides, I've already sent ih my
Gridde picks."
Get your Gridde Picks into the
Michigan Daily, 420 Maynard St. by
midnight, Friday to win a small one-
item pizza from Pizza Bobs,
1. Wisconsin at MICHIGAN
score)
2. Ohio St. at Illinois
3. Michigan St. at Northwestern
4. Purdue at Iowa
5. Minnesota at Indiana
6. Wake Forest at Clemson
7. Duke at Georgia Tech
8. N. C. State at S. Carolina
9. N. Carolina at Maryland
10. Colorado at Iowa St.
11. Arizona St. at Stanford
12. Washington at California
13. Texas Tech at Texas
14. Central Michigan at Toledo
15. Yale at Cornell
16. Eastern Michigan at Ball St.
17. Army at Air Force
18. Navy at Notre Dame
19. Montana at Montana St.
20. DAILY LIBELS at KCIA
(pick
AP Photo,
MIKE FLANAGAN of the Baltimore Orioles yesterday was voted the Cy
Young Award in the American League for 1979.
NEARLY UNANIMOUS WINNER
Birds' Flanagan wins Cy
Young
BALTIMORE (AP)-Mike Flanagan,
ready for the worst, found himself at a
loss for words when notified he was
voted the American League's Cy Young
Award winner for 1979.
"I prepared myself for the unexpec-
ted," the 27-year-old left-hander of the
Baltimore Orioles said yesterday. "I
didn't want a big letdown if I didn't get
it."
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Flanagan won 23 games for the Of the
American League champions in 1979, league c
the most victories in the league. He lost place vo
just nine for a winning percentage of two, tot
.719. His earned run average was 3.08,, which a
fourth best in the league, and he tied for three fo
the lead in shutouts with Nolan Ryan of Tomm
California and Dennis Leonard of Kan- New Yc
sas City with five apiece. for first
Flanagan said he was wary because only pit(
he had made the American League All- John,
Invites you1
PASTA N14
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Wed. Oct. 31-6p.m.
m with a 12-5 record in 1978, but
passed during the past season
same won-loss record.
figured anything can happen,"
"You never know how a vote is
go."
Flanagan won in a landslide
balloting conducted by the
ill Writers Association of
:a.
28 ballots cast, two from each
city, Flanagan garnered 26 first-
otes and was second on the other
aling 136 points under a system
llows five points for first place,
r second and one for third.
ny John and Ron Guidry of the
ork Yankees both got one vote
t place, but Flanagan was the
cher named on every ballot.
who posted a 21-9 record, had 51
points and Guidry, the league leader
with a 2.78 earned run average and an
18-8 record, totaled 26. Texas reliever
Jim Kern was fourth with 25 points.
It was the fifth timein 11 years an
Oriole has won or shared the Cy Young
award, and Flanagan is the third con-
secutive left-hander to win the award in
the AL.
Flanagan, 27, won 13 of his last 16
starts in 1979, and he won Game One of
the World Series, which the Orioles lost
in seven games to the Pittsburgh
Pirates. He was the loser in Game Five,
and he appeared against one batter in
the ninth inning of Game Seven.
He started 38 games this season,
second in the AL only to teammate
Dennis Martinez. Along with Martinez,
Palmer and Scott McGregor, Flanagan
was part of the American League's
most potent pitching staff.
"I'll always look at the award as a
team thing," Flanagan said. "When
you win 108 games (counting post-
toih
to join himr
for
I
season play), maybe I was the best pit-
cher, but I was also on the best team.
It's a season I'll never forget as longas
I play baseball."
Flanagan won 19 games in 1978 but.he
went 8-11 over the final three months.
being bothered part of the time with
tendinitis in his left ankle.
The pain persisted into the 1979
season, and even after he recovered, he
didn't come into his own until learning a
new changeup pitch from pitcher Scott
McGregor.
Using his fastball, curve and the new
changeup, Flanagan struck out 190 bat-
ters in 1979, third to Ryan and Guidry in
the league. He had 16 complete games,
2632/3innings pitched and walked 70 bat-
ters.
"We lost the Series," Flanagan said,
"but I feel like the rest of the town:.
not disappointed. We played well all
year. We have nothing to be ashamed
of."
I
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i.-12a.m.
AFC Standings
Central Division
w L
Pittsburgh............. 7 2
Cleveland.............6 3
Houston.................6 3
Cincinnati .............. 2 7
Eastern Division
Central Division
W
TampaBay ............. 7
Chicago ................ 4
Minnesota .............. 4
Green Bay............. 3
Detroit................1
Eastern Division
w3
L
2
5
5
6
8
NFC Standings
W L
6 3
Miami ................
r
w
ml