The Michigan Daily-Sunday, November 11, 1979-Page 1 r:
Not enough
Purdue slams door on '
(Continued from Page 1)
brought the ball to the ten and another
heroic flashback came to mind.
On first down from the ten, backup
tight end Norm Betts had a Wangler
aerial on his fingertips, but a jarring
Purdue tackle caused the ball to fall in-
complete. Wangler, then had to throw
the ball away on second down. On third
down, the senior from Royal Oak
scrambled for eight tough yards down
to the Purdue two, setting up fourth
down with the game on the line.
Surprisingly, Schembechler went
back to his patented option play, a play
he had only run three times all day, as
he seemed to have the wrong quarter-
back to run it. On this play, Wangler
rolled right with the option to pitch or
run. Seemingly confused, Wangler did
not pitch the ball to Woolfolk and was
forced to eat the ball at the Purdue ten..
TWO MINUTES, sixteen seconds
remained on .'the clock, and the
Michigan defense gave their offense
one more chance. After Herrmann ran
into the end zone for a safety, so that the
Boilermakers could avoid punting the
ball from their own 11, the Wolverines
had one more shot.
Unlike th&,Indiana game, there were
59 ticks on the clock, instead of 55, when
the offense took the ball at their own 46.
But lightning didn't strike twice.
Wangler was sacked by Ken Doushin
on first down for a four-yard loss. Then,
!7
Temporary
InShit
Ir
a pass to Woolfolk fell incomplete and
another one to the sprint star from New
Jersey added seven. On their final
chance, Michigan attempted a pass to
everyone's hero, Carter, but the pigskin
fluttered over the freshman's hands,
and Purdue had notched one of its
biggest victories ever.
With 10:27 remaining in this impor-
tant contest, Purdue looked like it had
salted the game away with a touchdown
for a 24-6 lead. On the play, junior Ben
McCall carried a Purdue blocker into
the end zone with him as he tallied his
second touchdown of the cold and windy
afternoon.
BUT THE 69,829 faithful would see a
seat-squirmer before the afternoon was
done.'-I
After a twisting and turning 36-yard
kickoff return by Anthony Carter,
Woolfolk doggedly rambled 37 yards
down to the Purdue 13. Carter was in-
terfered with in the end zone, setting up
a first and goal at the one.
Roosevelt Smith, the forgotten man
this year for Michigan, then hurdled in-
to the end zone with 8:11 to play. The
Wolverines were within striking distan-
ce but weren't helped any when
Wangler slipped while passing on the
two-point conversion to make the score
24-12.
After an unsuccessful attempt at an
onside kick by Ali Haji-Sheikh, just one
of the many kicking failures for the
Wolverines yesterday, Purdue took
possession at the Michigan 49.
Michigan had a punt blocked, an extra
point hit the crossbar and bounced out,
and a bad snap was made to the punter
during the afternoon.
ON THIRD DOWN and one at the 40,
McCall fumbled the ball and standout
defensive tackle Curtis Greer
recovered for Michigan. Two perfectly-
placed Wangler passes found the hands
M rally
of unguarded tight end Doug Marsh for
gains of 18 and 14, pushing the ball to
the Purdue 27.
Afte a short Woolfolk gain, Wangler
connected with Ralph Clayton at the
two-yard-line. Woolfolk then powered
into the end zone for his thirteenth
touchdown of the season. A successful
Virgil extra point made it 24-19, setting
the stage for the Cannavino and.,
Wangler show. "It was a
lousy game," commented Schem-
bechler, who lost to his former under-
study for the first time. "Purdue played
well. It was a game between the two
worst kicking teams in America. The
second worst team won, and the worst
team lost," he continued.
Although the goat label could be
placed on Virgil's head, a gold star
could be given to Purdue defensive
back Bill Kay. In fact, Purdue head
man Young will probably give the
junior from Melrose Park, Illinois four
gold stars for his three interceptions
and a fumble recovery.
KAY'S FIRST interception paved the
way for the first Boilermaker touch-
down. In the first touchdown drive,
Purdue junior Herrmann used the
shotgun effectively to complete passes
of 10, 25 and nine. Finally, McCall
plunged ever from the two and Purdue
took the lead, 7-0. This score stood until
halftime.
In the second half, a bad snap to
Virgil gave Purdue the football at the
Michigan 25. A controversial holding
call against Michael Harden kept the
drive going and then Herrmann
sneaked in from the one to put the
Boilermakers up 14-0.
The win pushed both Michigan's and
Purdue's records to 8-2 overall and 6-1
in the Big Ten, setting up the crucial
contest with the Buckeyes next
weekend.
V Billy Sahn
One more _miracle?.
no dice
WEST LAFAYETTE
T WOULD HAVE been a most memorable comeback indeed. The scene
was set and all the opportunities were there, but it was not to be.
The Michigan Wolverines went down to defeat yesterday as they suc-
cumbed to the- domineering Purdue Boilermakers 24-21 in Ross-Ade
Stadium, the same site in which Purdue delivered a crushing blow to
Mihigan's bid for a national title back in 1976.
That same fate that carried the Wolverines to victory just two weekends
ago in the miraculous last-second scoring drive against Indiana hovered
above the Michigan bench once again. But no, those heroics would happen
only once.
From the outset, Michigan had trouble dealing with Purdue. It was just
one of those afternoons ripe for an upset. But despite the adversity the
Wolverines were to encounter, mostly in the form of the Boilermaker defen-
se, Michigan hung tough, keeping Purdue on its toes.
On the very first snap from center, Michigan quarterback John Wangler
fumbled the ball and then fell on it for a two-yard loss. Right then and there,
it seemed as if the Wolverines were heading for a long afternoon. Before the
final gun sounded, the Wolverines were t6 notch two more fumbles, four in-
terceptions, a missed extra point attempt, a bad punt-snap from center
resulting in a crucial yardage loss, and a blocked punt.
But putting these "trivial" mistakes aside, the major blow for the
Wolverines came on their second-to-last offensive series of the game.
After Michigan linebacker Andy Cannavino ran an interception down to
Purdue's 27-yard line with 3:41 remaining in the game, the Michigan offense
marched the ball 17 yards to set up a first and goal-to-go situation, with the
score Purdue 24, Michigan 19. (An intentional safety by Purdue had added
two more points for Michigan.) .
Four plays later, the Wolverines remained outside of the elusive end
zone, thus ending any hope for victory. The opportunities finally ran out.
Don't feel sorry for Michigan. They played a heck of a game, but lost.
Purdue, on the other hand, came up with clutch defensive plays combined
with a steady Mark Herrmann-led offense to defeat the Wolverines.-
"They gave us the game and we refused to take it," said frustrated
Michigan head coach Bo Schembechler in the post-game interview. "The
defense got us the turnovers, we did not capitalize. Ridiculous," he con-
tinned.
Turned 'em loose
Down 24-6 with 10:27 remaining in the fourth quarter, Schembechler
decided enough was enough. Michigan marched back, scoring two touch-
downs with 2:37 separating them. On the first one, though, the luckless
Wolverines attempted a two-point conversion which failed.s
"When it was 2446, we decided to turn 'em loose to see if we could get
back into the game. We made the plays," Schembechler remarked, "except
one. That play beat us."
The play Schembechler refers to came on fourth-and-two on that crucial
series, when Schembechler called an option play to quarterback Wangler.
But its execution fell short of its goal.
Michigan was beat. But it's a loss they can live with. They managed to
dig themselves out of a rut, exemplifying the team's character.
The loss to Notre Dame earlier in the season hurt. But this late-season
loss to a Big Ten rival means much more. They now must face the surging
Buckeyes.,
The only way the frustrated Michigan team can now return to the Rose
Bowl Is If they beat OSU and if Indiana can overtake Purdue. Its been one of
those crazy seasons where anything can happen to Michigan. Despite it all,
they have maintained their composure in victory and in defeat.
"We usually win big but our players showed a lot of character as bad as
we looked (against Purdue), Schembechler commented. "It is as good a
group of kids as I've ever had, they won't lay down and die."
Must defeat OSU
"I thought I could have scored on the (interception) play," Cannavino
said, "but I got so excited. We'll be up for Ohio State, and we know Indiana
will beat Purdue.
"We thought we were the miracle team. We thought it would all work
out, but it didn't," the junior linebacker added.
All-American candidate Ron Simpkins said that yesterday's defeat put
Michigan in a hole. But according to the senior linebacker, the Wolverines
are still in it all the way, and only a win over OSU will get Michigan out of
that hole.
The five turnovers the Wolverines committed yesterday and the crucial
abortive offensive series deep in Purdue's territory are the mistakes that
must be eliminated. Michigan's starting quarterback, Wangler, must
closely scrutinize those interceptions.
When the Wolverines take on Ohio State, they will be the underdogs in.
their own stadium, something which is uncommon in its own right. Even if
they can muster a win over OSU, there's still a chance the Buckeyes will end
up in Pasadena. No matter, because the victory for the topsy-turvy
Wolverines will mark success, even if Blue Roses do not bloom this winter.
Blue boiled
AP Photo
THIS SCENE WAS typical of Michigan quarterback John Wangler's after-
noon yesterday in West Lafayette. Wangler spent a good part of the game on
his backside as a stingy, big-play Boilermaker defense sacked John ten
times. However, poor weather conditions also helped stymie the Blue pass-
ing attack. Wangler had a mediocre game, completing 14 of 28 passes for
only 159 yards, and throwing four interceptions.
OPTION CALL QUESTIONABLE
Wolverines fal to
make big plaiy
By DAN PERRIN
Special to the Daily
WEST LAFAYETTE-Purdue leads Michigan,
24-19, with 2:16 left in the game. The Wolverines have
the ball on the Purdue two-yard line, fourth and oneto
go for the first down, two for the go-ahead score..
All day Michigan has taken to the air-quarterback
John Wangler has thrown 25 times, completing 13
passes while also throwing four interceptions. Butch
Woolfolk has been the. only big rusher for the Blue
gridders, carrying the ball 22 times for a net total of
105 yards. The ofense has run the option very few
times during the game.
The backfield for this crucial fourth down play con-
sists of Wangler at QB, Woolfolk at tailback, and sub-
stitute Roosevelt Smith at fullback. The wide
receivers are Ralph Clayton and Anthony Carter,
with Doug Marsh, the team's leading receiver, lining
up at tight end.
YOU GET TO call the play. What would you do in
this situation?
Well, here's what Michigan coach Bo Schem-
bechler did: He called the option.
And, as you all know by now, the play failed as
Purdue linebacker James Looney dropped Wangler
on the 10-yard line for an eight-yard loss. More im-
portantly, the offense's failure to put the ball in the
end zone, or at least get the first down on that play,
cost Michigan the game.
SCHEMBECHLER did not hesitate to say so after
the game. "They gave us the game and we didn't take
it. We didn't capitalize on an interception, which is
ridiculous. That's not our type of football. We can't go
down (the field) with plenty of time left and not
score."
The interception Schembechler referred to was the
Wolverines' 'Golden Opportunity' to pull out the vic-
tory. Down by five points with precious little time
remaining. Blue inside linebacker Andy Cannavino
picked off the Mark Herrmann passs at the Purdue
48-yard line and raced down to the Boilermaker 27.
This was it. First and ten to go from the 27 with 3:41
left in the contest. Woolfolk gained three yards over
the right guard and then grabbed a Wangler screen
pass and'landed at the 11. First down, Michigan.
WANGLER THEN found reserve tight end Norm
Betts in the end zone, but the 6-5, 217 pounder was
jarred by Purdue cornerback Wayne Smith and
couldn't hold on. It was a tough break for the
Wolverines. In fact, Smith's hit probably salvaged
the game for the Boilermakers.
A Wangler pass intended for Carter fell incomplete
on second down before the junior signal-caller
scrambled down to the two, setting up.the do-or-die
fourth down situation.
. Michigan called a time-out before going nowhere
on the biggest play of the game. The Blue gridders-
were left empty-handed, and Purdue had only to hold
off one last Michian drive before walking away with a
24-21 victory, the biggest win of the year.
Cannavino,, for one, thought Michigan would pull it
out after his clutch interception. "'I thought we'd win
today. We're a miracle team, but it didn't work out."
NO, IT DIDN'T, and several of the Wolverine
players offered explanations as to why things didn't
go their way.
"They (the Purdue defense) got too much
penetration in our backfield," said tight end Marsh:
"They were right on top of him (Wangler). There was
nothing he could do.
Wangler, when told that Marsh was :open on the
play, explained it this way. "Carter and Clayton were
covered and so was Butch (Woolfolk), so I couldn't
pitch out. I tried to cut, but I probably should've gone
to Doug (Marsh).
"I think if we had more time, we would've scored,"
added Wangler. "But we have to get it done earlier.
We can't rely on a last minute win."
SPOR TS OF THE DAIL Y
s
Blueharrers sneak into nationalRs
By JOHN FITZPATRICK
Combatting slippery conditions on
MSU's snow-covered 10,000-meter
course, Michigan finished fourth with
124 in the NCAA regional champion-
ships yesterday at East Lansing,
behind the 84 points of surprise victor
Indiana.
The Wolverines needed to finish in the
top four positions to qualify for the
national championships to be held at
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania next week. A
hard-charging Spartan team almost
upset Michigan's plans for a trip to the
nationals with a close fifth-place finish
with 127 points.
The team race was competitive, as
pre-race favorite Wisconsin was one
point behind Indiana, but the run for the
individual title was no contest, as the
Badger's Jim Stinzi took command of
the race at the two-mile mark and
coasted in with a hundred-yard margin
of victory in 31:32.1.
Dan Heikkinen led the Wolverine
squad with his fourth-place finish, and
frosh Brian Deimer continued to cause
upperclassmen's heads to shake in
disbelief as he stormed across the finish
in sixth place. Rounding out the top
scorers for Michigan were Dave Lewis
in 21st, Danny Beck in 48th, and Bill
Weidenbach in 56th.
:Canucks clip Wings
DETROIT (AP)-Rick Blight and
Rick Vaive scored third period goals .69
The victory was the first in five
games for the Canucks. Detroit now
carries a 4-7-2 record for the season.
Vancouver is now 5-4-5 in the Smythe
Division and holds a three-point lead
over Chicago.
Sixers nip C eltics
,PHILADELPHIA (AP)--Forward
Julius Erving hit 37 points to boost the
Philadelphia 76ers to a 95-94 National
Basketball Association win over the
Boston Celtics last night.
The loss shattered a six-game Boston
winning .streak as Philadelphia over-
took the Celtics for first place with a 12-
3 record. The Celtics dropped to 10-3.
With 58 seconds left, Erving hit a field
goal from the right corner to put the
Sixers ahead 95-92.
Boston rookie forward Larry Bird,
who had 22 points on the night, hit a one-
hand layup with 41 seconds left. But 26
seconds later Bird "missed a jump shot
and Celtics' center David Cowens also
hit the rim on a jumper with 2 seconds
left.
I"
LATE FLURRY FALLS SHORT
Iishhnd icers
By GARY LEVY scored three consec
Specialto the Daily goals in their six-go
SOUTH BEND-The Michigan icers turning a 3-1 deficit in
seemed to be playing their usual hockey going into the third pe
game. After jumping out to an' early IN THE SECOT
lead, the Wolverines would falter in the Wolverines were ply
second period, losing their lead. But penalties, as they pla
last night, when it was time for the much of the period.
comeback, it was a little too late. "You can't take pe
Trailing 10-6 with five minutes to play after penalty and ex'
in the final period, Michian reeled off game," said Farrell.
three consecutive goals-in a span of 32 After the Irish a
seconds, pulling within one goal, but the goals in the final pe
Fighting Irish of Notre Dame didn't let the icers didn't give
it happen, posting an 1-9 victory over c
the previously unbeaten Wolverines at coisgalTb
the Notre Dame Athletic and Con- F1RelT.(E
VocationCenter. Scoring: x: M-Reid (E
voction 2. M-Tippett (unassste
The Wolverines remain atop the (olver) '10:12; 4. ND--Bro
firest
utive power play
al second period,
nto a 7-5 advantage
eriod.
ND period the
lagued by several
ayed short-handed
nalty after penalty
pect to stay in the
dded three more
niod it seemed as
for Michigan. But
up, scoring three
etween 15:00 and
RIOD
aves, Richmond) 4:57;
) 7:51; 3. M--Eaves
,wnschlble (unassisted)
loss 11=9
15:32 by Billy Reid, Dan Lerg and
Roger Bourne, and it looked as though
the never-say-die Wolverines might
pull off another victory.
"WE JUST KEPT plugging away.
The other team layed back and we got
lucky and shoved three in there;" said
Farrell. "I thought we were going to tie
it.",
But with the Wolverines applying
pressure, trying to tie the score, Notre
Dame's Kevin Humphreys put the
game on ice with 57 seconds to play, and
the Irish had salvaged a split in the
series.
18:4i.
Penalties: ND-Brown (high-sticking) 4:52; M-
May (hooking) 7:25; M-Loundberg (slashing) 8:56
M-Richmond (interference) 18:51; M-May
MICH.
First downs.............. 16
Rushing (att/yds) ......... 40/164
Passing (comp/att/iut).... 14/28/4
Passing yads.............. 159
Fumibles (nest) ...... 3/1
Punts (no/avg)............ 4/21.8
Penaltes (ne/yds)......... 1/13
SCORING
PURDUE
16
53/175
16/27/1
2/1
5/31.8
5/3
Clayton .........................
Purdue
McCall..........................
Augustynlak.....................
Jones ...................
Hlerrmann...................
1
att
24
15
S
6
-11
yds
8
57
16
-43
-11
avg
4.7
3.9
2
-7.1
yds
159
yds
Purdue ..............7. 7 7 10
Michigan ............... 6 15
SCORING PLAYS
*Pnrn-M~I a2yE.run( Seblkick)
A irr 3. i .ins.. v .~J- im2..t lk"
PASSING
-24 MICHIGAN
-21 att comp lt
Wangler................. 28 14 4
PURDUE
att comp fat