The Michigan Daily-Tuesday, November 13, 1979-Page 9
ALMOST PLAYED FOR OSU:
Simpkins glad to be clad in Blue
HONOR STUDENT COUNCIL
MEETING
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15
7:00 P.M.
1017 Angell Hall
By DAN PERRIN
Can you imagine Ron Simpkins in an
Ohio State uniform? That's one un-
pleasant thought, especially during the
week of the Michigan-Ohio State clash,
eh? Well, it almost happened.
Yes, Simpkins, Michigan's
linebacker extraordinaire was all set to
play his college football in Columbus.
That is, until he sat down and thought
about it.
"OHIO STATE was.definitely num-
ber one at first because they were the
first school to really contact me," said
Simpkins. "Hey, I was going scarlet
and gray; I was ready to go. And then I
sat down my senior year (in high
school) and looked at the situation.
"I looked at the depth chart and
realized what my best possibility would
be if I wanted to play right away," ad-
ded the Detroit Western High School
graduate. "I looked at the institution
and Michigan was the place for me."
When asked why he chose Michigan,
Simpkins responded with a fistful of
reasons. "The biggest thing I think are
the people. I came up here and fell in
love with the people. I also knew about
the academic situation here, and my
grades were high in high school and I
took a lot of pride in that.
"WHEN IT CAME down to choosing a
university, I wanted to go to one that
.was very high academically and good
athletically," continued the senior
defensive standout. "Michigan was the
best of two worlds."
When a blue chip athlete is being
recruited, he is usually visited by
several head coaches. Such was the
case with Simpkins. He was wooed by
many, including two well-known men-
tors, the infamous Woody Hayes, ex-
coach of the Buckeyes and Michigan
coach Bo Schembechler. Simpkins
recalls meeting both for the first time.
"Woody came to my house and I went
to visit there (Ohio State)," reminisced
the Michigan co-captain. "From what I
had seen on television - he was ranting
and raving and all that - I expected to
see a highly-motivated person. But he
was all calm and subdued and he talked
very slowly.
"I WAS SORT of waiting for him to
freak out, but it never happened," ad-
ded Simpkins. "His assistant was all
happy and jumpy, but Woody, just
talked to me and told me what a great
university Ohio State was.
"When I first met Bo, he was a person
you could really respect," continued
the mass communications major,
"because he came directly to the point
and he didn't pull any punches on me.
When he recruited me, he told me,
'You're a good athlete and if you're
good enough, you'll play here.'
"He didn't come and tell me, 'You're
great and we're going to build our team
around you' or 'I figure in one year
you'll probably be the best linebacker
in the country' or anything like that,"
added Simpkins.
WHILE SCHEMBECHLER may not
have told Simpkins he was the best
then, he hasn't hesitated to admit that
this year.
"There's no doubt in my mind Ron
Simpkins is an All-American, first
team," Schembechler said at last
week's media luncheon. "There is no
better linebacker in the country. He has
done everything we've expected of
him."
Schembechler's words certainly hold
water. Simpkins is the all-time leading
tackler at Michigan with 474 in his
career. After recording a single-season
record 174 tackles in 1977, he tallied 168
last year as a junior. And he currently
ranks second behind fellow inside
linebacker Andy Cannavino with 118
takedowns this year. Yet, he has failed
to get any All-American recognition.
And that bothers him.
"IT WAS VERY disappointing to me
that I didn't make All-American last
year," said Simpkins. "But there's not
too much I can say about that. The way
I play, anyway, is the team first and me
second."
While there's not too much Simpkins
can say about his lack of All-American
honors, he can say something about the
outcome of this week's 'Battle Royale'
with Ohio State.
The Buckeyes roll into town unbeaten
and ranked number three in the coun-
try, but if Ron Simpkins can help it, the
Wolverines will walk away winners.
As he puts it, "We just have to let it
all hang out."
Earn 8 Credits This Spring
in NEW HAMPSHIRE
THE NEW ENGLAND
LITERATURE PROGRAM
MASS MEETING
WED., NOV. 14
8 p.m.
225 Angell Hall
for more information
PROF. WALTER CLARK
Dept. of English
761-9579
I
Mendelssohn Theatre
Thursday - Saturday
Nov. 15,16, 17 at 8pm.
Sunday, Nov. 18 at 3pm.
All tickets $5.00 at the
PT.R Ticket Office in the
Michigan League only.
Call 313/764-0450
Puccini's in English
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STANDOUT MICHIGAN linebacker Ron Simpkins (40) jars the ball loose while tackling Purdue substitute quarter-
back Chuck Oliver (4) during last season's 24-6 triumph over the Boilermakers. Going into this week's game against
Ohio State, the senior from Detroit holds the all-time Michigan record for tackles with 474 in his career.
Nets not making line-up change
despite getting off to slow start
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP)
-Despite a start reminiscent of their,
first two years in the National Basket-
ball Association, the New Jersey Nets
are not planning drastic player
shakeups.
"We're not going to do anything
dramatic," New Jersey General
Manager Charlie Theokas said yester-
day. "We have enough talent to win our
share of games."
New Jersey, however, has won just
four of its first 14 games. In their first
two years in the NBA, the Nets lost 118
of 162 games before qualifying for the
playoffs last year with a 37-45 record.
"It's still too soon to worry," Theokas
said. "Last year we jumped out good
but the last two months we were
horrendous. Hopefully, we'll finish bet-
ter this year."
BULLETIN
At halftime of last night's
Monday night football game
between the Philadelphia
Eagles and the Dallaw
Cowboys, the Eagles were
leading, 17-7, including a 59-
yard Eagle field goal by Tony
Franklin with 27 seconds left in
the half.
The Nets big problem has been put-
ting the ball in the basket, a skill
required to win basketball games. They
have been particularly dreadful on the
road where they are winless in six
games. As a team, New Jersey is
shooting just 43.5 per cent.
"We've got to pull out of this real
quick or the circle will get really
vicious," said center Rich Kelley.
"Bodies will start flying out of here.
We've got to start winning some games
or the season will become
meaningless."
The Nets have had particular trouble
winning close games. Invariably, they
stay close for most of the game and
they fold in the last couple of minutes.
They lack a floor leader to take com-
mand when the game is on the line.
John Williamson is the leading scorer,
again, with a 20.9 average, but point league," Theokas said. "We're not
guard Eddie Jordan has been erratic.,saying, 'Let's go reach out yet'."
Mike Newlin, acquired from Houston a, Rookie Calvin Natt, who inherited the
day before the season, has not fit in and starting small forward position when
is confused about his role. * Bernard King was sent . to Utah for
New Jersey has had six days off since Kelley has been the most consistent
losing to Houston and San Antonio on a player.
Texas tour last week. They return to att is averaging 17.7 points and is
action Tuesday night at home aga .,st the leading rebounder with just under
Atlanta well rested and with three of 10 a game. Kelley is scoring at a 12.9
the next four games at Rutgers. pace with almost nine rebounds a
"This particular unit can win in this game.
THE DEADLINE
IS
HERE
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The AMERICAN PRESENCE
in
SOUTHERN AFRICA
by
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LSAT
and
fr Al AT
U.S. Senator PAUL TSONGAS
Dem. Massachusetts
Chairman Ad-hoc Congressional Committee on Southern Africa
Introduced by REP. PERRY BULLARD
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