really Super
In the first of a two-part Super Bowl preview, Daily
sportswriter Scott M. Lewis examines the personalities of
Dallas and Pittsburgh, the two opposing teams. Lewis will
assess the strengths and weaknesses of both clubs in
tomorro w'slDai/.
By SCOTT M. LEWIS
Tomorrow's Super Bowl championship contest
between AFC winner Pittsburgh and NFC king
Dallas showcases the league's most dynamic, most
effective, most balanced-in short, the
BEST-teams. During the last half of the season,
they ruled the NFL, and no one could end their
regime.
In fact, this clash-which will be seen by an
estimated worldwide television audience of 175
million, plus 80,000 more in Miami's Orange
Bowl-should be the most inspiring post-season ex-
travaganza since Super Bowl X, when the participan-
ts, curiously enough, were Pittsburgh and Dallas.
FOR THE FIRST time in the 12-year history of the
Super Bowl, the NFL playoff system has produced a
rematch. In 1976, the Steelers won their second
straight championship, defeating Dallas, 21-17, in the
Orange Bowl. Pittsburgh hasn't returned to the Super
Bowl since that momentous afternoon.
Dallas has been more fortunate. The talent-rich
Texas team came back last year and whipped Den-
ver, 27-10. The Cowboy squad which faced Pittsburgh
in 1976, however, included 12 rookies and snuck into
the playoffs via a wild card berth. Dallas coach Tom
Landry now admits that his team was outmanned by
the hardened, unflappable Steelers.
Landry and Pittsburgh coach Chuck Noll are alike
in several ways. During their careers, both were
defensive players, Landry with the Giants and Noll
primarily with Cleveland. Both had miserable recor-
ds in their first year of head coaching in the pros.
Both are imaginative thinkers, though Landry is
natchup
more of an innovator. And, unlike some members of
Landry's team, both coaches are tight-lipped, in-
troverted men.
DALLAS STRONG SIDE linebacker Thomas
("Call me Hollywood") Henderson does not follow his
coach's quiet example. During the past week he has
raised some eyebrows with outrageous oratory. The.
NFL's "Most Voluable Player" called Pittsburgh's
Jack Lambert a "chimpanzee" and claimed that he
took a welding class so he could "cut through the
Steel Curtain."
All the verbal sparring and pre-game hoopla can be
laid to rest tomorrow afternoon when the real battle
will be waged. And speaking of wagering, a few foot-
ball fans have more than a few dollars riding on the
game's outcome.
The analytical overview of Super Bowl XIII, which
will appear on tomorrow's pages, may help some
prospectors hit it big.
But don't bet on it.
LOSS WOULD DIM TITLE HOPES
Stubborn Bucks
test Blue
BY DAVE RENBARGER
"From top to bottom, the Big Ten is
the toughest basketball conference in
the nation." This was the over-
whelming consensus of the conference
coaches, Johnny Orr and Eldon Miller
included, at last November's pre-
season media get-together.
AT THE MOMENT, however, Orr is
hoping that the top isn't a whole lot bet-
ter than the bottom, because if it is, his
Wolverines have about as much chance
of going to the NCAA's as guard Keith
Smith has of making the All-Big -Ten
,academic team.
This afternoon at Crisler Arena the
Michigan team will find out just how
tough the top of the conference is, when
they tipoff against Miller's league-
leading and undefeated Ohio State
squad. The Wolverines already know
how tough the competition is at the bot-
tom, needing forty full minutes to
conquer winless Northwestern last
Thursday.
But the Wildcats don't have a guy like
Herb Williams in the pivot. They don't
have anybody even vaguely resembling
Kelvin Ransey playing guard. They
aren't 10-4 overall, 5-0 in the Big Ten, or
ranked as high as 11th nationally,
either.
THE BUCKEYES are a whole lot bet-
ter than Northwestern, and Michigan is
going to have to play a whole lot better
than it did against Northwestern in or-
der to keep the fans interested for a
while longer this winter.
A loss to OSU would effectively
eliminate the Wolverines from the title
chase, putting them four games off the
pace with Michigan State (twice),
Illinois (twice) and others still to play.
But with a victory, the Wolverines
would-still have a fighting chance, with
a two-game winning streak and some
momentum of their own.
Right now, the team with all the
momentum is Ohio State. The fast-
finishing Bucks won two close games on
the road last week before edging Min-
nesota at home on Thursday by three
points. In fact, only one of OSU's five
wins has been by more than a five-point
margin.
"OHIO STATE has everything you
want in a basketball team," said
Wolverine assistant coach Bill Frieder.
"They've got quick guards who can
shoot and big forwards who can post
well and rebound."
Leading the way for the Buckeyes
will be Ransey and Williams, the most
productive one-two punch in the league.
Ransey currently rates as the second
leading scorer in the Big Ten, hitting at
a 22.4 clip. Williams, the 6-10 super-
soph, checks in as the conference's
leading rebounder (12.7 a game) and
third-leading scorer (21.2 ppg).
"Herbie's been really super this
year," said Orr of the defensive
challenge that awaits foul-prone Phil
Hubbard and his back-up, Paul Heuer-
man. "As a freshman, he played only
so-so, but now he's really put it
together. I think he's the toughest cen-
ter in the Big Ten right now."
"THE KEY for Ohio State's success
is that Williams has been playing so
well," agreed Frieder. "But you can't
concentrate too much on him and Ran-
sey. If you do, then their other guys will
kill you."
The "other guys" in Miller's lineup
will be forwards Jim Smith and Carter
Scott, plus midget (5-9) guard Todd
Penn. This same lineup has started the
last six games for the streaking Bucks.
Michigan will most likely counter
with Hubbard, Heuerman and Mike
McGee across the front-line and Marty
Bodnar and Smith in the backcourt. Orr
plans to use Tommy Staton more at
forward to spell the slumping McGee,
and you can bet that forward Alan Har-
dy will also see his share of action.
WOLVERINE TALES: Hardy, who
threw in the winning bucket against
Northwestern, is the best shooter in the
Big Ten. "City Al" has hit on 24 of 35 at-
tempts for a 68.5 percen-
tage . . . Meanwhile, McGee's six-point
effort dropped him from the top spot in
scoring. He currently ranks fourth with
a 20.2 average ...
The Bodnar twins and Buckeye Car-
ter Scott were high school teammates
in Barberton, Ohio. "He played center
for us and got most of the rebounds,"
recalled Marty. . . Hubbard has been
suffering from a bad case of foulitis,
having fouled out of three straight con-
tests ...
Ransey has a remarkable streak of
consistency going. The 6-1 backcourt
ace, an All-Big Ten selection last year,
has scored in double figures in 45 games
in a row, spanning three years. . . Ohio
State is off to their best start in 17
years, when they won their first 12
outings ... But the Buckeyes haven't
won at Crisler since 1973 and have lost
eight of the last nine meetings with the
Wolverines . . . Art Schlichter, Woody
Hayes' favorite quarterback, will be in
uniform for the Bucks today. Since
trading in his helmet for the sneakers
after the Gator Bowl fiasco,
Schlichter's stats read one appearance,
one field goal attempt, one basket, two
points.
The Michigan Daily-Saturday, January 20, 1979-Page 7
full court
WiPRESS
Wolverines teeer .
... without a leader
By GEOFF LARCOM EVANSTON
B RRRRR.
Bi t IRwasnt funny, what transpired in McGaw Hall against the
Wildcats Thursday night.
Michigan, which had been previously tabbed as a possible title
challenger in the Big Ten, had to scratch, sweat, and crawl for every single
point against brutal Northwestern, which is now a deadly 0-5 in the conferen-
ce.
It was nearly McGaw sadness for Michigan.
Here were the Big Ten's only legitimate pushovers matching Michigan
bucket for bucket, simply owning both the offensive and defensive boards,
while still shooting only 35 per cent. The Wolverines were lucky to emerge
alive.
It would have been different if Michigan had roared into Evanston on the
heels of a prolonged winning streak as they did two years ago, when the
Wildcats dumped the top-ranked Blue cagers. In that case, you could have
ascribed the result to looking ahead to OSU today.
But that was hardly the situation. Michigan had to win. The letdowns
had already occurred; three beauties in a row, in fact. If ever Michigan
should have come out flying, it was this time.
Yet it took a clutch heave by Alan Hardy to pull the Wolverines out of the
soup and preserve a fleeting ray of promise for this season.
For the troubled Wolverines only one thing is clear. Johnny Orr isn't
about to go down the tube without trying every solutio he knows to get the
team back on track.
Against Northwestern, Orr started Paul Heuerman at center and moved
Phil Hubbard to forward, hoping his crippled star could avoid foul trouble
there.
It was no dice, although Orr gets an 'A' in this corner for effort.
Hub fouled out with 4:52 remaining after being forced to sit out for eight
minutes earlier in the game. Without him, Michigan was outrebounded by
the 'Cats, 46-28.
Successful or not, though, Orr kept shuffling his players, in hopes of
igniting any kind of first half flame.
"I'm tired of us playing lethargically," Orr said. "I just wanted to see
who could do something out there."
Orr obviously meant what he said. When Mike McGee failed to snap out
of his first half blue funk, his coach sat him on the bench for 12 minutes of the
second stanza.
It took courage, pulling the Big Ten's leading scorer out with the game
hanging by a hair. If nothing else, it's clear who's running the show right
now. For better or worse, Orr is in command.
So with their two stars operating at sub-par levels-for them at
least-Michigan had to resort to a variety of weapons to stay in the
ballgame.
There was Marty Bodnar, receiving the ball outside and swishing it in
one continuous motion. Then Tom Staton getting a key steal and sinking two
improbable jumpers. And finally Keith Smith, seeing nobody open, faking
once, twice, and then finally dropping it in the hole on the drive.
This is Michigan'scharacter at present: a collection of specific talents
with no leader to run the show.
It wasn't this way before Christmas break. Although not the superstar of
old, Phil Hubbard was consistently good for 15 points while leading Michigan
in rebounding each game. The fast break still existed at that point.
In some ways, this team reminds me of last year's. With little inside
strength, the outside shot has become its life's breath. If Marty Bodnar is off
or keyed on, things can get pretty tight.
So, you have to wonder, if Northwestern's front court can walk all over
Michigan inside, what will Herb Williams and Jim Smith of Ohio State be
able to do today?
Only Mike McGee and Alan Hardy can provide the answers. The only
Blue threats both outside and inside, they've got to start producing for
Michigan's first division prayers to be answered.
Hardy, a .600 percentage shooter so far, must put more than ten minutes
of solid two-way basketball together. McGee has to realize how much he
means to this team. His talent spells the difference between respectability
and disgrace for Michigan.
Anymore Northwesterns for the Omaha speedster and it'll soon be all
over for the Wolverines this year.
CORRECTION
SCHOOLKIDS RECORDS'
THE LORD OF THE RINGS
The price of $18.99 quoted in Friday, Jan. 19
ad is for the picture disc. The regular price
is $8.99. We regret any inconvenience.
.1
I
Ar rnoto
MICHIGAN'S MIKE McGEE slams the ball into and away from Northwestern
center Brian Jung (3) in one of the few rebounds the Wildcats failed to grab in
Thursday night's game. McGee will have to do better than his six-point per-
formance in today's game against Ohio State.
FROSH FILL VACANCIES
Tracksters ready to defend title
By STAN BRADBURY
The Michigan track team officially
opens its indoor season today at the
Eastern Michigan Open in Ypsilanti.
Coach Jack Harvey, pleased with this
year's prospects, says he won't be run-
ning his full team at EMU.
"We like to open up the season at
home with the Michigan Relays (Jan.
27). The first meet isn't really that
big," said Harvey.
The meet marks the beginning of the
Wolverines' defense of their Big Ten in-
door and outdoor track titles.
"Naturally, our title defense is where
we are putting the most emphasis,"
remarked Harvey. "Then, secondly, on
national competition." The Wolverines
placed sixth in the NCAA indoor cham-
pionships held last March at Detroit's
Cobo Hall. "I think we can shoot for
that again this year," Harvey added.
As a general prediction for the up-
coming season, Harvey commented,
"From what I've seen so far I think we
will be competitive shooting for the Big
Ten championship indoors." He added
that Indiana would supply the toughest
challenge for the Wolverines, with
Wisconsin and Illinois close behind.
"It's going to be a really close meet,"
Harvey stated. "Indiana is strong in the
field and we're not. They're going to
score a lot of points in the field events.
"Our best asset as a team is to score a
lot of points but not necessarily first-
place points. We'll be getting a lot of
thirds and fourths," Harvey added.
The Wolverines will be operating this
year minus three outstanding athletes,
but a healthy group of freshman
recruits could make up the difference.
Gone are James Grace (last year's
captain), Jim Stokes and Bill
Donakowski. Included in the new crop
of freshman hopefuls are football
tailback Butch Woolfolk, Andrew Bruce
and Ronald Affoon.
Grace was on two winning relay
teams and took a first and a second in-
dividually for Michigan last year in the
Big Ten, while Stokes finished second in
the nationals last season. Donakowski
won two seconds indoors and a pair of
firststoutdoors individually in '78.
Woolfolk is the fastest runner ever
to wear the Maize and Blue. He won the
100-meter dash at the Prep Inter-
national Meet in Chicago in a blistering
10.1 seconds and the 200 meter dash in
20.3.
Bruce, from Trinidad and Tobago,
has to his credit a 10.3 timing in the 100-
meter dash and 21.0 clocking at 200
meters. Affoon, also from Trinidad and
Tobago, was his country's 400 meter
champion (18-under) and is considered
Trinidad's top future Olympic prospect.
Leading the returning tracksters are
co-captains Steve Elliot, a distance
specialist, and sprinter Arnette
Chisholm. Other top individuals coming
back for another season are middle
distance twins Greg and Tim Thomas,
high jumper Mike Lattany, 600-meter
man Kenny Gardner and long jumper
James Henry.
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Caps conquer Wings
By The Associated Press
LANDOVER, Md. - Robert Picard
and Ryan Walter continued their hot
scoring streaks with goals 31 seconds
apart in the second period as the
Washington Capitals defeated the
Detroit Red Wings 5-1 in a National
Hockey League game last night.
The triumph enabled the Caps to
break a tie with the Red Wings, who
dropped into last place in the Norris
Division.
Picard, who has 24 points in his last 15
games, scored a power-play goal at
13:24 of the second period on an assist
from Bob Sirois, who scored a goal for
Washington in the first period.
Tom Rowe and Gary Rissling scored
for Washington in the third period, and
Paul Woods scored for Detroit to ruin a
shutout bid by Gary Inness.
The Red Wings have one victory in
their last 13 games and are 0-14-3 in
their last 19 road contests.
Women cagers brace)
for Irish attack
By LIZ MAC
The Michigan women's basketball team will attempt to put a halt to a three-
game slide when it takes on the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame today at Crisler
Arena.
The Wolverine offense has been off target as of late, hitting 34 per cent from
the floor in Thursday's loss to Northwestern. Before that, the cagers connected for
47 per cent in a losing effort against Ohio State.
Freshwomen Diane Dietz and Katie McNamara lead the Blue shooters, having
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