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. A ANN ARBOR'S OLDEST & FINEST NAT RAL FOODS RtESTAU RANT 314 E. Liberty Ann Arbor 662-2019 7 days a week FEATURING... ENCHILADAS TOSTADAS AND NOW BURRITOS 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 FRAI