~Page Sixteen
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Saturday, September 14, 1974
NOTRE DAME, OHIO STATE LEAD PACK
National title up for grabs
By TOM CAMERON
The national scene for col-
legiate football looks similar
every year. What's an UPI or
AP rating' without Alabama,
Notre Dame, Ohio State, Okla-
homa, Texas, Nebraska, and
Michigan arranged in different
orders?
This year seems to be little
different.
Coach Ara Parseghian of
the defending national cham-
pion Fighting Irish will be
fielding a team that has been
seriously hurt by injuries and
"dormitory violations." Lost
to the Irish are Eric Penick,
their top returning rusher,
Ross Browner, who led the
squad in tackles, Luther Brad-
ley, a fine cornerback, and a
host of others.
But the talent is deep in South
Bend, and any team with quar-
terback Tom Clements, lineman
Steve Niehaus, linebacker Greg
Collins. and a weak schedule
will not be hurting in the polls.
Ohio State should again be
one of the too national teams
as Woody Hayes returns to
health to lead the Buckeyes.
The Bis Ten'defenses will have
their eye on star running back
Archie Griffin and his Big Ten
record of 1,577 total yards in
one season. Cornelius Greene,
the Rose Bowl's MVP, will re-
turn to his quarterback position.
Then there is Oklahoma which
now has an 18 game winning
streak going and will return 39
of 50 lettermen, including nine
offensive starters. The OU scor-
ing is led by quarterback Steve
Davis, halfback Joe Washing-
ton, and wide receiver Tinker
Owen.
Alabama will be looking for
its fourth consecutive South-
eastern Conference title. The
Tide saw the national cham-
pionship slip away in the
Sugar Bowl last season but
Alabama's legendary coach
Paul (Bear) Bryant wll be
looking for that top spot
again. Alabama is led by
standouts such as quarterback
Gary Rutledge and linebacker
Woodrow Rowe.
Southern California wil be
battling for the top spot :n the
Pacific Eight against a tough
UCLA and Stanford teams but
USC is favored to retain that
crown. USC will be ed by two
Heisman Trophy candidates on
offense in the speedy, tailback
Anthony Davis and quarterback
Pat Haden. Davis will ba trying
for a record of three seaso-ns of
over 1,000 yards.
Texas, even without the serv-
ices of All-American running
back Roosevelt Leaks :his sea-
son, will be strong as always.
Texas has seen the Cotton Bowl
seven straight times ny taking
the Southwest Conference ciam-
pionship every year since .168.
Louisiana State will :e the
one challenger standing a
chance to dethrone Alabama
in the Southeastern Confer-
ence. Although losing in the
Orange Bowl to Penn State
last season, the Tigers will
come back with all their top
runners. Brad Davis is the
leading rusher on the teams
and averaged five yards a
carry last year.
Not to be left out of the na-
tional scene are the Wolverines.
The fastest backfield Michigan
has ever put on the field will
be led by the strong Heisman
Trophy candidate Dennis Frank-
lin. If the Wolverine defense re-
mains as strong as it has the
last three years, leading the
nation in defense against scor-
ing twice and finishing second
once, Michigan fans could have
another chance to by tickets to
Pasadena.
Other teams to be seen in the
ratings this season are Ho'iston,
Nebraska, Arkansas, Arizona,
Penn State, and Pittsburgh.
WILD'S
7,
4
I
Doily Photo by KEN FINK
DENNIS FRANKLIN bases his hopes for postseason honors on his skill as an option quarterback.
Here, after faking to the fullback, he will either hand off to Gil Chapman, or keep the ball him-
self on a rollout around left end.
t.
JEANS
UNCLE KARL
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M.
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