Saturday, February 3, 1973 "rr's saving grace: Canha m's on his side { --john popanek I DON CANHAM sat back in his plush swivel chair behind a great mahogany desk, his confident face just a bit reddened, as he talked about the current state of affairs of the Michigan basketball team and its persecuted coach Johnny Orr. Canham obviously likes Orr. Everybody does. As a man, Orr is gracious, friendly, and always smiling. He's just like your favorite uncle. And there was Canham, a man who has built a reputation as possibly the most ambitious and innovative major college athletic director in the country. In his four years at the athletic directorship, he has turned Michigan's athletic program toward prosperity, an achievement predicated on one simple secret: To make money, you need fans, and to get fans you need to win. So when he took over in 1968, Canham eased out the popular but mediocre football coach Bump Elliott and brought in Bo Schembecher. He replaced the retiring wrestling genius Cliff Keen with young Rick Bay, who is expertly carrying on Michi- gan's winning tradition. And perhaps the most brilliant and am- bitious of all the coaches is Brian Eisner, who has fashioned a nationally-contending tennis team. And now, while thousands of fans foul the air in Crisler Arena with boos and jeers and crys of "Orr must go!" the message must be getting across to Canham that the fans want a new coach who can finally produce a winner. "Listen," he said yesterday, "I don't give a damn if all those people boo. They certainly have a right to. But my personal opinion is that those people don't know anything about basketball. "For one thing, anybody who thinks Michigan has the best talent in the conference is dead wrong. And for another, we're not even half-way through the season yet. I'm telling you that the team that wins the championship will have three losses." It may be true that the Michigan fans had dreams a bit too lofty for reality, but I don't believe anyone expected the Wol- verines to go through the tough Big Ten season undefeated. In this league, certain games are almost guaranteed losses: Ohio State at Columbus, Minnesota at Minneapolis, Indiana at Bloom- ington, MSU at East Lansing. Road games are tough, they are supposed to separate the good teams from the bad ones. So what happens? Michigan wins its first two road games at Ohio State and Michigan State, then loses two sloppy ones at home. Poof, the fans scream that Michigan is out of the race and suddenly "Orrmust go.", "I can't understand how loyalties can change like that," Canham says. "Before this year, Orr's reputation was just the opposite. In fact, when he had very little material, like when he had Rudy Tomjanovich and no one else, he got great mileage out of his players." Well, that year Michigan was 10-14. The year after that, the year of the Wilmore-Brady-Johnson super-sophs, he went 197 ahd into the NIT. Last year, the Wolverines careened to a disappointing 14-10 and this season is on the verge of becoming a disaster. "Orr must go!" has been heard around here as long as "Off the Pigs!" and "Right on!" Are all those screaming fans ignorant, spoiled, cruel or what? "I really don't think Orr has had a fair shake," says Canham. He thinks that a remark in Sports Illustrated before the season began that said in effect that Orr does not believe in defense and "has trouble leading his team out of the dressing room" was reprehensible and irresponsible. The remark gave Orr a coast-to-coast dog tag, evidenced by the talk among the effete New York writers covering the ECAC Holiday Festival in Madison Square Garden during Christmas. During the tournament, Campy Russell and Henry Wilmore shined at various times, but the Wolverines, favored to win the whole thing, floundered at the hands of St. John's and were embarrassed by weak Manhattan. "Any decent coach in the country could take those five players and make them a national contender,"said sports- caster Bob Wolfe, on the Garden cable TV hookup. Most of the writers in the press room echoed similar sentiments. Maybe they, too, thought Michigan had a better team than it showed. Anyway, the word is out even among those who never saw Michigan play: Orr has been branded as a poor coach. Canham thought hard. "I can't do anything about what people think, they're entitled to their own opinion. Orr has done as well as any other coach in the conference, and the season's not over yet. "You can't evaluate a guy in the middle of a season. Hell, I never worry about a one-year situation, anyway. Winning and losing is not the only thing we're concerned about a the Univer- sity of Michigan. We're not like those wild places where they hire a guy for two years, then fire him because he didn't get a championship. "You should see the stack of letters I got that said 'Fire Bo Schembechler' because Bo didn't kick the field goal in the Ohio State game. I can't listen to all these nuts." But the sad fact that remains is not that Michigan lost a couple of games, but that it has played so inconsistently; that Orr attributes losing to Indiana and Purdue to "too many missed shots," or "mental collapses." "Look," says Canham, "I'm not going to pull my hair out over a one-point loss to Purdue or an unfortunate loss to Indiana. Unless you have talent like UCLA, a basketball team is going to have a few bad games. Minnesota had two bad games, Ohio State-what's happened to them? "John Orr, in my evaluation, has done a good job. I wouldn't say that I'm happy the way the season has gone so far, but hell, I'm not going to blame the coach for that. "Sure he's frustrated, just as the players are frustrated, but you've got to remember that if a few baskets had gone in that didn't, we'd be in great shape." So, maybe the fans can scream till they're blue in the fate. For now, Canham is standing firmly behind Orr. But it.:is mid-season, and Michigan still has a chance, if only a slim one. At this point of evaluation, it does look like the Wolverines are lacking a thing or two: a good floor leader a la Danny Fife, and a winning attitude. But there is also something else missing; an intangible. It is an etheral kind of spirit that can get inside.five individuals and make them a consistently good team. Canham, a former coach himself, knows all about 'it, and I think he knows that it isn't there. THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Sever Ernst pulls matlmien past Iowa By JIM ECKER Heavyweight Gary Ernst's 7-1 victory pulled Michigand from impending defeat to vic-! tory last night in a dual meetc against Iowa. Ernst's successt over Jim Washeck erased the NIGHT EDITORS: Hawkeyes' threatening two- point advantage and provid- FRANK and ROGER ed the Wolverines with an 18- 17 triumph, the grapplers Greco-Roman champion, turned ninth consecutive victory this the match around. season. A quick takedown, followed by Although Coach Rick Bay was a near fall, put Ritzman on the happy with the meet's result, he ropes. Seconds later, the match didn't think it was an especially ended. Ritzman's shoulders level- outstanding performance by either ed the mat, Referee Claude Wi- gqpad Ibanks spanked the canvas, and: squad. sy Holm had himself a win-by-fall.j "Both teams were really slug- Michigan had lost all but one pointf gish tonight," observed Bay. "For of its seven-point lead. Iowa wast a big meet, everyone was really back in the meet. slow." The meet started on an ominous The stunned Ritzman explain- note for Michigan. Jim Brown, ed what happened in the eerie Michigan's normally reliable 118- quiet of the Michigan locker pound sparkplug, lost convincingly room. Did he get tired? to Iowa's Dan Sherman. ' Brown "No, that's just it. I didn'tI had defeated Sherman in the Mid- get gassed at all. I got out tot lands Tournament earlier this that early lead and thought 'I've year, but the Hawkeye had the got that turkey. Just play it coolI Wolverine's number last night. and he's all mine!'" Then whatr Bill Davids gained Michigan a happened? short-lived 4-3 lead when he reg- "I just had a mental lapse. Ie istered a superior 15-2 decision got overconfident and let him c over a former state champ (Holm) take control . . . I1 named Tim Cysewski. But when couldn't believe it when it wasI Jeff Guyton lost a close 3-2 de- over. I couldn't believe it." E cision at the 134-pound class, the "We had it (the meet) all wrap- Wolverines looked to be in ped up. A victory by Roger would; trouble. have ended it."c On Thursday, Bay had called The Wolverines maintained theirt the contest's first three matches tenuous one-point edge through the "the key to the meet." Smiles John Ryan-Dan Wageman 2-2 draw were few as Michigan left that at 177 pounds. But when Dave trio of events on the short end of Curby dropped a physical 4-1 ver- a 6-4 tally. dict to Hawkeye Fred Penrod, Iowa by reversing the disadvantageous "referee's position" for another two points. With a 4-0 lead, Mich- igan smelled victory. Jerry Hub- bard, Big Ten champion and head cheerleader, egged his muscular teammate on. "You want to eat tonight? Huh? You want raw steak to- night, don't you Gar? Don't you?" implored 'Hub.' The temp- tation was too great. Ernst worked for the pin, settled for a predicament situation, wrestled off the final seconds and the vic- tory, both personal and team, was won. Before the meet, Coach Bay predicted a tough evening. But this tough? "It was just as tough as we figured," claimed Michigan's men- tor. "We certainly didn't think it was going to be easy." Jerry Hubbard thought the match went about as planned. "About right," chipped in last year's NCAA 150-pound runnerup. "Except for Roger (Ritzman) get- ting pinned, it went about right." Billy Davids, perhaps Michigan's most impressive wrestler 1 a s t night, preferred to look ahead. "The big one's tomorrow," offer- ed the 126-pound scrapper. "This one's over, we might as well for- get it." The "big one" Davids referred to starts at 3:30 this afternoon fol- lowing the gymnastics meet. Min- nesota furnishes the opposition, an- other hurdle on Michigan's path to an undefeated dual-meet season. INSPIRED EFFOR' Daily Photo by STEVE KAGAN GARY ERNST GRABS a waist and an ankle in last night's heavyweight attraction against Hawkeye Jim Washeck. Ernst's victory erased a two-point Iowa advantage and propelled Michigan to a narrow 18-17 dual meet victory. But Michigan rallied admirably in the next three matches. Bill Schuck took Mike Bostwick 6-4, Jerry Hubbard downed Chuck Yagla 6-1 and Mitch Mendrygal edged Jan Sanderson 5-4. After six outings, Michigan led 13-6. When Roger Ritzman came out strong against Don Holm, victory seemed imminent. The DeKalb, Ill., senior built an early 5-0 lead and led 7-1 mid- way through the second period. But then Holm, a former national Pistons cre Hawks sha By The Associated Press I DETROIT-Dave Bing and Bob. Lanier teamed up for 49 points to spark the Detroit Pistons to a 114- 104 National Basketball Associa- tion victory over the Philadelphia, 76ers last night. It was the 76ers' 14th straight defeat and 52nd loss in 56 NBA games this season and the Pis- tons' third straight victory. grabbed a harrowing 17-15 lead. Curby's defeat set the stage for a e Ernst's heroics. Ernst, a former state champion By ROBIN WAGNER hailing from Saline, came pre- special To The N aiR pared for his chore. Just seconds E S elANSINGT-e Iai wil after the opening horn, a takedown EAST LANSING - In a wild gave the Michigan heavyweight a game featuring a wilder finish 2-0 lead. Ernst kept Iowa's Was- Michigan State's Mark Calder heck riding the mat the remainder scored on a breakaway with only of the opening canto, sitting back 57 seconds remaining as the Spar- near his foe's ankles and wearingi tans came from behind to down Washeck out.d an inspired Michigan team 6-5: Ernst opened the middle period last night. The game had it all. Brawls, confusion, emotion ,spirit, and crazy fans. The. lead changed hands three times during the con- am Pilly;:52i aiti. l~lilly; test and an incredible third period contained six goals and 11 pen- alties. i C elt ICI The maize and blue opened the scoring early in the first period. On a breakaway set up by a Ju- Lanier had 26 points and grab- lian Nixon pass, Don Fardig's bed off 17 rebounds, while. Bing shot was blocked by State goalie finished with 23 points and a sea- Ron Clark. Alertly following the son high of 16 assists. Eleven of play, Don Dufek slipped the puck Bing's assists came in the first past the sprawled Clark.L half, a team record. At 13:39 of the first period the * * * Spartans tied the game. After car- BOSTON-Pistol Pete Maravich rying the puck the length of the scored 37 points and the Atlanta ice, John Sturges let go with a scokre 37cpita dathe Alatashot that was deflected in front Hawks capitalized at the free of the net to Chris Murfey. Mur- throw line last night in hanging on fey proceeded to unload a shot for a 100-99 National Basketball which eluded Robbie Moore into Association victory over the Bos- the twine. tan Celtics. Two minutes later, another of Maravich hit for 14 points, in- Michigan's all too familiar defen- cluding a decisive free throw sive lapses occurred. While the with 44 seconds left, in the Spartans were short-handed, Frank fourth period as the Hawks held DeMarco intercepted a Michigan off a Boston rally and handed pass, unmolestedly skated in on the Celtics only their 10th loss Moore, watched the helpless net- in 51 games. minder commit himself and lifted Atlanta, which had lost three the puck high into the net. previous meetings with Boston, Except for this defensive error, built a commanding lead with the teams played even hockey in nine s t.r a i g h t points midway the first period. The second twen- through the third period. The ty-minute session was a different Hawks were in front 77-68 heading story, however. Michigan appear- into the finale and the Celtics were ed disorganized and lackidazical unable to catch up. throughout the period, but stayed f2 tartan close on the scoreboard. Enjoying a man advantag with five minutes gone in th period, MSU increased its ma gin to 3-1 on a tipin by Bill S pola. The Wolverines retaliate quickly with a power play go of their own. From the corne Rick Mallette fed Tom Lind kog, whose shot was deflectedt Pierre Sarazin. Sarazin letp with a wrist shot which barge through a crowd at the go, mouth and somehow found ti twine. Down 3-2 with twenty minu of play remaining, Michigan cax out on the* ice with the killer stinct they had been lacking year. Less than two minutes i the period, Fardig, the recipi of superb passes from Nixon a Dufek, nonchalantly approach Clark and lifted the puck off t post and in. Literally seconds later (two s goals Ichill lecers, onds as a matter of fact), Spar- Michigan shorthanded, and this e tan Steve Culp deposited the puck arena going berserk, Culp lifted e n the upper portion of the Michi- a short shot over Moore for a tie r-. fan net behind Moore. Was it time game. Just 23 seconds later, Cald- i- or the Maize and Blue to pick up er scored on another breakaway, d and go home? Not quite. and that was all she wrote. al ,oAkhustling Randy Neal dead- Onthe whole the Michigan r, locked the game four minutes pucksters played their most in- s- later. While forechecking, Neal spired hockey of the year. The to stole the puck from astounded first line of Nixon-Dufek-Fardig go State defenseman Paul Pavelich, forechecked well and consistent- d found nothing but ice between ly kept the pressure on State. thi l nd Ck aime- Rick Mallette was also outstand- heI diately scored.. ing, singlehandedly killing off With nine minutes 'remaining in the nagging Wolverine penalties. tes the game, Gordie Cullen put the me Wolverines ahead, but not for The two teams resume action in- good. On a power play Randy Tru- tonight at 8 P. M. in the Michigan all deau uncorked a slap shot which Coliseum. Michigan's record .is nto hit the backboards hopped over now 4-20, while the Spartans stand ent and in front of the net and onto at 16-7-1. Hopefully the Wolverines nd the waiting stick of Cullen. Sur- can save a little of that determina- ied prised but not dumbfounded, Cul- tion and killer instinct for tonight's the len planted the puck in the net for a 5-4 Wolverine advantage. game and bring the hometown ec- With 1:'16 left on the clock, folks a long awaited victory. '. GIsous : NBA Detroit 114, Philadelphia 104 Atlanta 100, Boston 99 Milwaukee 114, Buffalo 108 Baltimore 89, New York 77 ABA New York 106, Dallas 93 Memphis 114, Utah 110 Kentucky 118, San Diego 106 COLLEGE BASKETBALL Penn 76, Yale 56 Brown at Princeton, ppd., flooding Columbia 84, Dartmouth 57 Howard 85, S. Carolina St. 73 Lowell Tech 78. Suffolk 69 Virginia St. 92, Campbell 79 I i I I i i Coi Pt I T? 4 Midwest Premiere TON IGHT "Undoubtedly the finest of the new Brazilian productions, and one of the most extraordinary films I have ever seen . . . one of the major works of cinema in this decade."-N.Y. TIMES FRI DAY-SATURDAY 7:00-8:00-9:00-10:00 MLB-3&4 $1.50 cont. Friends of Newsreel MACUNAIMA 1 GLE 16##E 4 maioonaeema) EASTMANCOLOR e 'The Marx Brothers and Fellini ... you'll laugh your head offI" /? e --Lyons, WPIX, New York OR " 0 " .. missing out on some of the DAILIES becausE of delivery ).mistakes? I A AA., '? DfA A r (4 (a disagree with a bill we sent you for THE DAILY? WE'D LIKE TO TRY TO STRAIGHT- EN OUT THAT PROBLEM, BUT WE LIVE THE GOOD LIFE s "THE MUMMERS" A Photographic Documentary by JOHN SCHOT TG flN I)lIDI AY alt hA linn lhArv Room and Board in a Co-op Free washers: dryers, 10c Coke machines, "guff," great people, decent food! CAN'T IF YOU DON'T LET US KNOW ABOUT IT. A .,.a.,. .L.... .:J.'I i I II