Page Four THE MICHIGAN DAILY Saturday, September 16, 1972 'inti jrd v Santemher 16. 1972 THE MICHIGAN DAILY "Q"ruu'i iup'' imkuc I t '7I T MC G D I THrIHGNDIL audy epebr1,17 Re-tooled Bucks quest for title Peltian' Spartans please By BOB HEUER Despite the fervent hopes of Michigan partisans around the nation and lovers of decency everywhere, reports of Ohio State's demise as a football power have been grossly exag- gerated. Dreamn of kicking around that once awesome football giant from Columbus like a tin can, un- fortunately, seem to be destined to remain just that, dreams. After a mediocre 1971 cam- paign in which the Bucks, their ranks painfully depleted by in- juries, slid to a 6-4 record, the squad seems more than ready for the 1972 battles. With the talent amassed in Woody Hayes den on American Way, the Bucks must be con- sidered one of the favorites in this year's wide open Big Ten race. The rash of injuries which in- cluded an amazing 16 players re- quiring surgery last year, is ac- Ohio State Last year: 6-4, 5-3 in confer- ence, 3rd place Key Players: Morris Bradshaw, rb; Randy Grandishr, ib, George Hasenohrl, dt Outlook: All-around excellence keynotes team tually paying dividends this year for the Buckeyes in the form of increased depth throughout both the offense and defense. With 36 lettermen returning and the finest sophomore crop since the Rex Kern, Jack Tatum days, the Buckeyes look solid through and through. The offense should be solid with six regulars returning. An attack which through injuries was erratic last year should be bol- stered by returnees from off the crippled list. The quarterback situation is still unsolved, how- ever, and spring practice failed to produce a number-one signal caller. Greg Hare, a 6-3, 198 pound junior, filled in adaquately for a graduated Don Lamka last sea- son and has a headstart on this year's starting berth. But sopho- mores Dave Purdy and Steve Morrison are also in the running. Purdy did an outstanding job quarterbacking last year's frosh to a 3-0 record, while Morrison came on strong during spring drills and led his team to victory in the annual spring intra-squad game. TRADITIONALLY, a Woody Hayes' Ohio State* squad is the embellishment of six yards and a cloud of dust, and this year should make last the exception that proves the rule. Not that the talent was not there last year. Rick Galbos and Morris Brad- shaw, who both rushed for over five yards per carry last season, return for more action. Galbos, who led the team with 540 yards on the ground last sea- son, has switched from fullback to tailback to better utilize his speed and pass catching ability. Bradshaw will' be packing the tailback slot and rarin'- to go if he beats a challenge by Junior Elmer Lippert, who runs like .. . well, like Morris Bradshaw. But all these fine players may take a backseat to yet another Buckeye in the rough. Sophomore Harold "Champ" Henson, who runs a 4.5 second 40 yard dash, averaged 7.6 yards a carry while toting the pigskin for the frosh last season. If this were not enough, enter returnee John Bledsoe. Bledsoe started the first three games of 1971 and led the conference in rushing before going the injury route. Hayes' offensive frontline con- tains no slouches. Although All- America center Tom DeLeone has fled Columbus to greener pastures, as a result of gradua- tion, All-America candidate John Hicks will fill in at one of the tackle spots. Both guards are experienced and the squad is deep throughout the line. The Buckeyes defense is head- ed by a linebacking crew which Coach Woody Hayes has modest- ly called "perhaps the best three anywhere." Joining offensive transfer Rick Middleton, who played the position as a fresh- man, are juniors Vic Koegel and Randy Grandishar, who wasn't allowed to get his picture taken nude or something like that with the Playboy All-America team. KOEGEL, A COMPACT 6-1, 210 pounder, who lead the team in tackles last season, will be play- ing the middle. Grandishar will 'cover the open side in the Buck- eye defense; while Middleton handles the closed side. , The defensive line is anchored by tackle and co-captain George Hasenohrl. A genuine All- America prospect, Hasenohrl is starting his third season as a regular. Hayes plans to start two soph- omores in the front four, Pete Cusick who won the job from two year regular Shad Williams at tackle, and wide side defensive end Van DeCree. Junior Tom Marendt will get the starting nod at closed side end. The Buckeyes are picked by many to wrest the Big Ten title back from Michigan in 1972 and they have two things going for them in that pursuit. One is that they do not play the third likely contender, Purdue, the other be- ing that they entertain the Wol- verines in the friendly confines of football-crazed Columbus, where Michigan has gone without vic- tory since 1966. "It has always been my feel- ing that a team is champion un- til someone takes the title from them," stated Coach Hayesin characteristic candor. "So last year's winner, Michigan, must be considered the team to beat. "But when all the smoke has cleared don't be surprised if you are looking squarely at the Buck- eyes." So there, doom sayers. By JOEL GREER Along with the introduction of the wishbone formation toncol- lege football came a long list of outstanding football teams: the Texas Longhorns of 1969; the Oklahoma Sooners in '70 and '71; and ultimately the Spartans of Michigan State in '72. Well, Spartan coach Duffy .Daugherty is at least that opti- mistic. "We expect to be a Big Michigan State List Year: 6-5, 5-3 in confar- ence, 3rd place Key Players: Billy DuPree, te; Brad Van Pelt, db; Ernie llhmilton, mg Outlook: Maturation of offense could make Spartans kings Ten championship contender again." says the premier come- dian of the Big Ten. Although Daugherty is nearly this confident every year, the 1972 Spartan team should finally echo Daugherty's sentiments. After an injection of the wish- bone attack last season, State captured four of its last five contests, and in the process look- ed more and more like a Big Ten championship contender. In fact, State's 6-5 overall rec- ord was the best since the na- tional championship teams of 1965 and '66. While nobody is expecting a repeat of those banner years, a great season by quarterback George Mihaiu, could place the Spartans atop the Big Ten on Nov. 25. Daugherty is especially pleased that he will begin the 1972 sea- son with an "established" num- ber one signal caller. Last year, Daugherty used three quarter- backs which, of course, hindered the fluidness of the wishbone at- tack. "There was also a .leader-- ship problem," the veteran coach of 18 years explained. This fall, the players won't have this prob- lem as Mihaiu will be in there from the beginning. The senior field general has already captured the fancy of his teammates by leading his Green squad to a 38-6 romp in the annual spring game. Mi- hail" handled the wishbone ex- tremely well, gaining 74 yards rushing as well as connecting on a scoring toss. Despite the loss of All-Ameri- ca Eric Allen at one of the halfback slots, Daugherty ex- pects a better balanced running attack. Jesse Williams appears ready to step into Allen's spot while Detroit speedster Mike Holt is a shoe-in to return to his right halfback position. Duffy also expects improvement at full- back where sophomores Clarence Bullock and Arnold Morgado are still battling. Morgadois only one of the many Hawaiian's Daugherty has recruited. "There are definitely more players in Hawaii than in "We expect to be a Big T e n Champion- ship contender -Coach Hugh (Duffy) Daugherty The Bucks gang up. COLOR IT PURPLE: Wildcats envision hazy year By CHUCK BLOOM Last spring in the sleepy tem- perance town of Evanston, North- western students decided that "Wildcats" was not a fit nick- name for a university in the twentieth century. Noting. the team's colors and the general competitive level of the athletic endeavors, the name "Purple Haze" was offered as a viable substitute, more suited to the school's image. Long apathetic, students poured out in common cause. However, university adminis- trators, being generally stodgy sorts, frowned upon any attempt to violate the gloried tradition of Northwestern and denied any name change for the squads of the Purple and White. The current edition of the Northwestern Football Record Book obliquely takes note of the campus squabble with a section devoted exclusively to the origin of the nickname "Wildcat." Un- fortunately for Northwestern fans the rest of the volume contains little else of a joyful note. Graduation delivered the un- kindest cut to the squad, remov- ing most of the well-known names that have guided the Wild- cats to two consecutive second place finishes. The entire start- ing backfield, including the Big Ten's leading passer of last year, Maurie Daigneau; the complete defensive backfield and three- fourths of the defensive line will not be donning the Purple and White this year. But Head Coach Alex Agase does not face a completely hope- less task. He can count in the positive column the return of his veteran offensive line. Heading the blocking will be junior guard Donnie Haynes (6-0, 229). Haynes is expected to be another Reggie McKenzie. At the other guard will be .junior Ray Felton (6-0, 235) who is best on sweeps and has considerable quickness for his 235 pounds. The starting center will be sen- ior co-captain Dave Dybas (6-2, 229). The tackles will be big Dave Glantz (6-5, 270) and Larry Mish- ler, senior (6-2, 223), who is heavily counted upon to blast open holes for the slowly sea- soning running backs. Agase's running attack will con- sist of senior Johnny Cooks (6-0, 190) and junior Harold Smith (6-1, 210). Cooks was a starter last season and was well on his way to becoming the team's top rusher when a knee injury suf- fered on the last play of the Notre Dame game sidelined him for the rest of the year. Cooks is not only a fine runner from scrimmage but is the Wildcats' kickoff return specialist as well. Agase's biggest search is for a replacement for Daigneau. At this time, the job seems to rest on the shoulders of senior Todd Somers (6-1, 195). Somers is a fine "roll-out" quarterback but his passing is questionable. Last season Somers saw little action completing four of eight passes for one lone yard. The other four passes were completed to enemy receivers so in spring drills Agase has been trying to im- prove Somers' eye. Somers will be contested for the job by sophomore Mitch An- derson (6-1, 190) who is more in the line of a drop back passer. Provided the choice of field general is not completely faulty, Northwestern should once again take to the air often for offensive punch. Only ace Barry Pearson, Northwestern Last year: 7-4, 6-3 in confer- ence, 2nd place Key Players: Jim Anderson, dt; Jim Lash, oe; Dave Dybas, center Outlook: Shaky passing makes outlook hazy whose name is carved next to n o s t Northwestern receiving marks, is missing from the corps which was the best in the Big Ten. Jim Lash, who placed second behind Pearson in the Wildcat aerial derby with 34 grabs and 523 yards, will lead the pack. A senior, Lash will be among wide receivers to keep an eye on in the Big Ten. Tight end Steve. Craig and darting Steve Harris, who doubles as a rusher, round out Northwestern's cadre of re- ceivers. The defense could be broken by the loss of nine, count 'em nine, starters. But the heart and baseremain for Agase's rebuild- ing charges. Jim Anderson, whose long hair and Fu Manchu mustache are al- most as impressive ashis defen- sive skills, will be leading the way at defensvie tackle. The hulking senior co-captain was voted to the -all Big Ten second team for two consecutive years and is likely to make all Big Ten in his final fling in the confer- ence. Agase's new and different de- fensive backfield will feature such unheralded names as Pete Wessel and Greg. Swanson. Ex- quarterbacks Greg Strunk and Bob Beutel will also be along for what could be an unpleasant ride as none of the candidates have defensive-playing experience. The Wildcats may not be smelling roses or even a title but in this season of massive rebuild- ing, perhaps .500 will satisfy Hazy Northwestern fans. Ohio," Daugherty joked. While Michigan coaches may take ex- ception, Duffy regularly has more Hawaiians on his squad than Ohioans. On the receiving end of the wishbone will be veteran tight end Billy Joe DuPree and sprint- ing star Marshall Dill at split end. "Dill certainly has the size and speed to be a great one," coos, IDaugherty. In his past two seasons DuPree has grabbed 46 passes for six touchdowns. "We wouldn't trade him for any tight end in college today," Daugherty added. The only newcomer to the of- fensive line is 6-7, 275 pound tackle Jim Nicholson. Another Hawaiian, Nicholson missed the entire 1971 season with a back injury. The key to the Spartan offen- sive line will be right guard Joe DeLamielleure. The entire Soartan camp expects the two- time all Big Ten senior to grab All America honors this season. The Spartans will again em- ploy a 5-4-2 defense in hopes of improving their 15.4 overall points-per-game allowance. Brad VanPelt, the 6-5 220 pound All America, will be the anchor of a very strong pass defense. How-. ever, the rushing defense which was somewhat mediocre a year ago, is at once a definite ques- tion mark. Lost to the defensive line are both tackles and a de- fensive end. All America Ron Curl is lost at one tackle while two-year regular Bill Dawson is missing from the other. On the bright side, both linebackers, Gail Clark and Ken Alderson, are returning. As in the past, the Spartans will face another difficult non- conference schedule. After batt- ling a tough Illinois team at Champaign, Michigan State will tangle with Georgia Tech, South- ern California and Notre Dame. All of those foes, incidentally, are ranked in the Top Twenty. MICHIGAN Northwestern Illinois Michigan State Ohio State Wisconsin Purdue Minnesota Indiana Iowa W 8 6 5 S 5 3 3 3 2 1 L 0 3 3 3 3 5 S 5 6 8 Big Ten St 1971 Fin 4 CL Join Thn CIRCULATI Come in any 420 Ma SHOP Monday & Friday Til 8:30 It 0 f 0 THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN FLYERS INVITE YOU TO IT COSTS LESS THAN YOU THINK FLYING LESSONS FLIGHT COMPETITIONS SOCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR MORE INFORMATION WRITE OF University of Michigan Flyers 240 MICHIGAN UNION ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN 181OR CALL 769-6367 weekday afternoons A4 - Daugherty however has very little concern for the three "ex- hibition games. "I'd rather beat Illinois," says Daugherty, "and then lost the a next three." U adalloa YPSILANTI for FINE ITALIAN AND AMERICAN FOOD COCTAIL LOUNGE AND ENTERTAINMENT NOW APPEARING: WYNN &JOHN 483-3027 Carry Out Service on Entire Menu 11 W. MICHIGAN AVE. YPSILANTI * Levi " 0 Van Heusen " 0 Cricketter Farah Manha SIZES PORTLY PLUS REGUI BankAmericard, Moster Choarge, 211 S.i