Poge Ten THE MICHIGAN DAILY Friday, October 27, 1972 Poge Ten THE MICHIGAN DAILY Friday, October 27, 1972 ABOLISH GRADES? GRADING FORUM Mon., Oct. 30, 1972-8:30 P.M. Auditorium A-Angell Hall The L, S, A Student Government Presents Distinguished Faculty and Student Speakers to Discuss the Future of Grad- ing at Michigan. Hear Details on the Four Grading Proposals You Will Be Voting on in the All-Campus Elections. Johnn, By ROBIN WAGNER The ability to excel on an ath- letic field does not deny a person the ability to create trouble with the law. Such notable athletes as' Gates Brown, Dock Ellis and War- ren Wells learned this subtle les- son of life the hard way. Well, all those keeping track can add Nebraska football standout Johnny Rodgers to the list of les- son-learners. Rodgers, an All- American wingback bearing Heis- man Trophy credentials to match anyone, also possesses a police. record capable of triggering con- versation at a cocktail party, in a locker room or most anywhere. As bad news should be ex- posed before good news, Rod- gers' "run-ins" with the law war- rant top billing over his football exploits. They commenced in the spring of 1971 when he was ar- rested for the attempted armed robbery of a gas station. A guilty verdict and a two-year suspended sentence resulted from his trial. Taking a stand on the incident, Cornhusker mentor Bob Devaney sounded remarkably like a public relations man,, opportunist, and football coach rolled into one. Speaking for the athletic depart- ment, he explained, "We don't condone Johnny's actions in any way, but to deprive him of an op- portunity to play football, would work against the aims of proba- tion." Early in 1972, the 21-year-old senior was arrested for possession E RTY" the arrest, he stated, "They (the police) didn't ask for any identifi- cation. They just told me they were taking me in for possession." Three lays ago, Rodgers was prounced guilty of a charge of operating a motor vehicle while his driver's license was revoked. No date for sentencing has been set. Realistically viewing the situa- tion, Rodgers stated, "I can't blame people for what they think of me. The trouble I've been in is my own fault. The only way people ,,now me is from the newspapers or T.V." He elaborated, "The fans dig me for getting them off their seats when I have the ball. They don't dig me as a person. They know me either as a crook or as No. 20." Regardless of people's feelings towards Johnny Rodgers off the football field, on Saturday after- noons when he wears Nebraska red and white, everyone stands overwhelmed and fascinated by his performances. Since Rodgers joined Nebraska's varsity, the team has collected two national championships and accumulated a record of 29-1-1. On four occasions last season, the wingback attained the "back of the week" award. Though guilty, Rodgers has yet tobe arrested for breaking school and conference records at Nebraska. His 228 points, 38 touchdowns and 122 receptions all establish career school rec- If that's not sufficient, four of the five kick return records in Cornhusker files bear the mark of Rodgers. Through six games in 1972, Rod- gers, a high school football All- American in Omaha, has tallied nine scores and gained 701 yards, 521 on passes. He's executed his specialty of punt returning 21 times for 368 yards. As is true with most genuinely superb athletes, Rodgers performs best under pressure. In last sea- son'e version of the "Game of the Century," against Oklahoma, Rod- gers uncorked the scoring festivi- ties with a mind-boggling 72-yard punt return. He eventually grabbed five passes and picked up 88 yards in Nebraska's 35-31 victory. In his team's 1972 Orange Bowl whitewashing of Alabama, the wingback was again remarkable. His catches were good for 94 yards Rodgers: a two-sided star aid on a patented Rodgers' punt return, he highstepped 77 yards to paydirt. During the 49-0 Cornhusker con- quest of Minnesota earlier this season, Rodgers' seemingly un-' limited talent created three more worshippers. Golden Gopher coach Cal Stoll described him this way: "Johnny Rodgers is the best runner I've ever seen. He is so fantastic that anything he wants to do he does. Someday, though I don't know where I'm going to find him, I'm going to have a player just like Rodgers." Minnesota athletic director Paul Giel added, "I didn't know how un- believably great Rodgers was un- til today. He's just as punishing as he is elusive." Losing quarterback Bob Morgan 'lamented, "Johnny Rodgers isn't a one-man team, but it was almost like we were com- peting against two teams: Rodgers ad the rest of the Cornhuskers." Performing the same task time and time again tends to bore people. This season, bored by the monotonous task of scoring touchdowns. Rodgers has solved his "problem." Occasionally, he struts backwards into the end- zone to spice up his chore. Ex- plaining the-unorthodox finale to his jaunts, Rodgers said. "I got tired of doing the same old thing. I decided to try something new." Devaney perhaps delivered the most valid capsule comment on his star. He simply stated, "Rod- gers is the best football player I've ever coached. He does more things well than anyone I've ever seen." All-American football players are not necessarily "All-American boys" . . . just ask Johnny Rod- gers. I CA D lTE. NOTHING NEW TO SOPH QB: Franklin handles pressure well of marijuana and later found in- ords. nocent. Prior to his arrest, Rod- Twenty-two career scoring passes gers accused the Lincoln, Nebraska caught also etches the name of police of following him. Describing Johnny Rodgers in the Nebraska record books. The wingback's 2287 yards gained on pass receptions, H ILLEL FOUNDATION along with being a school mark, eclipses the old conference record. Presents Single season school pass re- ceiving standards belonging to the senior total three. They include 11 touchdown passes, 57 total re- 11ptouch and 957 yards gained on aerial strikes. Rodgers' three touchdown catches in a game rep- A "resents another Nebraska record. By ROGER ROSSITER Poise, maturity and the ability to become a great quarterback are three qualities not abundant- ly found in college sophomores. But Michigan's Dennis Franklin is one of a rare breed who pos- sess these attributes. Franklin stepped into the start- ing quarterback role for the Wolverines this fall and hasrsolid- ified his position as number one by continually improving from week to week. Being the first black quarter- back ever to pilot the Maize and Blue would seem to compound, the pressure on Franklin, but if it bothers Dennis you would never know. Outwardly, Franklin appears cool, calm, and confi- dent, and his performance on the field does nothing to bely his composure. Produced by BENJAMIN and LAWRENCE ROTHMAN Narrated by THEODORE BIKEL The Story of 1000 Years of Jewish Life in Poland and the Destruction of Polish Jewry. 8 p.m., Sat.-Sun., Oct. 28-29. at Hillel,1429 Hill St. 50C ADMISSION om one beer lover to another. *0 S"OH Btrw"y cokolw, DEVROK, kKHfGW 1 26 ii If' DISCOVER THE CAPITOL MARKET 211 S. FOURTH Phone 663-0101 WHISKEY WINES & CHEESES HARD-TO-FIND SUPPLIES . FETA CHEESE; FRESH OLIVES * STRUDEL DOUGH " RUSSIAN BLACK BREAD OPEN 'TIL 1 A.M. DAILY; SUNDAY 'TIL MIDNIGHT GIVE To The Student Blood Bank Tuesday, Oct. 31 Wed., Nov. 1 -5 Thurs., Nov. 2 UNION BALLROOM Sponsored by: Alpha Phi Omega, Alpha Xi Delta, Angel Flight, Gamma Phi Beta Not inclined toward idle con- versation, Franklin speaks spar- ingly, but when he talks he has something meaningful to say. Dennis lets his performance on the gridiron do most of his talk- ing, and the message is coming through loud and clear, especial- ly to head coach Bo Schembech- ler. "Dennis has done a great job for us so far," said Bo, "and we know he'll get better. He has tremendous leadership qualities, he's dedicated, and he has def- inite goals that I think he will reach." Along with quarterbacking the Wolverines to a perfect 6-0 rec- ord thus far this season, Frank- lin has been making his move in the Big Ten statistical race. In three conference games, Dennis has completed 14 of 29 aerials for 195 yards and one touchdown, for fourth ranking. Dennis is also sixth in total offense, having accumulated 319 yards in 69 plays for a 4.6 yard average. Though, Franklin has not thrown a lot of passes, the ones he has thrown have been crucial, like his touchdown strike to Bo Rather against Northwestern, which was the only score of the game. LAST WEEK Franklin had his best day through the air in Mich- igan's 31-7 trouncing of Illinois. Despite a steady drizzle that fell throughout most of the afternoon, Dennis connected on 7 of 12 at- tempts for 104 yards. Franklin, like many Michigan football players, is an Ohio na- tive, and Dennis has some poig- nant opinions as to why Ohio is such a hotbed for Wolverine re- cruiters. "The competition is more intense in Ohio," he claim- ed. "There are a lot of good football players from Michigan, but the better programs and-su- perior coaching in Ohio breed good ball players." Contrary to common belief, all football players are not physical education majors, and Franklin is proof. For the time being, Franklin's aim is for a degree in b u s i n e s s administration, though he confided, "I'm not sure business administration is right for me, or," with a smile, "if I am cut out to be a business- man." With the levelheaded ap- proach Franklin displays toward his work, it is doubtful that he would find failure in any career he should choose. WHEN ASKED if playing be- fore big college crowds bothered him Franklin replied, "The first time it did a little because it was new to me, but after that first gametI really didn't notice it." It even seems that the stu- dents' unified four letter obsceni- ties at Wolverine mistakes go un- noticed by Franklin. Michigan came as almost a natural choice over Ohio State to Franklin who admitted, "I want- ed to get a little way away from home. Besides, Ohio State is more geared to the run. At Michigan, I knew we'd have more potential to throw. Ohio State's football program isn't as strong as Michigan's ,either." FRANKLIN APPRECIATES good coaching and he feels that Michigan's coaching staff is one of the best around. The feeling is mutual, as high praises often flow Franklin's way from staff members, although harmony may elude the coaches over small points now and then. "Sometimes one coach will tell you something, and another one something else, but the big man usually wins out in the end," Franklin chimed. Michigan's alleged unpopular- ity with sportswriters nationwide is partially due, in Franklin's opinion, to the large amount of criticism the team gets from local papers. "When people from outside come here and read all that criticism, they begin to be- lieve it." The fact still remains, however, that the Wolverines are undefeated and ranked fifth na- tionally, which indicates that such criticism cannot be hurting Michigan all that much. Right now the biggest problem facing Franklin and his Wol- verine teammates is winning the rest of their games and gaining that berth in the Rose Bowl. "Everything else is secondary," Franklin concluded. "Winning comes first." FE M II S i n: The record with no fancy dressing. ON PEACE: Bob Griffin wants to end the war in Vietnam. He supports President Nixon's withdrawal of American troops and his efforts to negotiate return of our prison- ers of war. He travelled to Paris himself to seek release of the POWs. His bill would bring orphaned Vietnamese children to America. Griffin's leg- islation is designed to cut out red tape so that victims of the war can be adopted by families here. ON THE ENVIRONMENT: He's got a new bill to limit phosphate content in detergents. Phosphates have been proven ecologically harmful. Unfortunately, the only known substitutes are dangerous to humans. Griffin's bill limits phosphate content to 8.7 percent and authorizes an out-right ban as soon as a safe substitute is found. He opposed the President on the SST. Senator Griffin broke with his party to lead the fight against the Supersonic Transport. Griffin's argument: too little about sonic boom and other harmful environmental effects of the SST. ON JOBS AND COLLEGE AID: Griffin is the Senator behind the National Student L o a n P r o g r a m. Since 1958, this Griffin-sponsored program has provided low-interest loans (repayable after graduation) to 2.7 million students. He launched a Jobs for Veterans Program. So far, this project (which Sen- ator Griffin and Senator Hart co-sponsored) has developed more than 6,000 new jobs for returning Vietnam veterans in Michigan. SHOP TONIGHT UNTIL 9:00 P.M. sweater over turtle, that's relating it the Revere way... ( cotton ribbed knit turtleneck in white, black, bottle green, hickory, navy or wine .I..ambswool/Dacron polyester sleeveless U-neck in beige, ginger, light oxford, navy, wine. S,M,L,XL. Turtleneck, $5. U-neck. $10. ............. ...........