;day, September 8, 19.77 THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Sever ~doy, September S. 1977 TH~ MICHIGAN DAILY ~oge Sevet Grid defense Ut confident McCartney leaves succ Blue philosophy intact In new if y'ou're beseiged with boredom at some I : the football games this fall, part of the blame will belong to Michigan assistant coach. Bil McCartney. As the new defensiVe coordinator, it will be his responsibility to keep the opponent from moving the foot- ball. McCartney replaces outgoing Gary Moel- ler, who is now head coach at Illinois. Moel- ler left 'a legacy of fie defensive teams at Michigan, and there's pressure on McCart- net to carry on those successes. Daily Sports staffers Don MacLachian and Scott Lewis talked with him recently about his defensive philosophy and his hopes for the Wolverines this year. DAILY: How do you compare this year's defense with, the Michigan de- fenses of the past? McCARTNEY: Well you have to under- and that we've graduated seven starters. e have to replace our inside five guys. r middle guard, the two tackles and the o inside linebackers, in addition to Jim ilden who was a two-year regular and rry Zuver who had a good year at the olf position. So anytime you have to rebuild two- irds of your defense, you're concerned. e do feel that we've got some good young ayers in those positions. We feel that 'ye recruited well and some of the ung kids coming in could figure promi- ntly in our overall picture. DAILY: Is the Michigan defense. eared more to the run than the pass? CCARTNEY: It might surprise you to ow that in our first five games a year o, the opposition threw an average of 37 sses a game. And they ran the ball 31 ea a game. A lot of people think that en we go out to the bowl games that we ven't seen the pass. Quite frankly, we d probably seen more passes in those e games than any other team in the untry. our defense develops its personality in its offense, because the onlyteam we y against during spring is our own of- nse, and we play', against them 20 aight days. So the first thing you have learn to'do is to defense yOur own of- se. And that's still a big help to us be- use the Big Ten's still primarily a run- g offense, and our own team's still pri- ily a running team. DAILY: As far as the pass defense s concerned, it seems that a lot of the ime, you give the teams the short asses to prevent the long one. Is that art of the coaching philosophy at Mi- igan? McCARTNEY: There's no question about it. In eight years, the ball has only been thrown over our heads once. Statis- tics will tell you, that if you don't give up the big play, both :running and passing, that you're going to be in the thick of ev- ery game. So we're very much concerned with not letting anyone throw the ball over our heads. If we keep everything in front of us, then we'll have a g9od chance of, beeping the opponent off the scoreboard. It's kind of frustrating sometimes when they throw a few in there, but we're work- ing on breaking on the ball, and we're working on narrowing the distance be- tween the receiver and the defender - those are areas we can improve in. DAILY: It seems the last couple of years, the secondary's been a bit muore suspect than It has in the past. Is there any reason for this? McCARTNEY: You say that, and yet a year= ago we led the nation against the score. And any time that you give up the. fewest -amount of points, your secondary would probably have to be the most instru- mental ingredient in keeping people from getting into theend zone, because ,they're the last line of defense. We know that's somewhat of a popular feeling that people have, but we think that our secondary is excellent. Of course there's always room for improvement, but we're excited about 'the prospects for this year's secondary. DAILY: What do you look for when recruiting a defensive player? Is it true since you've been here at Michi- gan, that the defense has been real good due to its quickness? McCARTNEY: When we recruit, we're always looking for the big, strong, fast guy. The two teams that we've played the past two years in the bowl games, Okla- homa with the Selmon brothers, and Sou. thern Cal with Jeter-those guys are every bit as quick as the guys that we're talkig about. and they're very much bigger. You're looking for those guys when you re- cruit. l We'd rather have size and quiclness, but we'd readily sacrifice size for quickness. If we wanted to, we could be much big. ger defensively, but we want a penetrat. ing, aggressive, defense-one that swarms to the football, and one that prevents big plays. But that's not the only thing that makes a good defensive player. You have to be a very unselfish player, which might sur- prise you. In order to have a defensive unit that's effective, everyone has to be do- ing his job first, and then having the great attitude and desire to get to the football. And that's what comprises a good defense. Just because a guy's always naking a lot of tackles, doesn't-always mean that he's always playing a 'great game. DAILY: How hard is it for you to put together a solid defense for every game with the many varied offenses .you see in a season? How hard is it to adjust your defensive style during the middle of & game? McCARTNEY: We spend a good portion of our summer studying our opponents. We'- ye got a pretty good idea of what they did in eight years, the ball has only been thrown over our heads once. Statistics will tell you, that if you don't give up the big ploy, both running and passing, that you're going to be in the thick of every game. a year ago, and we can anticipate the type of offenses that we're going. to see. Over an eleven-game schedule, you're going to see virtually everything. We're going to play Texas A&M, which is a wish- bone team, we're going to play Wing-T teams in Iowa and Wisconsin, we're going to play I-fortnation teamsin Illinois and Navy, Duke has a very different attack, and Michigan State is primarily a throw- ing team. So, we're confronted with developing a defense that's able to stop all those .types of defenses. About making adjustments in the course of a game-a lot of games are won and lost depending on the types of adjustments that you make. But we have an excellent defensive staff. Jack Harbaugas probably the premier secondary coach in the cotn- try. He definitely has the ability to make adjustments. In the three years that Tom Reed has coached our defensive line, we're ?ad the premier defensive line in the Big Ten. And he'd be the guy who's largely tapsnsible for making adjustments during the course of a game. And lastly on the defensive coaching staff, we have Dennis Brown. Dennis is over from the offense, and he brings over a lot of good ideas to us. Being a good hands quarterback, he has a good feel for offen- sive thinking. What we try to do during the course of a game is work together to make adjust- ments. Even though we go into a game knowing pretty much what a team can run, their game plan may differ from week to week, so there are adjustments to be made in every game. How quickly you get the adjustments in, and how quickly they're performed, will determine what kind of success you'll have in stopping somebody. DAILY: Do you have absolute power in deciding what goes on as far as de- fense is concerned? How much say does B have? McCARTNEY: Bo is very much in com- mand over what we do defensively. Bo's a great leader, and he has a great football mind. We don't do anything without Bo, of course. DAILY: Do you think that coaches are more defensive-minded now than they were five years ago? It doesn't seem that you have the high scoring donnybrooks anymore in college foot- ball. It seems that the coaches are thinking more of the defense in terms of how to counter the offense. McCARTNEY: There are cycles in foot- ball. Not many years ago we went through the cycle of the veer offense and the wish- bone. When they first' came in, they domi- nated the defenses around the country. That's when there were more high-scoring games, and the trend was strictly offense. But just like all other offenses, the de- fense, over a period of time has caught up with the offenses. There are only a handful of teams today that are still running the wishbone. But it won't be long before the offense. will get another idea and get a jump on the defense, and it will send ev- er body back to the drawing board. Southern Cal's idea was kind of revolu- tionary, in that their quarterback would spend 03 percent of his time throwing the football, and only five percent running. Now that's kind of revolutionary from a Big Ten standpoint because our quarter- backs are used to spending a majority of their time working with the running game, and the amount of time allotted to the passing game isn't too much. So, from a passing standpoint, there are pro coaches that are filtering into the col- lege ranks, and causing some problems. DAILY: Would you say it's more exciting to win a .game 10-0 or 14-7, rather than 28.24? McCARTNEY: No question about it. Over the eight year period that Bo Schem- bechler's been at Michigan, we're far and away the leader in the nation in giving up Hicks nails QSU's Johnson the fewest amount of points over that time. And every year we go into season with the idea that we're going to lead the nation against the score. We might bend a little bit at times, which is what you were making reference to before, when you see us giving up some intermediate passes and,completions, but yet, we don't break. That's the key. Our defense is built on great pursuit, great enthusiasm, and playing with complete reckless abandon. Our offense is due a lot of credit for the defensive successes we've had. Our offense is a ball control ,attacking type force. When our defense is playing its best football, you can generally look and':. see that the offense has controlled the ball in that particular game to the ex- tent that our defense hasn't been on the, field a whole lot. There's no doubt that that is not only a defensive philosophy, but it's a football philosophy here at Michigan. DAILY: How does the defense help the offense as far as field position is concerned? McCARTNEY: Field position is the key to winning football games. If we kickoff in a game and don't give up a first down, we have a very good chance of taking over near mid-field. If you can give an offense the caliber of ours, the ball some- where near mid-field, you are in the driver's seat. But when we're at a disadvantage field position-wise, we have to rise up and take charge, because it's just customary for an offense to get excited when they get a break at our end. When you see teams that play in high- scoring games, they're what we call "big play" teams. They make big plays on offense and give up big plays on defense. They make mistakes, and they incur a lot of penalties. We're the type of team that wants to be penalty-free and mistake-free. We) want to play the percentages. DAILY: Do you think it's a college coach's responsibility to help a player. out, in terms, of his professional ca- reer? McCARTNEY: I think our program is such that it's operated on a first class level and any pro football team's going to be interested in our playbrs. Scouts tell us that our guys are very, very well-pre- pared to play professionally. DAILY: Overall, what do you and the coaches expect from the team this year? McCARTNEY: We're 'guardedly opti- mistic. We recognize that if our players come back in the right frame of mind, we have the potential to do it all..But we're going to need a very, very highly moti- vated team to accept the challenge that we'll get this year. We have the opportunity to reach out for the top. We're thinking in terms of the Big Ten championship first, and we have enough to win it. We just have to put it all together. 4 0 By Scott Lewis-~ .4''~ MERE MORTALS CAN ENTER SPOTLIGHT Re c By JEFFREY BLAKE Sports bring opportunity ports at Michigan .f . AT, it's currently 'in style' RE AT MICHIGAN, athletic director Don Canham, along with the rest of his cohorts, has in a short period of time, sformed a school whose notoriety around the country depends only on academics, but just as much so on athletics. Is it possible that subconsciously some students, who alsoJ ow sports, may be inclined to attend Michigan instead of a qer-known school with no athletic program? Does the dominance that Michigan holds over Michigan tate In athletics carry over to the classrooms because some telligent high school seniors unintentionally equate athletics th academic superiority? After all, a frustrated Detroit-area sports fan may yearn for a ner enough, such that a winning football or- basketball team sway him to Ann Arbor. Obviously, this doesn't happen often enough to drastically r an entire school's academic reputation. And more import- ly, from an individual's point of view, this shouldn't keep a ent from picking the school best suited for him. Because once a student becomes bogged down in his stu- ies, athletics ought to be an occasional diversion from those tudies, but nothing more. No matter what kind of sports nut e student is, school is too important to let something as irre- vant to the real world as sports alter his lifestyle. ut as is true at most colleges around the country, sports at higan is very much a part of life for a good number of stu- ts. In fact, to a few students, sporots is his life. These students :prise the Fanatics. The Fanantic lives and dies with Michigan sports teams. His demic schedule revolves around the schedule of the football i in the fall, and the basketball or hockey team in the win- If he's at school in the spring, the baseball or tennis teams y fill sufficient dosage to satisfy his fix. The only hope for this is the summer semester, where no athletic teams remain ive. After last year's football loss to Purdue, the Fanatic would ontemplate suicide, but decide to wait until after the Ohio tate game. Of course he only got a 62 on his chemistry test cause he attended a pep rally the Thursday before Home- ming, which also happened to be the night before his test. But this category only comprises a small percentage of the dents attending the University. Most' others are just average irts fans, who just go along with the crowd as far as sporting its are concerned. These are the ones who filled up Crisler Arena last season :ause of high expectations for the team, but left it only half I the year before because expectations weren't as high. The average sports fan there wants not only a winner; but a Granted, the aura surrounding intramural sporting events at Michigan will not resemble that of the intercollegiate level. There will be no throngs of leather-lunged fan(atics) exhorting players to stardom, no tick- ets to send, to friends and relatives (in fact no tickets at ,all), and no recruiting scandals nor NCAA investigations. And no performance, no matter how sterling or, star-like, will warrant a player's, snapshot on the cover of Sports Illustrated. FOR MOST OF US MORTALS though, not fame, but the game's the thing. And if Crisler Arena remains reserved for the stars, plenty of space still remains for the rest of us to make or miss our own shots. In fact, the U-M Department' of Recreational Sports is one of the largest in the country, both in facilities and utilization by the student body,' in providing such a forum. As many as ,30-32 percent of all Michigan students of both sexes participate in some kind of recreatiorial sports. Who can use it? Anybody. And though a fee is charged for any person 'not affiliated with the University, and though faculty members must pay $30 annually to utilize facilities, students need only flash an ID card (hopefully her or his own) at the door attendant to gain entrance. BUT DON'T THNK it's really free-the tni- versity allots ten bucks of your tuition each se- mester for recreational sports., And not only may' anybody use the Rec de- partment's facilities, but it's also a safe bet to say that any given student will do so at one point during his/her stay in Ann Arbor. j For if slow-pitch softball, basketball, football or hockey attract you, leagues, and teams abound. But if paddleball, squash, inner-tube water polo or basketball foul-shooting is your forte, then there's still room for you. JAN WELLS, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR of the Women's and Co-Recreational Activities in the Intramural program, estimates some 400 IM teams exist, covering over 30 sports, with about 250 of these teans in basketball leagues alone. Not that all of these teams face each other in a decade-long schedule-far from it. To facilitate matters and to satisfy the different levels of talent and spirit amongst participants, the IM program separates competition into eight edivi- sions: women, co-recreational, residence hall, fraternity, independent, all-campus (open to both sexes, and more sports than in the independent league), graduate, and faculty & staff. ed through play in any number of sports through- out the year. The Recreative division culminates in neither awards nor xplayoffs, and "Hopefully," says Jan Wells, "the whole attitude is different: In the Recreational Division you want to play, and it's not just a matter of win or lose." WITHIN SOM19E SPORTS THERE are divisions too: One basketball league admits players only 5-9 and under, and while the league furnishes few prospects for any Slam-Dunk competition it is ideal for those with a fear of heights: Mini- soccer, with the prefix referring to size of ball and not player, is played indoors with a handball sized sphere. And of other sports with variation, there is "inner-tube water polo" -- water polo played while afloat on a tube - where the greatest tal- ent required,may be, as Wells admits, "just get- tlhg back into the tube -after falling out." If one desires entry into one of these leagues, just enough members, te entry of a few forms (minimal red tape) plus a $15 fee (which certain leagues do not require) will qualify a team. This fee will cover. any number of sports within the same division. IF ON THE LEAGUE LEDGER, however, you find not your own favorite sport, just a little ex- pressed interest and a few applicants may in- duce the IM to aid you in creating a new compe- tition. Amongst recent additions are. bike races, foul-shooting, jogging contests (jogging con- tests?) and possibly this year, indoor field-hock- ey. Since intramural sports is not for everyone, the Sports Club Program may fill your needs. This program may consist of instruction, competition' and organized play, and is predominently oper- ated by the club members themselves. Some of the 35 sports club are karate, lacrosse, soccer, frisbee, kayak, sailing, dancing and skiing. For all of you who have special recreational, interests or needs, the Special Interest Program offers activities for kids, families, joggers, swim- mers, handicappers, and many more individuals and groups around caimpus. AND FOR THOSE WHO long to get on the other side of the whistle, plenty of "official" posts are available through which to call "out- of-bounds" on your very own friends. Finally, if retaining shape and refining skills, or simply competing without the organized aura are your objectives, you should have no prob- lem finding an open field' or court (though lines for racquetball reservations do peak around 5:00) around campus. Where to play? All over. Four indoor facilities (one on North Campus), eight outdoor fields (three on North Campus), and five other out- door recreational pads will provide the means for tennis, paddleball; track, weightlifting, gym- nastics, and refer to the IM department for the rest because there. isn't enough space, on this paper for all of them. So there you are-left to find a few free hours in which to squeeze the studies. And once you've set your priorities, for additional information on times, etc., the Recreational Sports staff is more than willing to answer your queries. Women seek sports equality By PAUL CAMPBELL Michigan has' become a true national power- house in men's athletics. The teams represent- ing the Ann Arbor institution are perenially at or near the top of the NCAA heap. But how does the Big Blue U stand in' regards to women's sports? Do the women wbo compete on the varsity intercollegiate level receive the same attention and benefits as their male coun- terparts? IF YOU ASK the University, they will spew forth the official policy on women in sports- that and goal is 'to elevate women's sports to the same level on which the men stand. If you ask the coaches, their answer would be a qualified yes. They see progress, but they also note that women's athletics pose special prob- lems. If you ask the athletes themselves, most seem to feel that they are getting a fair shake. But they point out that the money being spent on men's programs is still a mountain to the mole-, hill being spent an them. players will be on "half rides," which provide money to cover tuition and fees. "In the past, it has been very difficult to do the job without scholarships," said swimming coach Stu Issac. "We are behind quite a few programs around the country." VISIBLE RESULTS seem to back up Issac's opinion. Two years ago, the women he coached finished third in the Big Ten Women's Swim- ming and Diving Championships. But, as his scholarships increased, the team jumped past Michigan State and Indiana, and has now won two consecutive conference titles. Women's tennis coach John Atwood agrees: "With progress in scholarships, I should really be able to do a job next year." But Atwood and Issac have recruiting advant- ages not shared by their fellow women's coach- es. Swimming is a very- popular age-group sport for both sexes. Tennis has boomed in the last ten years and is starting to produce college, age players who have been wielding- a racquet since age 10.. situation, and last year they took one major step to try and avoid bidding' wars over prime high school athletesthe elimination of all in-person recruiting. As of last December, Coaches may only contact future prospects by phone or mail. "THE RECRUITING ban is simply a result of the sudden speeding up, of all aspects of wo- men's' athletics," explains Ginny Hunt, Director of Women's Athletics at Michigan. "Something like this should really start at the grass roots level but the need for quick change has been given precedent." Hunt's job itself is an example of that quick change. Two years ago, Michigan had no sepa- rate bureaucracy to administer women's sports. STILL, COACH Atwood senses that something else will have to change besides the attitudes-of the institutions if women are going to reach their full athletic potential in college programs. The attitudes of the women themselves also must adjust to new realities. fAA1 .T f~woI . to Mf4ie% +np J kont