r 5, 1977--The Michigan Daily
ADJUSTS TO WOLFMAN SLOT
Blue No. 3
By The Associated Press
a m P
Southern Cal (23) ...4-0.01
Oklahoma (19)....-00
. MICHIGAN (16) .4-0-01
Hicks accepts
another challenge
4ints
1,106
1,052
1,048'
By DON MacLACHLAN
Ohio State........
T'exas (1)..., ..
(tie) DAILY LI ELS
Colorado... .....
Alabama ............
3-1-
3-0-
4-0-
4-0-0
3-1-
0
0
0
0
0
(tie) Arkansas......4-0-0
Nebraska......... .3-1-0
Penn St............3-1-0
Notre Dame........,3-1-0
Texas A&M.......3-1-0
Brigham Young (1) .. 3-0-0
California ........4-0-0
Pittsburgh ...........3-1-0
Kentucky .....3-1-0
Texas Tech.......3-1-0
Louisiana State....2-1-0
Wisconsin ........4-0-0
Florida..........2-1-0
715
706
706
647
424
424
376
288
205
194
184
178
168
100
84
57
31
24,
I -
If Michigan football co-captain
Dwight Hicks is presented with a
challenge, he will accept it.
This season for example,, Hicks
moved from the free safety position,
which he held for two years, to wolf. Af-
ter a little bit of adjusting Hicks has set-
tled down at his new spot.
"At every position in the secondary
you have to keep the ball inside and in
front of you," Hicks said: "At safety I
couldn't gamble as much. I had to be
cautious- not to the point of not being
aggressive, but being sure of yourself
-- because as a safety you are the last
guy back on defense. At wolf I'm not as
concerned with getting beat deep."
Regardless of what position he plays,
Hicks has earned himself a reputation
as a hard hitter.
"I really like the defensive secon-
dary," said the 6-1, 184 pounder from
New Jersey. "I get out on the field and
play the best I can, doing things as
aggressively as I can. If you are a phys-
ical player you will be a good player."
The versatile Hicks also plays a key
role on the Blue specialty teams. "We
really stress our specialty teams at
Michigan," said Hicks. "If I can run a
punt back for a touchdown, it can really
demoralize a team. It's a real challenge
to watch the ball with people coming at
you and then try to elude them.
RACKHAM
GRADUATE
STUDENTS
If you intend to graduate this term with either a
masterAs degree or on intermediate degree
awarded by the Rockhom Graduate School, you '
must submit a Diploma Application to the Records
Office, Room 1014 Rackham Groduate School, no
later than Friday, October 7, 1977 in order to be
placed on the December degree list.
Diptoma applications are available in the Rack-
ham Graduate School. Room 1014, as well as in s
your department of program office.
"You have to look and see how fast
the men are coming downfield and
check the height of the ball. Then you"
must concentrate strictly on catching
the football."
Running with the football is nothing
new to Hicks. As a prep all-stater at
Pennsauken High School, Hicks
doubled as an offensive halfback and
safety on defense.
"In high school I thought I was a bet-
ter offensive back than' a defensive
back," Hicks said:
During the winter in high school,
Hicks didn't sit still. He started at
guard for the basketball team and
averaged 20 points for the state quar-
terfinalists. Hicks was recruited for
both football and basketball but never
really gave himself a chance to con-
sider playing the latter in college.
"When Michigan came along after
football season, it really didn't give me
a chance to be recruited for basket-
ball," Hicks said. "I had to make a
decision before basketball season was
over."
Hicks chose Michigan over other Big
Ten schools such as Purdue, Wisconsin
and Minnesota and eastern
powerhouses Penn State and Maryland.
"I knew Michigan was a good football
team, but I never really saw them play
on TV because our high school games
were at two o'clock Saturday after-
noons. People on the east coast didn't
know that much about Michigan. When
they talk about the big Ten, they think
of Ohio State."
Last Saturday most of the east coast
got a chance to see Michigan in the 41-3
televised stomping of Texas A&M. And
Hicks admits he was a little extra fired
up to tassle with the Aggies.
"Playing against a team like A&M -
well there. again is your challenge,"
Hicks remarked. "You prepare your-
self for a game from Sunday on. You
start thinking about the opposing team
and sorta build up during the week.
"Come Saturday you are just happy
to be able to play," Hicks continued.
"You know what you have to do. Your
emotion or mental attitude towards
football has a lot to do with how you
play."
This Saturday Hicks and his team
mates oppose aFch-rival Michigan
State in East Lansing. Spartan quarter-
back Ed Smith isn't afraid to put the
football in the air, so Hicks and com-
pany will have to be ready.
"Smith is a'good passer and is going
to complete some passes," Hicks said.
"We have to break up the underneath
passes and defense against the long
bomb. You have to realize you aren't'
gonna stop every pass.
"They are a team that throws a lot
and a touchdown pass will hurt your
defense mentally," Hicks added. "We
will just have to prepare ourselves for a
different type of attack than we saw
against A&M. I missed playing MSU
last'year because of my injury and am
really looking forward to it."
The eager Hicks suffered the only
major injury of his athletic career last
season when he tore a tendon in his
finger. Hicks missed five games and.
underwent surgery, yet still totaled 58
tackles and two interceptions.
"I was really down," Hicks recalled.
"I had set goals for myself and thought
I was on my way to obtaining them. It
was a setback. Luckily I came back and.
had a couple of good games."
Hicks hopes to graduate in June with'
a degree in general studies. However, if
he hears from a pro team in the football
draft, Hicks wouldn't turn down the op-
portunity to play.
"I really would give it a shot because
again it is a real challenge," Hicks said.
"To play with the best around and be
amongst them would be exciting and
quite an honor. To actually do well for
yourself is even better."
After finishing second team All-Big
Ten last year and being compared with
former Michigan safeties Dave Brown
and Tom Darden, Hicks is a shoo-in to
be drafted. And when the challenge'.'
comes Hicks will be ready to respond.
WOLVERINE CO-CAPTAIN DWIGHT HICKS (17) pulls down the hefty George Woodard (33d rt nyhe Mich ian
Texas A&M confrontation last Saturday. Besides meeting the sizeable challenge of the 277-poundfullback, Hicks also
picked off a pass to set up a Michigan score.
dipp-
Just for the
health of ite
Get moving. America!
March 1-7. 1977 is
National Physical Educationand Sport Week
Physical Education Public Information
American Allance for Health.
Physical Education anid recreation
1201 16th St., NW, Washington. D C 20036
s
Bo takes 'wait and see' attitude
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on red-shirting wounded troops
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2
Wrong? Oh, nothing much. They were just
)rn. It seems odd that they have to pay with a
etime of hunger. The statistics are so crushing in
any parts of the world that even the cynics are
oved. And we're getting people to help these
ldren. Peace Corps Volunteers. Yes, the Peace
rps. Remember us? We've been quiet for a
File, but in case you've forgotten, we're alive and
ell. And waiting for you. If you've got the commit-
ent, we'll give you the skills you need. You've
ways said you wanted a meaningful career. Well,
ir job specs won't lie to you. The hours are
ugh. The pay is lousy. But you'll become a part
a community and learn a new language, dis-
cover a new culture. You'll learn more than you
teach. The impossible may take a little longer,
but it can happen, in small pieces. 2,000 wells
here. 50 schoolrooms there. A couple of hospi-
tals. Go ahead and tell these children that it's not
much. They won't believe you. Not the first time
a well comes in nor the last time. A field of beans
can be more rewarding than you can imagine.
The Peace Corps wants you. We need
thousands of you. Call toll free: 800-424-8580.
Or write the Peace Corps, Box A,
Washington, D. C. 20525.
The Peace Corps R _
is alive and well.
By BILLY NEFF
Here is the true test of Michigan football trivia. Name
who the last four Michigan red-shirts were? Well if you're
stumped,then try naming the red-shirts this year.
THE SECOND question can't be aisWered since Wolver-
ine Coach Bo Schembechler does not lkpw either. "1To deci
sion has been made yet. I could say for sure at the end of
six or seven games."
And what are red-shirts? They're usually injured players
who cannot perform in any of the games that season and
are retained for another year of eligibility.
Schembechler has his own theories about red-shirting.
"When you talk about red-shirting, you do not red-shirt
anyone who is not going to come back and be a regular."
The Wolverine mentor continues, "We should would never
hold anyone out who doesn't have the potential to come
back and start."
THERE ARE several possibilities this year with the
abundance of injuries. First of all, starting offensive tackle
from last year, Bill Dufek, has been out the entire season
and should return to practice "next week or the week
after."
Also, backup center Steve Nauta, a Philadelphia native,
and the snapper on kicks, will also return to practice
next week. After these players start practicing, then
Schembechler has to decide bw effective these pryers wiU
'be the rest of the season.
Other potential red-shirts include another offensive .tac:
kle, Jon Giesler; Russell Davis' younger brother Michael;
running back Lawrence Reid, a standout in the Navy game
last year; and Rick Leach's possible heir apparent:
Stacy Johnson.
Johnson, who unfortunately had to come to a scliooi
where another great quarterback was going to matricu-
late, looms as the most interesting prospect. He is a jun-
ior like Leach and would finally get his big chance if he
were to red-shirt.
But Schembechler stated firmly that red-shirting is not
such a wise idea. "For every player you red shirt, thereis
one less possible recruit."
In case you're wondering who the last four red-shirts
were, they are Curt Stephenson, who caught a touchdown
pass against Texas A&M, Rick White, Steve Graves, and ,
Gerry Szara. .
60 million children were sent to
bed wfhout any supper last night.
I wonder what they did wrong?
AANSKIN IS ANY WEAR.
PARKLANE HOSIERY-IS EVRWEE
The Parklane Hosiery store nearest you: