SPA R TANS S T E ADY AND R EADY:
The Michigan Daily-Friday, October 7, 1977-Page 11
MSU's not passed out
By BRIAN MILLER
For the last 29 years, capacity
crowds in Ann Arbor and East
Lansing have witnessed the annual
battle between Michigan and Michi-
gan State. This year will be no differ-
ent.
For the past seven years, the
Wolverines have defeated the Spar-
tans, but this year will be different if
the Spartans have their way.
In attempting to topple Michigan,
the Spartans' offensive game plan
won't differ from any of their
previous game plans. They will
pass ... and pass ... and pass.
The leader of Michigan State's aerial
circus is senior quarterback Eddie
Smith. Spartan Head Coach Darryl
Rogers noted that "Smith has the
ability to get rid of the ball quickly
with a great touch.''
And Smith's statistics certainly
back up that statement,.
In a little more than one year's
playing time, Smith is just 101 yards
short of his school's record for yards
passed for in a career, 2,576. This
year alone, Smith finds himself as
the Big Ten's second leading passer,
hitting on 53 of 111 passes for 727
yards. He is also second in the
conference for total offense, averag-
ing 166 yards a game.
There are three big reasons why
Smith's passing statistics are as good
as they are - 6-4 split end Edgar
Wilson, 6-4 tight end Mark Brammer
and 6-2 flanker Kirk Gibson.
Wilson is Smith's favorite receiver
to date, catching 15 passes for 274
yards. Once a varsity basketball
player, Wilson admits the contact in
football is "harder. hitting", but
Rogers is pleased with his play.
Brammer, who caught eight passes
I GRIIJE PICKSI
3T'S FRIDAY morning, do'you know
I where your Griddes are? If not, you
have until midnight tonight to find and
deliver them to the Daily at 420 May-
nard to win a small Pizza Bob's pizza
with two items.
1. MICHIGAN at Michigan State
(pick score)
2. Illinois at Wisconsin
3. Indiana at Northwestern
4. Minnesota at Iowa
5. Purdue at Ohio State
6. Oklahoma at Texas
7. UCLA at Stanford
8. California at Washington St.
9. Brigham Young at Oregon State
10. Dartmouth at Yale
11. Nebraska at Kansas State
12. LSU at Vanderbilt
13. Missouri at Iowa State
14. Pitt at Florida
15. Duke at S. Carolina
16. SMU at Baylor
17. Texas Tech at Arizona
18. Alabama at USC-
19. Air Force at Navy
20. DAILY LIBELS at Ithaca
. . . . . . . . . . . .
::~BILLBO'ARD
All U of M 'women with a competi-
tive background in track and field
are invited to contact Coach Red
Simmons if interested in running for
Michigan's women's team. C a 1 1
763-2159.
last week against Notre Dame, is
right behind Wilson in receiving,
having grabbed 14 passes for 194
yards. This ranks these two as the
fourth and fifth best receivers in the
conference, respectively.
Over the years, however, Smith
has found Gibson to be his number
one target. Quite often when these
two team up on a pass play, the result
is a long gain. Three times in their
careers, Smith has hit Gibson for an
82 yard touchdown. This year alone,
Gibson has caught 11 passes for 223
yards, an average of 20.2 yards a
catch.
The Spartans' running game has
been overshadowed by all the talk
about their passing, but Michigan
State does have some good running
backs.
Junior Leroy McGee, Michigan
State's top tailback, has compiled 366
yards in 81 rushes, an average of 4.5
yards a carry.
McGee is the Big Ten's fifth
leading runner and all purpose
rusher, respectively averaging 91.5
and 104.2 yards a game..
Senior fullback Jim Earley is
averaging almost six yards a carry
(213 yards in 36 rushes) and has
broken off a 46 yard gain, longest by
a State runner so far this year. He is
also a good receiver, bringing down
eight tosses, making him the fourth
best receiver on the team.
The Spartan defense has played
well all year although they have been
poor against the pass.
, Sophomore free safety Mark An-
derson, however, is helping turn
things around in the secondary. He.
intercepted three Irish passes last
week, tying a school record last set in
1970 by Brad Van Pelt.
The Spartan defense operated deep
in its own territory almost all game
long against the Irish. To its credit, it
only gave up one touchdown.
The main reason for the great play
of the defense on the whole, is the fine
individual play of inside linebackers
Paul Rudzinski and Dan Bass, defen-
sive tackles Melvin Land and Larry
Bethea as well as middle guard Kim
Rowekamp.
Playing right in the heart of State's
defense, Rowekamp has come up
,with 29 tackles, three for losses.
Rudzinski and Bass have been just
short of fantastic, bringing down the
opposition 55 and 54 times, respec-
tively.
Defensive tackles Land and Bethea
have teamed up far 71 tackles, nine
for losses totaling 49 yards.
.
a
;.
!
M
y
i
-AP Phtoo
CLIFF JOHNSON, the Yankees designated hitter, was the offensive star in last night's game as he blasted a solo homne-
run and a tie-breaking double. Johnson received .a standing ovation from the sellout Yankee Stadium crowd.
Yankee pitcher Ron Guidry pitched a three-hitter while the Yanks pounded out ten hits en route to a 6-2 victory over
Kansas City.
r
(i'4.
;
"
$ 4.'- F }'