Page 8-Thursday, October 13, 1977-The Michigan Daily

Simpkins: vital factor in defense

By DON MacLACHLAN
Michigan linebacker Ron Simpkins has led the Wolverine defense in tackles
for five straight weeks. If he keeps it up, he'll have some kind of football season.
And he is only a sophomore.
The 6-1, 221-pound bruiser from Detroit secured 79 tackles in Michigan's first
five games. Simpkins' personal statistics also include three quarterback sacks,
three fumble recoveries and a blocked punt which resulted in a touchdown.
WHAT THE HANG IS SIMPKINS doing out there on the gridiron?
"There is nothing I do special," said the softspoken Simpkins. "It just hap-
pens. I just flow and get to the ball."
"Ron has done an excellent job as a sophomore," said coach Bo Schem-
bechler. "He is probably as far along as Mike Taylor was as a sophomore."
TAYLOR GAINED ALL-AMERICAN HONORS at Michigan six years ago at
linebacker. One of Schembechler's biggest concerns this summer ryas finding
a' replacement for another All-American, Calvin O'Neal.
"Calvin was so strong he could do things I couldn't just because of his brute
strength," Simpkins said.
SIMPKINS WAS A MID-YEAR GRADUATE from Detroit Western High
School two years ago. As a senior, Simpkins earned All-American honors as
a fullback and All-State as a linebacker. Besides sorting through offers from Ohio
State, Michigan. and a few Ivy League schools, Simpkins had to select what
position to play in college.,
"It was up to ile," Simpkins 'said. "I just chose linebacker because I like
defense."
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Once he set his mind on playing linebacker, Simpkins got right to work at
Michigan. By graduating between semesters Simpkins could participate in spring
drills. Thus, heading into the current season, Simpkins benefited from gaining
experience in two spring practice sessions.
"THAT REALLY HELPED A LOT," Simpkins said. "I was a step ahead of all
the incoming freshmen. What they were learning was review for me."
Simpkins made a name for himself last spring when he won the Maulbetsch
Award - given annually to the freshman showing the most desire, character and
capacity after spring drills.
Despite seeing only limited action as a freshman, Simpkins earned himself
a starting Job for the season opener at Illinois.
"THAT'S ACCOMPLISHING SOMETHING," Schembechler said. "He's done
pretty well in that respect."
In Michigan's 37-9 victory oved the Illini Simpkins collected 11 tackles and
recovered a fumble.
"I was very nervous," Simpkins recalled. "I was anxious to get out there but
worried about how I would play.
"Now every game becomes easier," he added. "I watch the game films and
concentrate in practice. I see the blocker in front of me and know what he is doing
so I will know where the ball carrier will be. Most of the time I can anticipate what
is coming."
JUNIOR JERRY METER AND SIMPKINS are Michigan's top two tack-
lers - and that is just what Schembechler expects from his two inside line-
backers.
"A linebacker should lead the team in tackling and Ron probably will,"
Schembechler said. "If they don't they aren't good linebackers -- assuming they
are playing regularly."
Simpkins never has problems getting hyped up for the battles onSaturday.
He was "really jacked up" for the Texas A&M game and went on to win the Big
Ten Player of the Week award.
"I'M DOING ALRIGHT," SAID SIMPKINS of his accomplishments thus
far. "I could do better on pass coverage. As far as the run goes I've settled
down."
"Now if I have a couple of bad plays I won't get down," Simpkins added. "I
know the coaches have confidence in me that I'll come through sometime."
So far this season Simpkins has come through almost all the time for
Michigan.

Daily Photo by ANDY FREEBERG
RON SIMPKINS (40) has been doing the job all year at linebacker for the Wol-
verines. Though only a sophomore, Simpkins leads the team in tackles.

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Baseball bidding war, phase II:
how much will owners pay now?



SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16

'SECOND

CIA-rno

Also Appearing:
MUGSY

F
I
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0
U
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0
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HT 994-5350

By DAVE RENBARGER
With major league baseball's second annual talent auc-
tion on the horizon, the owners of the 26 clubs are keeping
an eye out for players available on the open market.
This year's free agent re-entry draft, to be held on Nov.
4, will not be an exact replica of last year's extravaganza,
which saw the dollar-laced owners shell out over $23.7
million to sign 14 players.
The caliber of players available simply does not com-
pare to the class of '76 which included Reggie Jackson,
Rollie Fingers, Joe Rudi, Don Gullett, among others.
Heading today's list of potential millionaires are Twins
Larry Hisle and Lyman Bostock, which makes linhe--
sota's stingy owner Cal Griffith the leading candidate for
the Charles 0. Finley Nosedive Award for 1977.
Hisle led the league with 119 RBI's and Bostock hit .336
as the duo helped lead the heavy-hitting Twins on their
abortive August pennant run. If the pair remains unsigned
- and both have indicated their desires for freedom - Grif-
fith would be left with a hole in his line-up that even Rod
Carew couldn't fill.
In the Windy City, White Sox colorful owner Bill Veeck
is also treading on thin ice, with his entire starting outfield
- Richie Zisk, Oscar Gamble and Ralph Garr - all un-
signed.
The dilemma is hitting the Chisox boss right where it
hurts him the most - in the pocketbook. Veeck hails from
the old school of baseball folklore where $1 million used to
pay all the salaries - not just one. Multi-million dollar con-
tracts are completely foreign to him. And since his wallet
isn't quite as fat as those of some of his colleagues, Veeck
may have some problems meeting his players demands, no
matter what.
But, on the other hand, Veeck is the first to realize that
the trio, especially the powerful'Zisk, sparked this year's
baseball Renaissance in Chicago. The Sox ended up in third
place in the West, and played before a record number of
fans in Comisky Park.
Overall, 55 players are eligible for the re-entry draft,
not including free-agent prospects who spent most of 1977 in

the minors. As was the case last year, more free agents can
be found in the American League than in the Senior Circuit
-43 to 12.
Other notable free agents who could command hefty
contracts are pitchers Rich ;Gossage (Pirates), Rawly
Eastwick (Cards), Doc Medich (mets), Ross Grimsley
(Orioles) and Mike-Torrez (Yankees).
Hitters still lacking signed contracts include Pitts-
burgh's Willie Stargell, the Yankees' Dave Kingman, San
Francisco's Willie McCovey, and Larry Biittner of the Cubs.
While it is obvious that the acquisition of any of these
players would benefit any ballclub, certain questions still
remain. Who will the owners go for and how much they will
be willing to eough up? Did the owners learn anything from
last year's financial exercises, and, more importantly, can
a pennant be purchased?
Take the current World Series as a prime example.
Dodgers' owner Walter O'Malley stood aside during last
year's wheeling and dealirig and then watched his club
cruise to the pennant.
Top Yankee George Steinbrenner, on the other hand,
invested the better part of $5 million to add the contro-
versial Jackson and the injury-prone Gullett to his defend-
ing AL champs. He then held his breath all season long as
the Yanks had more problems winding their way into the
Series this year than they did in '76.
Other owners who might have second thoughts before
courting this year's prospects are California's Gene Autry
and San Diego's Ray Kroc. Both spent small fortunes in the
bidding wars, only to be left high and dry when the post-
season play began.
And-then there was Wayne Garland of the Cleveland
Indians, who nearly became baseball's highest-paid 20-
game loser, going 12-19.
The biggest bargain of last year's entire episode had to
be Tito Fuentes of the Detroit Tigers. After remaining un-
signed all winter, Fuentes inked an unheralded $90,000 deal
with the Bengals. At the end of the campaign, his .307
average topped the percentages of all the free agents
signing for the mega-bucks.
Are the free agents worth the price? Since the results
last year were mixed, it's up to the owners again to decide.

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D .rejoins
76ers /
By The Associated Press
COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. - Star for-
ward Julius Erving has rejoined the
Philadelphia 76ers at their training
camp here, but his first workout since
spraining his left knee was limited to
jogging on the football field.
"THE KNEE'S like an old joint that
creaks," Erving said after testing his
knee on the Ursinus College field. "It
feels like it needs a good oil job."
This is the second year Erving has
missed the 76ers' exhibition season.
"I was in decent shape last year," he
said. "I had run every day. There's no
way I'm in that good shape now.
7+~ ' iBl

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