The Michigan Daily-Thursday, October 27, 1977-Page 9
Hubbard in hospital;
Surgery a success
By CUB SCHWARTZ
Michigan center Phil Hubbard paid a heavy price for his free trip to
Bulgaria last summer. The All-American junior, who coach Johnny Orr
called the best college player in the country, underwent surgery yester-
day for a knee injury which he originally suffered at the World Univer.-
sity Games at Sophia.
Although a number of doctors had previously pronounced it fit, Hub-
bard .reinjured his left knee last Monday in the Wolverine's opening prac-
tice of the year.
"The operation was to repair torn cartilage on the left knee and the
operation was a success," said team physician Gerald O'Connor.
O'Connor could not however, speculate as to how long it would take for
Hubbard to return to action.
"It all depends on how he comes along," said Assistant Coach Bill
Frieder, "You hope he will be ready for the Big Ten, but you never know.
We are practicing as if he won't be back, then if he does come back it will
be a bonus."
"He (O'Connor) has done as much as he can do," said an Athletic Depar-
tment spokesman, "now its up to Hubbard."
The Big Ten season begins on January 5 against Northwestern after the
Wolverines have played 8 non-conference foes. Michigan must then face
seven other Big Ten opponents during the month including two meetings
with Iowa. Only Michigan State avoids the Wolverines during January.
Hubbard,,Estill groggy from the operation, maintained his optimism
about the coming season. "They (the team) should still be all right," said the
injured center from his room at St. Joseph's Hospital. "They should be pret-
ty good without me."
"Hub is a big cog and we're going to miss him. We will have to find a way
to replace him," said teammate Tom Staton..
Orr has four players to turn to in filling the shoes of the 6'7" center.
First-year men Mike Robinson and Paul Huermann, along with seniors
Len Lillard and Tom Bergen will compete for the vacancy.
"We are going to look at them ail," said Orr. "We'll switch around
a lot, but we hope to have a decision made in the next few weeks."
"He (Hubbard) is very important to the team," said Robinson, "You can
hardlyiafford to lose 20 points and 15 boards a game, that's the bulk of the
team right there."~
The highly touted junior does not feel any extra pressure however. "I
look at it as an excellent chance to establish myself here," he said. "We're
still going to be a good team and we're still going to win the Big Ten. We
aren't going to be pushovers.''
4 TEAMS STILL IN CONTENTION:
Sooners lead close race i
By TOM STEPHENS
With four games left for all the
teams in the hotly competitive Big
Eight Conference, the outcome of the
1977 football season is still up in the air.
Undefeated Oklahoma is followed
closely by three teams tied for second
place. Two of them-traditional Sooner
rivals Oklahoma State and
Nebraska-have yet to play the Sooners
for a piece of the league title and a
possible Orange Bowl bid.
At this point, with the race still in
doubt and some crucial games coming
up in the next two weeks, it is in-
teresting to see what is happening
in the Big Eight this year.
Team-by-team, this is how the
situation looks so far:
OKLAHOMA: The exceptionally fast
Sooners have swept so far to a 3-0 con-
ference record. They were seriously
challenged only once in league play but
rose to the occasion to edge Missouri,
21-17, in Columbia.
The Sooners have the advantage of
playing back-to-back home games with
Colorado (1-1-1 in the conference this
year) and Nebraska (2-1-0) in the final
two weeks of the season. That plus
possessing the Big Eight's only perfect
record comprises a formidable edge in
the coming weeks.
The picture is not all that rosy,
however. The OU defense is hampered
by injuries to both the first-string cor-
nerbacks and defensive end Barry
Burget. Last year consecutive losses to
Oklahoma State and Colorado kept
Oklahoma outofsole possession of the
conference title. This year even one loss
would be dangerous with Nebraska in-
vading Norman on November 19th.
NEBRASKA: The other traditional
Big Eight power faces an uphill battle
for the championship. The Cornhuskers
must play three of their last four games
on the road-against Oklahoma State,
Missouri, and Oklahoma.
This week's showdown with the
Cowboys is especially crucial. The loser
will be cut out of the current three-way
tie (vith Iowa State at 2-1-0) for second-
place, as well as any realistic shot at
the title.
In Nebraska's favor is a healthy team
and a record of impressive play so far.
Only a slim 24-21 defeat at the hands of
Iowa State has kept them out of a tie for
the league lead. As in so many years
past, the entire season may well come
down to that final game with
Oklahoma.
IOWA STATE: The Cyclones have
done well so far, posting a 2-1 conferen-
ce record, with the single loss coming to
the powerful Sooners. Their schedule
over the next four games is very
favorable. Home games with Kansas,
Colorado, and Oklahoma State and a
single road contest against feeble Kan-
sas State (0-3-0 in conference) put them
in a position for a very strong finish.
There are some drawbacks, however.
Both ISU's wins were by narrow
margins; they haven't been able to
overpower anybody since their opening
game when they trounced Wichita
State, 35-9.
A recent knee injury to noseguard
Ron McFarland, coupled with a
shoulder separation suffered by first
string quarterback Mike Tryon in the
opener, leaves the Cyclones without the
orginal starters at two key positions.
In order for Iowa State to get a piece
of the conference title, somebody has to
knock off Oklahoma. But they probably
have only to play as well as they have so
far to finish with a strong 6-1 league
record and at least sole possession of
second place.
OKLAHOMA STATE: The OSU of
the Big Eight's (2-1-0) record so far
may be deceiving. Both victories have
come against "weak sisters" Kansas
(0-2-1) and Kansas State. The only loss
was to Colorado three weeks ago, which
coincidentally, is the Buffaloes sole
conference victory so far.
The Cowboys will be helped by the
recent return of number one quarter-
back Harold Bailey, who led them to a
21-0 defeat of Kansas last week. Bailey
and his teammates will be able to show
their stuff Saturday against Nebraska
in the game that will make or break
either team.
COLORADO: The Buffs are at best a
long shot coming off a 1-1-1 start. But
,they do have an excellent chance to
n Big8
play spoilers in away games with Iowa
State and Oklahoma.
With their defense hobbled by serious!
injuries to two linebackers however,
Colorado's chances at the title are slim.
THE REST: Missouri (1-2-0) has a
reputation as a giant killer, and with
two home contest left against Nebraska
and Oklahoma State, they are very
likely to be a factor in the remaining
games.
The Tigers' home field is the only one
with natural turf in the conference, a
fact that may have contributed to the
near-upset of Oklahoma on October
15th. Their slow start virtually puts
them out of the race however.
Kansas' only remaining games with
the contenders are on the road, and for
that reason they are unlikely to be a
factor.
Kansas State, with 11 returning of-
fensive starters, may yet pull off a sur-
prise. They play both Oklahoma and
Iowa State at home in the coming
weeks. Winless in the conference for the
past two years, they are if nothing else,
due for a victory.
It seems that the smart money this
year rides with Oklahoma. But in this
conference anything can and may very
well happen.
DEBATE GOES ON
Grass vs.artificial turf
BARNES, LANIER SHINE:
Pistons crush Warriors, 123-,107
By DON MacLACHLAN
and
KATHY HENNEGHAN
Special to The Daily
DETROIT - When the Detroit Pistons play at home
they are a-tough team to beat. The Pistons won their fourth
consecutive home game last night, disposing of the Golden
State Warriors, 123-107.
The Warriors eliminated Detroit froni the playoffs each
of the past two years and last night the Pistons had revenge
on their mind.
"In my mind, it's a, rivalry but we don't talk about it
much," said Piston coach Herb Brown, "our attitude is
terrific this year and tonight was really a super team effort.
Our bench played well."
GOLDEN STATE moved ahead 34-30 early in the
second quarter but Detroit, behind Ralph Simpson and Bob
Lanier, rallied to take a 60-50 halftime lead. Simpson came
off the bench to score 12 points and Lanier tallied nine as the
Pistons moved on top by as many as 14 points.
The Warriors made a quick run at the Pistons at the
beginning of the second half, but guard Eric Money single-
handedly kept Detroit ahead. With Detroit on top 63-61,
Money poured in six straight points and the Pistons held off
the Warriors the rest of the way.
Golden State's Phil Smith copped game scoring honors
with 32 points and forward Rick Barry had 21.
LANIER LED the Piston scoring brigade with 25 points
while Ralph Simpson chipped in 22. Fan favorite Marvin
Barnes collected 15 points and 19 rebounds as Detroit won
it's third straight.
Former Michigan All-American Rickey Green made
his Cobo Arena debut, netting six points in eighteen minutes
of action.
The Pistons now move into first place in the Midwest
Division with a 4-2 record.
GIIilJE PICKS
House Minority Leader John Rhodes lambasted President Jimmy Carter
yesterday in a Republican leadership breakfast.
"That turkey says he won't go overseas if there isn't an energy package. Well
that is bull-he just doesn't want to miss out on any Gridde action," he vociferated.
"That's right," chimed Senator Howard Baker, "you would think a man
knocking down $200,000 plus prequisites could do without a small two item pizza
from Pizza Bob's."
Stieg honored
Bill Stieg, 1976 Michigan Daily Sports
Editor, has been selected recipient of
the 1977 Bill Reed Memorial Award.
The award goes to the outstanding spor-
tswriter of a Big Ten campus news-
paper as chosen by Big 10 Commis-
sioner Wayne Duke.
Stieg, who is presently working on the
sports staff of the Oakland Press, won
the award for his excellent coverage of
Michigan football during the 1976
season. - DAILY SPORTS
At
By DAN PERRIN
All right, Minnesota, spit it out! Is it
true that last Saturday's upset over
Michigan was formulated at the end of
last season?
When the Golden Gophers ripped up
their artificial turf and installed
natural grass to Memorial Stadium this
past year, they must've known it would
work to their advantage. Just look at
their 1977 record thus far.
After defeating a supposedly power-
ful UCLA team early in the season, our
own Wolverines fell victim to the
Gophers on the natural playing surface
this past weekend. In case you haven't
been paying attention, all three
Michigan losses in the past two years
(Purdue and USC last year) have come
on grass fields.
The artificial turf vs. natural grass
debate continues with both sides
claiming that their type of playing sur-
face holds more advantages than the
other. Does a change in field type affect
a team's play? Do more injuries occur
on turf? Why do some universities have
a turf field, while others stick to grass?
Up in Minneapolis, the artificial turf,
worn and hard after seven years of use
and abuse, was removed during the
past off-season and natural grass was
installed where it had once been eight
years earlier.
According to a Minnesota sports of-
ficial, "The decision to return to grass
was made largely in light of the savings
in installation costs."
While it would've cost from $500,000 to
$750,000 for turf, grass costs ran ap-
proximately $150,000.
The Gophers field surface is
developed by Dr. Donald White and Dr.
George Blake, a horticulturalist and
agronomist; (soil expert) respectively
at the university, and it consists of two
types of grass, ryegrass and bluegrass.
An extensive drainage system lies un-
derneath.
ND DINNERS
Now Featuring
"PUMPKIN
CHEESECAKE"'
TAURANT
The official claims, "The drainage
system holds water well, as shown by
the fact that after seven inches of rain
on a Thursday, the field was completely
dry and ready for play by gametime
Saturday. And, contrary to popular
belief, the field was not slippery"
While opponents may complain that
grass slows them down, the Gophers
point out that they are playing on the
same field and therefore are no faster.
UCLA coach Terry Donahue even let it
be known that he was impressed with
the refurbished field.
Although the Minnesota players ad-
mit to feeling more comfortable on the
natural surface, it is the general con-
sensus that adjusting to artificial turf
after playing constantly on grass is
more difficult than going from turf to
grass.
What about the injury situation? Dr.
Gerry O'Connor, team physician for the
Wolverines, says that "the field sur-
faces cannot be compared in relation to
injury. The controversy has been over-
played, overemphasized and under-
thought. Artificial turf is constant while
natural grass is not."
Purdue, the only other Big Ten school
to have a natural playing surface, had
grass re-installed four years ago at a
cost of $125,000.
Mel Robi, Purdue superintendent of
athletic facilities and co-inventor of the
PAT system (type of field at Purdue)
feels that, "whether or not a school uses
a natural or artificial type of field
should depend on how much the field is
used. If the field is to be used for
numerous events other than football,
then turf is needed. Otherwise, grass is
all that is required."
With a game coming up with Purdue
later in the season one can only wonder
if maybe Bo and his boys wish that
grass fields weren't allowed in the con-
ference.
If you missed last year's spectacu-
lar Soviet gymnast's show, you'll
have another chance to see it. Such
stars as Olga Korbut and Nelli Kim
will lead the talent on Monday,
November 28 in Crisler Arena.
Tickets [$7 and $101 are on sale now
at the Michigan Ticket Department.
There will be a pair of women's
field hockey games today with
Kalamazoo College.
Both games will be played at Ferry
Field, with the JV contest slated for
3:00 and the varsity taking the field
at 4:00.
Are you interested in REAL wo-
men's water polo? This means
no innertubes or other floatation de-
vices. People are needed who are
willing to really play.
Experienced players are preferred
but what is really required is enthu-
siasm. Any woman with either or
both of those prerequisites who wants
to play water polo should call one of
the following numbers: JUDY
764-1091 or BETH 764-6754.
$
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Drawing October 31. 1977
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Illinois at Michigan State
Minnesota at Indiana
Purdue at Northwestern
Wisconsin at Ohio State
Navy at Notre Dame
Texas Tech at Texas
Alabama at Mississippi State
Arizona at Brigham Young
Florida at Auburn
11. USC at California
12. Missouri at Colorado
13.
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Duke at Georgia Tech
Harvard at Brown
Kansas at Iowa State
Tulane at Pitt
Washington at UCLA
Oregon at Washington State
Yale at Cornell
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"MOUNT AINEERING
MANAGEMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
The United States Navy has some exciting openings for recent
college graduates to assume executive level responsibilities.
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
The Navy Supply Corps officers, the Business Administrator of the Navy, has
responsibilities for purchasing, inventory control, financial management,
computer systems, transportation, research and development, and retail ac-
tivities. The successful candidate will be 19-26 years old and have a BA/BS
degree, in business, economics or computer science. Age waivers are
available for veterans.
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
We have a few openings for Administrative and Personnel Managers. These
positions include middle management level planning, administrtative respon-
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