Page 8-Saturday, December 10, 1977-The Michigan Daily MVP The Michigan Daily-Soturday, De award surprise Davis despite 1013 DAILY: DAVIS: the nations Rose Bowl in rushing 1977 MICHIGAN FOOTBALL 7-1 Big Ten, 10-1 Overall 9/10 MICHIGAN 37, Illinois 9/17 MICHIGAN 21, Duke 9 9/24 MICHIGAN 14, Navy 7 10/1 MICHIGAN 41, Texas A 9 &M 3 10/8 MICHIGAN 24, Michigan State 14 10/15 MICHIGAN 56, Wisconsin 0 10/22 Minnesota 16, MICHIGAN 0 10/29 MICHIGAN 23, Iowa 6 11/5 MICHIGAN 63, Northwestern 20 11/12 MICHIGAN 40, Purdue 7 11/19 MICHIGAN 14, Ohio State 6 Away Home Home Home Away- Home Away Home Home Away Home Editor's note: In 1977 junior fullback Russell Davis became the sixth player in Michigan his- tory to gain over 1000 yards rushing in a single season. The powerful fullback from Virginia rushed for 1013 yards and seven touchdowns. Davis was voted the Most Valuable Plaerlror the season by his teammates. Recently. Davis spoke with Man- aging Sports Editor Scott Lewis. DAILY: You were named Michigan's Most Valuable Player, a rarity for a junior. Did this come as a surprise to you? DAVIS: Yes, it was a total shock. I wasn't even expecting it at all. I was sitting there eating, and Bo was giving a little talk, and then he announced it. When I went up to say something, I was at a loss for words. I hadn't really thought about who would win it. I thought it would be a senior. DAILY: How has the competitive situation at tailback this year been a help or a hindrance to the team? DAVIS: It doesn't really hurt a team like us because we have so many tailbacks that can do the job-all of themcan do the job. It just matters who has more experience than the other guy. So Huck was the man with the ex- perience, but when he went down, Roosevelt (Smith) stepped right in and did the job, too. And when Rose couldn't go, Stanley (Edwards) stepped in and did a good job as a freshman. The competition made each of them try harder. Competition makes you a better player. DAILY: Last year's team set all sor- ts of running records. What have been the differences between this year's team and this year's team? DAVIS: Basically, we threw the ball more this year than last year, and it really opened up our attack. The in- juries may have hurt our line somewhat, but then again it's just like the tailback situation-we have people "We're out there to win it (the Rose Bowl) this year. Not that we weren't out to iwin it last year but there's just more drive having lost" ... "A team like Washington is going to be hungry. I don't be- liere they're going to be pushovers like everyone says. I believe we will get a good battle." that can step in and do the job. So that's what they had to do when they were called upon.1 DAILY: You were shaken up at the end of the Purdue game. Have you fully recovered from that? DAVIS: They were just cramps in my calf muscle, that's all. I was ready1 to play again in 15 minutes, but we had a big lead, so they just kept me out.1 DAILY: Is the team going out to Pasadena this year with last year's t game fresh in its mind? DAVIS: You betcha. We're out there to win it this year. Not that we weren't out to win it last year, but there's just more of a drive because of having lost. DAILY: How difficult is it to concen- trate on football once you get out there? DAVIS: It's not that hard, because you know that you're main purpose out there is to win the game, and play foot- ball, so that counts first. Anything else is secondary. -But you can still manage to have a good time out there. DAILY: Does going out there have any meaning for you other than playing in a football game? DAVIS: Not really. It's your reward for a good season, so you kind of take it in that respect. There's a lot of other things that go on out there, though. Like you can go to Disneyland or something like that, but actually that's all in the fun. They don't really take away because you know your main objective is to win the game. DAILY: Do you think the fact that USC comes from Los Angeles helped it a lot last year? Was there a home field advantage for them? DAVIS: Yes, I do believe so, because we have to travel all that distance and stay in a hotel, while they just stayed in a dorm. It does make things more dif- ficult for us. It should make things more even against Washington though. DAILY: How do you have to work the Rose Bowl around finals? DAVIS: You have to get together with your professors and work something out with them. Mostly we try to do all that before we get out there, and if there's something that you can't take care of, then you get it when you come back. The professors don't really give you any problem. They realize about the trip. A lot of them are U of M fans anyway. DAILY: How tough does Washington look? DAVIS: We haven't really seen any films of them yet, but one thing I do know is that they beat USC by 18 points, and any team that beats USC by 18 points can't be all that bad at all. DAILY: Are you more optimistic this year than last year? DAVIS: Yes, I think so. But I don't believe that they're going to be a pushover like everyone says. A team like Washington is going to be hungry. They haven't been to the Rose Bowl in some years now. I believe we'll get a good battle. Just like us and Ohio State-even if we have a losing season, and come into that last game against Ohio, we still have a chance to beat them on that given Saturday. DAILY: Does the team still entertain thoughts of winning the national cham- pionship? DAVIS: I myself haven't really given it much thought. There's a lot of stuff that would have to happen before that happens. If it does, then that's great. It would have been nice to do it with an undefeated season, but unfor- tunately we didn't get it. DAILY: What kind of personal goals did you set at the beginning of the season? Have they been achieved? DAVIS: We set goals every year for ourselves, and team goals too. My first goal was to start for Michigan this year, and the next was to make all-Big Ten, and then to get a thousand yards, JUNIOR FULLBACK Russell Davis is on his way tackle in the Iowa game. Davis turned a short pass i yard touchdown in the Wolverines' 23-6 victory.- The I from scrimmage for Michigan in 1977. 4 4k-.f.