THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Nine _oe _ n AMPAmok-" MJAr- IR Aff m AV- M to hi iin ls By BILL STIEG Bo Schembechler won't call his of- fensive line the best he's ever coach- ed ... not yet, anyway. "Ask me that at this time next week," he said at his press luncheon Monday. So apparently he is seriously con- sidering such a strong statement. That alone is unusual, in light of Michi- gan's history of great offensive line- men and Schembechler's natural re- luctance to praise 'his players in the middle of a season. BUT THEN, this season is unusual. Never before has a team of Bo's been ranked number one at this time of the year. And never before has Michi- gan's offense scored points or gained yards in such enormous amounts. The undefeated Wolverines are first in the nation in rushing (394.3 yards per game), total offense (468.8) and scoring (45.3). If they continue to produce as they have in past weeks, Schembechler will probably admit that, yes, this year's offensive line is -the best he's ever had the pleasure of coaching. Schem- bechler knows (being a former line- man himself) that it's the men with the high numbers and low who make the team go. IN RECENT WEEKS the n Lytle, Rick Leach, Jim Smith lan Huckleby have reached and ears of football fans a country. But how many have Gerry Szara, for instance? Szara is Michigan's start guard. This is his fourth year igan, including a year inN was red-shirted. Because his name is nev headlines, or is rarely announ the stadium loudspeakers, hi for playing are of a more self-satisfying nature. Like most linemen, it doe er him that it's the Lytles an es that get the cheers on b "My reward comes from him running down the fief Szara. "I know that I was portant part of the play. I ge satisfaction out of that." "It's always been that wa center Walt Downing, who i by guards Szara and Mark tackles Mike Kenn and Bill D tight ends Gene Johnson a Schmerge. unsung v profiles "It's something that you lear accept after you've been a linem ames Rob while," Downing says. "We get and Har- own rewards, knowing we helpe the eyes much to make the team go. Th cross the we don't get much outside recogn heard of we get credit from the other o ,sive linemen, and the coaches1 ing right when we're doing well." at Mich- DESPITE THE confusing, he which he skelter appearance of 'play on the - or "pit" or "trench" as the er in the is sometimes called - there is no nced over a player can get lost in the c s rewards in order to slack off or hide his personal, takes. The camera, and latdr coaches, see everything. sn't both- "On every play, every snap I m nd Leach- I'm graded," explains Downing. M ig plays. gan's coaches watch the gamef watching carefully and grade each linema d," says a scale of zero to two. s an im- "You get two points for doing et enough exceptional job, one point if yot a good job, and a zero if yout ay," says get your man," says Downing. s flanked MICHIGAN'S LINE is remark Donahue, young. All four interior linemen )ufek and juniors and the tight ends are nd Mark sophomores. This is despite Sc] bechler's claim that experience is r heroes 'n to important on the line than at any oth- an a er position. our "There are just more things to d so learn,0 says Schembechler. "How to lough pick up blitzes and shifts, who to block ition, if the guy you were supposed to hit ffen- isn't there - it just takes a while to know learn how to do it. - "There's so much technique to elter- learn," says Dufek, Michigan's "strong line tackle." "The longer you're up here, line the better you learn the plays. There way are lots of defenses to learn, lots of rowd technique. mis- "YOU'VE GOTTA have quickness, the move your feet, and have good size. And you have to be somewhat intelli- ake, gent. You have to know what you're [ichi- doing. It's not just a matter of push- films ing someone out of the way. You have n on to know which guy to push and how to do it." g an "There are so many things to know u do to get into our position," says Down- don't ing. "A running back can come in with great 'speed and agility, and he can .ably easily be taught his position. Linemen are aren't like that. It doesn't matter what both your physical characteristics are-it's hem- going to take some time to learn the more position, the techniques. MICHIGAN'S AWESOME OFFENSIVE line gets ready to fire out against Wake Forest. The powerful line has been perhaps -the most important factor in Michigan's rise to first in the nation in rushing, total offense and scoring. Visible here are Mike Kenn (78), Gerry Szara (69) and center Walt Downing (72). full court - REf 76ERS OFFER $3.5-MILLION: Dr. J;migh t jump By TOM CAMERON THE MICHIGAN BASKETBALL COACHES are going to be a lot of fun this year. "There was this guy I was talking to from Purdue," head coach Johnny Orr related, "and everything at Purdue was the absolute greatest. I wasn't trying to be facetious or anything, but (chuckle) I kept asking him why Purdue never won any-: thing ,. . (heh-heh), the guy got quite flustered. "Anyway, when I got up there to speak, (chuckle) some- one, sure enough, asked me how I thought the Big Ten would finish. 'Well, I said, 'I think Purdue will take it' (ha! ha!), and that guy almost dropped (ha-ha-ha!!!)." For the clincher, Orr predicted that if Michigan got lucky, and stayed away from in uries, they just might take fourth. Okay, maybe the coaches won't put the heat on Johnny Carson or Bill Cosby, but after last year's finish in the NCAA{ tournament, they are on top of the basketball world and seem to like very much what goes on up there. Although Orr and his assistants have always been more , than just amiable, the fact that Michigan is not strug- gling in the lower echelon of the basketball rankings adds. more certainty. Assistant coach Bill Frieder, nestled last week in Orr's new chair behind the new large desk in Orr's new office while the head man was away, casually pondered how the Wolverines would look in the pre-season polls. "I think we'll be rated high," he began. "With President Ford being from Michigan and the football team being rated number one, it wouldn't surprise me if we were rated num- ber one, although' I hope not. I'd rather be rated lower than that." The credibility of pre-season polls is always hazy. "The big1 y The Associated Press PHILADELPHIA - A $6.5 million deal which would } bring pro basketball superstar Julius Erving to the Philadel- phia 76ers from the New York; Nets awaited only the final ap- proval of Nets' owner Roy *Boe, The Associated Press learned yesterday. The deal, it was learned from pro basketball sources, could be completed soon at a private meeting in New York! It re- portedly calls for the Nets to get $3 million for Erving, who would then sign a multi-year contract with the 76ers for a reported $3.5 million. The 76ers, whose owner F. Eugene Dixon has been pub- licly estimated to be wortht $150 million, are ready for the deal, it was learned. So is Erving, known in the basket- ball world as Dr. J., and his manager, Irwin Weiner. But Boe, it was further - learned, could still turn thumbs down on the transaction. ir Erving refused a month ago, ,. to report to the Nets unless theI a New York team renegotiated his contract. He missed the en- tire pre-season training camp! and exhibition - game schedule. reportedly gets more money. Boe could not be reached for The Nets' ownership said Er- comment. ving was under contract and Pat Williams, general man- refused to rewrite the pact. ager of the 76ers, refused to Erving signed an eight-year confirm or deny the proposed contract at $350,000 a season transaction, saying only, "We with the Nets after he was ac- want him and we are keeping quired from the Virginia in close touch with the- situ- Squires ,in 1973. ation. How close we are to The Nets paid the Squires making a deal I can't ans- $750,000 in cash and made an wer." ' indemnity payment of $425,000 Williams disclosed that he: to the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, had spent most of the day in who also had signed him. The New York talking with Weiner entire deal was estimated at $4 and the 76ers' official also con- million. firmed he had talked with Nets' Since joining the Nets, Er- officials on Tuesday. "I'm not the type to talk un-_ less I can talk openly," said Williams. "I just can't com- GEN ERAL ment on this thing." If Williams could pair Erving U of M S with George McGinnis, the All- Star forward who came to the4ALL SKIER 76ers last year from the In-L E diana Pacers of the American DisCussionC Basketball Association, it would make Philadelphia the favorite Vacatior to win its division and probably the National Basketball Associ- T s Oct. ation title. Erving balked at reporting Kuenzel Room, to the Nets after the teaIm acquired Nate Archibald, who Nets ving has been the league's Most Valuable Player three times. Last season he led the Nets to the last ABA championship, be- fore the league finally folded and its top teams entered the NBA. The Nets reportedly gave permission to the 76ers, the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks to talk with Erving and his agent about a new contract, indicating they might be willing to trade the player considered by many as the best in basket- ball. MEETING iK I CL UB S WELCOME of Christmas n Ski Trip 21-7:00 p.m. Michigan Union I- on I JVhiy mne, Lord? New York Yankee manager Billy Martin' might be seek ing a way from Heaven for his team to overcome thei three-game deficit in the World Series against the Cin cinnati Reds. Martin and the Yanks may have received reprieve from up there, as last night's fourth contest, whic comta .uve ended the series, was rained out. * thing is not what polls think of you,.it's how you capitalize * F players ready. If they do rate you, you try to build on the pride ... you try to adjust to whatever they rate you." "The last three years, we have always been underrated and we've done very well by it," Frieder said. l 50 The coaches, whether they like it or not, will have to use the pride approach this year. Already posted in sight of all the players is the "Popular Sports" ranking By BILLY with Michigan on top and Rickey Green the All-American YPSILANTI - guard. struggling soccer So preparing for this year will be relatively different than battled its way to in the past few years. a pesky squad f Orr will be working with a veteran team that has already Michigan Universi been there - the finals of the NCAA. The question for Or' .e two game wit is how to get these guys ready once again. the stalemate on At practices thus far, running has been the order of every turf even after p day. "We have to run them hard ... We have to remind them ple of overtime s how hard they worked last year to get where they got and Halfback Brian that they have to do it again," Frieder explained. nated the midfiel "People don't realize that just because you've been there Richard Matth (the finals), that it isn't an automatic thing for the follow- many outstandin ing year ... they assume it is.. They don't realize," he con- the alpn Soli tinued," so many factors go into accomplishing that." Fedorowycz, al According to Frieder, Michigan depended on strong play Steve Olson wer by ,the bench, the fact they got 100% from every posi- this contest. Ful tion, and were spared from injuries. Zack (captain), Steve Grote, the senior co-captain of this year's team, has Mike Morritz, ant found some difficulty motivating himself for conditioning. berg maintained "It's hard to get yourself up after a while," he said." fensive wall for Both clubs had 18 "This is my fourth year and it's hard to get into condition contest. before the practices with the coaches. The stellar Matt "But the season is still six weeks away and by then, we'll several point blan all be in condition." in the first half t As a team, the Wolverines are going to have to push them- off the scoreboard selves - help each other out. They are without the leader- minder was force ship of Wayman Britt this year. "He always picked every- with two key save one up, Frieder said, "He did so many things that you don't ine right wing Ra read about in the newspapers ... but meant so much." and halfback Stk That doesn't mean they have no source of inspiration. In the second half "With the type of season we had last year, all (the time periods, neitt players) should be enthusiastically awaiting the start of played much offe practice and competing. for the starting positions." had to settle fort Frieder continued, "I think a lot depends on morale but * * I think our morale is good - it should remain good. We don't have a lot of players and the less players you have, Spikers split the better, By DAVID KEr "We have a pretty united group and they've played with TmP u each therfor whie an the igaui ties IZMU ccer struggle GpllJIACS Thanksgiving Break~ Savings! Bit w Q NEFF - Michigan's club (1-5-1) a 0-0 tie with from Eastern ty, who enter- b a 6-3 slate. d to settle for EMU's home laying a cou- essions. White domi- Id and goalie ews made g saves for rines. Line- hwager, Ihor rnd halfback v injured for Ilbacks Bob Ian Cath, d Jim Setter- a strong de- r Matthews. 8 shots in the :thews stopped k shots early o keep EMU d. EMU's net- d to come up es on Wolver- ndy Reynolds eve Kelley as notted at 0-0. and the over- her team dis- nse and 'they the tie. before bowing to Central Michi- gan.a The opening match went the full three games before the' Wolverines triumphed, 15-13, 11-' 15, 15-6. In the nightcap, however, the: spikers ran into a fired-up Chippewa squad, losing by 15- 5 and 15-8 scores.' 1) MICHIGAN at Indiana (pick score) 2) MSU at Illinois 3) Iowa at Minnesota 4) Wisconsin at Northwestern 5) Purdue at Ohio State 6) Arizona at Texas Tech 7) Florida State at Auburn 8) Bowling Green at Miami, O. 9) U.C.L.A. at California 10) Central Michigan at Northern Michigan 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) Clemson at N.C. State Iowa State at Colorado Maryland at Duke Florida at Tennessee Georgia at Kentucky Kansas at Kansas State Miss. St. at Southern Miss. Missouri at Nebraska Oklahoma St. at Oklahoma Daily Libels vs. Toronto Bluejays TRAVEL OFFICE 2nd floor Union OPEN M-F 10-4 CALL 763-2147 BO STt)N ovai JOIN OUR HAPPY HOUR!!. SUNDAY Cocktails 10 Pkvo-l A.M. thru e e THURSDAY Mohl s Cottage INN Mess o Smelts 512 E. Williams.Ann Arbor 663-3379 NEW YoRK 9D Ni IIA DELPHIA 4 90 WA SHINGTN Rn . C. LIMITED SPACE. DEADLINE OCT. 22 ': (I rn V All World Series Games will be shown on our 7' screen I NBARGER nllpvball tea each other . for a while and they like each other. It's a very good Join The Daily's' SportsDepartment NEW MENO at the V-BEbLL ine womens vo iey al Leam know each other and they gained a split in Tuesday's tri- situation." meet, defeating Spring Arbor V TODAY JUICY GROUND ROUND BURGER Topped with mushrooms, onions, bacon or cheese ........... ..... $1.49 HAPPY HOUR PRICES ALL NIGHT! DISCO, Cover $1.00 ($.50 with Studenft .D. ) I CENTRAL STUDENT JUDICIARY Will Be Interviewing for Vacancies Next Week There Are Five Full-. FRIDAY TGIF PARTY 3-8 N. Cover, Drinks oa.ReducedPrices FISH & CHIPS i I