Page Eight
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Friday, November 19, 1976
PageEigh THEMICHGAN AIL
PR.EZR *ELOGIC
By RICK BONINO
KAY, SO YOU'RE sick and tired of reading all the usualk
excretment about the big bad Buckeyes or the wondrous
Wolverines. Me, too.
All week long I've suffered with you through the deluge of
opinion and absurdity produced by many of my colleagues, pro-
fessional and student. And we know something they might not
realize-when it comes to this football game, they don't know
anything.
No one can begin to attempt to predict what will happen this
Saturday in Columbus. The coaches who've seen these two teams!
brobably have 'the best idea of what can happen and most of
them won't say anything substantial.
But just maybe a coach who knows as much as anyone
about these squads-namely, Bo Schembechler-has inad-
4
osU
GAME TOO CL(
defen
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vertently given ds some clues as to what might decide this
one.{
"Defense is the name of the game," said Bo after maulingI
Wake Forest, followed by "The defense is coming along, that's the
most important thing as far as I'm concerned," after the Min-
nesota win.
And, after that disastrous journey to West Lafayette, the man
came back with, "It all boils down to defense."
As the cliche posits, the offense sells the tickets and the'de-
fense wins the ballgames. Not just those eleven defensive regulars,
but also the punters and kick returners which combine with them
to produce yet another Schembechler "name of the game," field
position.
Bearing in mind the importance of these factors, let's
take a look at some- statistics (from Big Ten games only for
increased comparability-you've heard about Michigan's piti-
fully weak non-conference schedule).
In passing defense, OSU holds opponents to a .402 completion
percentage, Michigan trailing at .550. Opponent yards per attempt
remain close (5.5-5.65 Buckeyes) and the Ohioans hold a slight
edge in percentage of interceptions, 9.5 to 8.2.
Rushing-wise, OSU's 'opponents get 2.7 a crack, Michigan's
3.2: Combining all offensivesplays, the Buckeyes allow 3.7 an
attempt, the Wolverines 4.1. But the Blue do hold a slight scoring
defense edge, 9.6 to 11.1 points per game.
For what it's worth, John Anderson has averaged a superb
47 yards on his nine conference punts, compared to 'Tom
Skladany's more representative 39.0 on 21 kicks.
But Anderson, battling a- tendon injury below his right
(kicking) knee, will play but may not start. This bodes ill for
both the kicking game and the overall defense, which he has
contributed much to as shortside defensive end.
The Buckeyes lead in most of the kick return and kick return
defense categories. But, like punting, these stats rely on a small
number of cases, which any statistician can tell you can prove
Imisleading.
For example, Michigan edges Ohio State in punt return de-
fense with a superb 1.3 yards per return. However, that's due to
a fluke play last week in which a flustered Illini ran backwards
18 yards to his doom, the kind of thing which, might affect those
other figures.
)SE TO CALL
Bo palls an a1-_ 'e
frtronJrfor JI. t
By BILL. STIEG
9u
011, the sacrifices of a coach during Ohio State week:
reaffirms my conviction that it enjoys superior defensiVe per Bo Schembechler missed his nap yesterday.
sonnel. Michigan's ,coach skipped his customary noon-hour
The stars, the Greg Mortons and Calvin O'Neals and the snooze to tell reporters how practice has gone in the big
Nick Buonamicis and Ed Thompsons, match up well. But as week before the big game.
valiantly as Jerry Vogele/Jerry Meter and Bob Lang/Steve "I usually go home at twelve and take a nap," he told
Graves might play, I'll take Totn Cousineau and Aaron Brown :a gathering of about 20 reporters and sportscasters. "I
any day. guess I can't do that today."
After looking at the record, then, I think the Wolverines SCHEMBECHLER has eased up his daily schedule this
come up a bit on the short side defensively. That still doesn't season as part of his recovery from heart surgery in May.
mean we can predict anything-emotions and other intengibles #i The easing up includes the noon naps and a 10 p.m. quit-
remain supremely important in such a relatively balanced ting time from work.
matchup. "I've missed my curfew a few times this week," he
What can we forecast from the stats is that Michigan may said. "Like Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
need a bit more psyching up to overcome those objective dis- "We've pointed to this wee: all season. It's a fun week,
advantages. All things considered, it's hard to predict they'll do it's a challenge. We work harder, the staff fights more .
that. it's a challenge. We've shortened practices a little (to avoid
What's more motivating, wanting to beat Ohio State on your injuries) but the intensity is the same as always."
last try or wanting to remain undefeated for your career against Schembechler laughed off questions about strategy by
Michigan? saying, "We'll run a triple reverse on the kickoff and then
Who's hungrier, a team that's played well but never visited throw a bomb.
the Rose Bowl or a bunch who's been there, has the taste "IT SHOULD BE a great game," he said more serious-
cemented in their mouths and can't wait to get back? ly. "You've got to appreciate tough football to enjoy our
Unlike some years, both teams have quite a bit to prove I kind of games. When people think of great games, they X
OSU has to show they're better than that 9-3 squeaker over think of someone winning 30-29 in the last ten seconds, but
rMinnesota last week. Michigan seeks redemption for its that's not the way with us.
Purdue loss. "We've gone down to the wire each year, but the score's
Final cerebral score: six of one, half dozen of the other been lower. But I don't know what will happen. The script
"These guys reflect what I do," Bo said of his team after the may go down the drain.
Minnesota dame. "They get jacked up pretty easily." . "But everyone will play hard," said Schembechler.
Minnesota "This game brings out the best in all the players. I lookr
Bo better hope those nerve endings in his player's minds can "Tcis all the bs, ndlwt' e nevyrrs. a ba ok
produce enough prowess to-overcome those all too unsettling facts k foner"
and figures which spew from the Big Ten's computer circuits. formance.
ta te
663-4636
I
1
om p iters
and
FARRELL EYES SWEEP:
------------- --------------
4
Denver, altitude test puecksters
Society
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Winter 197
The overall defensive stats remain more meaningful, but you
can take them with as many grains of salt as you'd like. Per-
sonally, OSU's admittedly slight lead in most of those categories
- - - --- --~ .._.
Health and Healing Energy
FRIDAY EVENINGS at Canterbury
PSYCHIC HEALING
Stern Morgan
FRIDAY, November 19th
8 P.M. HERB TEA 8:30 DISCUSSION j
The Michigan icers travel the
mountainous trail to Denver,
Colorado for a two game series
starting tonight at 9:30 p.m.
(Ann Arbor time).
Denver, currently 3-3 in the
WCHA,. swept Notre Dame on'
home ice earlier this year. The
other Pioneer win came last
Saturday night in Houghton
against Michigan Tech. Denver
accompiisne the split series in
the Northland the same way
Michigan did. The Pioneers lost
the opener, but came back in
the finale.
"I couldn't be more pleased
with the way the boys played
on Saturday night. We had to
have a split and we came out
in that third period and put
the puck in the net like I knew
we could," Denver coach Mur-
ray Armstrong said. Farrell believes that the Mich
Michigan coach Dan Farrell igan icers did not go to Denver
said playing at Denver is early enough to accustom them-
"equally as tough" as the Wol- selves to the conditions. "You
verines' previous two road have to. go 10 days ahead to do
series, Michigan Tech end Wis- any good," Farrell said.
consin. Last year the two teams split,
"I'm not sure they're as tough both at Denver and at Ann Ar-
a team, but the conditions make bor. Although'Farrell said he is.
up for it," Farrell said. aiming for a sweep, he added,
. The small ice surface of the "Being realistic about it, if we
Denver arena presents one dif- split we'd be pleased."
ficulty. However, the city's thin If the Wolverines play like
air at a 5.000 foot altitude could they have been, however, Far-
have a more telling effect upon rell contends, the Blue icers will
the icers. win two.
-J B ~
"
rU -".
1L
cadl
C ecKOLnt
for infoTmation
course d escr p tn
CANTERBURY HOUSE
218 N. DIVISION STREET
corner of Catherine and Division
_ Big George's Photo Dept.
PRESENTS
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UNICOLOR
SALE &
DEMONSTRATION
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Don't let it happen to you. Get your picks into
by midnight Friday, and enjoy the game.
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from 3 to 9 p.m.
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OPEN. Mon -Fri 9 to 9
Satut duv 9 to 6t
Sunduy 12 to 5,>
NOVEMBER 20
1) MICHIGAN at Ohio State
(Pick score)
2) Northwestern at Illinois
3) Iowa at Michigan St.
4) Minnesota at Wisconsin
5)i Indiana at Purdue
6) Boston U. at Louisville
7) Stanford at California'
8) Vanderbilt at Cincinnati
9) South Carolina at Clemson
10) Duke at North Carolina
11) Texas, El Paso at Hawaii
12) Virginia Tech at Florida
St.
13) Central Mich at Western
Mich
14) Iowa St. at Oklahoma St.
15) Houston at Texas Tech
16) Kentucky at Tennessee
=A Big George's
SUPERMARKET OF
APPLIANCES-"TV
STEREO -CAMERAS
Home Appliance Mart
.-
Schlanderer Jewelry has been part of
the South University business corn-
munity since 1965. Over those eleven
years they have earned a reputation
of excellence by offering jewelry and
fine watches to a quality conscious
public.
Now comes a celebration to say "Hail
to the Victors" . . . . "Thanks for a
fantastic season" . ... "Good luck
In the post season march for #1 in the
Nation."
A celebration so great it can only be
for one day. A once in a lifetime sale
of every quality item in stock. On
Monday morning, November 22 at
9:30 every item in stock will be
discounted based on the point spread
of Michigan's victory over Ohio
State, up to five touchdowns or 35%.
The minimum discount will be 10/0
for a one to seven point victory, tie,
or (Heaven Forbid) loss.
17) Southern Illinois at Mar-
shall
18) Memphis St. at Southern
Mississippi
19) Mississippi at Mississippi
St. (Jackson)
20) Oklahoma at Nebraska
21) Oregon at Oregon St.
22) Pittsburgh at Penn St.
23) William and Mary at
Richmond
24) UCLA at USC
25) Syracuse at W. Virginia
26) Villanova at Temple
27) Indiana St. at VMI
28) Washington at Washington
St. (Spokane)
d 29) Wyoming at Air Force
30) DAILY LIBELS at Ohio St.
Lantern
NOVEMBERI27
(Still must be in by
Midnight, Nov. 19)
31) Baylor at Texas Christian
)32) Army vs. Navy (Philadel-
phia)
33) Georgia Tech at Georgia
34) Holy Cross at Boston Col-
lege
35) Arizona St. at Arizona
36) Texas Tech at Arkansas
37) Alabama at Auburn (Birm-
ingham)
38) Notre Dame at USC
39) Oregon St. at Hawaii
40) Texas A&M at Texas
DEC. GRADS
TO ATTEND
COMMENCEMENT YOU
MUST ORDER A CAP AND
GOWN BY
NOV. 19, 1976
FROM THE
U. CELLAR
769-7940
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Buy
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Fresric fsirples.
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US T rading Ci. PO Box 3643 Daly City, CA 94015
Celebrate another winning Wolverine season at
Schilandesrr hewelrv on South U niversity.
Because of limited space only 20 people
will be allowed in the store at one time, so
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