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 STADIUM, Greek and American Food A Specialty LOWES 338 S. S RESTAURANT & .PIZZERIA * PIZZA * STEAKS * CHOPS " CHICKEN " SEA FOOD ST PRICES IN TOWN f 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 R. y)TTr ianr ATF1T ----- 1-1, - --1.4- - --.* ^ - : - a w ccs W 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 r_ MAMIYA- UNICOLOR SALE & DEMONSTRATION NO. - - -1 iiGRllbE PICKS . w . . --.,.7 t 1 -- - - - - ------- - - - L ....... --a, flA Daily. Daily funny thing happened to Woody, on the way to Don't let it happen to you. Get your picks into by midnight Friday, and enjoy the game. the the I See Mcimiya Canercs and Unicolor Durkrorn Equipment deionstrated TODAY- from 3 to 9 p.m. 2019 W. STADIUM 665-8693 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 The Chinese Way of Cook ng Buy The Wonder Wok 10 Yea War anty S Pec k set includes: - 4 h o k beci1e cards I Sp 1 fr postage S&handling. Only bhc rmnyorder accepted. Fresric fsirples. ee cook utensils and ingredients at tow cost. 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 .t: v x ; :: I I