The Michigan Daily-Tuesday, January 15, 1980-Page 11 Temporary I n=SaIhnmmty Michigan Football. .. contender or pretender ANEW DECADE has dawned on Michigan football history. Gone, hap- pily, is the ten-year period during which the Wolverines were saddled with the "choke in the big one" stigma. On certain occasions, this stigma was inapplicable. A three-game win streak against Ohio State (1976-8) and a convincing victory over Notre Dame produced elements of impurity in the "choke theories" which many media critics so vigorously proposed. Yet as a rule, stereotypes usually have some factual basis behind them. Just mention the word "bowl game" in Bo Schembechler's presence and you'll witness a cringe resemblant of someone who just burned three fingers on a hot stove. The point is that the Michigan Wolverine football program is stalled in third gear. Frankly, it's beyond me as to why this situation exists. The 17-15 Gator Bowl defeat suffered at the hands of North Carolina is just the culmination of a losing season for Michigan. It was certainly a hard thing for Wolverine fans to swallow. It was especially disturbing because a Michigan victory was thought to be almost guaranteed. Despite the Wolverines' tumultuous season, few local spor- tswriters honestly believed that an ACC team which finished fifth in their conference could actually beat the mighty Michigan Wolverines of the powerful Big Ten, this one among them. In fact, one columnist expressed disappointment that the Wolverines stooped so low as to play a second-class team in a second-class bowl. Boy, was he off the mark! In the end, David slew Goliath, and the Tar Heels came away with a major upset. It's ironic that Michigan's horrendous kicking game, which was at fault in the three season losses to Notre Dame, Purdue and Ohio State, could not be held accountable. Michigan simply did not live up to its potential. The defense which held Notre Dame and California in check and the offense that belittled Michigan State never materialized for any considerable length of time. Consequently, the Gator Bowl loss leaves Schembechler's final-game record at 0-.10 for the past eleven seasons. Seven of those non-wins came in bowl games while the rest were against Ohio State. In its own right, the loss to North Carolina may have been a fluke. It's mind-boggling as to why Michigan folded. Certainly the seniors, Ron Sim- pkins, Curtis Greer, Mike Jolly and company, have got to wonder what sort of plague inflicts this squad year after year around New Year's time. And undoubtedly, Schembechler's got to have some sense of helplessness. After all, he can't go out and punt that ball, or block that pass. However, looking at the Gator Bowl loss in the general context of Michign football over the past decade, the figures stand clear - 0-10-1. Did Michigan field great teams during the 1970s? From 1969 through 1978, the Wolverines never dropped from the coveted top ten in both the AP and UPI polls. It is thus extraordinary that Bo's Boys failed to finish in their customary grouping. Schembechler, however, (104-19-3 coaching record) has in large part been responsible for building Michigan into one of the greatest athletic programs in the nation. He has successfully combined academic achievement'with athletic excellence. He has developed a great recruiting program and has attracted some fine young talent - for example, Anthony Carter. Most of all, Schembechler has conducted-himself and his program with a touch of class, a lot of class. In the= final analysis, Schembechler will become a legend in Michigan history, and willFg6 d6Wn as one of the "greats" among names like Fielding H. Yost, Harry Kip4; Fritz Crisler and Bennie Oosterbaan. Nevertheless, it's ironic that a coach of Schembechler's caliber hasn't nailed down the honor which was earned by some of his famous predecessors. The national championship has strangely eluded Schem- bechler. And if you define a great team and great coach as one that has won a national championship, then Schembechler's greatness quickly becomes questionable. In this respect, he borders on it. After all, it's impossible for a team to win the national title without winning its bowl game. And the fans, who have been long starved of the ultimate victory in rejoicing a national title, have got to wonder why their coach, considering the talent he's had over the years, cannot win it once and for all. All things considered, it's a mystery to me, just as the outcome of the Gator Bowl was. The Wolverines have got to learn how to shift into fourth gear as they enter the '80s. Perhaps the loss to North Carolina will be the needed jolt. If it isn't, the Michigan football team runs the chance of stalling for another ten years. Hockey Poll 1. Northern Michigan 18-2 (6)...... 96 2. North Dakota 14-6 (4).........94 3. MICHIGAN 16-5-1 ............ 74 4. Clarkson 12-4-1.................72 5. Boston College 11-3-1.............48 6. Colorado College 12-9-1..........42 7. Wisconsin 12-8-1.................35 8. Michigan Tech 13-8-1...........27 9. Minnesota 13-9 ................. 23 10. Providence 9-6.................. 14 Michigan remained third in the latest college hockey rdtings compiled by radio station WMPL, as Northern Michigan retained its top spot. The Wildcats pushed their record to 18-2 with 4-3 and 2-1 victories over Ohio State this weekend. NORTH DAKOTS, 14-6, was ranked second, as Clarkson stayed in fourth place, Boston College jumped fromn eighth to fifth place, and Colorado kept its sixth place slot. The Wisconsin Badgers moved up three spots to seventh, Michigan Tech slumped three to eighth, Minnesota kept ninth position and Providence made its debut in the poll in tenth. OPEiIiiTi []NoTi1P All home events Men's Basketball Jan. 19-Ohio State Hockey Jan. 18-19-Wisconsin Wrestling I Jan. 18-Indiana State Jan. 19-Indiana Men's Swimming Jan. 18-Purdue Jan. 19-Illinois Sport, noun. Recreation. Athletics. Pastime. Everyone has a sport of some sort. To play, compete, or 'ust to watch. Meijer is one of the biggest sporting goods stores around. o matter what your sport is, Meijer Thrifty Acres has the quality gear and the same name brands you want, priced to save you money. So, instead of spending your last dime at the sporting specialty goods store, why not jog on over to Meijer and save some money. Maybe enough for two seats behind the dugout. Whatever your sport, Meijer can outfit you: On the court, diamond, or field. ea* n * And off. 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