K
The Michigan Daily-Wednesday, September 16, 1981-Page9
9
Edwards shines before cameras
By DREW SHARP
"Welcome to ABC's NCAA Football..
Today's game pits the Fighting Irish of
Notre Dame against the Michigan
Wolverines, starring Stanley Edwar-.
ds."
Stan Edwards thrives on being ii the
spotlight. The 6-foot, 208-pound fullback
came to Michigan because it had a well-
run, stongly publicized football
program. He knew that Wolverine foot-
ball games would be televised often,
throughout the country and he could
only benefit from exposure. Little
did Edwards know that he would be the
highlight of Michigan's nationally
televised games.
THE PAST TWO seasons, the
Detroit native has captured the ABC-
TV Chevrolet Player of the Game
award four times. He won it against
Notre Dame and Michigan State in 1979,
and against Illinois and Purdue in 1980.
"It seems like most of the time that
we play on television, I have a good
game," said Edwards. "I guess I want
to make the best of it whenever our
games are televised. I've had what I
considered to be good games
throughout my career, but I'm kind of
lucky to have my best games on TV. I'm
just glad that my play helped us win
most of those games."
It isn't the personal acclaim that is
high on Edwards' list of desires.
"I'M NOT'ALL that interested in per-
sonal goals," he said. "Sure, like all
running backs, I would like to rush for,
over 1,000 yards in a season. But with
the system here at Michigan, it's
un)ikely that it will happen.
"What I would like to be concen-
trating on is my blocking. I have im-
proved as a blocker, but I would like to
become the best blocker in the country.
I can run with any back in the country."
Edwards team attitude is best
'typified by his switch form tailback;to
fullback at the beginning of the 1980
season. Edwarls had a slight edge over
Butch Woolfolk in the tailback slot.
following the 1979 capaign, but coach
Bo Schembechler wanted to utilize both
players in the same backfield because
of their fine speed. Thus, Edwards was
destined to be one of the smallest
fullbacks in the Big Ten. He made good
of the transition, however, ac-'
cumulating 901 yards for the season. In
all, Edwards felt that the change has
made him a better all-around football
player.1
MAINLY, I'M just glad to be
playing," Edwards added. "We've got
two fine backs in Butch and Larry
(Ricks) and these guys have to play.
And if playing themmeans moving me
to fullback then that's fine with me. i
like going through the line to get the
three or four yards a shot. I know I still
have the speed and by adding this
dimension to my game, I think that it
will improve my worth for the pros.
When you have the backfield like we
have, you can go to any of them to get
the job done. I'm happy with the way
things are now. A fullback gets the
chance to roll over people sometimes
and I likewing that."
A defensive player who might not
necessarily roll over is the Irish's All-
American linebacker Bob Crable.
Crable will spearhead a typically tough
Notre Dame defense, and Edwards
knows that he will be running into
Crable more than a few times corme
Saturday.
"He's going to be my main blockid*
assignment," remarked Edward..
"Crable is probably the fine t
linebacker in the nation and man, can
he hit.
"THEIR COACH (first-year man
Gerry Faust) has shown that he is I
college-level coach with the win (27-9
(over LSU) they had last weelf.
Edwards knows that the Notre Dame
battle is crucial for Michigan, as the
Wolverines try to bounce back from)
their defeat at Wisconsin.
"Those were not the l5ichigan
Wolverines that you saw in Madison;'
Edwards stated. "Those were im
posters dressed in Maize and Blue
uniforms. Lguarantee you that we wil
not play like that against Notre Dame.'
Not with the television cameras on;
anyway. Right, Stan? -
Michigan's Stanley Edwards (32) demonstrates his skills at the fullback
position against Purdue last season. In the last two years he has won four
Chevrolet offensive player-of-the-game awards. He will be looking for a fifth
Saturday against Notre Dame.
r
Showdown:
Can Leonard go the
distance with Hearns?
By JIM DWORMAN
C AN A MAN standing only 5-9 win a
fight from a man four inches
taller? Can a Detroit athlete, no matter
how talented he may. be, actually
become a universally recognized
champion? Is is worth $25 to watch a
fight on closed-circuit television?
These three questions will all be an-"
*swered tonight when Sugar Ray
Leonard meets Thomas Hearns in a 15
round welterweight fight at Caesars
Palace in Las Vegas. But for those who -
cannot wait until tonight for the an-
swers, I mayas well give them now.
Yes, the smaller Leonard can defeat
the freakishly tall Hearns, but in order
to'do so he must take the, chance of get-
ting hit by Hearns' powerful right hand.
Since Leonard, the World Boxing Coun-
cil's welterweight champion with a
record of 30-2, with 21 knockouts, is at
least four inches shorter than World
Boxing Association champion Hearns
(32-0, 30 KOs) in both height and reach,
he will have a difficult time getting to
the Detroiters' head with his punches.
Even if Sugar Ray does connect with
Hearns' head it will be with upward.
punches. This will not .bly lessen, the
impact of the blows (in comparison to a
straight or downward swing), but it will
also put more of a strain on the'
shoulders and upper arms of Leonard.
If Leonard wants to make Hearns
fall, he must do so with a strong body
attack. Because Hearns must distribute
his 147 pounds over his 73 inch frame,
his midsection is not built up with
'enough muscle as it probably should be.
Hearns; could be hurt by a continued
pounding to the liver and kidneys.
undisputed championship home to his
city.
Hearns will go after Leonard in the
same manner in which he stalked his
previous foes. It might take longer than
it has in the past, but sooner or later
Hearns will find openings in Leonard's
defensive armor and accurately deliver
his blows.
THE SPORTING VIEWS
must also be careful not to overswing
and lose his balance. He must not leave
himself susceptible to Leonard's light-
ning-quick combinations.
And yes, this is one fight that will bei
worth $25 to watch on closed-circuit TV.
In Sugar Ray Leonard one has the
most, if not the only, chaismatic fighter
in boxing today. Thomas Hearns is the
most devastating fighter in boxing
today. Thomas Hearns is the most
devastating puncher in the professional
ranks, and he can box a little bit too.
The fight has all the makings of a
MuHammed Ali-Joe Frazier fight. A
real war.
For those of us who expect to see
Hearns win the bout in upwards of 12
rounds, the closed-circuit telecast,
shown locally at Hill Auditorium, will
be worth every cent.
If you like Sugar Ray, better sell your
ticket fast. Otherwise, get ready for a
big disappointment.
Mass Meeting for the GARGOYLE, Michigan's
Number One Humor Magazine.
Artists, Writers, Business Types, and misfits
of all varieties are welcome.
Wednesday, September 16, 1981
7:00 at the Student Publication Building (next
to the S.A.B.)
420 Maynard
4 /~~~
lam. .+11.. il Jt t
;,
I."
The difficulty that will present itself
to Leonard will be that of getting close
enough to work on Hearns' body. Hear-
ns' long left arm usually keeps his op-
ponents at quite a distance.; Leonard
must get inside of Hearns' left without
getting hit by the Motor City Cobra's
right, the best in the welterweight
division.
It will not be an easy task. If
Leonard can accomplish this then be
will win the fight-but Hearns won't let
it happen.
Yes, Thomas Hearns will bring an
The area in which Hearns must be
careful in is his defese. He must con-
tinually use his left jab in order to keep
Leonard away form his body. Hearns'
Fight Facts
Stager comes back'
to coach swimmers
Facts and figures for the universal
welterweight championship fight
between Sugar Ray Leonard and
Thomas Hearns Wednesday night.
SITE- 24,382-seat outdoor arena at
Caesar's Palace.
DISTANCE- scheduled for 15 roun-
ds.
WEIGHTS-147-pound limit.
TIME- 7:30-7:45 p.m. PDT.
SANCTIONING BODIES- World
Boxing Council and World Boxing
Association.
OFFICIALS- a non-scoring referee
and three judges appointed by the
Nevada State Athletic Commission.
TITLES- Leonard, WBC welter-
weight and WBA junior middleweight;
Hearns, WBA welterweight. Junior'
middleweight title not at stake.
RECORDS- Leonard, 30-1, 21
knockouts; Hearns, 32-0, 30 knockouts.
PURSES- Leonard, $8 million;
Hearns, $5 million, both guaranteed.
Each can earn more under a percen-
tage arrangement. Record total purse
money, $15 million for Leonard-Robert
Duran fight at New Orleans Nov. 25,
1980.
TELEVISION-7 Closed-circuit to 298
locations, with a total of 1.5 million
seats, in the United States and Canada.
Pay TV available to one million homes
in 24 cities in the United States. Live
and delayed home telecasts to about 50
other countries.
REVENUES- Estimated gross of
about $40 million and estimated net of
about $29 million. Estimates made by
promoter Dan Duva. Previous biggest
fight gross, between $24 million and $28
million for Leonard-Roberto Duran
fight at Montreal June 20,1980. -
I11s AjIt water"
By JAMES THOMPSON
The Michigan men's swimming
team, which finished fourth in the Big
* Ten last year, will be coached this
season by former Wolverine coach Gus
Stager.
Bill Farley, who coached the swim-
mers the past two years, resigned the
post to take a position as manager of a
friend's swim shop in Florida. Farley
was one the Michigan's greatest all-
time swimmers in the early 1960's,
competing for the United States in the
1964 Olympics in Tokyo.
UNTIL STAGER takes over on Oc-
tober 1, the tankers will be coached by
women's swimming coach Stu Isaac
and diving coach Dick Kimball. Stager
is only accepting the job on a tem-
porary basis while the University sear-
ches for a permanent coach.
Although Stager is only returning for
one year, Kimball is excited about the
team's prospects for this season. "Gus
knows enough about the team so that he
can come in here and do what he does
best, which is coaching," said Kimball.
Stager returns to a team which con-
tains some of the same swimmers who
were competing when he left. Tom Et-
nstring, a senior breaststroker, said, "I
think that with the old coach returning,
the team will have more motivation as
the year goes on."
The Board in Control of Inter-
collegiate Athletics will start the search
for a permanent coach by accepting
applications for the position. Athletic
Director Don Canham, along with Isaac
and Kimball, will then make the selec-
tion.
PUBLIC
SKATING
STARTING SEPT. 14
Monday-Friday
12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
STARTING OCT. 3
Saturday & Sunday
\12:30to 2:15 p.m.
,V
Stager
.. returns to coach
..
SCORES
American eague
Detroit at Boston rain
Toronto 4, Minnesota 2
Baltimore 7, Cleveland 6
National League
Pittsburgh 8, Chicago e
Cincinnati 4, Houston 0
St. Louis 3, Montreal 2first game
Philadelphia at New York rain
Not sure which HP
is right for you.
We're having a
Hewlett - Packard Demonstration
Thurs. & Fri., Sept. 17 & 18, 10-1 and 2-4.
And we're having it in our
new Electronics store.
.
'L . . .... ,