The Michigan Daily-Saturday, December 12, 1981-Page 11
THE LINEUPS
MICHIGAN UCLA
OFFENSE
Run for the Bluebonnets
*0(82),
(t2)
(65)
(69)
(76)
(75)
(27)
( 1)
(16)
(24)
(32)
( 6)
Norm Betts............ (230)
Ed Muransky ............(275)
Kurt Becker ............. (260)
Tom Dixon ..............(238)
Stephan Humphries......(240)
Bubba Paris .............(270)
Vince Bean ..............(185)
Anthony Carter .......... (161)
Steve Smith .............(191)
Butch Woolfolk ..........(208)
Stanley Edwards.......(208)
Ali Haji-Sheikh.........(172)
TE
ST
RG
C
LG-
QT
SE
FL
QB
TB
FB.
PK
(91)
(67)
(76)
(51)
(66)
(73(
(83)
(26)
(14)
( 3)
(42)
( 8)
Tim Wrightman........(237)
Luis Sharpe ............. (250)
Mike Jolly .:............. (250)
Dave Otey...........(255)
Chris Yelich .............(240)
Mike Mason .............(257)
Cormac Carney .......... (209)
JoJo Townsell .......... (181)
Tom Ramsey ............ (189)
Kevin Nelson ............ (188)
Frank Bruno ............ (230)
Norm Johnson ........... (193)
DEFENSE
By DREW SHARP
Spending New Year's Eve in Houston
was not what Michigan coach Bo
Schembechler originally had in mind
when this season began. With all the
pre-season hype in their favor, the
Wolverines seemed destined to spend
New Year's Eve in Pasadena preparing
to play for the national championship in
the Rose Bowl.
But several missed passes and three
losses later, Michigan finds itself going
to Texas and the 22nd Bluebonnet Bowl
to face UCLA. But Schembechler isn't
too disappointed.
"I WAS SURPRISED (that we are
playing) UCLA," said Schembechler.,
"I don't know how they got'em in there.
I think it's a good matchup. I have no
qualms about going down there. North
Carolina went down there last year and
really enjoyed it."
The matchup, one which would have
been a Rose Bowl dream, came under
fire in Pasadena. Executives of "the
Granddaddy of the Bowls" were incen-
sed that Michigan and UCLA violated
the "Gentleman's Agreement" of the
(99)
(63)
(53)
(78)
(97)
(50)
(40)
( 9)
15)
(13)
(37)
(28)
Robert Thompson .......(219)
Winfred Carraway......(230)
Al Sincich............(220)
Tony Osbun .............(254)
Ben Needham ...........(210)
Paul Girgash..........(210)
Mike Boren..........(217)
Brian Carpenter........(166)
Jerry Burgei ............(182)
Keith Bostic .............(209)
Tony Jackson...........(174)
Don Bracken ............(172)
OLB
LT
MG
RT
OLB
ILB
ILB
WHB
SHB
SS
FS
P
(99)
.(53)
(40)
(75)
(92)
(86)
(27).
(35)
( 2)
(32)
( 7)
(17)
Brad Plemmons........(214)
Joe Gary.............(255)
Karl Morgan ...........(247)
Irv Eatman .............(260)
Ike Gordon............(221)
Ron Butler ..............(232)
Blanchard Montgomery . (239)
Jimmy Turner........... (188)
Walter Lang.............(175)
Tom'Sullivan............(188)
Don Rogers .............. (207)
Kevin Buenafe...........(200)
bowl pact made between the Big Ten
and Pac-10.
The agreement states that Big Ten
and Pac-10 teams can play in other
bowls so long as the two conference
only meet head to head in Pasadena.
"I THINK the Rose Bowl people
should do whatever it takes to save the
sanctity of its game," added Schem-
bechler..
What was Pasadena's loss is
definitely Houston's gain as the
Bluebonnet Bowl will definitely be one
of the finer bowl matchups to be found.
Offensively, the two clubs look like
identical twins. Both believe in
establishing the running attach and are
armed with an explosive ground
assault. The Wolverines are led by their
all-time leading rusher Butch Woolfolk,
who concluded his senior regular
season campaign with 1,273 yards. The
Bruins counter with sophomore speed-
ster Kevin Nelson. Nelson, younger
brother of Stanford's All-american
rusher Darrin Nelson, trudged the
terrain for 850 yards.
"UCLA HAS never been short of
quality players," said Schembechler.
"And this year is no exception. They've
got a fine quarterback in (Tom) Ram-
sey, great wide receivers, and their
tight end (All-American Tim) Wright-
man is reportedly the best in the coun-
try.",
Ramsey, who completed 60 percent of
his tosses this season, does have a fine
crop of receivers around him. Flanker
JoJo Townsell has caught 23 passes for
the year while split end Cormac Carney
pulled in 24 aerials for 450 yards, an
average of 18.8 yards a grab.
But the Bruins' money receiver is
Wrightman, who led the team in
receiving with 26 reception and five
touchdowns.
"THE TEAM is excited about playing
a team of Michigan's stature in the
Bluebonnet Bowl," Wrightman said.
"After the USC loss, if we were to play a
lesser team, it wouldn't have been wor-
thwhile. I wouldn't have wanted to play
an Iowa in the Bluebonnet Bowl, for
example."
In Michigan, the Uclans will face a
passing attack which has bieen like a
water faucet all season long. Quarter-
back Steve Smith's aerials were off
target, at least from the Wolverine
standpoint, for a good part of'the
season. The sophomore completed only
45 percent of his passes during the
campaign.
But one factor always remains con-
stant - Anthony Carter's presence on
the field. The junior All-American led
the team in receptions with 44 and is the
most important offensive weapon that
Schembechler has in his pocket.
Carter
... Bo's biggest threat
FIVE GAMES UNTIL BIG TENS:
Struggling cagers to meet WMU
By RON POLLACK
The non-conference season is sup-
posed to be a breeze for name schools
such as, Michigan. Simply schedule
teams like Eastern Michigan, Northern
Michigan and Western Michigan and
the ingredients are there for a fine
'start.
The team starts winning, the fans
start cheering, the coach starts smiling
and pollsters take note. It worked that
,way last year, as the Wolverines rolled
to a 9-0 non-conference mark, cracking
the top 20 in the process.
BUT THIS season, something has
gone wrong with this master plan.
Losses to Arkansas and Eastern
Michigan, and an uninspired victory
over undermanned Northern Michigan
h- left the Wolverines with a less than
idipressive 1-2 record.
As a result, the fans are cheering less
enthusiastically than last year,
Michigan head coach Bill Frieder is
anything but pleased, and the pollsters'
attention has been diverted elsewhere.
"I haven't been satisfied " with
anything this year," laments Frieder.
SUCH IS the frame of mind that
Frieder takes into today's game at
Western Michigan (the opening tipoff
will be at 2:00 p.m.). After this contest
against the Broncos, Michigan will take
on Detroit and Louisiana Tech. This
season, Western Michigan lost to
Wayne State, Detroit fell to St. Louis
and Louisiana Tech was downed by
Northeast Louisiana. At last look,
Wayne State, St. Louis and Northeast
Louisiana were not being touted for un-
told glory and a national championship
- but then again, neither were Western
Michigan, Detroit and Louisiana Tech.
This all appears to be irrelevant to
Frieder who maintains a grim outlook
for his squad's next three games. "We
can't afford to take anyone, lightly," he
says. "We'll be the underdog in all of
those games."
Western Michigan mentor Les
Wothke believes that the Wolverines
will be ready for his team: "Michigan is
gonna come in here with a real strong
desire to win because they've already
lost to a MAC school - Eastern
Michigan," says the Broncos' coach.
"And I don't think they want to face the
rest of the season with two losses to
MAC schools from their own state. So I
think they'll have all the incentive in
the world."
NOT TO BE outdone by his coaching
counterpart, Frieder counters that
Western Michigan will have some
adrenalin of its own flowing. "They'll
be juiced up for Michigan, and they're a
good team to begin with," he says.
"They have experience on us. We'll
have to play better than we did in our,
last two games to beat them."
If the Wolverines are to play better
than they did in the last two games,
nesday. "We obviously haven't had to
come back from a defeat before," says
Wothke. "That's the test we face again-.
st Michigan. If we play to our potential
that's all I'll ask for. If we don't, we're
only a so-so team."
MICHIGAN'S NEXT game after
Western will be a week from today
against Detroit (2-3). Causing Frieder
the most concern in this game is the
Titan's front line tandem of 6-9 forward
Joe Kopicki (17.4 ppg) and 6-10 center
Anthony Lee (8.2 ppg).
"Our main job will be to stop their big
guys, Kopicki and Lee," says Frieder.
"I don't know if we have anyone who
'Michigan is gonna come in here with a real strong
desire to win because they've already lost to a } MAC
school-Eastern Michigan. And I don 't think they want to
face the rest of the season with two losses to MA C schools
from their own state. So I think they'll have all the incen-
tive in the world. '
- Western Michigan head coach Les Wothke
good sound team has to do - forget
about the loss and come back and win."
Following this contest, Louisiana
Tech (3-3) will visit Crisler Arena.
Like Michigan, the Bulldogs have a
very young team (three sophomore
starters and a freshman who con-
tributes). "I'm a little bit displeased
with some of our veteran players, but
pleasantly surprised with our younger
players," said Louisiana Tech head
coach Andy Russo.
The Wolverines continue their non-
conference slate at the Winston Tire
Holiday Classic where they will play
USC(2-2) in the first round and either
Missouri (4-0) or the University of
Alabama - Birmingham (3-0) the
following day, depending on whether
they win or lose.
USC IS led by 6-3 guard Dwight An-
derson whose 19.3 scoring average
currently leads the team. Also in the
starting lineup are two freshmen, who
have the Trojans "making some very
young mistakes," according to head
coach Stan Morrison.
As a result of losing the bulk of last
season's offensive firepower to
graduation, this year's Wolverines
could be hard-pressed to do well against
Missouri. "Of all the phases of our
game, the one we're most happy with at
the present is our defensive," says
Missouri head coach Norm Stewart.
"We put a lot of time in on it, and our
young men are confident about that
part of the game."
Noting the quality opposition in this
tournament, Frieder says,"You don't
throw in the towel before you play, but
I'd say we're a strong underdog."
FOLLOW THE
WOLVERINES TO THE
BLUEBONNET BOWL.
And stay with us for just
$29 a night!
This New Year's weekend, follow the sun to Houston, where
smiles are warm and the weather's friendly. Cheer your
Wolverines to victory New Year's Eve at the Astrodome, then ring
in the new all weekend long! Our special $29 deluxe room rate
lets you celebrate in style.
Call .l -800-228-2828 for advance reservations and
ask for the Bluebonnet Bowl Package.
Special rate applies for single or
double occupancy. Subject to
space availability. Bluebonnet k
Bowl package rate available 1_71 i
December 19-January 2 I
-n 2L
r, .4 /
they must improve their shot selection.
Some of their recent field goal attempt's
have looked like they needed a postage
stamp to make it to the hoop.
"In the Eastern game it was
atrocious," says Frieder of his team's
shot selection.-"And while it was better
against Northern, we still had six or
seven bad shots."
BUT IT WILL take more than good
percentage shots to top the Broncos,
according to Frieder. "We've got to
rebound better, handle their pressure,
and stop Walker D.. Russell and Jasper
McElroy."
Of these three tasks, stopping Russell
and McElroy may prove to be the
toughest. Russell, the younger brother
of former Michigan great Campy, is a
slick, 6-5 guard who currently averages
19.5 points and 6-5 assists per game.
McElroy, meanwhile, has been doing a
fair share of scoring himself. He has
pumped in 16.8 points per game while
ripping down an average of 6.7 reboun-
ds in the Broncos first six contests.
Western Michigan won the first five
of these six games this year, before
losing to Wayne State 63-61 on Wed-
can handle them."
Against Detroit, Michigan will face a
team with more than two find big men.
It will be going up against a squad that
may have an advantage, should the
game be up for grabs in the final
minutes. In the Titans' first five con-
tests, two have gone into overtime, and
two have been decided by a scant one
point.
"WE'VE LEARNED to have poise
and we've matured," says Detroit head
coach Willie McCarter. "We've also
learned how to win and how to bounce
back from a tough defeat. That's what a
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