The Michigan Daily-Thursday, March 12, 1981-Page 9 Ready, set-from 'M' gridiron tc By GARY LEVY 'PASADENA, Calif. - One week. m today, on Jan. 2, when the C television cameras beam one of the prettiest sights in sports, the Rose Bowl with the San Gabriel Moun- tains as a backdrop, into millions of homes across america, the cameras will focus on Rick Leach, Russell Davis, Walt Downing, Mark who spent the majority of his college career on the bench, has found fame and fortune in Hollywood as an actor, currently performing in the nightime television soap opera Flamingo Road. THIS ROAD FROM notoriety to ob- scurity and back to notoriety is a Cin- derella story of sorts. Brown lettered in football, basketball and baseball at East Detroit High School and walked onto the Michigan football team his freshman year. The next year, the 5-10, 175-pound safety came close to cracking Michigan's startine lineup in his sophomore season prior to the opener at Wisconsin. But in the team's final scrimmage, a collision when breaking up a Jim Smith post pattern resulted in three broken bones in Brown's foot. "That set me back a couple of weeks," said Brown. "I lost a bit of en- thusiasm. It was my moment of glory and..." Although he was down, he refused to quit. He evaluated the situation and worked his tail off. Not until the final moments of a home game in his senior year did Brown see the only playing time of his college career. He admits the adjustment from star struck high school athlete to nobody was a difficult one. "MY WHOLE LIFE I had been a star. I finally found out what it was like to experience rejection and failure," said Brown. In the meantime, school had served a dual purpose for Brown. He was graduating from Michigan with a business degree and had planned to attend law school until an Introduc- tion to Drama course his senior year changed that. Although he "didn't know a damn thing about acting," he applied to several drama schools in New York City and was accepted at the Circle of The Square School of Drama. . There, he "pounded the pavement" until an agent tooka chance on him. He netted a few roles in commercials, the most notable of which was as the Moun- tain Dew spokesman. A role as Wes Osborne on the daytime soap opera One Life to Lire followed and lasted eight months. HIS AGENT THEN decided that Hollywood was the next step. Brown was hesitant at first, but decided to take the risk. He tested for a number of roles, including that of Skipper Weldon- on Flamingo Road. He won the part and made the pilot. When he went back to New York and found out the pilot was going to be made into a series, he moved to Beverly Hills. Brown recently completed filming and is on hiatus. Brown attributed his rilatively quick success primarily to timing and luck as well as a bit of ability because "when you go to a screen test, you'd think there were 50 clones there." Looking back, Brown maintained he has no regrets having attended Michigan, and never getting the chance to play. In fact, he insists he is a better person as the result of it. "WHATEVER HAPPENED, hap- pened for a reason," says Brown. "If given the right opportunities, I could've been a standout. I believed in my ability' and so did the coaches, but I was a vic- tim of circumstances. "It meant a lot to persevere. Michigan football is hell and it was a plus even to hang in there. Now, I think I can confront anything in my life." Those who knew Brown in his college years might not recognize him these days. He's dropped 35 pounds from his playing weight, but still stays in shape as a long distance runner, and has qualifed for the Boston Marathon. T.V. Brown said that although he chose a career in acting, he'll always be an athlete first. "I'll never change. It's the greatest thing you can be," said Brown. "I'll never forget the memories. I still get the itch to play. Whenever I see people hitting, I want to go out and get my head knocked off." Maybe Woody Brown never reached the spotlight in his football days at Michigan, but without a doubt, he's now a star in his own right. Donahue - the University of Michigan's stars and starters. Unless the director calls for a long sideline shot, Woody Brown won't make it on camera. - The Detroit News, Dec. 26, 1977 True, Woody Brown never starred or rted for the Michigan football team, ht he certainly hasn't had any problem making it on camera. The former Michigan defensive back, Brown ... Flamingo Road-ie U_______________________________________________ Fish Tales By MARK FISCHER Time to get up for NCAA's.. . S. .have your No-Doz ready i " Ready for college hoop's "second and a half" season? "Second and a half," because many teams in the NCAA and NIT playoffs already played their second season last week when they matched moves in conference tournament action, while others (like Michigan and its fellow Big Ten'ers) will be participating in their first tournament ac- tion of the year in the upcoming cage classics. NBC and the cable TV sports networks, ESPN and USA, are certainly ready. Between the three of them, all of the NCAA games and the majority of the NIT contests will be televised. That's right, all, 47 NCAA barnburners, even Howard vs. Wyoming. (Howard vs. Wyoming? Sounds more like a court case than an NCAA tournament mat- chup.) I know some characters around Ann Arbor who are almost too ready. Equipped with several cases of beer in their fridge, easy chairs centered around their "boob tubes," tabs of caffeine, and popcorn at their side, they plan to devour each of those games. Yes, all 47 NCAA's plus however many NIT's. It's roundball lovers (or should I say addicts?) like these that remind you that "fan" is, but an abbreviation of the word "fanatic." " Speaking of Howard vs. Wyoming, there are an awful lot of awe-less squads in the NCAA classic this year, aren't there? I mean I've heard of dark horses, but teams like Ball State, Southern University, James Madison, and Mercer are next to invisible. In fact, the NCAAs are so diluted with ho-hum teams which automatically qualified for the tour- ney by winning their small conferences, that the NIT may well draw a lot of attention away from its bigger (though younger) cousin. Look for some exciting and talent-packed NIT clashes between teams like Marquette, South Alabama, St. John's, and some of the Big Ten's very own: namely, Pur- due, Minnesota, and Michigan (which plays Duquesne at Crisler tonight). At least these teams should lose no sleep worrying about being over- shadowed by NCAA games like Northeastern vs. Fresno State. * A word of "too bad" to the Ohio State cagers seems in order. The Bucks, who beat Michigan twice this season, went from being ranked in the Top Ten in preseason to not even receiving a tour- nament bid-despite carrying two of the better frontcourt players in the country in Clark Kellogg and Herb Williams. Well, I've got to go get ready myself now. The Creighton-St. Joseph's game is just about to start. . * _____________________________________________ t-- MCFARLAND, KLASSON, MCKAY QUALIFY: LSAT GRE GMAT Test Preparation 'M' wrestlers set for NCAA's By CHUCK JAFFE The odds are 34 to 3 that Michigan will have an individual national cham- pion in wrestling this weekend at the NCAA finals in Princeton, New Jersey. ,The reason for the odds is that there are iwrestlers in each weight class, and ~ichigan is, sending three wrestlers. Eric Klasson, Joe McFarland, and Pat McKay are Michigan's three NCAA qualifiers and their quest for the national individual championship begins tonight in Princeton. "We would haveliked to have placed more in the nationals," said wrestling coach Dale Bahr. "But these were the' three I was really counting on. How th- do depends on their attitude and Readiness. They could be national champions or they could be nothing." AS FOR THE wrestlers, they see the NCAA's as just another tournament in terms of preparation, but a whole lot more in terms of excitement: Klasson was in the tournament last year, but did not place. This year, the Michigan heavyweight goes to the tournament having lost his individual Big Ten championship. "Nationals are a funny tournament," lasson said. "There are tons and tons Of upsets and surprises, so it will be tough, but if I put five good matches together, there is no reason why I can't win. But that remains to be seen. First I have to stop making mistakes." McKay and McFarland are more ex- cited about the prospects of their first national tournament. "I have to go out and be aggressive," McKay said. cKay is a strong wrestler on the mat, but is vulnerable while on his feet. "I have to keep composed whenol'm stan- ding," the 190-ponder said, "and get that first take down. The first take- down will be the key to every match for me." 118-pound freshman Joe McFarland is a definite possibility for a national championship. McFarland lost in the Big Ten'finals to Barry Davis of Iowa, when the Hawkeye scored a take-down with five seconds left in the match for the win. McFarland figures that the nationals are part of his growth as a wrestler. "I've been improving all year long, and I think I can keep going," the 118-pound freshman said, "but it's going to be a hell of a lot tougher." The three wrestlers have remained composed, despite the pressure of the tournament, which will crown national champions on Saturday. "We have nothing to lose," said McKay, "and a nation to win. That's a lot. That's what I've been dreaming about for a long time. The biggest battle for Coach Bahr and the wrestlers may come at night when the nervous jitters set in. "The conditioning in this tournament is a given," Klasson said, "so a lot of it will be decided by mental fitness." An ex- cited freshmen Joe McFarland put it a little simpler. "There's going to be some good grappling," McFarland said. "And I bet I won't be able to sleep tonight." How do you pre are for these impoant Get the facts no cost or obligation &SXton " EdUcatonaL' 32466 Olde Franklin Farmington Hills, Ml 4801 (313) 851-2969 (call collect) k k. t 4. a- -F p_ 4: ,4 r - Please send me your "What ANN ARBOR Are The Facts" brochure - 4801 Washtenaw Name East of US23 Address _ Phone 434-5050 Phone ___STORE HOURS: Mon. - Fri. 10-9; TsLA0 M G0Pone Sat. 10-6;Sun, 12-5 Test: LSAT C GMAT C GRE El Kasson ... returns to NCAA's t r' 4( ,FV2/, v:; . 1/ errhi4'i 010o Ilip _ . /% *\), ? NAME *ADDRESS- PHONE Su SUL (Prin L . atlt IMER ISUMMER, MER SUBLET U N ISUPPLEMENT 'CLMENT t or type as Is to appear) (Actual ad size) Only $14 until March 23 Absolutely no ads accepted after March 23 -No Refunds- Attain your professional goals and realize Jewish fulfillment. Certified teachers, MSW's and BSW's are invited to apply. Chal- lenging positions open. Financial assistance available.