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Page 2-Saturday, September 13, 1980-The Michigan Daily
The Michigan Daily-Saturday, Se
Michigan's 1980 Footbo
ichi an football '80
... AND IN THIS
CORNER
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Who wil
By MARK MIHANOVIC
Michigan entered last season with a
defense that was considered strong
enough to carry it through the early
games, giving an inexperienced offense
time to jell.
Coach Bo Schembechler's squad en-
ters the 1980 campaign in the reverse
position, as many key players return to
the offensive unit and will be expected
to compensate for any mistakes made
by the largely-untested defense.
THERE IS ONE OVERRIDING
similarity between last year's
Michigan team and the current edition,
however. Nobody, not even Schem-
bechler, knows who will best serve the
cause of victory at the quarterback
spot.
Similar to one year ago, when B. J.
Dickey, John Wangler, and Gary Lee
were contesting for the starting role
direct potent
prior to the opener against North- Big Ten Kickoff Lun
western, there is a three-man scramble "I'm not saying he
for the position again this fall, with play, but the operat
Wangler, sophomore Rich Hewlett, and hope.
freshman Steve Smith in competition. "We have the most
Hewlett (6-1, 197), who started last terback position on t
November's loss to Ohio State, but was pus that we've ever
sidelined early with an ankle injury, throw the football."
emerged from spring practice as the The rest of the off
number-one man. Hewlett is an option tial to be awesome.
specialist in the Rick Leach mold, but Stanley Edwards
thus far has lacked the passing con- the fullback position,
sistency to open up opposing defenses. tailback Butch Woo
THE 6-2, 195-pound Smith, a heavily- give the Blue speed t
recruited high school All-American out field.
of Grand Blanc, also possesses the EDWARDS OBVI
skills to run the option successfully, but FIT the Ed Shutt
he suffered a bruised shoulder during Davis mold of po
fall practice and hasn't completely fullbacks, but Schem
healed. He came to fall practice as one with him. "It'd be ni
of three freshmen with an opportunity pounder who can do;
to win the top job and quickly you don't have one, y
distinguished himself as being a couple a guy who can hit ti
of notches further along than Livonia's ning," Schembechler
David Hall and Ravenna, Ohio product Edwards began th
Greg Powell. bang at tailback, g
Four months ago the most unlikely
quarterback possibility was Wangler
(6-3, 192), whose Gator Bowl injury was
thought by many to signal the end of his
career.3
But after a rigorous rehabilitation
program, he and his deft passing touch
(78 passes completed in 130 attempts
for 60 percent) are back for a fifth year
of eligibility. He hasn't absorbed a hard
hit in practice and still lacks complete
mobility, but Schembechler is pleased
with his progress and confident about i r
the quarterback situation in general.
"HIS RECOVERY HAS BEEN k
nothing short of phenomenal," the 12th-
year Michigan mentor marveled at the
G
ncheon last month.
could play or will
tion has given him
t talent at the quar-
the Michigan cam-
had. We're gonna
ense has the poten-
(6-1, 208) moves to
and teams up with
lfolk (6-1, 207) to
o burn in the back-
OUSLY DOESN'T
lesworth-Russell
werful Michigan
bechler is satisfied
nice to have a 220-
a 4.5 40, but when
you have to go with
hat hole like light-
r explained.
e '79 season with a
giving outstanding
offense?
performances against Notre Dame and
Michigan State, but he suffered an in-
jury in the Illinois game and spent most
of the rest of the season watching
Woolfolk perform. Which wasn't bad
entertainment, as the All-Big Ten
speedster finished the campaign as the
conference's leading scorer and third-
leading rusher.
Lawrence Ricks (5-10, 200), at
tailback, and Jerald Ingram (6-2, 217),
at fullback, are sure to garner a heap of
playing time, as well.
THE OFFENSIVE LINE "could be
as good as any we've had in 12
seasons," according to Schembechler.
Pre-season All-American senior
George Lilja (6-4, 250) anchors the crew
at center. He is flanked by guards John
Powers (6-3, 265), who is fully
recovered from the knee injury that
sidelined him last season, and Kurt
Becker (6-6, 243), who specializes in-
pulling out to lead Bo's wide option.
Juniors Ed Muransky and Bubba Paris,
See A LOT, Page 16
Mark Mihanovic
Sept. 13
Sept. 20
Sept. 27
Oct. 4
Oct. 11
Oct. 18
Oct. 25
Nov. 1
Nov. 8
Nov. 15
Nov. 22
NORTHWESTERN
at Notre Dame
SOUTH CAROLINA
CALIFORNIA
MICHIGAN STATE
at Minnesota
ILLINOIS(Homecoming)
at Indiana
at Wisconsin
PURDUE
at Ohio State
wmmm_=
Stop and listen...
. .. Football game or picnic?
W HEN MICHIGAN is beating Northwestern by 24 points in the third
quarter of today's ballgame, stop whatever you're doing for a
moment and listen. Just listen.
What you will hear are the sounds of 102,000 people having a picnic.
Granted, there will be moments when this picnic will become quite loud and
boisterous. Granted, an inordinate amount of beer and bourbon will be con-
sumed at this picnic. But it is a picnic, nonetheless, four hours of outdoor
Saturday afternoon fun in that huge hole in the ground, albeit an attractive
one, called Michigan Stadium.
And the bodies knocking each other around down on the field?
Oh, they're fun to watch ... yeah, Michigan is going to nave a pretty
good team this year . . . hey John, could you pass me a Michelob?.. .
what happened?.. . Edwards scored again? .. . what's the score now? .. .
it doesn't matter. . . we can't beat Ohio State this year, anyway ...
Do you get the picture? The Game is what compels all those alumni
to don their Maize-and-Blue and drive into Ann Arbor. The Game is what
riles Michigan students to a common feeling of disdain for the MSU's and the
OSU's and their students. The Game is what prompts all those stereos to
blare "The Victors" through open apartment and fraternity windows on
Saturday morning.
Intensity vanishes
But once The Game gets underway, one wonders where all that in-
tensity went. Maybe it shifted to the act of charming Susie Sorority sitting
one row below, or to setting up a business meeting with your old friend Paul
Johnson, or to polishing off that bottle of schnapps in your hand. But it cer-
tainly isn't focused onto the action on the Tartan Turf, at least not for most of
the 102,000.
You may suggest that a blowout of Northwestern doesn't warrant your
total attention, and you are probably right. But last season's finale with un-
defeated Ohio State certainly didn't create the kind of rabid and mindless
screaming that one would expect for the occasion, certainly not the kind that
takes place in Columbus or South Bend or dozens of other college towns, for
that matter. Once in a while on that beautiful November day, the huge
Michigan throng would let forth a loud roar, but with only one exception, it
was never sustained for long. Back to Susie Sorority.
But doesn't Susie Sorority take priority at other major gridiron schools,
as well? Yes, except for a three-hour break during which middle-aged men
and women become college kids again, and during which they yell them-
selves hoarse for the cause of victory along with the real college kids. Then
Susie Sorority becomes only another shrieking idiot among tens of thousands
of shrieking idiots.
Why the awesome-looking Michigan contingent differs from other
crowds is a preplexing question. I suppose some of the difference stems
from that arrogance which former Michigan State coach Darryl Rogers
referred to. While Michigan arrogance doesn't approach that of the Ivy
League attitude of intellectual, financial, and cultural superiority, it
unquestionably exists. In an all-around sense, Michigan is the class of the
Big Ten, and those involved with the University know it and breathe it. Suc-
cess is the norm rather than the exception at Michigan, so why should
anyone expect anything less from the Wolverine football team? And why
should anyone work themselves up into a live-or-die frenzy about the games
that the football team plays?
Why lose your voice?
I'm not sure whether it is good or bad that Michigan football fans don't
go nuts during all 60 minutes of a game. Or whether it is even important. The
basic motivation behind one's attending a sporting event is to have a good
time, and if Wolverine followers can have a good time at a gridiron contest
without losing their voices, why should they change?
After all, sometimes school spirit can be taken a little too far. After last
year's Buckeye victory over the Blue, some overzealous OSU boosters
decided to celebrate by flipping over and burning any automobile that
carried a Michigan license plate and ventured onto Columbus' infamous
High Street, where customers of bar after bar were overflowing. They did
just that, twice. And the game wasn't even in Columbus! That can't be what
"rah-rah" is all about, can it?
But you don't have to worry, Northwestern fans. It's a good bet that
Illinois-plated cars will be able to-travel safely down South University after
today's activities.
Nobody wants to burn cars after a picnic.
at Ohio State
I
I
l
f
Rich Hewlett
-~
(Nik) or (Niks')
THAT IS THE QUES/ON/!
Either way is fine by us here at the Athletes
Shop. Stop down and see us for the best & widest
selection of Nike athletic footwear & sportswear.
AFTER ALL, WOULDN'T YOU
RATHER BE IN
OUR SHOES?
i1
* }9-
MICHIGAN QUARTERBACK John Wangler releases a pass just prior to being
smothered by an opposition defender in Wolverine action last season. Wang-
ler's passing arm returns intact for 1980, but his Gator Bowl injury leaves his
mobility questionable.
Said a tackle from East Idaho,
Who was wooed by both Woody and Bo,
"The thing that appeals
Is the chance to eat meals
At the League-to Ann Arbor, I'll go."
Wear the Wolverine on your clan
sweater and show your loyalty.
designed by Jacobson's, knitted
Navy blue acrylic with a cashme
softness, and the identifying ma
U of M insignia. Sizes S-M-L-XL
J b
309 S. State
TheMichigan
Ld U e Next to Hill Auditorium
Located in the heart of the campus.
it is the heart of the campus.
Send your League Limerick to:
Manager. Michigan League
227 South Ingalls
You will receive 2 free dinner
tickets if your limerick is used in
one of our ads.
995-1717
I
L.
. & I - s * '. . 4 . I .
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