Irish captain I
Linebacker Crable
set for showdown
The Michigan Daily-Friday, September 19, 1980-Page 13
eads by example
i
Lambda Chi Alpha RUSH
Starting Sunday Sept.21
2p.m.-1O p.m.
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By BETH HUFFMAN
Sports Editor, Notre Dame observer
Bob Crable has found that leading by
xample is the best way to do it.
"I just try to be myself," says Crable,
the first junior to serve in a Notre Dame
leadership role since Willie Fry in 1976,
"and play to the best of my ability on
the field."
AND WHEN the 6-3, 222-pound
linebacker speaks, no matter how sof-
tly, his teammates listen.
"We're an emotional team on the
field," said fellow Irish linebacker
Mark Zavasnin after Notre Dame's 31-
10 win over Purdue. "Bob Crable shows
lot of emotion on every play-he's got
way about himself, he's a heck of a
leader."
The Irish coaching staff is also keenly
aware of Crable's leadership ability.
"HIS LEADERSHIP is invaluable,"
says linebacker coach George Kelly.
"He is very enthusiastic and demon-
strates rather than yelling."
Crable, who lettered in three sports at
Cincinnati's famed Moeller High,
tallied a Notre Dame season record of
187 stops last year as a sophomore
along with one interception, a blocked
punt and a blocked field goal*'attempt
against the Michigan Wolverines.
THE BLOCKED field goal in the
closing seconds of last season's Notre
Dame-Michigan clash preserved the 12-
10 win for the Irish and, along with his
team-leading 19 tackles, helped Crable
to earn the UPI Midwest Defensive
Player of the Week award.
"I thought about it earlier, what
would happen if it came down to a last.
second field goal," reflects Crable, who
led Notre Dame in tackles in nine of 11
games last year, including 26 stops
against Clemson, tying All-American
Bob Golic's single game record. "I
thought it was illegal to step on your
own player, so when I went up I just
thought about stopping the kick.
"I was just hoping he (Crable's
Michigan footstool) would stay down
after I went up."
CRABLE, a third team All-America.
selection in 1979 by AP and Football
News feels the key to Saturday's Notre
Dame-Michigan game lies in the tren-
ches.
"We have to play at least as well
against Michigan as we did against
Purdue," says the business major who
has received the Hering Award for the
past two years as the most outstanding
linebacker in spring practice. "The key
to the game is in the line of scrimmage,
both offensively and defensively. If we
can control the line consistently, we'll
be in good shape."
The Irish, idle last week due to ABC-
TV shuffling, enter the match with
Michigan with few worries, according
to Crable, despite the two-week wait.
"I THINK it helps," says Crable of
the free Saturday. "Looking back to
last year when we went down toPurdue
pretty flat, I was worried. But we've
just tried to make it through last week,
and this week we're working more in-
tensely. Overall, though, our attitude is
very good."
That attitude is, without a doubt,
highly attributable to Crable, and the
example he sets for the young Irish
squad on and off the field.
UAC Viewpoint Lectures Presents
RALPH NADER
speaking on
Truth in Testing"
the validity of academic testing
Monday, Sept. 22-8 PM
Rackham Aud.
Tickets at Ticket Central in the Union
for more info call UAC 763-1107
Hot dogs 4-7 p.m.
Continues Sept. 22-25
1601 Washtenow
(across from the rock)
761-373
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QlUJSQU'r IR
Crable
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i' NFL UPDATE:
Pros tough on grads
By JOHN KERR
Contrary to popular opinion, there are many students on campus who can't wait
for the draft. Not the military one, but the professional football draft, which is held
every year at the end of April. For a few members of last year's Michigan football
team the draft has been a ticket to the big leagues, a chance to make their mark in
rofessional football.
Six players were drafted from Michigan's 1979 football squad. Curtis Greer, Ron
Simpkins, Mike Harden, and Mike Jolly were lifted off the Wolverine defense,
while Doug Marsh and Ralph Clayton were taken from the offense. Greer and
Marsh went to the St. Louis Cardinals in the first and second rounds respectively.
Clayton was picked by the Jets also in the second round, while Jolly was acquired
by New Orleans in the fourth round (although he was released by the Saints and is
now a member of Green Bay). Denver grabbed Harden in the fifth round, and Sim-
pkins went to Cincinnati in round seven.
Unfortunately, two of these six former Wolverines are injured. The 6-5 250 pound
.Greer, who started for the Cardinals at defensive end, suffered a concussion in St.
* ouis' opening game against the Giants. It will be at least four weeks until Greer
can be reactivated. According to the Cardinals' public relations department, the
former All-American was starting but is being platooned.
I Wide receiver Ralph Clayton is also ailing. Clayton has yet to appear in a game
for the Jets thanks to a stress fracture of the ankle. His future this year is uncer-
tain -as a spokesmah for the Jets said that "there is no telling how long he'll be
-out: ,
Cincinnati's seventh round pick, 6-1 230 pound Ron Simpkins, is playing on the
Beigals special teams. He has also seen limited action as a defensive linebacker.
"He was a great college player. He's a hard hitter, has good speed, and is
Saggressive," said Al Heim, publicity director for the Bengals. Heim went on to say
at Simpkins is "going to be a good f ootball player."
r Ex-Wolverine Mike Harden, who left his mark on opposing receivers last year, is
playing on Denver's special teams. He has played in both of the Broncos' games
this season, and according to George McFadden of the Broncos' public relations
department, has a good shot at seeing action as a defensive back later in the year.
The road to football's upper echelon was a bit rougher for Mike Jolly. The 6-3, 185
pound defensive back was drafted by the Saints, but was released. The Green Bay
r Packers, sensing that New Orleans had made a mistake, then signed Jolly. He has
layed in both the Packers games this year, and last week against the Lions, Jolly
tercepted a pass. Presently, Jolly is a second string safety.
"The coaches say he's coming along fine," said Tom Collins, the Packers public
relations assistant.
Perhaps the most successful former Wolverine playing in his rookie season is the
Cardinals' Doug Marsh. Marsh is starting at tight end, and if his first two games
are any indication he could become one of the best in the league. In St. Louis'
opening game Marsh snared two passes for a-total of 26 yards. However, last week,
againset San Francisco, he pulled in seven passes for 90 yards and a touchdown.
With those statistics, Marsh has become an integral part of the Cardinal offense.
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