The Michigan Daily-Thursday, October 30, 1980-Page 9
Searching for rational answers
A joke? No, the comical element was
often replaced by more somber
moments, like that portrayed in the pic-
ture at the right. ,
A farce? Only if you think the Open
Meetings Act is a piece of useless
legislation that was enacted to please
special interests.
A chance to attend a public meeting?
Yes. That's exactly what it was.
And I sincerely hope Don Canham
and the other members of the Board in
Control of Intercollegiate Athletics
9recognized our purpose Tuesday night
when they emerged from their October
meeting in the darkness outside Crisler
Arena and encountered a group of
reporters and editors.
We had been inside the tunnel leading
to the arena for about 90 minutes or so,
attempting to get into the meeting,
before we were forcibly dragged out
(but not arrested) by the Ann Arbor
police. I was one of four staffers who
were subjected to the rather brutal
treatment; earlier, Editor-in-Chief.
Mark Parrent and Opinion Page Editor
Joshua Peck were arrested and
charged with violating the Michigan
Trespass Act.
But swollen necks and swallowing
difficulties aside, I learned quite a bit
from the experience.
I learned that you cannot speak with
athletic department officials without
being bombarded by false rhetoric, in-
sulting banter, and general indifference
to the needs of others.
Associate Athletic Director Don Lund
that our lawyer also thought the
meeting should be open, Lund said,
"Let me see it in writing."
When Lund was asked why the
meeting was closed to the public, he
could not give us an answer. For added
entertainment value, let's hear some
other reasons (or non-reasons) given by
Alan Fanger
about that."
WILL PERRY, assistant athletic
director-"I was just invited to the
meeting. I'm giving a report."
SGT. ARTHUR HUGHES, Ann Arbor
police officer-"My understanding of it
is that this is a University building, and
Mr. Canham is in charge of these
buildings. And if he says this building is
closed, and not for use of the public at
the time, then I would assume he would
have that authority, that's my under-
standing."
DON CANHAM, Athletic Direc-
tor-"We talk about a lot of things
we're not ready to publicize. We make
policy on our own department. We don't
make decisions on tax dollars because
we don't use tax dollars."
The search for a consistent, well-
thought answer to our question ended in
failure, as you can easily see.
Most board members refused to
comment on this topic as they emerged
from the meeting, and you have to won-
der whether they all truly hold
Canham's view dear to their hearts. It
is more likely that they have fallen prey
to manipulation and a special type of
peer pressure to hang the veil of
secrecy over the entire operation.
typified that character sketch. Upon
entering the building and seeing that
several Daily reporters and editors
were blocking the door to the meeting
room, he cynically asked, "What do you
want to talk about? Freedom of the
press? First amendment? . . ."
Lund then asked if we had obtained
legal help in pressing our case. We said
that we had done so. After explaining
other officials to explain why the
meetings are closed:
THOMAS ANTON, professor of
political science and Big, Ten faculty
representative-"I think in the past
there have been some efforts to get a
legal ruling on that. As far as I under-
stand it, we haven't checked on the
ruling. You would have to look at what
the University attorney has to say
AN ANN ARBOR POLICE officer %
drags Daily Sports Editor Alan Daily Photo by PAUL ENGSTROM
Fanger by the neck and out of Crisler
Arena Tuesday. Fanger suffered minor
abrasions on his neck as well as
swelling in his throat.
,
The life of a walk- on
Fischer works hard, accepts reserve role
By STAN BRADBURY
It is late in the game and Michigan leads Nor-
thwestern 49-7 in the season opener of 1979. Into
the game comes number 20 to play defensive
back. In a matter of seconds, his career of
playing time has both begun and ended as a
Michigan Wolverine.
A few seconds of playing time, late in a North-
western blowout, is not much to show for two-
and-a-half years of football practice. But for
junior walk-on Brad Fischer, it is more than
enough to keep him on the team and working as
hard as anybody else.
For a moment forget the Anthony Carters, the
Mike Trgovacs and the ,John Wanglers; they
have full-ride scholarships, campus recognition,
and very agreeable amounts of playing time and
0 publicity. To them, practice and pain are worth
it.
THEN WHY, oh why, does a non-scholarship
i
player like Fischer put up with all the work,
time; and pain? What drives? What motivates?
"Basically it's the atmosphere of the program
and a lot of friends," said Fischer. "It's really a
lot of good'times, especially coming down to the
end of the season with the Big Ten race like it is.
"I'VE GOTTEN to the point where I really en-
joy football and maybe some day I might go on
as a coach or something," Fischer said. "I've
really learned a lot here just being around Bo
(Schembechler) and his coaching staff."
When Fischer was a senior quarterback and
defensive back at Oxford High School, the
coaches invited him to Ann Arbor for a visit and
from that time on, the 6-0, 201-pounder was sold
on the Wolverines.
"They invited me down here and I took a look
at the facilities and the academics and I knew I
wanted to come here," said Fischer. "It is kind
of an amazing sight to come here and see all this
when you're a high school senior."
FISCHER TURNED down scholarship offers
from Mid-American Conference schools to come
to. Michigan even though the coaches said they
could not offer hima'scholarship.
"Your first year is rough. The coaches don't
know much about the walk-ons," Fischer said,
"so the scholarship people they bring in get the
first shot at everything in practice.
'"But then, after the first year, you're a part of
the team and everyone knows what your part is
and what you can contribute," said the LSA
junior, who intends to get into business school..
EVEN THOUGH Fischer is not contributing
during the games, he has still made his presence
felt off the scene at practices. Last year during
spring drills all but one Michigan quarterback
had fallen to injuries. Bo then called on Fischer
to move to that position from his defensive back
spot.
Fischer came on and did the job filling.in at the
second-team quarterback slot and was a starter
for the White team in the Blue-White game.
"I almost didn't make it through spring ball,"
said Fischer. "Both of my shoulders were
messed up from the second day on so I was in
pain pretty bad.
"BUT WHEN YOUR shot comes along, you
don't lay over and let it pass. It may have hurt
me in the long run to play injured because it
hampered my performance," Fischer said.
For now, Fischer has to be content to run the
"Demo" (demonstration) offense. The demo
team's job is to imitate the next week's opponent
so the first and second teams can get a look at
what's in store.
"There's a certain amount of challenge going
against your own defense and trying to pick it
apart," Fischer said. "It's a personal
challenge."
INSTANT
CASH1
WE'RE PAYING
$14$2 PER DISC
FOR YOUR ALBUMS
fN GOOD SHAPE.
RECORDS
OPEN MON.-SAT. 10-6
20 S. STATE
769.7075
I
Y
ini troubles:
Big Ten investigating
Wilson eligibility
CHICAGO (AP)-The Big Ten Con- student-athetes.
ference announced yesterday its The conference d
faculty representatives are in- responsibility as ea4
vestigating whether the University of adherence to Big Te
Illinois is complying with conference "The principlec
rules regarding eligibility of student requires that eachr
athletes. delegate to a facul
The investigation stems from a con- organization the res
troversy centered around Illini quar- development of in
terback Dave Wilson. Wilson is em- concerning intercoli
broiled in a dispute with the conference administration oft
over whether he is eligible to play foot- supervision of insti
ball. He has taken the conference to ce.
court over the matter.
The conference's faculty represen-
tatives seek to determine the univer-
sity's position as to whether it is in GOR DON
compliance with conference rules, the
university's position on certain MACRAE
obligations it has to the other conferen-
ce members and the university's in-
terests in complying hereafter with .g
conference requirements," the Big Ten
said in a news release.
The Chicago Tribune disclosed last
week that the investigation was inM
progress. Neale Stoner, Illinois athletic
director, said at the time that he had
not been formally notified of the inquiry
but added he was certain the university the m
was meeting conference standards Rodgers and
regarding academic eligibility of RodersZand
case
defines institutional
ch member school's
n regulations.
of faculty control
member university
ty group within its
sponsibility for the
stitutional policies
egiate athletics, the
those policies and
itutional complian-
POETRY READING
with
STEPHEN DUNNING
and Workshop Poets
Reading from their works
at 7:30 P.M.
Thurs. Oct. 30
ADMISSION: FREE
REFRESHMENTS
GUILD HOUSE, 802 MONRO
NOON LUNCHEON
Home-macteSoup & Sandwich
t 754
Friday Oct. 31
JACKIE KRENTZMAN
Energy Task Force Coordinator,
PIRGIM:
"Radioactive Waste
in Michigan"
DE (662-5189)
ANITA
DARIAN
n
He
usic of
Hammerstein
Oct.1
---
Save $2.39 on two
Sirloin Strip Dinners
Dinners include *Baked Potato *Warm Roll with Butter
*All-You-Can-Eat Salad Bar.
WE On CUT OUT THIS COUPON UEU5EEE CUT OUT THIS COUPON Noe
Sav 239Save $2.39
TWO SIRLOIN TWO SIRLOIN 0
STRIP DINNERS .. .$5.99 STRIP DINNERS .. .$5.99
Beverage and dessert are not M Beverage and dessert are not
M included. U included.
Limit one coupon per couple per visit. Limit one coupon per couple per visit
Cannot be used with other discounts. Cannot be used with other discounts.
M Applicable taxes not included. Applicable taxes not included. M
At Participating Steakhouses.* At Participating Steakhouses.
Offer good ,U Offer good
Oct .17thruE E Oct 17 thr9 M
. Nov. 2.1980 ot 2.1980 U
SCORES
NBA
Boston 103, Detroit 85
Milwaukee 132, New Jersey 116
Indiana 102, New York 95
Philadelphia 115, Chicago 102
NHL
yuCT.31, 1N V. 1 and z
Fri., Sat. 8 p.m.-Sun. 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.
POWER CENTER
Tickets on Sale Now PTP Ticket
Office-Michigan League Mon.-Fri.
10-1, 2-5. 764-0450
Hartford 5, Detroit 3
Quebec 3, Vancouver 3
Daily Photo by DEBBIE LEWIS
CONTROVERSY CONTINUES to surround Illinois' starting quarterback
Dave Wilson and his eligibility status. Wilson, who threw for over 300 yards
while setting a record for most passes attempted last Saturday against
Michigan, is currently under investigation by the Big Ten.
We stock a full line of clothing, boots, camping equipment,
hunting clothing & winter coats.
201 E. Washington at Fourth
open M-Sat 9-6 494-3572
_______________mEmi
Li1
HAVE DINNER WITH
Charley THIS WEEK
e
C.,
I
m