4 SPORTS Tie Michigan Daily Thursday, Nember 13, 1980 Page 8 tud By GREG DeGULIS - When Jackson Browne sings, "They're the first to come and the last to leave", in the beginning of "The Load-Out," the lyrics could apply to stutdent trainers at the University as well as roadies. The student trainer, c itrary to the stereotypical im- pression of a "waterboy", plays a major role in the preparation and rehabilitation of Michigan athletes. Sophomore Doug Sanborn from Alpena and senior John Mekjian of Sojithfield are two of the nine student trainers presently working with Michigan atheltes. Sanborn prepares the'basketball and wrestling teams for practices and games at Crisler Arena, whiile head student trainer Mekjian works exclusively with the football players in the fall. "I usually get down to Crisler at 2:15 and then tape the basketball players from 2:15 until 3:00," said Sanborn. "From 3:00 to 3:45, I tape the wrestlers and try to get ready for basketball practice. I have to make sure that there is; enough water and ice for the players." WHILE TRAINERS do indeed bear the responsibility of supplying athletes with water to replenish their bodily fluids, Sanborn explained that their primary function is "the immediate care and first aid of an injured athlete." "We also assist the staff (professional) trainers in rehabilitation of certain injuries," he added. "We want to get athletes back into action." Sanborn, like the other student Medical School Four-year fully recogni- zed and established Mexican Medical School, with several hundred American students en- rolled. Use English text- books, with First Semes- ter exams in English. School mbines quality education, smallclasses, experienced teachers, modern facilities. unveraded Del Nlrtste 120 East 41 St .NY. NY001 (212k 8594.6560 or 232.3784 ent trainers' work never finished 4 trainers, usually functions in an assistant role to the staff trainers, who are hired by the athletic department. There are, however, instances where the pressure falls upon student trainers to prepare a team for a rigorous prac- tice session. "WE HAVE TO get the team ready to practice without holding the team up. It's up to me to be on time and efficient because the athlete's health is at stake," Sanborn noted. With all the contact involved in preparing the athletes for practices and games, student trainers can relate to athletes almost as a teammate. "Because we see the athletes every day, w e can understand them in a way the p'ublic doesn't. We get to see the human side of the athletes," noted San- born. "Although we know the athletes as friends, we still have to project a cer- tain professional attitude," he con- tinued. "Otherwise it may lead to par- tiality. They are friends, but I try not to get too close to a team member." While Sanborn works with basketball and wrestling at Crisler, Mekjian devotes his time to football. It occupies 30-35 hours of his week, excluding time spent traveling to and from road games. LIKE SANBORN, Mekjian pursues a hectic training schedule after a mor- ning of classes. "I get in at 1:30 to start taping as well as to get the other trainers ready. I make sure the other trainers get the medical cart supplies ready plus the water for the practice field." In practice and at the games, Mek- jian assists the staff trainers in the treatment of injuries. He carries sup- plies with him during games to help out the staff trainers. If an injury occurs, Mekjian runs on the field with staff trainer Dan Campbell to assist the in- jured player. "We can tell a lot about an injury from the way it happened," explained Mekjian. "If it's a knee injury, we run some stress tests to figure out any ligament damage and we talk to the player as well as asking questions' about the pain. We apply pressure and ice to keep the swelling down in the case of a knee injure," Mekjian added. When asked about specific games in which injuries were abundant, Mekjian immediately referred to Michigan's ill- fated Gator Bowl showing last Decem- ber. "The Gator Bowl had to be the most injury-prone game I've ever seen," the senior mentioned. In that game, John Wangler suffered a serious knee injury and Mike Trgovac's ankle required a stretcher team, on which Mekjian worked. ALONG WITH preventive taping, the rehabilitation of athletes remains the central responsibilities of the trainers. "It's important to bring back these players, because they're valuable athletes. We've really worked hard on Anthony Carter's shoulder and ankle during the season to get him ready to play," Mekjian said. With all the taping that takes place during the course of a season, Mekjian has discovered that certain players prefer a particular trainer's style of applying the adhesive. He noted, with an air of pride, that "(outside linebacker) Mel Owens, (wide receiver) Fred Brockington, and (defensive back) Brian Carpenter always come to me for taping." With all the meticulous work and devotion of energy required of student trainers, it becomes important for them to find elements of the job that make it all worthwhile. "You really have to love it because it's almost a full-time job," said San- born. "It's a really good feeling to see someone you worked with leave the training room healthy. You know you had helped with that." trainer John Mekjian is a familiar face in the Wolverines' locker room as he tapes the players before the upcoming game. Miruinner Beck enjoys his up and down career Rent a Car from Econo-Car Econo-Car 438 W. Huron 761-8845 ECONO-CAR ENTAA A GELCO COMPANY By JOHN FITZPATRICK Dan Beck is a miler, and a very good one, having run 4:04 for Michigan last year. Yet, as a harrier this fall his for- tunes have been mixed. "During the summer, I didn't run at all. I was in terrible shape when I came here - I couldn't even finish the four- mile time trial we had at the beginning of the year,"'he explained. "He's mainly a miler. It's difficult for him to race well over 10,000 meters," said Coach Ron Warhurst. In spite of the adjustment in distance and his lack of conditioning, Beck has still managed to score among the top seven runners on a very competitive Michigan team in most of its meets. As a miler, Beck has few peers in the Midwest. Last winter, during what he called "my best season yet," Beck ran a stirring three-quarter mile leg on the distance medley relay at the NCAA in- door meet at Joe Louis Arena, as he and his teammates garnered All-American honors for their third place finish. Out- doors, he ran a 3:45 1500 meter (equal to a 4:02 mile) and a 2:55 for a 1320 meter leg of another relay. These impressive performances have been somewhat offset by what Warhur- st describes as a "sometimes up, sometimes down" career, influenced by leg injuries and a sometimes lacksadaisical attitude towards training. "It's hard to keep up the in- tensity you neet to train well," says Beck. One thing which has always ham- pered Beck's cross-country running is the fact that, emotionally and physically, he is more inclined towards the mile. "Cross-country is an impor- tant season for me, because I want to see the team do well, but as far as com- petition goes, I'm primarily a miler, and it shows in the races," he observed. For middle distance men like Beck, the adjustment to cross-country run- ning is not an easy one. Famous 'milers such as Jim Ryun, Sebastian Coe, and Steve Scott have tried to compete at a high level in cross-country, with little success. Bounding over streams and slogging through mud for six miles presents problems not encountered while running four laps around a track at top speed. Beck's training is as arduous as that of any national class middle distance runner. During the cross-country season he runs 70 miles a week, much of* it at a hard pace. When he's sharpening for the mile in the winter and spring, almost every day is spent on the track doing hard repeats at varying distan- ces. One of Beck's goals during the up- coming indoor and outdoor. track seasons is to break the famous four- minute mile barrier: "If I can keep everything together I have a shot at doing that." He says that he may or may not continue running after he graduates this year, though he seems to be leaning towards continuing, saying, "I don't want to quit until I've reached my potential." As far as more immediate goals are concerned, Beck is looking towards this Saturday's NCAA District IV meet at Champaign, Illinois. "I hope I'll place in the top 50. As far as time goes, I'd like to get under 31:30 (for the 6.2 mile course)," he said. Like his performances, Beck is sometimes up and down as a com- petitor, too. "If I'm running in an im- portant race, or one that'll determine whether or not I'll race the next week, I'm more competitive. But there'll be some days when I'll feel like I'm not even there." Despite his admittedly varying inten- sity, Beck has run enough outstanding races to prove his worth as a tough run- .eek . 4:04 miler ner to beat in the clutch. Beck sums up his attitude towards running, and perhaps life in general, best when he says, "I like to goof around and have fun. But I know when I have to get down to business, I can." U of M students 19 years old and older Rent a Ford or another fine car BUCKS NOT STOPPED HERE: Big Bob bops.Pistons U1 # NOW!! MICHIGAN TRAILWAYS PRESENTS COLLEGE CONNECT IONS Mackinw City Cheboygan Habo Springer Charevoix "Ptosky On , Atlanta Fairview Mbo Westb,.r ch awes.C. O r Matl rPesth L an Mount. Md 4:0 'n Bayi C itm e- Ib F r c inf m ation 6 -a Lake * *ANN A RBO R CONTACT LENSES soft and hard* contact lenses $210.00 includes exam, fitting, dispensing, follow-up ,visits, starter kits, and 6 month checkup. * includes a second pair of hard lenses Dr. Paul C. Uslan, Optometrist 545 Church Stree 769-1222 by appointment By DREW SHARP Special to The Daily PONTIAC - It was homecoming night for Bob Lanier, and the former Piston star treated his old fans by scoring 22 points, 14 of them in the four- th quarter, to help the Milwaukee Bucks throttle Detroit, 122-98, last night at the Silverdome. Milwaukee guard Junior Bridgeman led all scorers with 27 points and more than adequately filled the void left by the absence of star forward Marques Johnson, who failed to suit up due to an injury. IT WAS Lanier's first appearance at the Silverdome since he was traded to the Bucks last February for Kent Ben- son and a number-one draft pick. And it Help prevent birth defects SUPPORT MARCH OFDIMES was evident that the crowd of 6,008 hadn't forgotten their former hero, as it roared with approval whenever he made a big play. "I didn't get up especially for this game, but I didn't want to look bad. The only pressure I felt wastthat, without Marques in the game, the burden of scoring was put on my shoulders," said Lanier. Milwaukee was in complete control from the opening tipoff when Lanier took a feed from guard Brian Winters and connected on one of his patented hook shots. With the Pistons hitting only 34 per cent of their shots from the field, the Bucks were able to build a 32-point lead, 55-23, with just over five minutes left in the first half. THE PISTONS started to show some life with John Long and Greg Kelser displaying their dunking prowess. They managed to cut the Bucks' lead to 24 points, 65-41, at the end of the half. In the second half, the song remained the same, however, until the fourth period, when Terry Tyler erupted for three consecutive baskets and Long connected on a three-pointer to pull the Pistons to within 13 points, 101-88. Then Lanier returned to the game and started his basketball clinic. In doing so, he put the icing on the cake. LIA Sludont RUN AS A CANDIDATE FOR LSA-EXECUTIVE legend 'ccci ( - Michgan Traliway. I 1 .Dundee I