Page 16-Saturday, September 11, 1982-The Michigan Daily 0 W -IV -IV qw w Carter, Smith top Michigan returnees, The Michigan Daily-Saturday, Sep Michigan, Ohio State to top B but the Little Eight is close b (Continued from Page 2) Hassel, has been moved to linebacker, leaving only junior Greg Armstrong (6- 2, 195) as a backup. There are plenty of reserve tailbacks ready to step in should Ricks falter. Sophomores Rick Rogers (6-2, 200) and Brian Mercer (6-2, 195) and junior Kerry Smith (6-2, 190) are the most likely backups. In addition, Michigan has a fine freshman prospect in Detroiter Thomas Wilcher (6-1, 185), who is the national high school record- holder for the 110-meter hurdles. Believe it or not, Michigan also has some capable receivers other than Car- ter. Junior Vince Bean returns at split end after catching 16 passes for 336 yards (21 yards per catch average) a year ago. "Bean is underrated," said Schembechler. "He became a more prominent player in the spring." AT TIGHT end will be senior Craig Dunaway (6-2, 233), who caught 11 passes last year while splitting time with the departed Norm Betts. Backing him up will be junior Milt Carthens (6-3, 240). While replacing two starting running backs is never easy, Michigan may have an even bigger problem trying to replace the three All-American starters on the offensive line. Only center Tom Dixon (6-2, 247), who the Michigan coaches are touting as the best in the Big Ten, and junior guard Stefan Humphries (6-4, 248) return. "We have some work to do on the line,'' said Schembechler, "but Dixon and Humphries give us a good nucleus." Junior Jerry Diorio (6-2, 235) is the frontrunner for the other guard position with sophomores Bob Popowski (6-3, 240) and Art Balourdos (6-3, 230) expected to challenge. THE TACKLES are set with senior Rich Strenger (6-7, 261) and junior Ron Prusa (6-2, 242). Seniors Tom Garrity (6-4, 250) and Dan Yarano (6-1, 248) are the backups. While it looks to be an un- proven line, the man who should worry the most, tailback Ricks, doesn't seem concerned. "I think we have a lot of good guys on the line who'll improve as the year goes on," said Ricks. "They'll be quicker than last year's line. I don't think we'll lose anything." The Wolverines return both of their 'ickers'from a year ago in the persons of place-kicker Ali Haji-Sheikh and punter Don Bracken. Haji-Sheikh was eight for 14 on field goals last season while Bracken set a new Michigan season record of 43.3 yards per kick. So, while four All-Americans may have graduated, the return of Carter and Smith leads Schembechler to be anything but pessimistic about the 1982 offense. Says he: "I think our offense will be better than people think it's gon- na be." In the past, it was never very dif- ficult picking who would win the Big Ten football race. If you picked either Michigan or Ohio State you had a 50-50 chance of being ac- curate. But with the rise of Iowa and Wisconsin last season, and some more possible upstarts this year, the long-heralded death of the Big Two- Little Eight may have finally arrived. Or has it? The Daily foot- ball staff has come up with its own preseason ranking and, surprise, has Michigan and Ohio State tabbed number one and two. Again. 1. Michigan Despite the loss of nine starters from last year's 9-3 team, head coach Bo Schembechler is not accepting sym- pathies-and nobody is offering them. "I see this team as being younger, hungrier," said Schembechler, begin- ning his 14th year as the Wolverines' head coach. "We lost some good per- sonnel but I've had people waiting in the wings."~ THE TWO KEY players for the Wolverines this season, though, are ones that did not spend last season waiting in the wings. Junior quarter- back Steve Smith and senior flanker Anthony Carter both return to form the nucleus around which this relatively young Michigan team will be built. "Overall, I'm really looking forward to this year," said Schembechler. "We have enough of a nucleus to be a fine team, but we also face many questions that remain unanswered. "To be honest, though, I kind of like the challenge we'll be facing. Some veteran teams might not have the en- thusiasm that a young team like ours has." As for whether or not the Big Two- Little Eight syndrome is dead, Schem- becher has mixed feelings. "I think the championship will come down to Michigan and Ohio State this year, but, the Big Two is dead." For a complete rundown on this year's Michigan team, see pages 2 and 3. -BOB WOJNOWSKI 2. Ohio State Normally, with 17 starters returning from last year's conference co- championship team, Buckeye fans would be viewing the Ohio State roster through rose-tinted glasses, but the loss of one player seems to have punctured a hole in their California dream. Art Schlichter, the school's all-time passing and total offense leader, has left for Baltimore of the National Foot- ball League, and for the first time in four years Ohio State is looking for a starting quarterback. Buckeye mentor Earle Bruce hopes he has found his man in 6-1, 184-pound sophomore Mike Tomczak. "HE (TOMCZAK) has got the talent, although he's inexperienced," said Bruce. "Fortunately, he'll be surroun- ded by good people." Tomczak, who was thfird string last season, completing four of seven passes for 73 yards, will have his choice of veteran receivers in receivers Gary Williams and Cedric Anderson. Williams has caught a Buckeye-record 114 passes over the last three seasons for 2,102 yards. The Buckeyes should also be strong at the tight end position with John Frank, who caught 45 passes last year, and Brad Dwelle, a 1980 star- ter. With four returning offensive linesmen-Bill Roberts, Scott Zalenski, Joe Lukens and Joe Smith-Bruce will certainly be looking at the Buckeye front as an asset. "OUR LINE IS experienced, quick, and of adequate size," said Bruce. John Frank. Daily Photo by JEFF SCHRIER JUNIOR QUARTERBACK Steve Smith bursts through the middle in last year's game against Ohio State. Smith started slowly last season but still managed to finish with the Michigan season record for most total offense with 2,335 yards. Smith completed 46 percent of his passes and personally accounted for 27 Michigan touchdowns. "Generally there is good line depth, although it is unproven in some spots." Senior guard Lukens, who has been a first team all-conference guard selec- tion for the past two seasons, said, "There's really no difference in blocking for either (Schlichter or Tom- czak), since both can pass and run." 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