SPORTS Thursday, October 14, 1982 A Page 9 The Michigan Daily USFL brings Keller back to Mic i By RANDY BERGER After 11 years, former Michigan defensive end Mike Keller has finally returned home. No longer is Keller terrorizing quar- terbacks as he did from 1969 to 1971 for Michigan during the first years of Bo Schembechler's regime. Instead he is faced with just as enviable a task, that of assistant general manager of the Detroit Panthers of the newly-formed United States Football League. "I JOINED the Panthers mainly to get back in the Midwest and I felt at my age it was a good opportunity to take," said Keller, who started three years for the Wolverines. During his 11-year hiatus from Michigan, Keller was trekking his way across the country; first as a player and then as a scout. After starting three years at defensive end, Keller was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round in 1971 as a linebacker. "I was really a linebacker in college but Bo always called us defensive en- ds," stated Keller. AFTER playing two years for the Cowboys, one of which was spent on the injured reserve, it seemed that Dallas was trying to*phase "Keller out of its program. "While on injured reserve, Dallas started utilizing me as a scout," he said. "The next year I was cut and I became a full time scout for seven to eight months." From Dallas it was on to Seattle as Keller joined the newly-formed Seahawks as a talent scout in 1975. In 1978, Keller was promoted to assistant general manager.t KELLER occupied that position up until two months ago, when the oppor- tunity to come back to Michigan as assistant general manager of the Pan- thers popped up. "I was convinced that the USFL was a viable league," explained Keller. "It had tremendous ownerships, not only in Detroit but in all the cities.' Despite the fact that the Panthers do not as of yet have a stadium, uniforms or a logo, Keller is confident that the stance, except for one, all of the Detroit Lions' quarterbacks came from the free agent market." Another difference that distinguishes the USFL from its predecessor is that the league has signed two major television contracts. ABC plans to televise a game of the week on Sunday afternoon while ESPN will televise games on Saturday and Monday nights. "THE GAME will be packaged as similar to the NFL as we can," stated Keller. 'The talent will be so close that the average fan won't see any differen- ces." Even with the TV contracts, one still has to wonder whether the USFL can generate enough interest. The season runs from March to July and comes at a time when baseball is in full swing. However, according to Keller, studies have been made that indicate people who watch football in the fall will watch it in the spring. "A study by ABC showed that 70% of those people who went to football games in the fall would watch the USFL on TV and that 60% of those people would go to the games. "FOOTBALL IS extremely popular and people can't get enough of it. There's nothing going on in the early spring," stated Keller. "Baseball doesn't start until the second week of April so we'll have six weeks of play before then and by that time we should have races establishing." Right now, fans certainly aren't get- ting enough football thanks to the NFL strike. Thus, one would think that the NFL strike would benefit the USFL, but Keller feels it will have the opposite ef- fect. "The strike is detrimental to sports overall. I feel that when football is going on it generates enthusiasm for the sport. With the strike, people are becoming more apathetic towards it." TO AVOID apathy, the USFL is going a step further by trying to encourage higan the teams to create more of a loc-t identity. "The owners want to retain a regional identity so we'll be signifng mostly players from Michigan, Michigan State, Eastern and Central Michigan," said Keller. --y If that's the case, Michigan players won't have to wait so long to return home anymore. A Iy Detroit franchise and the other nine franchises in the league will avoid the problems that plagued the now-defunct World Football League. "THE WFL failed mainly because they tried to give out too much money. They went after established players and promised huge contracts two years down the line. "We want to develop with players who either are marginal players in the NFL, free agents, or college draftees," added Keller. "There are plenty of free agents who try out for the NFL but don't get the chance to play. For in- Kaiser Country... isn't it 'time you enjoyed it? In Southern California, a Kaiser RN enjoys a -": lifestyle like no one else. 1 Keller ... returns home I I Pistons roll, 141 -108 And from nine different vantage points in Southern Califofnia. From the city to the suburbs, from the Hollywood stars to the San Diego surf. You can also choose from a wide range of specialties, educational opportunities, 100% employer- paid health plan coverage, or variable compensation plans and a great deal more. Plus, the freedom to move into multi- directional career alternatives and to transfer amongst our nine facilities with no loss in seniority. Our Day Shift salary range for Staff RN's is $21,600-$26,500, plus an excellent night shift differential. By PAUL RESNICK There was no doubt about it. The Detroit Pistons were coming off a 106-98 victory over the World Champion Los Angeles Lakers while the Cleveland Cavaliers were trying to recover from last season, which saw them finish with the worst record in the NBA. As expec- ted, the Pistons demolished the Cavaliers, 141-108 last night in an NBA exhibition game at Crisler Arena. THE PISTONS were helped im- measurably by 25 Cleveland tur- novers-pzany of which led to easy layups-and aided their own cause by shooting 67 percent from the field. In the first four and a half minutes of the second quarter, the Pistons broke the game open by outscoring Cleveland, 18-2. After a third-quarter surge by the Cavaliers cut the lead to 12, the Pistons blew the game open for a second time and afforded coach Scotty Robertson an opportunity for some sage remarks. "Every team plays a little more one-on- one when they have the lead," said the Pistons head coach. "Good teams stay with what got them the lead. We're starting to do that." SHORT OR LONG Hairsty les for Men and Women DASCOLA STYLISTS Liberty off State........668-9329 East U. at South U......662-0354 Arborland...........971-9975 Maple Village ...........761-2733 We'll be attending the following RN Recruitment events in your area: Detroit Nursing Expo, October 22-23, at the Detroit Westin Plaza, and the Michigan Nurses Association Convention, October 26-29, at the Saginaw Civic Center. For more information, call the Regional RN Recruiter TOLL FREE (800) 421-0086 4747 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90027 Equal Opportunity Employer M/F K'AISER PEANFANEN TE WELCOME TO KAISER COUNTRY I No w at Ponderosa! i Two Steak Dinners only 49 4 id Daily Photo by TOD WOOLF Piston forward Kelly Tripucka scores two on a reverse layup in Detroit's 141- 108 exhibition victory over Cleveland in Crisler Arena last night. if1 and warm iibutter. Ribeye Steak Dinners Ribeye Steak Dinners I or Big-Chopped Steak I or Big-Chopped Steak I Dinners Dinners i 2for*99 12 for $A4.99 I Beverage and dessert not included. Cannot be ' Beverage and dessert not included. Cannot be used thother discounts. Applicable taxes used with other discounts. Applicable taxes I not included. Sales tax applicable to regular not included. Sales tax applicable to regular U 3price where required by law. No carryouts on price where required by law. No carryouts on *U coupon specials. At participating steak- coupon specials.At participating steak- houses. Coupon good for anypart size. houses. Coupon good for any party size. Offer expires October 31, 1982. Offer expires October 31, 1982. 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