SPORTS Friday, September 10, 1982 The Michigan Daily Page 17 A.C. 1982 edition All-American Carter unveils his new image By BOB WOJNOWSKI Picture the following scene. There are a dozen or so 260-pound behemoths pumping iron in the Michigan weight room in preparation for the upcoming football season. In their midst is a smallish, spindly- legged 21-year-old man, dutifully slap- ping paint on the cinder block walls. NOW YOU might not consider that such a terribly unusual sight until you understand that the painter is a football player. He is a wide receiver-touted as the best in the nation this year-and the paint-flecked hands are the ones in which Michigan's 1982 football fortunes have been largely placed. Yes, the painter is the man who hopes to lead the 260-pound musclemen to great heights this season and his name, now as recognizable as any in Wolverine foot- ball history, is Anthony Carter. The obvious question is asked. What's a fine football player like you doing painting weight room walls, Anthony? "Well, I've working for the Athletic Department this summer," says the man who left the hot sand of Riviera Beach, Fla. to catch footballs in the snow. Your teammates must admire your ambition and desire to make the weight room a better place in which to train, huh? "Yeah, all they do is pick at me. I get more paint on me than the wall I think." AH YES, introducing Anthony Car- ter, 1982 edition. To say that Carter has turned over a new brush this season not only makes for a good pun but is also fairly accurate. Painfully shy for much of his Michigan career, Carter enters his senior year hoping to become the team leader that he has never been, and vowing to shed the cloak of bashfulness that-he has worn for three years now. "I'm the same quiet-type guy, but you can't hide forever," he says. "In 1980 (Andy) Cannavino and (George) Lilja assumed the leadership. I think I can do that too." Rising in proportion to Carter's open- ness is his rise to the top of the college football world-indeed the former may be a function of the latter. Whereas in the past he spoke to the media only when necessary, Carter seems to have resigned himself to accepting the fan- fare and attention that he is sure to get as Michigan's first bona fide Heisman Trophy candidate since, well, since An- thony Carter, 1981 model. "A lot of people have been talking to me about it (the Heisman)," he says. "But it's not up to me. I just go out and do the best I can." THAT'S STANDARD explanation number five for handling the media crush, but what's the real scoop, An- thony? "Well, I finally got a girlfrie'nd up here, so it's not too bad." Indeed, this season may mark the most settled of Carter's four years at Michigan. Though he professes hap- piness and contentment now, such was not always the case. "When I first got here, I left (for home)," says the 5-11, 161-pound speedster. "But it's been bet- ter than I thought." Carter allegedly chose Michigan over the University of Texas because his high school counselor had a Michigan background. Regardless, he had more adjustments to make than most fresh- man football players because he was a talented receiver from the deep South coming to the blustery North to play for a run-dominated team. However, he brushes aside suggestions that a pass- oriented program would have better suited him. "I probably would have had more catches, but not as much recognition," he says. FOR SURE, the recognition and ac- claim that Carter has gathered is astounding. Says Gil Brandt, Personnel Director for the Dallas Cowboys: "Having witnessed throughout the years, many great athletes, it is dif- ficult to recall anyone with the ability to alter the course of a football game as quickly as Anthony Carter." There's more-from Indiana wide receiver Duane Gunn: "People around the league have compared me to An- thony Carter, and I'm honored by that since Anthony Carter is the greatest receiver I've ever seen. And that in- cludes the Lynn Swanns." And if anybody has the numbers to back up such talk it is the flashy flanker from Florida. Carter is already the holder of five Michigan career records and is within reach of three more, in- cluding Rick Leach's all-time touch- down mark of 34 (Carter has 31). In ad- dition, the two-time All-American is at- tempting to become only the second player in Michigan history to garner All-American honors three straight years (Bennie Oosterbaan did it in 1925- 27). However, the only record that Car- ter admits he is excited about is the NCAA mark of 13.8 all-purpose yards per opportunity held by Nebraska IA __ _ _ Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers, a mark that Carter is well on his way to obliterating. He enters the season averaging 17.0 yards per oppor- tunity. BUT THE biggest rave of all comes from Wolverine head coach Bo Schem- bechler, who says: "I believe he's the most gifted athlete I've ever had. "Last year, I don't think you saw the real Anthony Carter since he was in- jured some. But he had a great spring, and that along with Steve'Smith's im- proved passing will make him better," continues Schembechler. Indeed, if Carter is the painter, then quarterback Smith is balancing the ladder. If there is one conditional to Carter's success this season, besides his health, it is the passing of Smith, an area that doesn't have Carter too con- cerned. "Monday through Thursday this summer I played catch with Smith," he says. "He's coming around a lot and we'll probably throw a little more (this season)." The passing game may well be more vital to the Michigan offense than it has been in quite a while. But, according to Carter, it is a new attitude that will lift the Wolverines this season. "Last year we got a little too high above our heads," he says. "I can say from spring ball, the guys are hungrier. This spring we had one of the toughest (trainings) ever." Whether or not the quiet, spindly- legged painter they call A.C. can assume the leadership reins of the team remains ,to be seen. He received some backing earlier this week when he was named one of Michigan's tri-captains for the upcoming season. But back to the more important matter of the weight room. Come on Anthony, Don Canham must pay pretty well for all the abuse you've put up with, huh? "It's alright. I only get paid once every two weeks though," says the man who pain- ts as pretty a picture on the football field as he does on a weight room wall. Daily Photo by BRIAN MASCK MICHIGAN FLANKER Anthony Carterheads upfield (top) and leads the blocking for former Wolverine running back Buch Woolfolk (bottom). Carter ..,offensive captain FIRST CLASS SAVINGS! w 'By Sophomor all-around a of both the basketball t sferred to C will concent Tho 64 hr ashington quits RON POLLACK joined the Wolverine basketball squad, e Greg Washington, a fine but only received limited playing time - p thlete who was a member in six games before severe back t e Michigan football and spasms sidelined him. si eams this past year, tran- Washington returned to the gridiron m entral Michigan where he for spring practice, where he was swit- r rate solely on basketball. ched from wide receiver to outside 1U Mq - dn1int Wa hi ot n was linebacker and later to strong safety. football This is the second year the 6-3, 221- ound Thompson will be a member of he coin-toss crew. Last year, the out- ide linebacker gained honorable- nention All-American honors and has egistered 22 tackles for losses totaling l0 yards over the past two seasons. At 6-1, 208 pounds, outside linebacker 3irgash is ranked 10th in the all-time dichigan tackle column and was also n honorable mention All-American election last fall. The only other three-leader Michigan quad was in 1976 when Kirk Lewis, Sob Lytle and Calvin O'Neal headed a ig Ten co-championship team. -BARB BARKER me o-s, zu)-pounu as ngw wa amed the country's top high school athlete two years ago. He was All-State in both football and basketball at Detroit Western High School. A WIDE receiver on the football team as a freshman, Washington saw action in nine of 12 games. He did not catch any passes. When the grid campaign ended he Tri-captains selected Flor only the second time in Michigan football history, three cap- tains will lead the Wolverine gridiron squad as seniors Anthony Carter, Paul Girgash and Robert Thompson were elected 1982 tri-captains earlier this week. 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