4

SPORTS

Page 10

Friday, March 25, 1983

The Michigan Daily

Bo concerned with many issues

By RON POLLACK
Bo Schembechler is not afraid to fight
for a cause - any cause.
Schembechler, at his media luncheon
yesterday, found plenty to fight for as
the United States Football League,
Michigan's 1983 schedule and cynics
who say that college football is a minor
league system for the pros all came un-
der his probing, questioning eye.
THE AFTERNOON started innocen-
tly enough with Schembechler talking
about his team's kicking game, the
running game, defense and various
other tranquil topics.
Then the matter of next season's road
game against Minnesota came up. The
Minnesota game is one week before the
Wolverines season-ending war with Ohio
State and will be played at night. Given
the opportunity, Schembechler said he
would turn out the lights on night foot-
ball.
"There ought to be a law," lamented
Schembechler as he waved his hand in-
to the air in disgust. "That doesn't
make sense. That forces us to stay up
all night. I propose that we outlaw night
games. That hurts a lot. That isn't wor-

th a nickle. I'm sure when the time'
comes we'll be griping."
STRONG WORDS, but Schembechler
was not a single interest, one-man in-
terest group on this day. He was just
warming up.
Next on the agenda was the United St-
ates Football League as well as a bill
which would give professional leagues
a limited exemption from anti-trust
laws so that they can formulate rules
outlawing the signing of college players
prior to their senior year. The bill is a
response to. USFL's signing of junior
tailback Herschel Walker. Schem-
bechler testified before the senate
judiciary committee last week regar-
ding this bill.
"I don't know of any underclassman
I've ever had that is both physically and
emotionally ready for the pros," said
Schembechler. "There are always ex-
ceptions, but Herschel Walker wasn't
one. An exception is a 25-year-old
college player who is struggling to put
foodon the table for a family.
"WALKER WASN'T worth $2 million
coming out of high school. The Univer-
sity of Georgia did that for him and
there's a certain obligation there. You
can't take individual rights too far. You
have to look at the best interests of the
most people, and that's to get an (anti-
trust) exemption for football."
Schembechler also balked at the
argument that it's all right for a college
football player to turn pro early since
players do so in all other college sports.

44Tf UVn!I l i11W~X n UiiffnrnrI. fLUa v

**i wesn t maze a aiterence to a
football team if you take a basketball, base-
ball, tennis, or soccer player,"he said.
"There's only one damn sport that you'd
better not fool with and that's football
because it finances every other sport."
SCHEMBECHLER bristled at the
idea that college football is a minor
league system for professional football.
"Cynics say you're not dealing with a
student athlete," said Schembecher.
"That's hogwash that it's a professional
game. We're not a minor league for pro
ball."

During more serene moments,
Schembechler discussed the health of
his team. The injury of most interest
belongs to starting quarterback Steve
Smith whose shoulder was injured
during the past season's Rose Bowl.
"SMITH IS not able to throw yet,"
said Schembechler. "We probably will
not get any scrimmages out of him this
spring. That was a pretty severe injury.
He can't throw. It's still tender. Smith's
still our quarterback, he just can't
practice. Frankly, I don't expect him to
be able to throw until the middle of
April. But I anticipate he'll be 100 per-.
cent.
When Schembechler says this, he
does not mean that Smith can't throw at
all, for the junior throws an occasional
swing pass in spring practices as well
as running and handling the ball.
Smith is not the only Wolverine hob-
bled at the present time according to
Schembechler. Other injuries include
linebacker Tim Anderson (knee),
defensive back Evan Cooper(knee),
running back Thomas Wilcher (knee),
offensive lineman Rick Frazer (broken
ankle) and offensive lineman John
Mihic (cracked bone in leg). Schem-
bechler added that running back Ben
Logue and defensive back John Lott are
also banged up.
The only player who has changed
position so far during spring football is
Ivan Hicks who has moved from wide
receiver to defensive back.

Fr e .m - -
Schembechler
... doesn't like night games

Good friends will be there
come hell. or high water.

Michigan wide receiver Vince Bean hauls in one of his 19 catches from last
season. The junior has decided to continue playing football.
Bean runs back to Bo,
nixes track-only thoughtsi

by CHUCK JAFFE
Vince Bean ran yesterday. Luckily
for Michigan football fans, however,
the junior from Southfield did that run-
ning in football pads rather than run-
ning shorts.
Bean was apparently set to quit the
football squgd in favor of the track
team last weekend, before deciding to
keep his starting wide receiver
position. After missing football practice
Monday, Bean returned to the team
yesterday, and met with coach Bo
Schembechler to talk about his future
and possible punishment.
"I WAS thinking of just running
track, but I decided not to," Bean said.
"I talked it over with my parents and
friends, and they said it wasn't such a
good idea. I thought it over more and
agreed with them.
Bean said his troubles were not
caused by the football program or
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coaching staff, but by fatigue with foot-
ball and a desire to pursue track.
"I'm not unhappy with football," the
6-3, 190 pound; receiver said. "But you
do get tired of it after a while. It's tough
to run track, play football and then rq.
track again. I just like to concentrate on"
one thing.
Bean
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...hak onte er yr n
"I might have to go through a lot toy
make up for missing practice," Beani
added, referring to Schembechler
asking him to do extra running as as
penance, "but it's worth it. He (Schem
bechler) said It's up to you to make
your decision,,but you'll put the team-in
a bind, because there are no experien-
ced players coming back besides your,,-
self.'
Bean caught 19 passes for 321 yards
last season, and has 35 receptions for
657 yards in his Wolverine career.

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