1. -, - -4. ", . - -. 4 Page 8 - The Michigan Daily - Sunday, October 23, 1983 BERGERON'S FG REVERSES TREND This time Blue does the stinging By RON POLLACK This time the snakebite was on the other foot. Michigan field goal kicker Bob Bergeron's 45-yard shot heard 'round Ann Arbor yesterday flew right in the face of a most unwelcome tradition. During the 1970s and 1980s, the Wolverines have been stung by the deadly venom of last-second defeats more often then they would care to remember. Inevitably, something has almost always gone wrong in the final minute of play. Bergeron's field goal with eight seconds remaining not only gave Michigan a thrilling 16-13 victory, but it also was a pleasant detour for the Wolverines form this last-second stigma. "DON'T THINK I wasn't thinking that on that last drive," said Michigan assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Gary Moeller as he puffed contentedly on a victory cigar. "Going clear back to 1970 we've been snakebit on kicks like that. I didn't have the ut- most confidence (on the winning field goal). I thought it was a 50-50 chance." Optimism was not exactly oozing out of the pores and souls of anyone else wearing Maize and Blue, either. Except for the fifth-year seniors who saw An- thony Carter's defeat-defying 45-yard touchdown on the final play of the Wolverines' 27-21 win over Indiana in 1979, none of the players along the Michigan sideline had ever seen their offense win a college game in heart- stopping fashion. "This is a great feeling because we haven't won like this since I've been here," said Michigan quarterback Steve Smith. "We lost to Washington (25-24) in the last seconds this year, and to Notre Dame (29-27) on a last-second field goal my freshman year. We've lost games like this ever since I've been here and that's why it's nice to win one." EVEN MORE startling than the fact that the Wolverines won the game in the final seconds is the knowledge that they did so on a field goal. The horror stories about the last-minute field goals in Wolverine lore are plentiful since head coach Bo Schembechler arrived on the Ann Arbor scene in 1969. It has been analmost inescapable maxim that Michigan game-deciding field goals sail wide or are blocked, while opponents connect on kicks in similar situations with remarkable consistency. If there is a field-goal God in the sky, he has rarely chosen to smile on the Wolverines. "Whenever our team or the other team lines up for a field goal in that situation I get a little queasy," said Michigan center Tom Dixon. "So this was nice." SCHEMBECHLER also noted that the euphoria which accompanied his team's win was a wonderful respite from the gut-wrenching alternative his squads usually must endure whenever heroes and goats have been crowned in. the final moments of a game. "It was a great victory not only in terms of the conference race, but in the way it was won," Schembechler said. "That's excellent as long as you kick the field goal. I've been on the other end and it's hard." Once Bergeron's kick sailed through the uprights, all that was left was the celebrating. Oh how they celebrated. "EVERYONE was jumping around happy," Michigan defensive back Evan Cooper said. "Except for the Purdue game when we clinched the Big Ten title last year, I can't remember when the team was happier." Alas, the team may have been just a mite too happy. Bergeron was mobbed at the 50-yard line as his teammates stormed the field in a frenzied fit of delirium. For a moment, anarchy reigned. The officials eventually took control of the situation and assessed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the ensuing kickoff. "I didn't realize exactly what was happening," Michigan outside linebacker Rodney Lyles said. "I saw the ref throw the flag so I got my butt off the field, but it was too late. It was exciting." SCHEMBECHLER is hopeful that a 15-yard penalty is the only toll that will be exacted for the ecstacy that follows an emotional win. "I hope we don't celebrate this too long," Schembechler said. "I hope the players enjoy the rest of homecoming, but they've got to be conservative." Since Illinois and Michigan both are undefeated in conference play and face each other next weekend, you can bet Schembechler will not allow his team to overindulge in celebration. "They say after a big game, teams tend to get flat," said tailback Rick Rogers. "But we're still in a do or die situation. I can just say Bo won't let us celebrate too long." Said Dixon, "We'll enjoy the win, it's the highlight of our season. But we have to keep our heads. We can't let down. We have to maintain this emotional high." Blue Banter * Michigan head coach Bo Schembechler, who is on the Board of Director's of Domino's Pizza, to placekicker Bob Bergeron, who is not on scholarship and s not allowed to attend the team's training table. "You go to any Dominos you want and get anthing you wat., * Outside linebacker Rodney Lyles comparing yesterday's game to the 1979 Michigan-Indiana game in which the Wolverines won on the final play on an An. thony Carter 45-yard touchdown: "I've seen that game on film and on TV. imagine the feeling then was the same as now." * Defensive back Evan Cooper's right arm was in a sling after the game because of a bruised shoulder, * Quarterback Steve Smith passed Rick Leach on the Michigan all-time list for pass attempts. Smith now has 547 to Leach's 537. Doily Photo by SCOTT ZOLTON Michigan linebacker Carlton Rose pops the ball loose from Iowa tailback Owen Gill to kill a Hawkeye drive late in the fourth quarter and turn the tide in the Wolverine's favor. KERRSE WORDS BY JOHN KERR Late kick does :t's no mistake ... Bergeron earns his keep A TIP FOR ALL sports historians: take note of yesterday's date. October 22,1983. It is a date that should never be forgotten. It is a date on which one of the rarest occurrences known to mankind took place - the Michigan football team won a game on a last second field goal. I will pause while you catch your breath. The ball didn't sail wide to the right. It didn't go off to the left. The kick wasn't blocked and it didn't fall short. No, it went right through the uprights with just eight seconds left in the game to give the Wolverines a thrilling 16- 13 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes. It's obvious that the big guy upstairs got his signals crossed. After all this type of thing just doesn't happen at Michigan. Purdue? Sure. Notre Dame? Why it's commonplace. But Michigan? It's got to be a mistake. Of course, it could have been your average run of the mill miracle. The funny thing about this whole marvel is that the hero can't even eat with his teammates at the Michigan training table. That's right, because kicker Bob Bergeron is not on scholarship, he isn't allowed to join his teammates for dinner. He just shows up for practice and dresses for the games with none of the fringe benefits the scholarship athletes receive. But that doesn't bother the -8, 140-pound senior from Ft. Wayne, Ind. He's played that role for four years, just waiting to get his chan- ce and this season he got it. Yesterday made the long wait worth it. "I'd dreamed about this moment since I got here," said Bergeron after the game. Ironically, Bergeron almost didn't get a shot at realizing his dream. Todd Schlopy, who has the stronger leg, almost got the call. "That kick is just in Bergeron's range," Bo said. "If it had been any fur- ther, we'd have gone with Schlopy." In fact, it wasn't until kicking coach Alex Agase advised Schembechier to use Bergeron that Bo made his decision. Bergeron himself didn't even know he would be doing the kicking until Bo told him to get into the game. Even with the situation as it was, the senior said he wasn't nervous. "I was just concentrating on making the kick," he said. "I was confident. I consider myself good under pressure. I like pressure." When Bo sent the kicker in to do the job, he knew that Bergeron wouldn't let his nerves get the best of him. "Bergeron will miss a kick, but not because he panics," said Bo. "He's as tough a little guy as you'll ever want to meet." Bergeron might not have been panicking, but half the 104,559 in the stands was. It was a familiar scene in the minds of many Michigan fans. A scene without a happy ending. History was definitely Michigan's enemy. But not this time. The snap came back to holder Dan Decker who spotted the ball perfectly. Bergeron drilled a low liner toward the uprights (he said he kicked it low because of the swirling winds near the field) and when the officials raised their arms, the miracle was completed. The Michigan team, which isn't used to celebrating on such oc- casions, rushed out on the field and Bergeron found himself in the mid- dle of the mob. Schembechler couldn't even get to him to extend congratulations. "I didn't even know where he was," the coach said. "He's not very big. I couldn't find him." Bo found him in the lockerroom. He grinned and joked and patted Cdr' Bergeron on the back. It was a new (Continued from Page 1) low because the wind was playing havoc with the ball." "We knew if we got close that we could win, because we have a lot of confidence in Bob Bergeron," added Rogers, who led all rushers with 125 yards. "Everyone calls him 'Jose,' because we think a kicker should have a foreign name to make him legitimate." Michigan also moved to two first-half Bergeron field goals, and appeared ready to take a 6-0 lead into the locker room after Don Bracken's punt left Iowa at its own 12-yard line. The Hawkeyes then put together their first drive of the day, mixing the running of Owen Gill with the passing of quarterback Chuck Long. The drive stalled after Michigan defensive tackle Vince DeFelice sacked Long back to the Michigan 39, and Iowa had to settle for Tom Nichol's 56-yard field goal and a 6-3 halftime score. Michigan's defense set up the next score as, accor- ding to Schembechler, it faked Iowa into throwing an interception. Facing second-and-six on the Iowa 45, the Hawkeyes lined up both split end Dave Moritz and wingback Ronnie Harmon on the left side of its line. Michigan appeared to ignore Harmon, who motioned frantically to Long to show that he was uncovered at the line of scrimmage. Long took the snap and didn't hesitate with his throw, which landed in the arms of Michigan linebacker Mike Mallory, who had moved to Harmon as part of Michigan's zone coverage. On the ensuing drive, Rogers and fullback Eddie Garrett gained 52 yards in seven carries as Michigan moved to a first-and-goal from the four-yard line. Rogers then took a pitchout off of right end and ran over teammate Sim Nelson to get into the end zone and put Michigan on top 13-3. Iowa came right back, however, moving quickly on field goal range on its next possession. The drive stalled at the Michigan three, when Long fumbled a snap, and Iowa set up for Nichol's second field goal attempt of the day. THIS TIME, however, holder Tom Grogan took the snap and rolled to his right, before throwing a perfect touchdown strike to a tightly-covered Lon Olejniczak in the corner of the end zone to bring the score to 13- 10. BUT IOWA GOT another chance almost im- mediately, as Michigan freshman Gerald White fum- bled the Iowa kick-off twice on a 14-yard return, and Hawkeye freshman Joe Schuster recovered the second bobble at the Michigan 19. Two plays later the ball was on the four, but a holding penalty and a quarterback sack by Evan Cooper moved the Hawkeyes back and forced Nichol to line up for another field goal. This time there were no fakes, and Nichol was accurate from 27 yar- ds, tying the game at 13. Right on Bergeron e trick p Michigan took the kick-off and drove to the Iowa 32, but Steve Smith's third-down pass was tipped by Rogers and intercepted by Iowa's Mike Stoops to kill the drive. FOUR-PLAYS-and-a-punt later, Michigan had the ball back on its own 19, but turned the ball over again when Smith's bomb to Vince Bean was intercepted at the Iowa 49, giving the Hawkeyes good field position with just 4:33 left in the game. Iowa was quick to return the ball, however, as Carlton Rose forced a Gill fumble at the Michigan 29, and Rodney Lyles fell on the loose ball, giving the Wolverines the ball with 1:30 remaining to set up the winning drive. FROM THERE, it was Michigan's short drive, and the decision to use Bergeron instead of Schlopy for the game-winning field goal attempt. Bergeron's field goal marked the first time since 1971, and a 9-6 victory against Purdue, that Michigan has used a last-second kick to get the win. "Geez, that was a great game," said Schem- bechler, breathing a visible sigh of relief. "If all the games were like that, and we'd win every time, I'd stay in the coaching business for a long time. "Any time you win a big game the way we did today, it is exciting," Schembechler added. "Especially if you're the ones that kicked the field goal." First Downs ... Rushing (Att/Yds) Passing Net Yards. Passing (Att/Comp/Int) . Total Offense (Plays/Yards)... Punts (no/Avg.) ... Pemalties (No/yds.) Fumbles (No/Lost) MICH 21 52/246 71 18/6/2 70/317 2/39.0 4/40 2/1 Iowa 15 41/167 94 19/10/2 60/261 5/30.8 4/36 4/1 MICH-Bergeron, 37-yd FG MICH-Bergeron 20Yd FG Iowa-Nichol 56-yd FG MICH-Rogers 4-yd run (Bergeron kick) Iowa-Oiejniczak 3-yd pass from Grogan. (Nichol kick) MICH-Bergeron 45 yard FG K. Smith...........1 Iowa 4.0 0 Gill ............. Granger......... Harmon ........... Long .............. 20 10 2 9 120 67 0 -20 6.0 6.7 0.0 -2.2 0 0 0- 0 RECEIVING MICHIGAN No Nelson .................... 4 Rogers................... 2 Iowa Moritz .................... 4 Broghamer................ 2 Gill ....................... 2 Harmon ................... 1 Olejniczak ................. 1 PUNTING MICHIGAN Bracken ................... Iowa Nichol ..................... o. Yds TD I 38 0 33 0 4 61 22 4 4 3 0 0 0 0 1 PASSING MICHIGAN Rogers.......... Garrett............ S. Smith ........... Rice ............... RUSHING MICHIGAN Att YW 26 12 14 7 8 3 SCORING MICHIGAN.................. Iowa ....... ds 5 9 Avg 4.8 5.2 4.4 3.0 TD 1 0 0 0 A.t Comp S. Smith............. 18 6 Iowa Long...............18 9 Grogan ............. 1 1 3 0 Int Yds TD 2 71 0 3 7 3-16 3 0 10-13 2 0 91 3 0 I No Avg 2 . 39.0 5 30.8 3 9 Illini back bli*tzes Purdue,. 35-2 1 ka WEST LAFAYETTE (AP) - Dwight Beverly rushed for a career-best 179 yards and scored three second-half touchdowns yesterday, offsetting Pur- due's passing attack and leading 11th- ranked Illinois to a 35-21 victory. The triumph lifted Illinois to 6-1 for the season and kept the Illini tied with Michigan for first place in the con- ference at 5-0 going into the two co- leaders' matchup next week at Cham- paign. NorthuWestern 19, Minnesota 8 EVANSTON (AP) - Ricky Edwards returned a kickoff 79 yards for a touch- down to become Northwestern's career all-purpose offensive leader as the Wildcats earned a soggy 19-8 homecoming victory over Minnesota yesterday. football start, passed for one touchdown yesterday and led 17th-ranked Ohio State to a 21-11 victory over Michigan State in a game played in the rain. Karsatos, a red-shirt freshman, threw 39 yards to tight end John Frank in the second quarter to give the Buckeyes a 14-3 halftime lead. Karsatos, filling in for injured regular Mike Tomczak, completed nine of 16 passes for 170 yards, all but seven of them coming in the opening half. Wisconsin 45, Indiana 14 MADISON (AP) - Randy Wright passed for 199 yards and four touch- downs and Gary Ellerson ran for 136 yards and two scores as Wisconsin crushed Indiana 45-14 yesterday. Wright who completed 12 of 19 passes, became the Badgers' all-time passing yardage leader with 3,783 yards. 4 Ohio State 21, MSU 11 r COLUMBUS (AP) - Quarterback Jim Karsatos, making his first college nl;" Ton Ctgwr~d~nrg I