Men's Swimming
Wolverine Invitational
Mar. 11-12, 3:00 p.m.
Matt Mann pool
The Michigan Daily
SPORTS
Women's Basketball
vs. Iowa
Today, 8:00 p.m.
Crisler Arena
4
Thursday, March 8, 1984
Page 9
Girgash at home with Panthers
Ex-'M' star finds niche in USFL
By TOM KEANEY
-The United States Football League has two
Inds of players: big name stars like Mike
ozier, Herschel Walker, and Steve Young, and
guys who simply can't make it in the NFL. Paul
Girgash falls into the second category, but he's
not complaining.
The former Wolverine linebacker still plays in
a ,Michigan uniform, but now it's for the
Michigan Panthers of the USFL. He was not
lured away from the NFL with a big money con-
tract. It would be more accurate to say that he's
been lured out of retirement with a chance to
play football for a few more years.
I COULDN'Tbe happier. I'm playing football
"ien I thought4hat I probably never would," he
said after the Panther's 27-24 victory over the
Pittsburgh Maulers Saturday night. "I really en-
joy playing football. I'm happy they gave me a
chance to play."
He joins a group of several other ex-
Wolverines on the team. Girgash says this is an
advantage most NFL teams don't have. "It
helps. You go out early in camp and Andy
Cahavino comes up to tell you how it was last
year and what to expect. It's the same with An-
thony Carter and Carlton Rose. It's nice.'"
Girgash's years with the Wolverines were
"nice," too. A standout linebacker for Michigan
n. the three years he played here, 1980-82, the
Lakewood, Ohio native is the Wolverine's second
all-time tackler with 414. He proved his
durability in college, starting in 36 consecutive
games. In his senior year he was named co-
captain along with teammates Anthony Carter
and Robert Thompson.
GIRGASH'S size has always been a matter of
some dispute since it was his practice never to
step on a scale after the original weigh-in during
spring training. At 6-1, and "around 210," he is
considered a small linebacker, but what he lacks
in size he makes up for in strength. Girgash who
can bench press 430 pounds, is pound-for-pound
one of the most powerful linebackers the
Wolverines have produced. And yet his road to
the pros was a rocky one.
After college he had a tryout with the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers, but was among the last cut,
from the squad. The Panthers seized the oppor-
tunity and signed him as a free agent in Novem-
ber of 1983.
Girgash was pleased to be on the gridiron
again. He doesn't consider the USFL "bush
league."
"I HAVE NO ambition to play in the NFL right
now," he said. "There are quality people here
and it's competitive. That's'what makes it fun,
and that's what makes it exciting to watch."
Now in his rookie season in the pros, Girgash
sees limited playing time, coming in mostly on
special teams. It's a huge difference from his
college days but the former all-Ohio linebacker
does not despair.
"It's not a step down," said Girgash. "In some
ways it's a step up. It (the lack of playing time)
is disappointing, but I'm also grateful to have
what I do. I can't be disappointed when I go out
and play hard."
Girgash, who was the most valuable defensive
player in the 1982 Rose Bowl, doesn't know how
much longer he will last in professional football.
When it does come time to retire though, he in-
tends to go into business, possibly with his
father. "That's one thing I want to get started on
in the off-season," he said.
Still, the former all-Big Ten linebacker makes ,
it clear that he's more worried about this
weekend's game than what he'll be doing five or
ten years from now.
Paul Girgash stops Iowa running back Paul McCarty during a 1981 contest. The ex-Wolverine
now plays on the special teams for the Michigan Panthers.
U4
Wrestlers begin title bids
today
'tY
#
By GARY EFFMAN
j There is not much glory in college wrestling. The
'ysical and mental demands are great while the
rewards are often echoing, empty arenas and little
recognition.
This year the pinnacle of the wrestling season is
a round-trip ticket to New Jersey where the NCAA
ch'ampionships are being held..
WOLVERINE wrestlers Joe McFarland, Kirk
Trost, and Walt Dunayczan earned this ticket with six
months of rigorous training and first, third, and four-
th place finishes, respectively, in the Big Ten Cham-
pionships.
For the 126-pound McFarland it will be his third
trip to the NCAA's in four seasons. With a number-
two ranking he carries Michigan's greatest hope for
its first championship since three-time champion
Mark Churella won in 1979.
According to Michigan head coach Dale Bahr,
"There's (Iowa State's) Kevin Darkus and Joe, and
then there's the rest of the group: If they wrestle the
way they can they'll easily buzz to the finals."
WINNING THE finals, however, will be anything
but a breeze for McFarland. McFarland has met
Darkus, ranked first in the country three times
earlier this season and has come out empty-handed
every time.
For Trost (190 pounds) and Dunayczan
(Heavyweight) the goal for this year's tourney is a
top-eight finish, which would earn them All-
America honors. Trost failed to place in last year's
tournament, but is confident.
fI
"I've been up and down a bit this year," he said.
"But I feel good right now and when I wrestle my best
I could be right up there."
TROST'S biggest competition at the championships
will come from Iowa's Pete Bush and Michigan State's
Eli Blazeff. Both wrestlers finished ahead of Trost at
the Big Tens, placing first and second respectively.
Bush, currently ranked first in the nation, won the
NCAA's in 1982 before being red-shirted last season.
Dunayczan could provide the greatest surprise for
Michigan. The heavyweight took over the starting
spot when Rob Rechsteiner became injured. With
only three varsity starts under his belt, Dunayczan
surprised the Big Ten with a fourth place finish.
Despite his performance at the Big Ten's, Dunayc-
zan views the NCAA's realistically.
"I realize that I'm less experienced than the other
wrestlers," Dunayczan said. "But you have to
believe that you have just as good a chance as they
do, that when you get on the mats, everyone is equal.
It's a matter of building up Yourconfidence.
"In wrestling anything can happen, all it takes is
one move and you could be pinned. It's going to be
just a matter of who gets that move."
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Dunavezan and Trost
-headed to NCAAs
mkk----
SPORTS OF THE DAILY:
Smith boards CFL 's Concordes
MONTREAL (UPI) - Former
Michigan quarterback Steve Smith
signed a three-year contract with the
Montreal Concordes yesterday.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed,
but it is estimated Smith will receive
0$00,000 a year.
THE SIGNING gives the Concordes
two top-flight U.S. college signal
callers, something coach Joe Galat has
been after for the last two years.
Galat, who last month was able to get
Nebraska's record-setting quarterback
Turner Gill to ink a Montreal contract,
said the two players would complement
each other and the team. He would not
say however, who would get the No. 1
ob.
SMITH, 21, who set a Michigan
record for total career offense with
6,554 yards, is known for his roll-out
ability and strong throwing arm.
In three years as Michigan's starter
he threw 42 touchdown passes and
rushed for 31 more. The Grand Blanc,
Mich., native said he chose Montreal
and the Canadian Football League
because he thought he'd have a better
chance to play quarterback than in the
FL.
eD
"The NFL looks for guys 6'4", 215
pounds who will stay in the pocket,"
said Smith, who is an even 6 feet and 194
pounds. "With my speed, I think the big
field will help me a lot. I feel this is the
best opportunity for me to play, and to
improve my skills as a runner and
passer."
. Smith said he hoped to win the star-
ting job, but added the competition with
Gill would be tough.
"Turner's good. I think it'll come
down to who comes in and learns the
system quickest," he said. "If we both
do, it'll just depend on who is the better
talent."
Pistons 107, Hawks 93
Special to the Daily
PONTIAC - There's speculation that
Isiah Thomas will be named the MVP in
the NBA this season. After yesterday's
performance he is certain to get con-
sideration from -'the Atlanta Hawks as'
he led the Detroit Pistons to a 107-93 win
at the Silverdome.
Thomas was definitely the most
valuable Piston as he scored 22 points
and dished out 15 assists against the
wounded Hawks, who had to play
without their star Dan Roundfield, who
is out with a broken nose.
WITHOUT ROUNDFIELD, the
Hawks had no offense and were lacking
on defense as the Pistons shot 56 per-
cent from the field, and an outstanding
65 percent in the first half.
The Pistons built up a 19-point bulge
on their way to a 63-47 lead at halftime.
However, Detroit let Atlanta back in it
when it committed six turnovers in the
third quarter.
"We turned it over too many times,"
said Piston coach Chuck Daly.
- RANDY BERGER
--- 1__ _
SCORES
NCAA Conference Tournaments
Big East
Providence 59. Seton Hall 55
Big Eight
Kansas St. 41,Nebraska 39
Southeastern
Vanderbilt 77. Mississippi 57
NBA
Boston 117, Utah 106
Exhibition Baseball
Chicago (AL)>9,Detroit3
Minnesota 7, Toronto 0
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