4 Page 10 - The Michigan Daily -Wednesday, March 14, 1984 By Douglas B. Levy Smith's career shines .. . ... moves on to Montreal A N ARGUMENT has been raging among Michigan football fans for the past three years. The performance of quarterback Steve Smith, or lack thereof, has been the theme. When Smith signed a professional football con- tract last Wednesday with the Canadian Football League's Montreal Concordes, the young man from Grand Blanc headed north with a mission. "I want to prove I can play quarterback. I want to prove I can throw the ball," said a determined Smith. Ironically, the man who has rewritten the Wolverines' records for such passing marks as yards in a season and total touchdown passes, feels compelled to prove his passing abilities. "If they (Michigan) had emphasized passing Smith had all the tools to be a great one," said Iowa Hawkeye defensive coordinator Bill Brashier. "He's got the physical tools to be a good passer," said Illinois defensive backfield coach, Rich Solomon. "But Michigan has always used a run-oriented offense." The run-oriented offense noted by Solomon and adhered to by Schembechler was crucial in shaping Smith's quarterback performance. Take for example, the Michigan-Indiana game of October 2, 1982, a 24-10 Michigan victory. Lawrence Ricks rushed for 124-yards, followed by Rick Rogers (66), Smith (65 on 11 carries) and Dan Rice with 64 yards. On that day Smith attem- pted only 10 passes for 57-yards. Michigan won by controlling the ball, Bo was happy. Never doubting that Smith, who runs a 4.5 40- yard dash, could run and lead a ball-control offen- se, the critics lashed out against Smith's passing ability. Five of Smith's next six games of the 1982 season are testament to his passing ability. " October 9 vs. Michigan State - 20 passes, 10 completions, 182 yards, two touchdowns passing, one rushing; 31-17 Wolverine victory. " October 16 vs. Iowa - 24 passes, 13 com- pletions,172 yards, one touchdown; 29-7 Wolverine victory., " October 23 vs. Northwestern - 12 passes, 10 completions, 203 yards, three touchdowns passing, 71 yards rushing for two more touchdowns; 49-14 Wolverine victory. * October 30 vs. Minnesota - 16 passes, 10 com- pletions, 159 yards, one interception, three passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown; 52-14 Wolverine victory. " November 13 vs. Purdue - 13 passes, nine completions, 184 yards, one interception, two touchdowns; 52-21 Wolverine victory. But against Ohio State, Smith threw three inter- ceptions and Michigan carne up short, 24-14. It only took one dismal performance against the most despised of all rivals for the critics to harp on Smith's erratic passing ability. Sports Illustrated magazine anticipated Smith's maturation into one of the nation's top field generals and bestowed upon Michigan it's second number one preseason ranking in three years. Unable to return to the starting line-up until the second game of the 1983 campaign due to a scrimmage injury to the throwing shoulder, he damaged in the previous season's Rose Bowl, Smith dazzled the 60,000 plus Washington Huskie fans in Seattle with an 18 for 26 performance for 225 yards. Only a more spectacular performance by Steve Pelluer brought Washington the 25-24 last minute victory. Smith then guided Michigan to five consecutive conference victories before a loss to Rose Bowl- bound Illinois. Through the Illinois game Smith's passing had been erratic and ineffectual. The senior was thoroughly bombarded by fan and media criticism for the inconsistent passing, especially following the Illinois loss. "Up until the Illinois game Steve was suffering from a chronic inflammation of his shoulder joint and was on a day-to-day basis," said Schem- bechler in Smith's defense. The week after the Illinois loss, the inflam- mation and pain fully subsided. Smith's recovery complete, with a healthy body, the senior went wild. * November 5 vs. Purdue - 13 passes, 11 com- pletions, 159 yards, four passing touchdowns, 12 rushes for 126 yards, one rushing touchdown; Wolverine victory. " November 12 vs. Minnesota - 18 passes, 10 completions, 180 yards, three passing touchdowns, four rushes for 147 yards, three more touchdowns; Wolverine victory. * November 19 vs. Ohio State - 20 passes, 11 completions, 207 yards, two passing touchdowns, 44 yards rushing, one rushing touchdown. Sugar Bowl. In the heart of the Michigan faithful, however, the Sugar Bowl loss to Auburn, yet another hear- tbreaking downfall to a fine team, may have sealed Smith's fate. A victory over the Tigers would have obliterated the bad memories. Smith would have been deified - Rick Leach stature. Finally out of Ann Arbor's spotlight, it is time to recognize what has epitomized Smith's career at Michigan, a personal characteristic achieved by few - class. Why bring up class now? Did anyone ever read of Smith making excuses, blaming his teammates or coaches for losses? Did anyone ever read of Smith lashing out in frustration against his numerous, vocal and unjustified critics? Smith handled his greatest athletic disappointments with honesty and integrity. Someday soon, Steve Smith will prove he can play quarterback, silencing his critics once and for all. 4 Daily Photo by DAN HABIB Former Wolverine quarterback, Steve Smith, unleashes a pass at yesterday's Spring football practice. Looking on is freshman Chris Zurbrugg who is battling to fill Smith's vacated position. Moncrief's 27 leads Bucks over Pistons 4 I MILWAUKEE (AP) - Paul Pressey sparked a 13-0 run by the Bucks in the first three minutes of the game last night to help Milwaukee break a three- game losing streak with a 116-95 National Basketball Association vic- tory over the Detroit Pistons. Milwaukee moved ahead of the Pistons by one-half game in the Central Division standings with a 39-27 record. The Pistons fell to 38-27 as their four- game winning streak ended. Pressey scored seven points toward the 13-0 lead, and later scored a three- point play to widen the margin to 22-7 with 6:34 left in the first period. Milwaukee, with Pressey scoring 12 points, led 31-22 at the end of the period. The Pistons trimmed the gap to 43-35 on Terry Tyler's baseline jump shot with 6:24 left in the half. But Milwaukee surged to a 59-41 lead at intermission. Detroit outscored the Bucks 29-14 in the first eight minutes of the third period to cut the margin to 73-70. Milwaukee recovered to lead 87-76 at the end of the quarter. Sidney Moncrief- led the Bucks with 27 points, with Marques Johnson adding 20, Bob Lanier 17 and Pressey 16. Detroit was led by Kelly Tripucka with 18, and Isiah Thomas with 17. Tigers split LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) - Detroit's Alan Trammell, playing his first exhibition game this spring, drove in two runs with a double to help split squad of the Tigers to a 4-1 exhibition baseball victory over the Kansas City Royals yesterday. The Royals' Butch Davis tagged Detroit starter Juan Berenguer for a leadoff triple in the first inning and scored on a sacrifice fly by Pat Sheridan. THE TIGERS got-that run back in the bottom of the first when Glenn Wilson doubled and scored on a triple by Lance Parrish. Lou Whitaker doubled in the Detroit third, went to third on a flyball and scored on Wilson's single off Bud Black. Nelson Simmons singled off Derek Botelho in: the Detroit fourth, Whitaker walked and both scored on Trammell's two-out double. 4 4 MEANWHILE, AT Dunedin, the remainder of .the Tiger squad was defeated 5-4 in 10 innings by the Toronto Blue Jays. Rookie-outfielder Ron Shepherd rip- ped a line drive off the left-field fence in the 10th inning to drive in Fred Manrique with the winning run. The Jays touched four Detroit pitchers chers for 11 hits in pushing their record to 3-6. STUDENT DISCOUNTS at BICYCLE JIM'S PUB 10% off All Food and Beverage /2 price Beer by the glass Every night after 8:00 p.m. OPEN: SUN. - MON. TILL 10:00 p.m. TUES. -SAT. 11:00 p.m. S. University at Forest offer expires 5/1/84 Semca & coupons void with this offer. Policy Statement On GAY DISCRIMINATION CAMPUS MEET THE PRESENTS PRESS QUAC (Queer Action Committee) LaGROC (Lesbian and Gay Rights On Campus) I I I * 4 4 1 1 t 1 1 1 1 r I