yi/ SPORTS .... . ... ... e Michigan Daily Saturday, September 22, 1984 PcageZ M' tries to bounce back against Badgers By MIKE MCGRAW The Big Ten is wasting no time in get- ing down to the big games this football eason. . While conference co-favorites Ohio tate and Iowa lock helmets in Colum- us this afternoon, sub-favorites isconsin and Michigan will battle at :00 in Michigan Stadium. We'll all know who the teams to beat in the Big Ten will be before the sun goes down tonight. THE BADGERS, along with Ohio State, are one of only two Big Ten teams' to go undefeated in non- conference play and enter the con- ference schedule with perhaps their best squad since the Rose Bowl team of 1962. "Their offense is about the same as a year ago, but they have a new quarter- back," said Michigan coach Bo Schem- bechler. "The defense is a veteran defense. This team, you've got to un- derstand, has more veterans than any other Big Ten team this year and were a good team a year ago. So they're a definite strong contender for the title." If momentum from the previous game means anything, Wisconsin has a tremendous advantage. While the Wolverines were giving their worst per- formance in several years against Washington, the Badgers recorded the greatest fourth quarter in the school's history to defeat Missouri, 35-34. IN THAT GAME, Wisconsin trailed 28-7 after three periods but rallied for four fourth-quarter touchdowns and then stopped the Tigers on a two-point Howard ... coming off big quarter conversion try to clinch the comeback victory. The Badger defense produced most of the heroics in that fourth quarter. Fir- st, senior cornerback Richard Johnson recovered a blocked punt in the endzone for a score, then Johnson himself deflected a punt to set up another touchdown. Later, a pass interception by linebacker Michael Reid led to Wisconsin's final points. "We needed something to happen to give us instant touchdowns and that's exactly what happened," said Wiscon- sin coach Dave McClain, a former assistant to Schembechler at Miami of Ohio. "That gave us great momentum. "IF YOU HAVE to drive to get three touchdowns, it's pretty hard to do it. We were able to get some big plays and that's the only reason we were able to come back and win the game. We're elated to be 2-0." The big plays that the Badgers used last week are exactly what the Wolverine defense couldn't come up with. Michigan caused no turnovers against Washington and gave up a 73- yard touchdown pass on its way to a 20- 11 loss. Schembechler, speaking Mon- day at his press conference, wasn't sure what went wrong in that game. "I saw nothing that made me happy (against Washington),' said the coach, who is 12-1 against Wisconsin. "I will say that it's not a completely lost cause. But I'm very, very puzzled as to why our approach to the game was so poor and I've got to find out what's going on there."~ When asked if the problems could be corrected in one week, Schembechler replied, "They'll be corrected in one week's time or they won't be correc- ted." IN ORDER TO do the correcting, Schembechler has put his team through some long and tough practice sessions this week. "The practices have been hard, but everyone's looking forward to opening the Big Ten season," said quarterback Jim Harbaugh. Today's game should answer some major questions about both teams. Are the Wolverines as bad as they appeared last week and are the Badgers the Big Ten title contenders they think they can be? One similarity between the two teams is that each has a quarterback who will be starting his first Big Ten game. WISCONSIN'S Mike Howard, had some tough times in his first two games at the Badgers' helm, but it all came together for the junior from Springfield, Ill. in the second half of the Missouri game. Howard was only 19- for-38 on the day, but during two fourth- quarter scoring drives, he hit on six straight passes, including touchdowns of nine and 24 yards to All-Big Ten receiver Al Toon. "In the first half I wasn't making all -mm. Doily Photo by CAROL L. FRANCAVILLA Wolverine tight end Sim Nelson makes a reception against Miami in Michigan's 1984 opener. Coach Bo Schembechler is hoping that his team returns to the form displayed while beating the defending national champs today against Wiscon- sin. my reads really good and was trying to force it and a couple times the protec- tion broke down," said Howard. "I did have a better fourth quarter. I'm not really sure what made the difference. Our intensity was really up in the fourth quarter and a lot of things went our way. That might have been it." Howard and his teammates will be trying to recreate their intensity level of last week in Ann Arbor today as they face a stiff first test in their quest for a place near the top of the conference. "The team we have this year has a lot of talent," added Howard. "We can be a good team. If we beat Michigan on Saturday, I think we can definitely be up there for the Big Ten title." BLUE BANTER: Wolverine quarter- back Jim Harbaugh's father is good friends with McClain and the Wisconsin coach used to babysit Jim when he was little. If fact, Wisconsin was Har- baugh's second choice after Michigan when he entered college... Nose guard Al Sincich is listed as doubtful for today's game due to a back problem.. . The Badgers sport the Big Ten's leading punt returner in Thad McFad- den. The senior from Flint is averaging 12.7 yards on eight returns ... Wiscon- sin is tied with Brigham Young and Oklahoma State for the Division-IA lead in interceptions with eight. Michigan's Monte Robbins leads the conference in punting with a 46.0 average. His 64 yarder against Washington was the team's longest sin- ce Don Bracken's 73-yard blast in the 1981 Rose Bowl ... Harbaugh's 37 pass attempts last week were the second most ever by a Wolverine quarterback in one game. Dick Vidmer set the record in 1966 with 47 against Michigan State. 14,789 to choose from - all subjects! Rush $2 for the current, 306-page cata- log. Custom research & thesis assis- tance also available. Research, 11 322 Idaho Ave., #206 WA, Los Angeles, CA 90025 (213) 477.8226. i. *one day only* Monday, September 24 9AM-6PM t i" , , ,yK 1 . ;t cRi Arouni Ohio State vs. Iowa Game time: 1:40 p.m. EDT d the Big Ten WHAT TO WATCH: These two teams could be going in dif- feidit directions. The Buckeyes looked invincible in last wiek's 44-0 blowout of Washington State whereas the wkeyes were toppled by Penn State in a very physical ame. The Buckeyes get quarterback Mike Tomczak back. He is fully recovered from a leg fracture suffered in spring practice and will start. Hawkeye quarterback Chuck Long has been effective in his first two games but the young buckeye defense looks to be blossoming. They will be fired up looking to avenge the 20-14 loss incurred at Iowa City last year. Watch out for Buckeye tailback Keith Byars. An early favorite for the Heisman Trophy, Byars has averaged 163.5 yards rushing in his first two games. Indiana at Northwestern ame Time: 2:30 pm EDT WHAT TO WATCH: This may be the only chance for either of these teams to notch a victory this season. Today's battle will be hard-pressed to match last season's as far as ineptitude is concerned. The Wildcats squeaked out a 10-8 win at Bloomington in that contest. The Hoosiers may have fooled a few people by taking Duke into the final minutes before suc- cumbing, but they reverted to true form with a 48-14 drubbing dealt to them by Kentucky. First-year coach Bill Mallory, father of M's Doug and captain Mike, has the pasing game in fine form. Led by quarterback Steve Bradley, who threw for 3 yards against Kentucky, Indiana is second in the con- ference in passing and ninth nationally. Michigan State at Illinois Game Time: 8:10 p.m. EDT WHAT-TO WATCH: Both teams are trying to rebound from disheartening losses last week. The Fighting Illini were trounced by Stanford 34-14 as Cardinal signalcaller John Paye picked apart the Illinois secondary. Michigan State. on the contrary, played a fine ballgame as they la'id in on Notre Dame for tnree periods. The Spartans then folded their tent in the final quarter and lost 24-20. Illinois has the league's top-rated offense with an average of more than 400 yards per game while the Spartan defense tops the conferen- ce, allowing just over 300 yards per game. Minnesota at Purdue Game Time: 1:30 PM EST WHAT TO WATCH: In his inaugural Big Ten conference game, Gopher's coach Lou Holtz will learn that the Big Ten can be a tough place to earn a living. Purdue quarterback Jim Everett is ranked seventh nationally in total offense. He will be teaming up with wide receiver Steve Griffin, who hauled in seven passes for 102 yards in last week's 24-14 loss at the hands of Miami. The Minnesota defensive secondary is pitifully weak, thus Everett and company could very well roll up some big numbers this afternoon. 'Around the Big Ten' was compiled by Daily spor- tswriter Steve Herz. Ic Ae l5Wooff m Yankees walk over Tigers, 5-3 " all Michigan Souvenirs and Clothing * entire stock of Classical Records " all Photo Supplies (film, mailers and processing not included.) " all Computer Supplies " all Language Reference Books " Harrison's, Principles of Internal Medicine " all single sheets of Art Paper while supplies last at both locations. By KATIE BLACKWELL AND CAROL ALLIS - Special to the Daily. Wilcox got the Yankees to surrender in order. His teammates helped him out in the bottom of the inning, showing error sent Wynegar home and Tagliarulo to third. The Yankees came to life again in the