ONE SMALL VOICE
By JeffBergida
Mkchigan arrogance lies behind ...
... silent nights at Crisler
"Later in the ballgame, when the fans started getting into it, we
started playing. So, when we play Michigan State on Saturday, we
don't want a single fan to come unless they want to be our sixth man.
We need the fans badly ... to give us the spark that we need."
- Illinois basketball coach Lou Henson
following last week's victory over Michigan
"Sure I cheer for Michigan, but I would rather see a well-played
basketball game than a home victory."
-A "Wolverine Fan"
I really don't want to write about Michigan basketball fans anymore.
Anyone who's ever been to a game at Crisler Arena already knows that
the place doesn't get very loud. Those who don't attend probably have no in-
terest in the subject.
So if the problem is simply that the people choose to remain quiet, there
would be nothing more to say. What's really disturbing, however, is that
there seems to be an "I'm above all that" attitude that lies behind the silen-
ce. When there are 12,000 individuals sitting back in their cushioned chairs
waiting to be impressed, something is wrong.
Before going on, I want to make it clear that there are a number of truly
enthusiastic fans at Crisler. From the Butch Wade fan club to the guys who
count dribbles when the enemy is at the foul line, they turn out faithfully, at
home and on the road, and do their best to become that proverbial sixth man.
Unfortunately for Bill Frieder and his team, these diehards are few and
far between. Most of the players I've talked to say that if there's one thing
they regret about their decision to attend Michigan, it's that the crowds
aren't as wild as they are at most schools.
The explanation generally put forth for the lack of noise is that there is no
well-defined student section and most of the people sitting close to the floor
are professors and alumni who aren't the "Let's Go Blue" type.
But it's not the older fans that are concerning me. It's the students. That fan
who said that he would rather see a good game than a home victory is em-
blematic of the self-absorbed, pseudo-sophisticated Michigan students
whose haughty attitude makes their school a hated symbol at other Big Ten
universities.
I'll give it an 8.4
Think about the atmosphere that surrounds a Michigan sporting event. At
Crisler, the fans break into polite applause when the home team scores. If
Richard Rellford or Roy Tarpley dunks, there might be a dull roar. It's
almost as if the game is being played in front of a group of Olympic judges
and the noise level corresponds to how impressed the people are with the
play.
And there are a number of people, mainly grad students, who treat the
game as a purely social event. My spies tell me, just as one example, that in
section 29, row 11, there are five people who stand up only when it is time to
go home. During the game, they talk to their friends, knit, and~(so help me)
cut out paper dolls.
Again, it's not the action so much as the attitude behind it. All over the
country, people put their hearts and souls behind their team. Here in Ann Ar-
bor, everyone is so damn concerned with their grades and careers that there
isn't anything left for sports. I've never seen a fan cry after a Michigan loss.
They do in Iowa. They do in Wisconsin and Illinois.
It's not just basketball either. The volume at football games has decreased
dramatically over the past four years. Students stumble in during the second
quarter, drunk from a tailgate party, and leave at halftime because they're
(a) hot, (b) cold, or (c) tired. When was the last time someone cancelled a
party Saturday night because he was bummed out that the football team
lost?'
This "What do we care, we're going to get good jobs" attitude is why
students at other schools dislike people who attend Michigan. A couple of
months ago, someone pointed out to me that people at Michigan think that
they're better than their cohorts at other midwestern schools.
I didn't give that statement much credence at the time but the evidence
tells me that it's true. The "Wolverine fan" quoted above says that waving
your arms when an opponent shoots free throws "is demeaning to those who
participate in it." Fine, basketball fans at every school except Michigan
demean themselves.
The arrogance we're famous for is everywhere. Just last week, a Daily
columnist ended a critique of another university by saying "No wonder we
get such good grades at Michigan."
I don't like feeling this way about a school I'm proud to attend. Unfor-
tunately, everywhere I look, I see that damn attitude.
The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, January 15, 1985 - Page 9
Georgetown
«x$ still No. 1
in college
hoop poll
From The Associated Press
Georgetown, forced into overtime for
the second straight weekend, retained
- the No. 1 ranking in the Associated
Press' college basketball poll which
was announced yesterday.
The Hoyas, who have won 25 con-
secutive games -15 this year, defeated
Big East conference rival Villanova 52-
h<50 in overtime Saturday. The defending
national champions were forced to an
extra session the weekend before,
registering an 82-80 victory over Boston
College, another Big East member.
Georgetown received 61 of 62 first-
place votes and 1,239 points in the
balloting of a nationwide panel of sports
writers and broadcasters.
AP Top Twenty
Straining
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mark Clayton grimaces as he stretches during a workout. The Dolphins are preparing
for this Sunday's Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers which will be played in Palo Alto, California.
SPOR TS OF THE DAIL Y
1. Georgetown (61) .......15-0
2. Duke (1) ...............12;0
3. So. Methodist ...........14-1
4. St. John's ..............11-1
5. Memphis St..............11-1
6. North Caroliina........12-1
7. Syracuse ................10-1
8. Indiana .................11-3
9. Kansas ..................12-2
10. DePaul................10-3
11. Illinois .................13-4
12. Louisiana Tech .........13-1
13. Oklahoma ..............11-3
14. Oregon St...............13-1
15. Boston College.........11-2
16. Va. Commonwealth .....10-1
17. Georgia Tech ...........10-3
18. Villanova ................9-3
19. Michigan St.............12-2
20. Tulsa ....................11-2
1239
1174
1075
1062
960
884
839
700
698
486
472
455
427
425
386
350
344
281
225
94
NCAA dri
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)-An at-
tempt to discourage drug abuse by
college athletes appeared to be in great
jeopardy yesterday as the 79th NCAA
convention commenced.
One objection to a controversial
measure expected to be voted upon
Tuesday is that it deals entirely with
performance-enhancing substances
and not street drugs.
"We believe very much that the
problem must be dealt with, but we just
feel like this is poorly drawn
legislation," said Wayne Duke, com-
missioner of the Big Ten. "There are
many flaws."
John Davis, faculty representative
from Oregon State and an unopposed
candidate for NCAA president, said ac-
tion may be delayed until the 1986 con-
vention.
Bowls shun playoffs
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The
college football bowl games again op-
posed the idea of a major-college
national championship playoff yester-
day and said there was little sentiment
for it among the schools.
Jim Brock, executive vice president
of the Cotton Bowl and chairman of
what he called the "Bowl Group," said
the more than 40 representatives from
17 postseason games - only the Aloha
Bowl was missing - "unanimously op-
posed any playoff, championship game,
anything - no matter who brings it
up.
Brock said he has "been hearing
some rumors out there that there may
be some groups trying to put together a
championship format."
Reagan honors BYU
WASHINGTON (AP) - President
Reagan got a team jacket and a football
signed by players on the undefeated
Brigham
Oval Of
Coach La
Edwai
finished
" 0
rules in jeopardy
Young University team in an ball team with an undefeated record,
fice meeting yesterday with was accompanied to the White House
aVell Edwards. by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.
rds, whose top-ranked Cougars "This was very thrilling today," Ed-
as the only major college foot- wards told reporters afterwards.
CCHA Scorecard
CCHA Standings
(Overall) W
Michigan State (23-3)...........19
Lake Superior (15-11)...........14
BowlingGreen (12-14)........12
Western Michigan (13-12-1) .... 10
illinois-Chicago (11-16) ........ 10
MICHIGAN (10-15-1)............8
Ferris State (11-14-1)..........8
Ohio State (10-13-2).............7
Miami (9-15-2)................. 5
L
3
8
10
10
12
13
11
13
13
T
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
2
Pts.
38
28
24
20
20
17
17
16
12
CCHA LEADERS
Scoring
GP
Ray Staszek, UIC.............22
Craig Simpson, MSU .......... 22
Jamie Wansborough, BGSU.... 22
Colin Chin. UIC ................ 20
Peter Lowden, FSU ........... 20
Allan Butler, LSSC...........22
Tom AnastosMSU..........21
Dan Dorian, WMU...........28
Darcy Gryba, OSU...........21
Keith Martin. LSSC ........... 22
George Roll, BGSU..........22
Brian Meharry, BGSU..........22
G
23
14
17
12
12
14
14
4
11
15
12
10
A
20
29
21
23
21
18
17
27
19
13
16
18
Pts.
43
43
38
35
33
32
31
31
30
28
28
26
WMPL Hockey Poll
(Record) Pts.
1. Michigan State (23-3)........97
2. Minnesota-Duluth (19-6-1)..78
3. Minnesota (18-5-2) .............75
4. Boston College (18-6-1)........74
5. RPI (15-2) ...................67
6. Harvard (10-1-2) ...............45
7. North Dakota (16-9-1)..........6
8. Clarkston (13-3-2) ..............26
9. Lake Superior State (15-11) ....24
10. Wisconsin (14-12)..............9
FRIDAY'S RESULTS
Bowling Green 9, MICHIGAN 4
Michigan State 3, Miami 2 (OT)
Western Michigan 3, Illinois-Chicago 0
Lake Suerior 5, Ohio State 2
Ferris State8, Alaska-Fairbanks 4
SATURDAY'S RESULTS
MICHIGAN 8. Bowling Green 6
Michigan State5, Miami 1
Western Michigan 8, Illinois-Chicago 2
Lake Superior9, Ohio State 1
Ferris State8, Alaska-Fairbanks 0
FRIDAY'S GAMES
MICHIGAN at RPI
Michigan State at Ferris State
Lake Superior at Western Michigan
Illinois-Chicago at Miami
SATURDAY'S GAMES
MICHIGAN at RPI
Ferris State at Michigan State
Lake Superior at Western Michigan
Ohio State at Bowling Green
Illinois-Chicago at Miami
Goaltending
GP GA Avg Sav Pct
Bob Essensa, MSU..........11 20 1.88 202 .910
Norm Foster, MSU.........12 31 2.69 236 .884
Glenn Healy, WMU.........16 56 3.50 505 .900
Gary Kruzich, BGSU ...... 18 63 3.66 547 .897
Randy Exelby, LSSC........18 57 3.70 336 .855
Wayne Collins, BGSU ...... 5 19 3.88 147 .886
Rob Hughston, FSU.........17 66 4.08 504 .884
MARK CHIAMP, MICH .... 13 53 4.23 321 .858
Bob Krautsak, OSU........ 14 60 4.25 335 .848
Craig Shermoen, LSSC..... 9 28 4.31 153 .845
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