-f w w a w 0 Page 12 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, September 13, 1985 The Michigan Daily - Friday, The riht stuff: Size and attitudem -aleader by example o September 14: Notre Dame COACH: Gerry Faust, Notre Dame (1981-84) 25-20-1 LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 7-5 LAST MEETING VS MICHIGAN: Notre Dame 23, Michigan 17 (1982) SERIES LEADER: Michigan, 11-5 OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 6 DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 8 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Tim Scannell (00), Steve Beuerlein (QB), Allen Pinkett (TB), Tom Doerger (OT), Mike Griffin (NG), Wally Kleine (DT), Tony Furjanic (MLB), Mike Larkin (LB), Hiawatha Francisco (DB). You heard it here: the winner of this titanic opening clash between Michigan and Notre Dame will go on to have a banner year. With both teams having so much to prove after mediocre '84 seasons, this is bound to be one of the most hard-hitting games of the year. The Fighting Irish have been preparing for this one all summer with rumors going around that they have shaved a "Wolverine stripe" on their forearms. Star tailback Allen Pinkett was quoted in the Sporting News' College Preview as saying, "When we get lazy, that strip reaffirms our committment to a national title." THE NOTRE Dame offense is anchored by the record-setting Pinkett, who now holds 12 season and career school records. He needs only 441 yards to pass Vagas Ferguson's record of 3,472 career yards set in 1979. Steve Beuerlein will again be the signal caller after producing the highest individual pass completion percentage in school history hit- ting 60.3 percent of his aerials. He will have several talented receivers to throw to including senior Milt Jackson and sophomore Reggie Ward. Three offensive line starters return in Tim Scannell, John Askin, and Mike Perrino. With eight starters returning on defense, the Irish may not give up the 212 points they yielded last year. Mike Griffin and Wally Kleine will anchor the front line and will be aided by defensive cap- tains Tony Furjanic and Mike Larkin at the linebacker spots. The only new face in the secondary is Joe Johnson, who also has con- siderable experience. As sure as anything, all eyes will be on head coach Gerry Faust, who is entering the final year of his con- tract. A win over Michigan would undoubtedly take some pressure off the embattled coach. -PHIL NUSSEL By PHIL NUSSEL Youth, inexperience, mistakes, immaturity - these are all factors that contribute to a losing football team. These are all the terms used when a team is in a rebuilding year. To some extent, the Michigan' defense is undergoing a rebuilding year, but not completely. While there will be some new faces on the squad, major problems with inexperience could be avoidable because of a few, very talented players that return with much-needed experience and Pinkett ... leading rusher September 21: at South Carolina COACH: Joe Morrison, South Carolina (1983- 84) 15-8 LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 10-2 LAST MEETING VS MICHIGAN: South Carolina 17, Michigan 14 SERIES LEADER: South Carolina, 1-4 OFFENSIVESTARTERS RETURNING: 5 DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 6 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Mike Hold (QB), Thomas Dendy (RB), Eric Poole (SE), Tony Guyton (DE), Joe Brooks (SS), Chris Major (CB). Despite the loss of the entire starting offensive line and three out of four defensive linemen, South Carolina coach Joe Morrison is optimistic about his Gamecocks, which finished the 1984 campaign with a 10-2 mark and a Gator Bowl bid. "We had a good season and feel that one of the strong suits we will have this year is the tremendous carry over from last year," Morrison said. "But, we can never forget how we got where we did - with a lot of hard work and effort." THE ENTIRE fate of the offense will lie with the all-new line. If they do well, the Gamecocks could be the best team in the country because the backfield is loaded with depth and talent. Two quar- terbacks - Mike Hold and Allen Mitchell - are experienced and capable of leading the team. Starting running backs Thomas Dendy and Kent Hagood combined for over 1200 yards last season, but will be pushed by juniors Raynard Brown and Anthony Smith. Brown, who averaged five yards a crack last year, is the fastest runner on the team and is the strongest for his size (5-9, 185). South Carolina's defensive rebuilding job is similar to Michigan's with a front line needing lots of new blood. Ends Willie McIntee and Tony Guyton will be sorely needed to produce. The secondary is very strong with returning linebackers Carl Hill and Chris Morris. Strong safety Joe Brooks is perhaps the most talented player on the defense. The junior out of Warner Robbins, Ga. had 84 tackles and three interceptions in '84 to earn him All-South Indepen- dent honors. The Gamecock kicking game is solid with placekicker Scott Hagler and punter Tom O'Connor retur- ning. Hagler was 45-45 in point af- ters while O'Connor averaged 40 4 yards a punt. -PHIL NUSSEL he has been named the Defensive Champion or Defensive Hustler by the coaching staff. After being a third team All- America and a second team All-Big Ten selection in '84, the Royal Oak, Mi. native is a consensus preseason All-America candidate. "IT'S A PERSONAL goal, it's an incentive," Cochran said. It's a nice thing to have, but you just got to play well to get it and even then it's up to how they vote." At 6-3, 220 along with 4.4 speed, Cochran has the type of physical credentials that coaches rave about. Assistant head coach Gary Moeller certainly did when he said, "His physical abilites are the key thing. He can run well, he's over 200 pounds, he's 6-2, and he can just make plays. "Physical ability is one thing, and he's also had the playing experien- ce." LIKE MOST seniors, Cochran will be needed for leadership ability and he is also expected to improve. "We expect Brad, obviously, to be a very positive influence," Moeller ad- ded."The key to his success is how well he improves." Cochran is quick to say that he is still strictly concerned with college football. The lure of pro money, con- tracts, and agents has not affected him. Unlike other Big Ten football stars like Keith Byars and Pepper Johnson of Ohio State, the Wolverine cornerback does not have an insuran- ce policy that would pay him for receiving a career-ending injury. "I thought about it," he noted, "but I don't have one. I'm playing to win the Big Ten. I try to stay away from that sort of stuff." WHEN ASKED if a lot of players look too far ahead to pro ball, Cochran said, "Sure, it's hard when you have all that money flashed in your face. I think that going out and playing your IL/ Brooks ... leads secondary Cochran ... one of the best leadership. ONE OF THESE players is senior Brad Cochran, who is among the most talented defensive backs in college football today. For over two years, Cochran has been a highly-reliable product in the Michigan secondary. He has started every game for the last two seasons and has led the team with five inter- ceptions each campaign. Five times Cornerback Brad Cochran shows Illinois receiver David Williams why he was last year. Cochran is a concensus pre-season All-American this season. butt off and having a great year for your team and for your school will help you more in the long run than go- ing out and dancing around for a pro scout." It seems pretty obvious that the only thing Cochran wants to do is help Michigan win - that's it. "I'm just ready for the season," he remarked. "More so than ever, I'm looking forward to it. I want to do well and leave on a winning note. I like Michigan and I want the program to stay up there. "AND I want to go to the Rose Bowl." Defensive backfield coach Lloyd Carr has worked with Cochran exten- sively over the last few years and talked about his cornerback's at- titudes saying, "I think it (Cochran's) attitude) is indicative of a very mature guy. Anyone with maturity realizes that if you want to be a high draft choice, you have to have a great senior year." In order for Michigan to return to the Rose Bowl, the defense will have to improve. And, with an untested front line, Cochran and his team- mates in the secondary could be pressured to hold in some of the ex- ploding offenses that highlight many of the '85 Big Ten teams. "THERE'S A lot of pressure on the secondary," Cochran observed, "and when you don't have a really good pass rush, it's kind of hard to play man to man and that's why we've gone to the zone." a s onl: sec tou The in t B Alo wil: at t saf Tor Mi4 nat terl hav Co( ma just September 28: Maryland COACH: Bobby Ross, Maryland (25-11) 1982- 84 LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 8-3; first in ACC LAST MEETING VS MICHIGAN: This is the first meeting between the two teams. OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 8 DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 9 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Rick Badanjek (FB), Tony Edwards (OT), Stan Gebaugh (QB), Bruce Mesner (MG), Al Covington (SS), Chuck Faucette (LB). Michigan's 1985 schedule is perhaps the toughest docket it has ever had. The toughest team on that schedule could very well be the Maryland Terrapins, a team ranked third in the Gameplan an- nual college football poll. AND IT'S NO wonder the defen- ding ACC champs are so highly touted - they return 17 starters from a team that won its last seven games including an incredible comeback win over Miami (Fla) in which the Terrapins trailed 31-0 at half. Maryland also beat Ten- nessee in the Sun Bowl, 28-27. On offense, eight starters are back led by fullback Rick Badan- jek who had 832 yards and 15 touchdowns. Alvin Blount and Tommy Neal also return in the backfield. They combined for almost 1400 yards and had 11 touchdowns last year. The only loss on the line was at center, but that's not expected to be a problem. Stan Gelbaugh, who started five games last season, looks to be the top quarterback. He passed for 1,123 yards and five touchdowns giving up only four interceptions. Middle guard Bruce Mesner and safety Al Covington are certain to be the leaders of the tough Terrapin defense. The two were All-ACC picks last season. Another top player is Chuck Faucette, the team's second leading tackler with 120 in '84. Six others return on defense. Maryland has a difficult early season schedule facing Penn State, Boston College, and West Virginia all before travelling to Ann Arbor to meet the Wolverines. -PHIL NUSSEL Line is big on bulk, low on expej By PHIL NUSSELa When Bo Schembechler opened spring practice, one of the top priorities on defense was rebuilding the defensive line, which lost two top-I notch performers in middle guard Al1 Sincich and tackle Kevin Brooks.1 This was no easy task since thesel two stalwarts started for a combined 18 games and together piled up 132 tackles. ALTHOUGH the new line has not] been tested, it could turn out to be a successfully-rebuilt position. The main reason for this is the return of fifth-year senior Mike Hammerstein, who has now bulked up to 267. The lineman registered 54 tackles last season and is being looked at for leadership in the tren- ches this year. "We expect good play out of him." said defensive coordinator Gary Moeller. "His experience and leader- ship will help us up front." ANOTHER REASON for the op- timism is the return of a much heavier Mike Reinhold at middle guard.The senior, who was converted to being a lineman after a critical leg injury in 1983 when he played linebacker, has yet to play the position in a game, but with his weight up to 255 after a good spring, the Muskegon, MI. native could have a good season. COLLEGIATE CLEANERS' wishes theWolverines SUCCESS IN THE 1985 FOOTBALL SEASON Have your laundry " picked up w professionally cleaned " folded " delivered the next day For more information, call 996-0894 Services available to all university and off-campus housing Defensive line depth chart Adding to the depth at middle guard is Billy Harris, who, like Reinhold, also put on weight over the summer and now checks in at 250. Harris saw limited action last season and will certainly get more time this year. The other tackle position is up for grabs between sophomores Mark Messner (6-3, 245) and Dave Chester (6-2, 248). "Those two guys are going to have to come forward this season," said line coach Jerry Meter. "They could be the difference on the defen- sive line this season." Neither player saw action last season, but both looked good in the spring. MESSNER, WHO Schembenhler called the "most impressive" fresh- man on defense a year ago, will probably get the nod to start. ' Both Moeller and Meter agreed that the line will improve from game to game. It will most likely suffer from a lack of experience. "We think we can be pretty good," Moeller said. "It's a time-teller type thing. We think, and hopefully it's gningta &be characteristic of our whole def of eve tha pet Ha and is pro ces and pou cor tal a def lea hav gam siv Will bee ine: gan reir LEFT TACKLE MIKE HAMMERSTEIN (Sr) Dave Folkertsma (Jr) MIDDLE GUARD Mike Reinhold (Sr) Billy Harris (Jr) RIGHT TACKLE Mark Messner (So) David Chester (So) CAPS indicates returning starter. Hammerstein ... the veteran wisps s IIY II YYI Iw I IY