Page 8 - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, September 18, 1986
Nort hington
AN ALL-AMERICAN BEAVER?
boosts Oregon State's
'D'
By MARK BOROWSKY
Call Oregon State's Lavance
Northington an optimist. Or call him
crazy.
"We have a good chance (to beat
Michigan)," the All-America candidate
said of his team's chances this weekend to
beat the third-ranked Wolverines. "(But)
we can compete with them."
SUCH OPTIMISM sounds brash from a
man whose team lost 27-0 to Fresno State
last week, whose team went 3-8 last year,
and is a 40 (that's correct, 40) point underdog
to Michigan.
Optimism, however, is the quality that
has carried the 6-0, 185 pound senior
cornerback through his college career.
Oregon State compiled an abysmal record
of 7-25-1 in Northington's first three
seasons. His play at cornerback has been a
football dream in years where losses of 63-0
and 41-0 (to USC and UCLA last year) are a
reality.
The fact that Northington is the Beaver's
only bona fide star has not been lost on the
Oregon State media, either. Lavance is on
the cover of the media guide, and1
page is a Northington profile,
mention the pictures throughout.
the first
not to
FOR GOOD reason, too. His PAC 10
conference-high seven interceptions last
year was the bright spot for the Beavers, a
team that has not won more than than three
games in a season since 1971.
That fact didn't stop Northington from
choosing Oregon State. Although an
outstanding high school athlete (he long-
jumped 23-3), he was only an all-
conference football player who never really
hit his potential.
"I wanted to play PAC football," said
Northington, who went to high school in San
Jose, California. "Oregon State and
Washington State were the only schools that
recruited me in the PAC."
WASHINGTON, USC, and UCLA may
be regretting that scouting decision. Last
season as a junior Northington was a
second team All-Pac 10, and an Associated
Press Honorable Mention All-American.
In addition, he has never missed a game
due to injury. "I've just been blessed" hef
says. Not bad for someone who wasn'tt
recruited heavily out of high school.
Northington's freshman season was
spent at wide receiver. That had the1
disadvantage of playing behind startert
Reggie Bynum. The Beaver coaching staff
decided that Northington was too talented to
split time, so when he returned to school his
sophomore year, he found him- self at the top
of the depth chart at cornerback.
"I was very upset at first," Northington
said about the unexpected switch. "I thought
that I could become a pretty good receiver. I
came back (in the fall), and I'm at
defensive back...it was a great shock."
PERHAPS Northington was upset, but
not as much as Oregon State's opponents.
His sophomore season he had three
interceptions; last year that figure jumped
to seven. It included an incredible, string of
six straight games in which he picked off a
pass.
Northington's great speed and intuitive
feel for the ball have made him such a
defensive force.
"I THINK that Lavance's biggest
strength is that he can cover people one-on-
one and that is what it boils down to as far as
the real quality cornerback," said Oregon
State head coach Dave Kragthorpe.
"Certainly Lavance has proven that he can
do that pretty well."
He will have to do just that-cover one-
on-one-to fare well against the likes of
John Kolesar and Paul Jokisch Saturday,
not to mention Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh
has not thrown an interception in his last 73
attempts.
"Every week we're playing a better
quarterback," Northington said. "He is not
inclined to make mistakes."
But, as Northington admits, Harbaugh
and his teammates will have to make
mistakes galore for Oregon State to win.
"They're going to have to have an of day
for us to beat them, although we can compete
with them," Northington admits. "Were
not going to be able to play an average game
to beat them."
Even the biggest optimist has to be
realistic.
.:>
Northington
... optimistic
Y
sT/0
' fall
STUDENT PHONATHON
CALLERS WANTED
Part Time Employment
Evenings and Sundays
Wolverines in SI
From staff reports
Michigan's victory over
Notre Dame last Saturday made
the cover of this week's Sports
Illustrated, usually delivered
today or tomorrow.
The cover reads "A Real
Hum-Dinger-Michigan 24
Notre Dame 23," and in the story
Sports Illustrated writer Rick
Telander chronicles
Michigan's win and the
lackluster Michigan defense.
He quotes middle guard Billy
Harris as saying in the
offseason, "I don't want to sound
cocky, but we're like the Chicago
Bears. We're ready to make
videos."
GRIDDE PICKS
School of Education Staff will interview students by phone to call
alumni nationwide for alumni fundraising phonathon.
* Phonathon held Sunday through Thursday evenings
October 5 through November 20
* Callers will be expected to work two calling sessions
each week with some opportunity for additional hours
" $4.25 per hour, nightly incentives & bonus opportunities
Call for an interview between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 15 through Friday, Sept. 19
CALL 747-0633
The University of Michigan is a Non-Discriminatory, Affirmative Action Employer
WASHINGTON - President
Reagan today presented some
new legislation in his and Mrs.
Reagan's fight against drugs.
Included were harsh punishments
for drug users and sellers,
ranging from fines and small
jail sentences to the death penalty
and, amazingly, the prohibition
of playing Griddes.
"I just don't think that these
people who are responsible for the
corruption of children and society
as a whole should be allowed the
chance to win a small pizza from
Bob's," said the constipated and
perturbed First Lady.
"I agree wholeheartedly," the
Gipper added.
Griddes, the game where people
pick the winners of 20 football
games and the number of points
scored in this week's Michigan
Oregon State matchup, has long
been a favorite of drug-related
persons.
If you are clean and want to
play, just drop your picks off,
along with your name and phone
number, to 420 Maynard by
midnight Friday.
1. Oregon State at MICHIGAN
(pick total points)
2. Nebraska at Illinois
3. Navy at Indiana
4. Notre Dame at Michigan State
5. Minnesota at Oklahoma
6. Army at Northwestern
7. Colorado at Ohio State
8. Pitt at Purdue
9. Wisconsin at UNLV
10. Iowa at Northern Illinois
11. Penn State at Boston College
12. North Carolina at Florid
State
13. Alabama at Florida
14. BYU at Washington
15. Clemson at Georgia
16. USC at Baylor
17. SMU at Arizona State
18. Maryland at West Virginia
19. Hope at DePauw
20. Jerry Mathers at DAILY
LIBELS____ __
WEEKEND
MAGAZINE
Fridays in The Daily
763-0379
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