Daily Sports Extra Covering OSU and NIT Sunday Morning SPORTS Men's Basketball Preseason NIT, vs. Bradley Friday, 8:00 p.m. Crisler Arena The Michigan Daily. Wednesday, November 19, 1986 Page 9 Harbaugh set for dream game r, 'r d+ By ADAM MARTIN When Jim Harbaugh guaranteed a victory Monday for the Wolverines in this Saturday's Ohio State-Michigan clash, he had history on his side. Harbaugh has never actually played in a "Big Game" that decided the Big Ten Championship. But in his mind he has quarter - backed the Wolverines past the Buckeyes several times over. "WHEN HE was younger, he used to lay in bed and dream about this situation," said Jack Harbaugh, Jim's father. "I'm sure he's been through it 100 times in his head, and now, finally, the dream's come true." Jim's dreams always pointed toward Michigan football. His father, who was fired Monday after five years as head football coach at Western Michigan, was Bo Schembechler's defensive backfield coach from 1973-1979. During that time Jim progressed from the St. Francis of Assisi school to Pioneer High. He often watched the Wolverines in practice, and he used the acquaintances he made there to impress his friends. "He made it his business to know Rick Leach (1975-78)," the elder Harbaugh remembered. "He used to collect his wrist bands and then go back to school and give them away." JIM'S SCHOOLBOY fame ended when his dad took the job as defensive coordinator at Stanford after the '79 season. The move forced the younger Harbaugh to play his high school football in Palo Alto, Calif. Still, he never forgot "The Big Game." Stanford has its own version, Stanford-California, and Jim frequented the Stanford sideline. Forced into a new football tradition, however, Jim was quick to downgrade the Stanford-Cal game. "We were on the field at Cal the year after I took the job at Stanford and in the pre-game Jim was standing next to me," his father recalled. "He heard 'Welcome to The Big Game' and said to me, 'We know where the real Big Game is - back home."' MICHIGAN beat Ohio State, 9- 3, that year, but the Harbaughs were not around to enjoy the feeling. Saturday in Columbus, however, Jim Harbaugh will get his chance to prove himself in the real "Big Game." "Since I was little I wanted the chance to play in the big game, to be able to test yourself," said Harbaugh, Michigan's all-time leading passer with 4,891 yards on 346 completions. "To be in a situation where every play is vital, it's always interesting to see how you'll respond." In his last two seasons Harbaugh has responded particularly well in pressure situations. His 77-yard touchdown pass to John Kolesar secured a Michigan victory in last year's "Big Game," and despite losing to Minnesota, 20-17, last week, Harbaugh completed two critical throws to Greg McMurtry in the Wolverines' game-tying final drive. BUT NONE of Harbaugh's past accomplishments matter to him, not this week anyway. "I remember every play from last year's (OSU game)... exactly what I was thinking. But that game is in the past. Nothing is older than yesterday's success. People will only remember (what happens) Saturday when this season's over." Schembechler will remember the best passer in Michigan history for a long time. With a 163.0 efficiency rating, Harbaugh has made Michigan'look like a passing team this year, despite running no more passing plays than Wolverine teams of past years. "I don't promote anybody until they've done something, and (Harbaugh's) done it," said Schembechler. "There's nobody else I'd rather have running my team." And nobody else wants to run it as much as Harbaugh. 4. Doily Photo by SCOTT LITUCHY Michigan quarterback Jim Harbaugh has always dreamed of playing Ohio State for a bid to the Rose Bowl. Saturday Harbaugh will get that chance in Columbus. ,Prep cager Higgins rejects 'M' for UCLA ar JDID YOU KNOW That you can enjoy the FRESHEST, TASTIEST food at a 20% DISCOUNT? 1 YOU CAN AT EATOS BURRITOS! Just present your student I.D. card. No coupon necessary! Tally Hall (Across from Nectarine Ballroom) 515 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor Dine in or carry out * 665.1116 R, a M4 I pR By SCOTT G. MILLER Sean Higgins, one of the top high school basketball players in the nation, announced at a press conference yesterday he would attend UCLA. The Los Angeles native had narrowed his choices to Michigan and the Bruins. "We are extremely excited Sean has chosen to become part of our program," said UCLA coach Walt Hazzard. "He is without a doubt one of the best players in the country. And combined with Gerald Madkins and Kevin JWilliams, Sean gives us an outstanding future at UCLA." MICHIGAN head coach Bill Frieder was unavailable for replace senior Reggie Miller. Higgins averaged 25.9 points, eight rebounds, and three assists per game last year in high school. The 6-9 forward hit 59.9 percent from the floor and 94.9 percent from the free throw line. On Monday, Michigan signed Chris Seter of Brookfield, Wis. Seter scored 12.5 points and 12 rebounds a contest for Brookfield Central. The 6-9 center-forward is the only player the Wolverines have signed during the early November signing period. Today is the last day for recruits to sign before the spring. Michigan is not expected to land any more recruits until the next signing period. ' ~ comment. Hazzard will look to Higgins to GRIDDE At Sunday's Big Ten Basketball Media Conference, new Ohio State head coach Gary Williams said 80 players showed up last month for an open tryout. "The first thing I did was cut all the guys who wore black socks." If you're not into black socks, turn in your picks by :midnight Friday to win a free pizza from Pizza Bob's. 1. MICHIGAN at Ohio State (pick total points) 2. Wisconsin at Michigan State 3. Northwestern at Illinois 4. Indiana at Purdue PICKS 5. Iowa at Minnesota 6. Washington at Washington State 7. Pitt at Penn State 8. Syracuse at W. Virginia 9. Yale at Harvard 10. Notre Dame at LSU 11. S. Carolina at Clemson 12. Oklahoma at Nebraska 13. Arkansas at SMU 14. Texas at Baylor 15. Arizona St. at Arizona, 16. Oregon at Oregon State 17. USC at UCLA 18. Stanford at California 19. Penn at Cornell 20. DAILY LIBELS at Ohio State Lanterns ON SALE! 1M 0