if 7 9. V w _W w IW P R E V I EW Arizona St. finally earns its place in the sun By Barb McQuade THE WORDS PAINTED in the home team's endzone Jan. 1 will be unfamiliar to the groundskeepers at the Rose Bowl. Thp letters A-R-I- Z-O-N-A S-T-A-T-E have never before been spelled out on the Pasadena turf. The Sun Devils (9-1-1) earned their first-ever appearance in the New Year's Day classic after winning the PAC-10 champion- ship, their first since joining the conference in 1978. The berth may come as a surprise to Bowl watchers used to UCLA, USC, and Washington taking turns in the granddaddy. But the Devils are no weak sister. "They're a powerful team," said Michigan head coach Bo Schembechler, who will be appearing in his eighth Rose Bowl. "A great defensive ball club and a great all-around team." Bo's accolades should come as no surprise to the seventh-ranked Sun Devils, who bear a striking resemblence to the No. 4 Wol- verines. Both are proven offensive teams who toss out balanced running and passing attacks. And both have defenses that can be crippling. ASU outscored its opponents on average this year 33-14. Michigan bettered its rivals 31-16. Offensive numbers are almost equal. Arizona State gained 210 yards per game rushing, 196 yards passing, while .Michigan collected 207 yards rushing, 227 yards passing. Even the Wolverines' proudest statistic, third-quarter scoring nargin, is fairly comparable on the Sun Devil stat sheet. Michigan has outscored its opponents in that period 99-22. ASU, 73-24. But while the Wolverines are perennial contenders for a trip to the Rose Bowl, Arizona State has just blossomed into a national power, eight years after jumping from the Western Athletic Conference to the big time. ASU made believers of its PAC- 10 rivals this season when it survived the middle part of its schedule. Three straight road trips, including games with UCLA and USC, were sandwiched in the middle of seven home contests. The Sun Devils won all three. Only a 21-21 tie with Washington State marred its record before the last game of the season. "After we got through our three road games, that was a big lift for us," said ASU quarterback Jeff Van Raaphorst. "We hoped to come out of that road trip 2-1, and all of a sudden we come out 3-0. We felt we were sitting real pretty. After that, we just kept playing hot." Until it reached the heat of Tucson. There, the Sun Devils couldn't escape the fire, and fell to Arizona 34-17 for their 'only loss. ASU's success this season is no fluke. In 1985, head coach John Cooper came close to copping a title in his first year with the team. But he was robbed in the last game of the season. Arizona recovered a Van Raaphorst fumble with 1:43 remaining and kicked a field goal to win it, sending UCLA to the Rose Bowl. This year, Cooper brought back 15 starters from the1985 squad, including four on the offensive line. The newcomer is Jim Warne, a 6-7, 300-pound strong tackle who has filled in - and filled out -nicely. The senior weighed in at a scant 267 last year. The rest of the Sun Devils' line comes close to measuring up to Warne. Quick tackle Danny Villa, 6-6, 293, strong guard Todd Kalis, 6-6, 267, quick guard Randall McDaniel, 6-4, 257, and center Kevin Thomas, 6-3, 262, make the ASU offense go. How big is this offensive line? Bigger than Michi- gan's, which is no small accom- plishment. "We aren't very deep at the position," Cooper said, "but the first five are very solid." As the proverbial rock. The strength of the offensive line carries over to the Sun Devil running attack. Tailback Darryl Harris gets the bulk of the backfield work. The junior collected 84.8 yards per game. Arizona State's passing game holds perhaps the closest parallel to Michigan. Both teams go to the air 20 to 25 times a game. Van Raaphorst has been compared to Wolverine quarterback Jim Har- baugh as a cool, controlled leader. Nothing flashy, but big play potential. Defensively, the Sun Devils mirror the Wolverines' stinginess. ASU allowed 1,291 yards rushing, compared to the 1,267 Michigan yielded. Cooper's team gave up 2,022 yards passing to the Wolverines' 1,962. "We don't have a lot of great defensive players," Cooper said, "but we have a lot of good ones." If the Sun Devils sound like they belong in the Big Ten, it's because of who recruited them. Most of the players were wooed to Continued on Page that's what. Both teams have struggled with inconsistent play. The Volunteers have won their last three games to get to 5-5. The Gophers went from a 0-63 dubbing from Oklahoma, to a 20-17 upset over No. 2 Michigan. The Gophers bring in the Big Ten's best rusher (Darrell Thompson 1240 yds.), and best rushing defense at 159 yds. per game. The Volunteers are carried by Fullback William Howard (629 yds. and 12 TDs), and Kelly Ziegler with 92 tackles. With two nearly .500 teams, the Liberty Bowl celebrates the epitome of mediocrity in college football. -Walter Kopf Holiday Bowl Teams: Iowa, San Diego State Place: San Diego, Calif. Date: Dec. 30 The Big Ten's Iowa and WAC champ San Diego St. come together this year to spread good tidings and cheer --and to beat the crap out of each other at the Holiday Bowl, which can be seen Dec. 30. Iowa's Hawkeyes, who are still spitting up roses after a blasting by UCLA last year in the Rose Bowl, site quarterback Mark Vlasic, and runningback Rick Bayless as their generals of the Holiday battle. Denny Stoltz is the new kid on the block for the Aztecs. le coached MSU from 1973- 75, if that means anything. Stoltz will build his line around all-WAC guard Doug Aronson. -Shelly Ilaselhuhn Bluebonnet Bowl Teams: Colorado, Baylor Place: Houston, Texas Date: Dec. 31 At 6-5, Colorado would seem to be out of the college bowl picture, but this is not the case. Bill McCartney's Buffaloes finished an astounding 2nd in the Big Eight with a 6- 1 conference. The Buffalo wishbone offense is led by quarterback Mark Hatcher and halfback O.C. Oliver. Oliver, who came on late in the year, set the record for freshman rushing yardage at CU. The defense, solid against the rush, is led by senior linebacker Barry Remington and junior safety Mickey Pruitt. Baylor is coming into this bowl looking for their second straight 9-3 season. The Bears possess one of the most potent offensive weapons in college football in quarterback Cody Carlson. Eight starters returned on a defense that held high-scoring Louisiana State to only 7 points in last year's Liberty Bowl. -Adam Schrager Peach Bowl Teams: North Carolina State, Virginia Tech Place: Atlanta, Ga. Date: Dec. 31 For a team whose best record in the last four years was 3-8, the North Carolina State Wolfpack have competed a 180-degree turn with their present season. The Wolfpack are led by All-ACC quarterback Eric Kramer, who piled up 2171 yards of total offense, 2092 of them through the air. Dick Sheridan's Wolfpack features Mike Cofer and Kelly Hollodick, the best kicker-punter combination in the country. Bill Dooley's Virginia Tech team was definitely one of the surprises in the nation this year. The Hokies finished the year at 8-2- 1. They contain an explosive offense that can strike from either the ground or the air. On defense, junior free safety Carter Wiley is a potential All-American candidate. In five out of Tech's eight wins, kicker Chris Kinzer has provided the winning margin. -Adam Schrager All-American Bowl Teams: Indiana, Florida State Place: Birmingham, Ala. Date: Dec. 31 No, this is not a misprint. Yes, it is the same 6-5 Indiana team that had five losses including one to Purdue and a blowout at the hands of Michigan. Not only that, but those six wins came against the likes of Louisville, Northwestem, and Wisconsin. On offense, they are led by running back Anthony Thompson. The freshman has had four 100+ yard games, including 207 yards against Wisconsin. He ended the season with 679 yards. The defense includes the Big Ten's leading sacker, Van Waiters (14), a 6-4 senior from Coral Gables, Fla. It is hard to decide whether Florida State (6-3-1) is a good or average football team. Their three losses were to Nebraska, Michigan, and Miami, nothing to be ashamed of. But like Indiana, they beat powerhouses like Tulane, Wichita State, and Louisville. The offense features quarterback Danny McManus, who completed 60 of 97 pass attempts for 824 yards and seven touchdowns. The defense is led by All-American candidate Paul McGowan. The 6-1 linebacker has 110 tackles this year. -Adam Schefier Florida Citrus Bowl Teams: Auburn, USC Place: Orlando, Fla. Date: Jan. 1 Once again, the Auburn Tigers have made it to a post-season bowl game. Coach Pat Dye brings in Aubumn with its perennial superb rushing attack, but this year's Tigers also have a passing attack. Quarterback Jeff Burger has proven himself to be a fine passer as he has thrown for over 1,700 yards and 9 touchdowns this seasor is favorite target is wide receiver wye l'illman (35 catches, 730 yards, 6 nhe defense is led by inside linebacker Kurt Crain who has over 140 tackles and 2 interceptions. The Trojans are led by sophomore quarterback Rodney Peete, who completed 55% of his passes this season for 2025 yards and 10 touchdowns. Wide receiver Ken Henry has caught 43 passes for 805 yards and 7 touchdowns and has been the main deep threat for the Trojans. The key to this year's USC team, though, is the defense., led by senior All- American strong safety Tim McDonald. Sugar Bowl Teams: Nebraska, Louisiana State Place: New Orleans, La. Date: Jan. 1 This New Year's Day game has the LSU Tigers (9-2), champions of the Southeast Conference, lining up against the Nebraska Comhuskers(9-2). The Comnhuskers, who finished an uncharacteristic third in the Big Eight behind Oklahoma and Colorado, still managed to receive an invitation to a major bowl. Playing this season without the injured Doug DuBose, Nebraska has had to rely on sophomore quarterback Steve Taylornand DuBose's replacement, tailback Keith Jones. The Tigers, whose only losses have come, surprisingly, to Miami (Oh.) and Mississippi, build their attack around All- American wide receiver Wendell Davis. In addition, redshirt freshman Tommy Hodson and tailback Harvey Williams provide offensive firepower. Nose guard Henry Thomas anchors a stingy defense. LSU is returning to the Sugar Bowl for the first time since losing the 1985 game to these very same Comhuskers, 28-10. -Jim Downey Cotton Bowl Teams: Ohio State, Texas A&M Place: Dallas, Texas Date: Jan. 1 The 13th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (9- 2) feel miserable about being in the 51st annual Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Who wouldn't be happier smelling roses than picking cotton? The 9th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies are elated. For the Bucks, it will be their first appearance in the Cotton Bowl and the first for any Big 10 team. The Aggies return for their second consecutive appearance to go along with their back-to-back SWC championships. If the Aggies hope to win, they'll need to contain the explosive Karsatos-Carter connection. Junior wide receiver Cris Carter has the big-play ability to blow the game wide-open. The Aggies have their own dynamic duo in junior quarterback Kevin Murray and wide receiver Shea Walker who the OSU secondary will need to watch. Murray was the SWC Offensive Player of the Year in '85. Texas A&M also has the SWC rushing champion on their side with senior Roger Vick. However, Vick will face a formidable wall in the Bucks Lombardi award nominee, junior linebacker Chris Spielman. -Chris Gordillo The Razorbacks are coming off a 41-0, drubbing of Southern Methodist in which quarterback Greg Thomas rushed for three touchdowns. Head coach Ken Hatfield has rebuilt a defense, which lost seven starters, around All-SWC noseguard Tony Cherico. - Scott Shaffer FiestaBowl Teams: Miami (Fla.), Penn State Place: Tempe, Ariz. Date: Jan. 2 This year, the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz. grabbed No. 1 Miami and No. 2 Penn State to have its national championship wrapped up and ribboned. ton Fie com priz pota in is a defe eye thei taill yard fora sche DER ?10011 nJ s y L 1 Orange Bowl Teams: Oklahoma, Arkansas Place: Miami, Fla. Date: Jan. 1 Oklahoma (10-1) will make its third straight trip to the Orange Bowl. The Big Eight champions will take on Arkansas (9-2) in the New Year's day matchup. Oklahoma was the preseason favorite for the mythical national championship. Brian Bosworthitheir flamboyant linebacker, posed for SportsIllustrated's cover. The Sooners seemed destined for the top spot. But alas, the Sooners lost their number one ranking to Miami on September 27 when they lost to the Hurricanes 28-16. Barry Switzer's team can now only hope for second- best. Oklahoma's offense is run by quarterback Jamelle Holieway from the wishbone formation. They rarely pass, but the Sooners proved they were capable of airing it out in a comeback win against Nebraska. Experience Ann Arbor's newest Night Club & Lounge 2 You maybe a cometh the tit] Market Coffee Yes, it's true, I adventures, this bound. A Flight Attendant rounds, and was su Ramona, drinking a from the Corner Mt WEEKEND/JOHN MUNSON Fullback Bob Perryman (above) and tailback Jamie Morris (left) hope to break through Arizona State's defense the way they did against opponents in the regular season. Michigan racked up 207 yards a. game rushing in 1986. My thermos never leav< should yours. Just buy pound and brew a fresh / When a person is as wor titles carry mucho import your coffee is from the C that Ramona sends her lc Like I always say--If you Corner Market lately, ho been to market! in the new Holiday Inn West Happy Hour Monday-Friday 4pm -8pm Live Entertainment Nightly featuring: THE RAINBOW GROUP Proper Dress & ID Required (21& older) 2900 JACKSON ROAD Weekdays 7:30am-12 midn Weekends 12 noon-7pm Michigan Union, ground f WEEKEND/SCOTT LITUCHY PAGE 4 WEEKEND/DECEMBER 5, 1986 WEEKEND/DECEMBER 5, 1986