I Women's Volleyball vs. Illinois Tonight, 7:30 p.m. IM Building SPORTS Thursday, November 19, 1987 Hockey vs. Western Michigan Tomorrow, 7:30 p.m. Yost Ice Arena Page 9 The Michigan Daily Under control leer Copeland gains new confidence By JULIE HOLLMAN Although hockey players sometimes appear to race around the rink with recklessness and misdirection, Todd Copeland is one player who skates through life in control of his actions and environment. Whether it is on the ice, in his apartment, or in his decision-making processes, Copeland strives to take command. When he is on the ice, the Michigan defenseman steps into a confident and vocal role in trying to guide his teammates. "He talks a lot out there," said teammate Alex Roberts. "He likes to tell you what to do. He likes to take charge." The certainty the Wellesley, Mass. native demonstrates while playing hockey is a new found benefit to his game. "HE'S IMPROVED since last year in that he gained experience and confidence. He has a little more presence," said head coach Red Berenson. "I look at him to become a key young defenseman." But Copeland did not gain this heightened self- assurance by accident. He developed it during the summer when he participated in the Olympic Sports Festival in North Carolina. After a strong performance at the North Carolina camp, Copeland was one of 30 players selected to try out for the Olympic team in Lake Placid. Although he was dismissed in the last cut, Copeland appreciates the opportunity he received to play with some of the best amateurs in the country. "I knew I was going to be cut because I knew what I was up against," said Copeland. "But I played really well and it was a great experience. I was very proud of that." This past summer was not the first time Copeland played on an Olympic-related team nor was it supposed to be the last. Last Christmas he competed on the U.S. Junior National team. During the tournament in Czechoslovakia, Copeland collected a goal and two assists. The Junior team again invited Copeland to play over this coming Christmas. COPELAND TURNED down the National team to stay with Michigan during its Christmas tournament, demonstrating his control over what he wants and what's best for him. By remaining with the Wolverines over break, Copeland will give up personal stardom and the opportunity to be a key contributor for the Junior team. "It was a tough decision," he said. "But the thing was, I didn't see that I was going to gain more from one or the other, so I had to go with my stronger feelings toward my school. I think this team can go some where and I want to be a part of it." His choice to play in a maize and blue jersey over Christmas is not the first time Copeland has stunned people with an unorthodox decision. As a highly touted high school player from the East, hockey recruiters expected him to stay in the Boston area, the home of several high-powered programs. His choices narrowed down to Harvard, Boston University, and Michigan. Coming from Belmount Hill High School with a graduating class of 60 in which close to 10 go to Harvard and half go to Ivy League schools, the pressures on Copeland to stay in that academic environment were great. However, Copeland wanted to be different. "THE WORST thing I did was take a visit out (to Michigan) because I liked it," he said. "I knew I wanted to live in New England later in my life, so for four years I wanted a change." "I was surprised but happy to learn that Todd was coming to Michigan," said Berenson. "I knew though, that when he makes a decision, he's mentally tough enough to stand by it." After making such an unusual decision and after having his name tossed around for the Olympic team, Copeland entered his first year with a lofty reputation and hefty pressures. But Copeland has a firm grip on his situation and the progression of his game. "I knew coming in that I would get a lot of attention and that it really .wouldn't show that I deserved it," he said. "But I think I've handled the pressure. I know, though, that I have to improve. I'm not happy with my total game yet." COPELAND ALSO has a hold on his goals for the future. As a second-round NHL draft pick of the New Jersey Devils, Copeland is sure he wants to take a shot at professional hockey. But if that does not work out, he would like to go into business as a stock broker. Copeland's business inclinations started as a child when he displayed the talents of a shrewd businessman. "I've always been a numbers kind of a guy," he said. "Whenever we had raffles as little kids, I always sold the most candy bars. I sent out letters to all my father's friends asking them to by tickets." Selling raffles is not the only hard work Copeland has done. He has worked hard at the rink and in school to get where his is now. "Everything gels together best when I'm working hard at school," he said. "When you learn to budget your time and you have control over your routine, I think the hockey comes out on top." Dolly Photo by JOHN MUNSON Michigan defenseman Todd Copeland rushes up the ice under the watchful eye of Michigan State's Don Gib- son. THE SPORTING VIEWS Columbia... ann Icounting By MICHAEL SALINSKY ITHICA, N.Y. - Home, away, hot, cold, wet, dry - Columbia's football team has lost 'em all... for almost four full seasons now. The Lions fell to a slumping Cornell squad Saturday, 31-20, in a game that was not nearly as close as the score indicates. The loss extended Columbia's major college record losing streak to 40 games. But surely this team must consist of proud student athletes, capable of playing a decent football game despite always falling short. Although the Lions, competing with Ivy League students, without the benefit of preferential treatment, fit the "student" part of the bill, there was little indication Saturday of much athletic prowess. COLUMBIA ATHLETIC director Al Paul says that there is an "albatross" around the neck of the football program. Saturday in Ithaca, the Lions played like each player was carrying'around his own albatross. The running game was non-existent, the passing game was pathetic save for a few prayer passes, and the special teams were often humorous - or sad depending on your point of view. Two Saturdays ago, THE STREAK almost ended against Dartmouth. Ironically, Columbia which boasts a proud soccer tradition, lost the game on a missed 36-yard field goal by all-Ivy League soccer player, Kurt Dasbach, with 19 seconds remaining in the game. A long history of futility, capped by 16 consecutive losing seasons and now, THE STREAK, have prompted some to call for drastic measures. Peter Alfano, of the New York Times, recently urged the school to consider a move to Division II or III. THE LIONS HAVE failed among their peers, 0 0 .rtF L/EA argued Alfano, "There are no Michigans on their schedule. "If success is a worthy goal in the classroom," Alfano said, "then why not try to succeed in athletics as well?" This argument is twice faulty. First, someone has to lose. If all sub-par teams started dropping to lower divisions, the upper divisions would soon be empty. Second, you do not succeed in the classroom by dropping into easier classes; you try harder in the ones you're in. Columbia will get better. They can't get any worse. The Lions should stick it out where they are in the spirit of competitiveness and in respect of tradition. In the meantime, here are three reasons the Lions should hold their heads high. 1) THE COLUMBIA freshmen team finished the season at 6-0 with a 14-13 victory over Cornell. 2) Columbia gridders live and practice in New York City. Division rivals toil away in cultural centers like East Hanover, New Haven and Ithaca. Traditional football powers must live in places like Lincoln, Nebraska; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; and Columbus, Ohio. 3) The Lions appear to be more students than athletes as compared with other football teams, but maybe that's the way it should be. At Michigan we deride other schools that openly flaunt NCAA rules but rarely question whether, even when following the rules, our football team is more "professionalized" than a team representing a fine university should be. Sure winning is a noble goal but it is not everything. And the fact that student-athletes represent their college, first and foremost, suggests that they should be students first and athletes second. The principles that winning isn't everything and that student-athletes should be students first are exemplified by no team better than Columbia. STEVE MARTIN JOHN CANDY PLANES,IRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES What he really wanted was to spend Thanksgiving with his family. What he got was three days with the turkey. NL ump dies LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) - Dick Stello, a National League umpire since 1968, was crushed to death yesterday when the two cars he was standing between were hit by another car, the Florida Highway Patrol said. Stello, 53, of Pinellas Park and Benjamin Suddarth, 48, of Seminole were talking between their parked cars when the vehicles were rear- ended along two-lane State Road 33 north of this Central Florida town, the FHP said. Stello was killed instantly. The third car was driven by James Guynn, 69, of Polk City, said an FHP duty officer who refused to give her name. Stello was the first-base umpire in this summer's All-Star Game. He worked his first N.L. game in September 1968 and joined the league's regular staff in April 1969. To D or not to D2? ULRICHS SPECIAL DEALS MODEL D 8M hz 8088-11 512K RAM Dual Disk Mono Monitor CGA/HGC Adaptors $87495 MODEL D2 10M hz 80286 1.2M Drive 640K RAM EGA Mono Monitor 40M Harddisk $1 8695 PARAMOUNT PICTURES PRESENTS A JOHN HUGHES FILM PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES Musi e byIR A NFWRORN Fecti ePrdcers MICHIAFI CHINICH ad NFII MACHI IS *** * * i s