Men's Swimming vs. Wisconsin Friday, 4 p.m. Canham Natatorium SPORTS Hockey vs. Ohio State Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Yost Ice Arena The Michigan Daily Punter Bracken part of the Pack t Wednesday, November 16, 1988 Page 7 Blue to c ready BY DAVID FELDMAN When Green Bay Packers punter Don Bracken was cut from the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League in 1984 because of an injured knee, he could have resigned himself to the idea that punting footballs was not meant to be his livelihood. He didn't. Instead, he took the experience as a lesson in the difference between the game of college football and the business of professional football. Bracken felt the stinging difference again when he was cut by the Kansas City Chiefs in training camp and by the Houston Oilers in midseason. "In the pros, the pressure is quite a bit more than in college," Bracken said. "In college, if you had a bad Alumni Updat day, they weren't going to kick you out and take away your scholarship." , BRACKEN persevered, how- ever. And now, as the punter for the Green Bay Packers, things are beginning to remind him of his Michigan days, at least to a degree. Bracken is again part of a team with a great football tradition. He anchors a solid special teams corps, and still contends with far-from- perfect weather conditions. - The only difference that remains is the team's performance. At 2-9, the Packers are tied with the Detroit Lions for last place in the NFC Central. But Bracken is happy just to* be in the NFL. "You've got to be lucky, in the fight place at the right time," he said. "As a punter, there are only 28 jobs available. You have to come in and make the team every year. Even once you've proven yourself, you can't just lay a big egg in training camp." Last month's release of Packers placekicker Max Zendejas reminded Bracken once again that job security is not part of being a kicker or punter in the NFL. "It's tough when your friends get released," Bracken said. "During practice, when you're having prob- lems, the punter and kicker help each other out. You develop friendships." NOW THAT his own injuries and releases are in the past, Bracken can finally begin to settle down and try to meet the lofty expectations he sets for himself. He averages 39.3 yards per punt, eleventh best in the NFC. "I don't think you ever do as well as you can. You always think you could do a little better," Bracken said. "Every season, I come in and set goals. It's unrealistic to want to lead the NFC every year, especially in Green Bay; it gets so cold. It's still a goal I'd like to achieve, though." Packers special teams coach Howard Tippett agrees that Bracken could be a top punter, even in frigid Green Bay. "He's got that potential. As you know at Michigan, sometimes stats can be deceiving in bad weather. Don can adjust to the elements. But if he were kicking in a dome, his stats would be even better," Tippett said. Bracken's main focus is not on his own accomplishments, but on his team's. His fondest memory is being part of Michigan's 1981 Rose Bowl champion squad and kicking a Rose Bowl record 73-yard punt. "The first thing Michigan said to me was that I could be playing in the Rose Bowl. That was a dream I always had, and to go in there and break a record - that was great. "Now I want to make it to the Super Bowl," he said. "At this point, we're rebuilding our confidence. We've just got to keep our heads up and keep going. We're getting better every week. The Packers are coming." impact YUGO-slays BY DOUG VOLAN Michigan's non-conference bask- etball schedule may be weak, but it certainly doesn't lack variety. The Wolverines open up the season tonight against the Yugo- slavian national team. Tip-off at Crisler Arena is at 7:30. Although Yugoslavia won the silver medal at the Olympics in Seoul last month, Michigan coach Bill Frieder remains unconcerned. "I don't give a damn if we beat them or not," he said. "It doesn't; count in the record or anything, so we're not really that worried about them." FRIEDER does admit, however, that this contest will be a good early- season test for his squad. "I don't know anything about them, and I don't know how to pronounce their names, but they're, pretty good," Frieder said. Yugoslavia is a physical team with several quality post-up players. This will help Michigan's front line prepare for the always-rough Big Ten. League play starts in January. "It will be a good test for Terry (Mills), Loy (Vaught), and myself," senior center Mark Hughes said. "To play against guys of that caliber - big guys and older guys - will definitely help us." The last time Michigan played Yugoslavia, in 1985, Michigan forwards Richard Rellford and Butch Wade felt that the Yugoslavians were a bit too physical for their tastes, and punches were thrown. Michigan guard Rumeal Robinson does not feel that there will be any fisticuffs this time, but was careful to point out that "it's a different game if the refs let it get real physical." THIS GAME is also important for the Wolverines because it may answer some of the questions at guard, where Robinson has yet to find a running mate. Several players, including Sean Higgins, Mike Griffin, Kirk Taylor, and Demetrius Calip, all figure to see action there. Higgins is the favorite to start-at off guard, despite the fact that Frieder insists he's a better forward. Higgins, however, disagrees. "I don't think small forward is my best position. Off guard is my best position and it's hard for a guy to come two thousand miles away from home and not start." Whoever starts at off guard will certainly get a good workout, as tie Wolverines plan to run against their European counterparts. "They have a really big team, so we're going to run on them,' Robinson said. "I don't think that they've got the basketball players: to keep up with us." Former Michigan punter Don Bracken has found a home away from home in Green Bay. He is 11th in the NFC in punting, averaging 39.3 yards per punt. Gibson named MVP NEW YORK (AP) - Kirk Gibson who inspired the Los Angeles Dodgers in the clubhouse and carried them at the plate, was named the National League Most Valuable Player on Tuesday. Gibson drove in only 76 runs, the fewest RBIs by an MVP since Pete Rose in 1973, but did enough to finish comfortably ahead of Darryl Strawberry of the New York Mets. Orel Hershisher, the playoff and World Series MVP, finished a distant sixth. Gibson got 13 first-place votes and finished with 272 points. Strawberry had seven first-place votes and 236, followed by Kevin McReynolds of the Mets with the other four first-place votes and 162. Pittsburgh's Andy Van Slyke got 160 points. San Francisco's Will Clark got 135 and Hershiser got 111 points. A - WHAT'S HAPPENING ROSE BOWL Leave Dec. 30 or 31, Return Jan. 3 or 4 Round Trip Airfare Detroit-Los Angeles $288 rates vary from $288 to $348 Call: 1-800-482-3694 Don't Spend another Boring Summer working for your uncle Phil! When you look back on Summer'89, what will you remember? An office job? Summer School? Or a summer filled with sunshine, creative expression, good friends and a chance to help campers discover what it means to be Jewish? Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute, a Reform Jewish camp in Ocono- mowoc, Wisconsin, is looking for staff to fill the following positions: Waterfront Staff, Songleaders, Counselors, Nurses, and Drivers. Specialists in: Art, Music, Dance, Media, and Photography. A camp representative will be interviewing on your campus: Date: Sunday, November 20 Time:3:00-7:30 pm Place: Hillel, 1429 Hill Street For more information, contact Hillel, 769-0500, or Jerry, Kaye, Director, OSRUI/100 W. Monroe St., Chicago, IL. 60603 / (312) 782-147 OLIN-SANG-RUBY UNION INSTITUTE JOSTENS GOLD RING SALE IS COMING! ELLIOTT or collect, 851-3900 30000 Orchard Lake Rd. Farmington Hills, MI 48018 Travel & Tours, Inc. RECREATIONAL SPORTS THE INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM PRESENTS THE 4TH ANNUAL TURKEY TROT . THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1988 10:30AM UM GOLF COURSE 3 MILE RUN-WIN A TURKEY ENTRIES DUE: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1988 AT ANY OF THE RECREATIONAL SPORTS FACILITIES. 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Office of Disabled Student Services - 625 Haven Hall, 763-3000 Stop by and see a Jostens representative, Monday, Nov. 14-thru Friday, Nov. 18, 11a.m. to 4 p.m., I- t m m