Women's Tennis vs. Western Michigan TSaturday, 12 p.m. Track and Tennis Building SPORTS Women's Tennis vs. Eastern Michigan Sunday, 2 p.m. Track and Tennis Building The Michigan Daily Thursday, March 16, 1989 Page 11 Forget polls, NCAA tourney, Frieder knows who's No. 1 Adam Schrager I was going to take the job at Fordham. I flew to New York and took a cab ride to Fordham. But it wasn't Michigan. It didn't have the class Michigan has. It didn't have the people Michigan has. Michigan is the greatest.' .-Bill Frieder, For everyone who hasn't heard, Michigan basketball coach Bill Frieder has gone to a similar post at Arizona State. He took a job in the warm climate of Tempe, with a $300,000 base-salary and a fresh start, away from the media vultures that hounded him in his nine years as head coach in Ann Arbor. Can you blame him? After all, he's doing what he feels is best for himself and his family. He obviously wasn't getting along (mild terminology) with Athletic Director Bo Schembechler, while ASU Athletic Director Charles Harris and he are good friends. Frieder's appeal might be at an all-time high now as 24-7 Michigan heads into the NCAA post-season tournament. But, the Wolverines play in the tournament tomorrow. Will they win a game? Will their heads be in the game? Did Frieder think about this before he accepted the Sun Devil job? Did he think about what it would do to .his now former team, the one he recruited? The players he's close to? WORD IS that he had all of 30 minutes to decide. Thirty minutes seems like an awfully short time for such an important decision. He says he agonized over making the decision. I'm sure it was a lot easier knowing that his wife had been in Arizona the week before to look at houses. Frieder has not been well-liked by the Mich- igan fans. And with some of his actions, it wouldn't be surprising if some of his players were included in that as well. When Terry Mills had his season's best game against Ohio State earlier this year, he was es- corted into the interview room where the large media gathering clamored to ask the game's star some questions. Minutes later, Frieder, after his post-game radio show, came in and said: "All right Mills. You've played one good game in a year and a-. half. Play well some more and then you can talk to these guys more. Hit the showers." Needless to say, his tongue has often run faster than his feet. LAST YEAR at this same time, there were rumors that Texas approached Frieder about its head coaching job. Reporters printed that the Longhorns came to Frieder without talking to the Michigan Athletic Director, a cardinal sin in college athletics. In actuality, Frieder called Texas to inquire about the position and then called reporters to give them the scoop. While the team was sup- posed to be concentrating on the Tournament, their coaches' rumors persisted. "Put the blame on me," Frieder always said. This related to more than just the actual games. The "blame" for this situation does not rest solely on Frieder's shoulders for there is no apparent reason why ASU couldn't have waited until afterathe tournament to choose its coach. The team will survive its initial test if for no other reason than because they are too talented to lose. Schembechler will meet the team in Atlanta today and with his talks, he could indirectly win his first National Championship. As Frieder held his last team meeting yesterday and addressed the team for the final time, I could picture a distinct statement coming from his mouth. "Guys, you got to look out for No. I in life," he said as he pointed to himself. That's fine, Coach. But don't step on No. 2. after accepting the Michigan head coaching job on March 31, 1980 memneke ". MlnOAKsYVDISCOUNT MUFFLERS AMERICAN AND FOREIGN CAR SPECIALISTS You're Not Gonna Pay A Lot At Meineke!" MUFFLERS. FROM INSTALLED *Fits Many Domestic Cars *1 Year Nationwide Warranty *Pipes* Clamps & HangTrs Extra *NOT VALID) WITH, BRAKES PER AXLE Most Cars Light Trucks & Vans *Includes new shoes or pads, resurface drums or rotors. Repack wheel bearings and inspect entire system. Semi-metallic extra. ANY OTHER OFFERS. TI1 FLVIflC kAR&AOVbROTHrMRf It's zany and bizarre... a combination of musical madness, vaudeville and "sophisticated slapstick." These four comics sing, clown and juggle in an evening of hilarity for audiences of all ages. SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 7:00 pm $15 Adults $13.50 Student/Sr. Citizen The Macomb Center box office is at Macomb Community College's Center Campus, Hall (M-59) and Garfield Rds., Clinton Twp., one mile east of Lakeside Mall. FREE PARKING. Phone orders with VISA or MasterCard. FREE WITH ANY SERVICE Mention this ad and receive a free Meineke Safety Kit with any service. Hurry - supplies are limited. S~~t1 (313) 286-2222 a /\ MACOMB CENTER For The Performing Arts C O L L E G E M A C O M B COMMUNITY 3880 ANN ARBOR Jackson Rd. ..........930-1720 (1/4 Mile W. of Wagner, in the Autoban Village) . . I hate to leave where I grew up, when you have to move on.' but there comes a time -Frieder, accepting the Arizona State head coaching job j on March 15, 1989 Ex-Michigan basketball head coach Bill Frieder's career at Michigan (clockwise from upper left): as assistant coach, discussing game plans with ex-Michigan star Ricky Green, winning the NIT in 1984, accepting head coaching job at Arizona State. Fisher Continued from Page 1 "I hadn't thought about staff changes because it wasn't an issue," Schembechler said. "But we're going to get as fine a basketball coach here as we can get." Schembechler refused to speculate on possible replacements, but the names of Evansville coach Jim Crews, Xavier coach Pete Gillen, and Indiana assistant Ron Felling have been mentioned. Former Michigan standout Cazzie Russell's name has also surfaced, but the fact that he never graduated may weigh against him. "I haven't discussed with Jack what we're going to do. But in my judgement, this is the best basketball coaching job in America," Schembechler said. The two top priorities, according to Schembechler are "honesty and integrity. The guy also will also have to have some impact on the guys who play for him. This program is going to be run according to the rules, and if it is not run that way, we'll have to make a change. "I'LL TAKE an active role, I have to," Schembechler continued. "I've hired coaches before, I know how to go about it. ...But I resent having to do this when I should be coaching spring football." A replacement is not expected to be named until after the NCAA tournament. But in the meantime, the job is clearly Fisher's. would be enhanced if we win an NCAA championship." Terry Mills summed up the players' reactions, saying: "All the veteran players have to come together and play really hard." Hughes and Fisher both said Michigan had a "good" practice before departing for Atlanta. Schembechler gave the squad a pep talk, and made plans to fly this morning to Atlanta to be with the team. "Bo said to get really focused and realize our job at hand. He told us we had to go out and work hard," Hughes said. Schembechler added, "What I told them- and what I would like to see happen is them zeroing in on this tournament. What they need to do is go to Atlanta and play ball. They are too good a team to get distracted by this." ST. PAT'S DAY SPE CIA L GREEN SCHNAPPS & GREEN BEER FREE T-SHIRTS FIRST FIFTY PEOPLE HERE! 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