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BY STEVE BLONDER
With the talent the Wolverines
have in their backfield, the only
question is whether there are enough
footballs to go around.
Set at fullback is Jarrod Bunch.
The 240-pound junior started six
games last year, and is a powerful
straight-ahead runner.
"He demonstrated in the spring
that he's ready to do more than block
for; the other guys, Michigan coach
Bo Schembecher said. "He is our
most reliable back.
"He is pretty much underrated
Returning trio leads ground attack
because (Leroy) Hoard and (Tony)
Boles get all of the opportunities."
Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz
added: "The Michigan backfield has
three of the finest runners in the
country. They run well, block well,
and do everything well."
Schembechler has a choice to
make at tailback, where he returns
Rose Bowl MVP Hoard and
Heisman trophy candidate Boles.
Assistant coach Gary Moeller
said earlier this week that Hoard
would probably start, but that the
two would both play extensively.
"At tailback we've got a lot of
guys to run the football,"
Schembechler said. "I don't consider
it a plush position when you don't
have a guy who's dominant. The
tailback position is up in the air at
ING :S
Michigan.
"I'm going to give the absolute
best back we have the tailback
position."
Both runners have different
styles, as Boles is a "skillful runner
who can make you miss," whereas
Hoard is a straight-ahead power
runner who explodes past opposing
defenders.
Boles racked up 1408 yards on
262 carries, and Hoard added 752
yards on 130 carries, including 128
yards on seven carries (including.
three touchdowns) against Indiana.
"It doesn't matter which one we
block for," said offensive tackle Greg
Skrepanek. "Each running back has a
different style, and there is just a lot
of talent back there."
Also lookiig to make a
contribution isstailback Allen
Jefferson, who has missed much of
the last few seasons with injuries.
During the off-season, doctors
successfully removed a calcification
from his leg and Schembechler put
his chances of returning at 75-25.
But Schembechler said Jefferson has
not yet worked his way back into
playing shape.
"Jefferson has a great thirst to
play," Schembechler said. "I was
excited when I saw that calcification
we took out of his leg."
In addition to the four returning
juniors are frosh Mike Nadlicki and
Bernie Liggett, who should see time
in relief of Bunch.
Tracy Williams, who coughed the
ball up in a crucial goal-line series
against Iowa last year, did not return
for his senior season.
Possibly expected to see some
playing time is redshirt frosh Jon
Vaughn, who is one of the fastest
Wolverines.
BY STEVE BLONDER
While Michigan averages nearly
300 pounds per man on the offensive
line, the defensive line is known
more for its mobility and quickness.
Unlike the rest of the defense, the
line has several holes to fill, which
has resulted in some players with
litttle or no experience getting the
nod.
The Wolverines will miss All-
American defensive tackle Mark
Messner, who left Ann Arbor for the
bright lights of Los Angeles. Also
gone is senior John Herrmann who is
out of football after ungoing his third
operation within a few months.
Michigan coach Bo Schembechler
said Herrmann had two back
operations before having Twenty
percent of his stomach removed for a
perforated ulcer.
"He would have been a starting
defensive tackle," Schembechler said.
Also gone is projected starter
Warde Manuel after a neck injury
ended his Wolverine career.
"We're just a no-name defensive
line now," middle guard T.J. Osman
said. "But we willfly around and
make the needed plays."
Brent White, who started nine
games last season and racked up 31
tackles and three sacks, will be called
on to apply a lot of heat.
"Brent White will be a big sack
man for us," Schembechler said. "He
had a good spring and he'll try and
offset the loss of Messner."
Starting at the other tackle spot
will be redshirt frosh Chris
Hutchinson.
"I like this kid Hutchinson a lot,"
DFENSIVEIj
D~o
Schembechler has repeated at every
opportunity. "If I put number 60 on
him and ran him out there, you'd
think it was Messner.
"He really knows how to play
blocks."
Also expected to receive
significant playing time is
sophomore Mike Evans. But
Schembechler said Evans still had "to
learn the game better."
TOTAL OFFENSE
G Plays Yds.
IND 12 910 5253
10WA 13 965 5493
MICH 12 '848 k462
MSU 12 803 4376
ILL 12 832 4265
OSU 11 727 3712
NU 11 763 3553
MINN 11 717 3280
WIS 11 781 2918
PUR 11 697 2679
Avg. TD Yds./Ga.
5.8 48 437.8
5.7 39 422.5
5.5 29 364.7
5.1 29 355.4
5.1 22 337.5
4.7 24 323.0
4.6 23 298.2
3.7 9 265.3
3.8 15 243.6
TOTAL DEFENSE
G Plays Yds. Avg. TD
MICH 12 '.,739, 3506 4.7 17
MSU 12 802 3616 4.5 17
ILL 12 850 3732 4.4 28
IOWA 13 912 4290 4.7 26
IND 12 811 4172 5.1 29
MINN 11 784 4192 5.3 27
OSU 11 783 4238 5.4 33
PUR 11 827 4285 5.2 34
WIS 11 789 4301 5.5 33
NU 11 745 4566 6.1 46
Yds./Ga.
292.2
301.3
311.0
330.0
347.7
381.1
385.3
389.5
391.0
415.1
1988
FINAL
RUSHING
STATS
A. THOMPSON,IND
T. BOLES, MICH
B. EZOR, MSU
K. Jones, ILL
B. Sanders, NU
T. STEWART, IOWA
D.THOMPSON, MINN
C. SNOW, OSU
L HOARD, MICH
M. Artley, WIS
H. GRIFFITH, ILL
12
11
12
12
11
11
10
10
10
9
12
355
262
322
224
264
215
210
152
130
132
114
G Car.
Yds.
1686
1408
1496
1196
1062
1036
910
775
752
516
623
BiILL WUOU/ WEEKEND,
Defensive tackle Brent White makes a tackle in last season's victory over
Indiana. With the graduation of Mark Messner, White is expected to be
the team's leading pass rusher.
Boles
Hoard
L-
. -- ,
Quick athletes highlight aerial show
BY STEVE BLONDER
At many schools, a receiver's
primary job is catching passes and-
running precise routes. But to be a
Wolverine receiver, another ingre-
dient must be added to this formula.
Blocking.
Sometimes Michigan's ground-
attack style discourages recivers, but
Wolverine receivers feel they will be
RECEIVERS
an integral part of the offense,
provided they can hold onto the ball.
"It all depends on turnovers," said
senior Greg McMurtry. "If we can
throw without turning the ball over,
we'll throw as much as we can." .
The Michigan coaches have said
they plan on opening up the offense
a little more this season, and getting
the receivers more involved in the
offense.
"We're going to pass the bail.
we've got to mix it up on them,"
said assistant coach Gary Moeller.
The. Wolverines will be doing it
without flanker John Kolesar, who
graduated after last season.
But leading the Michigan
receiving corps are McMurtry and
junior Chris Calloway.
"We expect to get tremendous
effort and production out of Chris
Calloway and Greg McMurtry," said
coach Bo Schembechler. "Both can
catch the ball and they are classy
guys as well as top-notch players."
McMurtry is the Wolverine's big-
play threat, the speed-burner who
commands extra attention from
defenders.
Calloway, on the other hand, does
more of the overlooked intangibles
needed to win.
"Calloway is one of these guys
you'd like to have a half-dozen of,"
Schembechler said. "You'd play him
at defensive back, wide receiver,
wherever.
"We think Calloway is great. he
does all of those little things."
Joining this pair is redshirt frosh
Desmond Howard, who lacks in
experience.
"He's a little guy with real good
speed," Schembechler said. "He's a
young guy with a lot of talent who
is capable. of making the big play,
but he lacks experience."
The lack of experience among the
backups became greater last week,
when Schembechler announced that
Derrick Alexander, a true frosh,
would be his fourth wide receiver.
"Derrick Alexander is a young
whippersnapper with a lot to learn,"
Schembechler said. "But he's got
tremendous potential."
Dan Jokisch should also see
playing time at split end.
The tight end position is solid,
boasting co-captain Derrick Walker
and sophomore Dave Diebolt.
~ "Derrick Walker at tight end is
one of the better and most underrated
tight ends in the conference. He's an
outstanding tight end," Schembechler
said.
Last year Walker shared the
starting position with Jeff Brown,
but this year he's got it to himself.
As a result, the coaching staff allev-
iated Walker of his special teams
responsibilities. Schembechler estim-
ated Walker would "get 75-80 percent
of the plays."
But for those other plays Walker's
on the sideline, Diebolt will get the
nod.
"We hope dave Diebolt is ready to
play. He's really starting to develop
as a player," Schembechler offered.
COLUMBIA
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