V V V U U U U U U V V -W -W v w =J land or by air Blue crew hopes to White-was 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 CALL TODAY: 973'22 )rming now tor I CALL 662-3149 203 E. Hoover PA 8 WE300/SEPTEMBER 15,1989 WE Jl -' /Sgqf.WEk 11490