Page 2 -.The Michigan Daily/New Student Edition -Thursday, September 7, 1989 epeat? That's only the beginning A National Championship may be in the cards for Bo By Steve Blonder Daily Sports Editor :a The Michigan football team play- ing the Pac-10 conference champion around the start of each new year has become a ritual over the last 20 years. But now that the basketball .eam has brought home a national championship trophy, a Rose Bowl - victory seems like small potatoes. This year, the Wolverines may have the team to challenge for a col- lege football national title, an ac- complishment which would send Michigan fans all over the country into a state of hysteria. But head football coach Bo Schembechler only laughs when people suggest Michigan, which re- * turns 16 starters from last year's Big Ten championship squad, can win it "It's tough to repeat in any port," Schembechler said before 0 spring football practice. "Seven out- standing players have to be replaced out of 23, but we have some good people coming back." On offense, the Wolverines' greatest strength is the backfield. Tony Boles, who led the team in to- tal offense last year and was the fourth-leading rusher in Division I-A football, returns in the backfield along with Rose Bowl MVP Leroy Hoard and fullback Jarrod Bunch. The three juniors will be joined by tailback Allen Jefferson, who has been riddled by injuries for the past two seasons, and reserve fullbacks Chris Horn and Tracy Williams. The Wolverines outrushed oppo- nents last season by an average of 123 yards per game, which is important to Schembechler's conception of football. The 20-year veteran, who coached under the leg- endary Woody Hayes, consistently says having a good running attack is the way to win a football game. The success of a running attack revolves around the men up front. Returning are tackles Greg Skrepe- nak, who received AP and UPI All- Big Ten honorable mention com- mendations last season, and Tom Dohring. The 6-7, 277-pound Dohring and 6-8, 322-pound Skrepenak are also joined by sophomore guard Dean Dingman. Matt Elliott and Steve Everitt are battling for the center position, va- cated by the graduation of All- American John Vitale, while Marc Ramirez is expected to start at the other guard slot. The receiving core remains solid, featuring split end Greg McMurtry and flanker Chris Calloway. Mc- Murtry led the wolverines with 27 catches for 470 yards, while Cal- loway hauled in 18 receptions for 272 yards. Back-ups Desmond Howard and Yale Van Dyne were impresssive at the annual spring game. Tight end Derrick Walker split the starting job last season with Jeff Brown, and returns as the full-time starter. While the rest of the offense is fairly well settled, the quarterback job remains up in the air. Fifth-year quarterbacks Michael Taylor and Demetrius Brown are the incum- bents, while Wilbur Odom, Ken Sollom, and Elvis Grbac are slated for reserve roles. Taylor started the first nine games of the season before suffering a bro- ken collarbone, while Brown re- bounded from a poor 1987 season to lead Michigan to three consecutive victories, including a 22-14 Rose Bowl victory over USC. Brown broke his passing hand in spring drills, and Taylor jammed his hand in the spring game, but both are expected to be ready in the fall. "They each played well for us last season," Schembechler said. "We won't write off Taylor beacuse he suffered a broken collarbone, and we won't disregard Brown's performance in the last five games. "It's a nice problem to have," he added. According to Schembechler, a second ingredient goes into a cham- pionship football team - namely Michigan Running back Tony Boles (top) will start in a backfield that has more talent than Ed McMahon's Star Search. Quarterback Michael Tay- lor (right), coming off a season ending injury, will have to battle with Rose Bowl starter Demetrius Brown to regain his starting. position. 1 7 71 DA~V IDlLUBLNtL/ S.JJ* defense. The Wolverines return nine starters from a defensive squad which gave up an average of under 300 yards per game last season. Gone is All-American and team MVP Mark Messner. Messner left Michigan as the school's all-time leader in sacks and only the second four-time all-league nominee in Big Ten history. Warde Manuel and John Her- rmann, both sidelined during much of '88 with injuries, are expected to battle Mike Evans for Messner's va- cated tackle slot, while Brent White returns at the other tackle position. Middle guards Mike Teeter and T.J. Osman return to bolster the line. The linebacking core looks just as solid, and will be further strenghtened if J.J. Grant returns from a knee injury. Defensive sig- nal-caller Erick Anderson returns at one inside linebacker position, while Grant, and oft-injured linebackers Marc Spencer and John Milligan battle for the other spot, On the outside, last year's starters Bobby Abrams and Alex Marshall, who combined for 106 tackles, will be challenged by Neil Simpson and Brian Townsend. The defensive backfield must make do without the services of cor- nerback David Arnold. But Lance Dottin showed in the spring game that he is ready for a starting berth, as he picked off three passes. "Lance is a good player," said tight end Derrick Walker. "He im- proved a heck of a lot this spring. We are happy about that because we need somebody to replace David Arnold at cornerback. I think he can do the job in the fall." Tripp Welbourne, who led the secondary with five interceptions and 72 tackles, is back, along with starters Vada Murray and David Key. Otis Williams, Todd Plate, David Ritter and Eric Bush are also ex- pected to see playing time in the fall. IF AIF fr frssssss One major problem placing all-time leading will be re- scorer Mike GARDEN M Szechuan, Hunan & Peking Cuisine Gillette, who handled the place kicking and punting last season. John Albertson, who averaged over 42 yards per punt in the spring game, is the leading candidate for the punting chores, while J.D. Carlson has a leg up on the place-kicking spot. . ROLEX AUTHORIZED ROLEX SALES AND SERVICE DINE IN CARRY OUT DELIVERY COCKTAILS SUNDAY BUFFET Open 7 days a week Mon-Thurs: 11:30 am-10:00 pm Sat: 12:00 noon-11:00 pm Fri: 11:30 am-11:00pm Sun:12:00 noon-10:00 pm 3035 Washtenaw, Ann Arbor 971-0970 CHANGE YOUR OIL WITHOUT MOVING A MUSCLE Changing your motor oil yourself can Offer Good at the Following Locations: be a pain in the neck. 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