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Page 12 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, October 25, 1989
ABC wants extra
'M' game on TV
by Steve Blonder
Daily Sports Editor
Michigan football is already committed to six television appearances, but
ABC is considering asking Michigan to waive a part of the Big Ten contract
that limits teams to six network games.
Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney alerted Michigan Senior Associate
Athletic Director Jack Weidenbach to the possibility of the network
televising next month's Michigan-Illinois game last Friday night.
Michigan has appeared on ABC four times already this season, with
televised appearances also scheduled against Indiana and Ohio State.
"A formal request has not been made yet," Delaney said Saturday. "But
we have had some preliminary discussions."
For the network to transcend the agreement and televise Michigan for a
seventh time, Michigan, the other nine conference schools, and ESPN
would have to agree. ESPN is currently scheduled to televise the Michigan-
Illinois game which conceivably could be for the Big Ten title.
"We've had our exposures, other schools need theirs," athletic director Bo
Schembechler said Monday. "I'm not going to say for sure what we will
say, but I don't like late games particularly in November."
Current plans call for the game to start at 12:30 CST, and a move to
ABC might lead to the game being played at 2:30 CST.
WEIDENBACH SAID that he wants to survey other opinions before
Michigan makes a final decision.
"Iowa-Ohio State is the other game. Before we would ever agree, I'd like
to talk to the other directors," Weidenbach said yesterday. "We don't want to
hog all of the appearances on ABC."
Bruce Madej, the athletic department's public relations director, looked at
the issue from an Iowa or Ohio State perspective.
"Does Iowa and Ohio State want to give up that exposure," Madej asked
rhetorically. "That means a lot for those programs and we've already got that
exposure."
ABC officials declined comment yesterday as to when or if they planned
to make a formal request to televise the game. First they must work out an
agreement with ESPN, which is under contract to televise three Big Ten
games this season. ESPN and ABC are both, in part, owned by Capitol
Cities.
Schembechler has repeatedly spoken out against the over-exposure of
college athletics, particularly of football. Last year he went public with his
complaints about the ABC contract.
Under terms of the $6 million ABC-Big Ten contract , all of the
revenues generated are split amongst the Big Ten schools, thereby preclud-
ing the Wolverines from reaping any additional benefit.
Weidenbach was asked what Michigan might get out of the extra
appearance.
"Nothing. Nothing at all. The only thing we'd get is exposure.
"I don't think us being on television is necessary. You can get too much
exposure on television, and the conference benefits when more of its teams
get on TV," Weidenbach said.
Last year, the Michigan-Illinois game decided the Big Ten championship,
and was not televised because ABC had already committed itself to six other
Michigan games.
In other Wolverine television news, if ESPN does not televise the
Michigan-Minnesota game, the athletic department is exploring showing the
game on closed-circuit television at Crisler Arena.
A.T. impresses
everyone he meets
by Brent Huns ager
Indiana Daily Stu ent
Doily File Photo
Touchdown Maker
Indiana tailback Anthony Thompson, who gained 216 yards and three
more rushing touchdowns against Minnesota this weekend, has rushed
himself into Heisman Trophy contention. Thompson needs only two
touchdowns to break the all-time NCAA mark held by previous Heisman
Trophy winners Tony Dorsett and Glenn Davis.
Thompson gets Bo's attention
Bo says:
-"The offense is centered around
Thompson. He's an extremely dur-
able back that gets the ball 30-40
times a game. Thompson's a great
cut back runner with power and can
catch the ball out of the backfield.
He's a bona fide great running back."
-"(Thompson's) a motivating
factor in itself. He's got a lot of
touchdowns so that tells you when
the get to the goal line who's going
to get the ball. When you analyze it,
you've got to figure he's going to
get (the ball)." Schembe hler
Tailback Anthony Thompson, draped in only a towel, was met by a
young Hoosier as he walked out of the shower in the Indiana lockerroom
half an hour after IU's 28-18 win over Minnesota Saturday.
"Hey, A.T.," said the youngster, his eyes shining.
"Hey, how ya doing buddy, " Thompson replied, shaking his hand and
leading him to his locker to sign yet another autograph.
Thompson's 216 yards on 43 carries Saturday were the most he had
rushed for in his collegiate career, and it was the first time he had rushed for
more than 200 yards in a game since his first start as a freshman against
Wisconsin.
His three touchdowns put him only two scores away from breaking the
NCAA all-time career touchdown record of 59 held by Pittsburgh's Tony
Dorsett (1973-76) and Army's Glenn Davis(1943-46)
Words of praise flowed after the game about as easily as yards seemed to
flow beneath Thompson's feet. Everyone had something to say about him.
His coach was the most emphatic.
"I've told you many times: this guy is the most complete football
player I have ever been around, the way he operates on the field and the way
he operates off the field," Indiana coach Bill Mallory said in his post-game
press conference.
"I think that is what makes a great back (having the stamina to run 40
times per game). You call the 43rd, the 44th, the 45th, and the great ones
will still be running," Mallory said. "Anthony has got great stamina
condition, takes care of himself and trains year-round. He has got great
living habits and you won't find him into booze and drugs and things of
that sort."
HIS LINEMEN were the most pleased.
"We don't have a lot of accolades," senior offensive guard Ian Beckles
said. "We're not always in the paper. But when A.T. has a good game
that's sort of our reward. We take pride in that."
His defensive counterparts were the most grateful.
"You know he's a nightmare (to tackle)," said sophomore linebacker
Mark Hagen, "and I'm glad he's on our team."
His opposing coach was the most complimentary.
"He has great vision and keeps bringing the ball at you," Minnesota
coach John Gutekunst said. "When he gets nothing, then he reverses field
and finds something and just keeps coming and hangs onto the football.
"Tremendous backs," he added. "People got to see two of them."
The other tremendous back was Minnesota senior tailback Darrell
Thompson, whose 117 yards on 28 carries were overshadowed by his
team's loss and A.T.'s Heisman Trophy-worthy performance.
"I don't know him too well," Darrell Thompson said. "I've talked with
him a few times after games and at the Big Ten Kickoff luncheon."
Inevitably, with the record nearing and the prospect of Thompson break-
ing it on national television Saturday against Michigan, comparisons with
Dorsett and Davis were sought.
Mallory himself had trouble determining the difference in their running
styles.
"It's hard to tell," he said. "They're all great backs in their time. You're
talking about three great football players - outstanding backs."
Undergraduate
Psych.
Society
Marshmallow hurlers to be thrown out
by Jeff Sheran rampant marshmallow throwing at letter equated being hit with a In addition to cracking down on
Daily Sports Writer footbalLames. marshmallow to bein h q hit b a rnfnr tin hr l -. .1h
MASS MEETING
for current
THURS.
Pendleton
& prospective members
OCT 26 6:30 pm
Room, Mich. Union
Beginning with Saturday's foot-
ball game against Indiana, students
who throw any objects around the
stadium will be ejected, according to
Sports Information Director Bruce
Madej.
The decision was made by the
athletic department after it received
numerous letters regarding the
The rule was not implemented as
a punitive measure, but rather to
make students aware that the new
ritual has escalated into a dangerous
situation, Madej said.
"One lady wrote a letter claiming
that she was hit in the face with a
marshmallow and her jaw was numb
until Sunday," Madej said. "AnotherI
flat.. J111alflU W JVT M1118,1g y t a
Bruce Sutter fastball."
Students who are ejected as a
result of the new rule will have to
forfeit their entire season-ticket
contectionn ursers, t e rule makes
provisions for curbing illegal sales
of marshmallows outside the stad-
ium. These so called "marshmallow
scalpers" are in violation of the rule
if they do not possess a peddler's
license.
-j
booklet. If the violator is not a
ent, he/she is merely ejected
the game.
stud-
from
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Meet with IBM Managers
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