The Michigan Daily - Sports Monday - November 5,1990 - Page 5 Lions fall to 'Skins, 41-38 PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) - Jeff Rutledge, voted Alabama's most popular student in 1978, climbed to the top of the Washington Redskins' ballots on Sunday. Rutledge, who had thrown only seven passes in the last two years, completed 30-42 for 363 yards to rally the Redskins from a 21-point deficit to a 41-38 overtime victory over the Detroit Lions. "In Jeff's case, I just think he is a producer," Washington coach Joe Gibbs said. "He has always been that way, and he's a great guy. He is a class individual." Chip Lohmiller's 34-yard field goal with 5:50 left in overtime climaxed the comeback but Rutledge made it possible with a 12-yard TD on a draw play with 18 seconds remaining in regulation. "The quarterback draw is some- thing we didn't put in until Satur- day," Gibbs said. "I saw a couple of other quarterback draws run on them so I thought we may want to use it." Rutledge, who was signed as a free agent after appearing in only one game last season for the New York Giants, called it the best game of his NFL career. - "The first thing I did was pray," Rutledge said. "It was 35-14 when I went in there. I said, 'Good Lord let me go in there and relax and come back and take it a little bit at a time.' I had the feeling when we scored the first time we had a chance to win this ballgame." Lohmiller's climactic field goal followed a 12-play drive from Wash- ington's 10 to the Detroit 17. Rut- ledge, who took over for Stan Hum- phries in the second half, completed five passes for 69 yards in the drive. "This is something I'll always look back on if I never play another game again," Rutledge said. It was the 13th consecutive time the Redskins (5-3) have defeated the Lions (3-5), including the first game, in the 1982 playoffs. "We just didn't make the pays when we had to," said Bob Gagliano, who quarterbacked Detroit after Rodney Peete pulled a hamstring in the third quarter. "It was a team eff- ort. This is one of the worst defeats I've ever been associated with. It was heartbreaking." The Redskins overwhelmed the Lions statistically. It was four turnovers - three interceptions and a lost fumble - that gave Detroit the lead. Washington, controlling the ball for 49 minutes, 52 seconds, rolled up 674 yards to just 347 for Detroit, which had the ball only 19:18, including one possession in over- ime. Humphries and Rutledge com- bined for 482 yards in the air to 187 for the Lions. .IUA RE-Jaiiy Sophomore Missy McCracken swims her way to second place in the 400 freestyle in Friday's opening meet against NCAA Division II Champion Oakland University. The Wolverines defeated Oakland 142-92. Women swim to opening win 1: I by Jason Gomberg Daily Sports Writer Friday evening at Canham Natatorium, the Michigan women's swimming and diving team unveiled their own version of "The Young and the. Restless." The Wolverines featured individual victor- ies by four first-year swimmers and two sophomores, sinking Division II Oakland University, 142 to 92, in the opening meet for each squad. In total, the home team tallied first-place finishes in 12 of the 13 events. Leading the victory parade were junior backstroker Lisa Anderson and frosh freestyler Karen Barnes, who each took part in three winning efforts. A pair of freestylers, sophomore Kathy Diebler and frosh Kate Girard, and one breaststroker, Vallery Hyduk, collected two triumphs apiece. Other Wolverine victors included newcomers Nicole Williamson (400 IM) and Cinnamon Woods (3-meter diving), and sophomores Lisa Cribari (1- meter diving) and Missy McCracken (200 fly). "I was really impressed with our distance swimming," coach Jim Richardson said, "And our strokers, backstrokers and breaststrokers, looked really good from an aerobic standpoint." Barnes appeared in strong form, pulling away from her teammate Michelle Swix in the 1500-meter free with a time of 17:22.41. She also edged out Diebler in the 800 free, 9:09.85 to 9:12.68. "I thought I swam well for this time in the season. I've never gone this fast this early." Barnes said. Diebler, who provided a blistering final freestyle leg in the 400 medley relay (1:00.09), also captured the 400 free (4:27.53). She attributed her fine performances to a change in practice ritual. "Coach Richardson changed his program from last year - we're doing more distance," said Diebler, "We were swimming between six and seven thousand yards per practice and now we're between seven and eight. "I was pretty surprised - I brought back my races faster than I thought I would." The added distance for the shorter races seemed to take its toll more on Oakland's swimmers than it did the Wolverines. Michigan swimmers maintained form longer into their events. Along with Diebler, Hyduk and Mc-Cracken excelled at driving through and extending their strokes. Consistent form, however, is not yet the coaches' top priority. Instead, they are seeking to further increase endurance and strength among their athletes. "Right now form is something that you talk about," said Richardson, "but there's nothing you can do about it now because they're so tired." Michigan senior Matt Dikin fights for the ball during a home soccer game earlier this season. DIKIN Continued from page 1 took when he was 12. "After catechism, I started think- ing about life in a different way," he says. "This was a huge step in the maturation process and was when morals and values became impor- tant." It was important enough for Dikin to find time outside of school and soccer in order to remain active with the youth group in his church. Over the summer, Dikin coun- seled at his church's camp. With his "amiable" qualities, he was a hit with the kids. "I act like a kid my- self," he says. "I get down, or up to H OWARD Continued from page 1 decision was based on playing for a big-time university with a big-time academic background. Other than the Ivy League, Michigan presents the best combination for me." NCAA rules prohibit Howard from signing a letter of intent until November 14. Fisher refused to comment on the situation until the- Chicago native has officially signed with the team. A week ago Howard said his decision was "50-50" between Mich- igan and Arizona State. But he chose the Wolverines because of the proximity of the university to his hometown. "My decision was based on my family and friends being able to see me play," Howard said. "Most people I know can't afford a plane trip to Arizona. "I didn't want to go through my college career without my grand- another being able to see me play. She is the biggest reason behind my decision. She always has been very supportive and has had a great influence on my life. I want to make it possible for her to see me play whenever she wants to," he told the Sun-Times. Fisher hopes Howard's decision will influence Chris Webber, another top-five recruit from Detroit Country their level when I'm around the teens at church. I'm able to relate to them because I don't try to act perfect. They hear from their pastor about being perfect; I think they get tired of that." When asked if his leadership qual- ities at camp relate to his leadership on the soccer field, Dikin says, "with the kids, I'm really laid back in my leadership. On the soccer field, however, I'm pure intensity." With all the diversity in his life, soccer is his one constant. It is a second home. During his prep career, Dikin was fortunate to play at Troy Athens, a hotbed of Michigan high school soccer. In his four years at the class-A school, the most com- Day, to sign with Michigan. Webber is not expected to announce his decision until next spring. Webber's father is a close friend with Detroit Southwestern coach Perry Watson, and might encourage Webber to go to Michigan if Watson is hired as assistant coach. Fisher, however, has said he does not expect to name a replacement until the spring. petitive class in Michigan, Athens never failed to make it to the state semifinals. Twice it won the state championship and another year it finished runner-up. Dikin, who also played basket- ball and tennis, totalled nine varsity letters during his high school years. Still, he passed up a possible schol- arship at Eastern Michigan, which has a varsity men's soccer program, to come to Michigan, which he felt is richer academically. Now, after 16 years of competi- tive soccer, Dikin will once again have the chance to dabble in other sports. Last Thursday was Dikin's final game as a Wolverine. "I'm relieved and sad at the same time," he says. "But now I have the time to pursue other things." "Other things" include working towards a career which will keep him involved in the sports world. "I want to go into sports medicine," he says with a laugh. "I've had some experi- ence in the field. I've had my share of injuries." For the last six months, Dikin has been working at Med-Sport, a research institute at Domino's Farms. He's been assisting in a pro- ject which studies the dislocation of the kneecap. Dikin started as a vol- unteer, but "they liked me, so they started paying me." Ideally, Dikin would like to at- tend medical school in the West to be closer to his sister Becky in Col- orado. "I wouldn't mind doing a lit- tle skiing out there," he says. If Dikin does make it to Col- orado, it will be because of his strong sense of family - a feeling instilled in him by his parents. As a youngster, Dikin's soccer games were a family affair. Dad coached. Mom fretted. And his grandpa Walt accompa- nied the three on Matt's out-of-state trips. His dad, though not presently coaching, remains active in Matt's soccer career. Throughout high school and college, the elder Dikin has shot hundreds of rolls of film for team and individual pictures. For Matt's teammates, Mr. Dikin has been a common sight on the side- lines with camera poised and words of encouragement for the team. It is easy to understand why Dikin places such a high priority-on family. With his work ethic, leader- ship, and talent, Dikin's success is not surprising. 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