Men's Swimming
at Eastern Michigan Invitational
Tomorrow, 6 p.m.
Ypsilanti
SPORTS
Women's Swimming
Michigan Open
Today, 5 p.m.
Canham Natatorium
The Michigan Daily
Thursday, December 5, 1991
Page 9
Around the
Big Ten faces
bowl beatings
by Ken Davidoff
Daily Sports Writer
As we approach finals time here at Michigan, we
at the Daily thought it would be only natural, and
downright proper, to provide for you, the reader, a
final version of Around the Big Ten. Besides, we've
got some leeway here; what are you going to do, keep
this article under your pillow until New Year's Day
and see if our picks are correct? A highly unlikely
scenario.
Holiday Bowl: Iowa vs. BYU
As we all know by now, Big Ten logic dictates
that the second-place team plays on December 30,
while the team finishing in third gets to participate
in a New Year's Day bowl (see Hall of Fame Bowl).
I liked this better when it was the Sea World
Holiday Bowl because Shamu the killer whale jokes
are pretty easy to conceive. But now it's the Thrifty
Car Rental Holiday Bowl, and the only rental car
gags I can think of involve O.J. Simpson running
through the airport - even though that's the wrong
company. Anyway, expect a slugfest, as this Ty
Detmer kid is a looker. Iowa 48, BYU 47.
John Hancock Bowl: Illinois vs. UCLA
Last year, Michigan State and USC played in this
contest. This year, again, it's a Big Ten team against a
Pac Ten squad. What's going on here? Could it be
that supporters of these schools are being duped into
believing they're actually playing in the Big One out
in Pasadena? Considering the intelligentsia of the
student bodies of these institutions, this could very
well be the case. Well, they should see a quality
exhibition, for quarterbacks Jeff George and Troy
Aikman are two of the finest. UCLA 29, Illinois 4.
Copper Bowl: Indiana vs. Baylor
The epitome of lameness. Imagine Indiana players
calling their parents in glee: "Guess what? We made
the Copper Bowl!" Not the Gold, not the Silver, not
even the Bronze, but the Copper. It doesn't get much
lower than that. Hell, even the penny is actually
made of silver. The only thing copper has going for it
is that Crayola includes it in its Box Of 64. Anyone
who even feels the need to ask, "What's the betting
line on this one?" should immediately consult
Gamblers Anonymous. Baylor 31, Indiana 30.
Hall of Fame Bowl: Ohio State vs. Syracuse
Syracuse beat Florida. Florida beat Florida State.
Florida State beat Michigan. Michigan beat Ohio
State. Ohio State beats its players for spending too
much time in the classroom. Moreover, now that
Buckeyes coach John Cooper has been rewarded for
his efforts with a contract extension, why should he
bother trying? He'll probably be tanning in a lounge
chair while his assistants will be attempting in vain
to win the game, yelling out questionable advice like,
"Try the pick and roll!" Syracuse 42, Ohio State 12.
Sports forum covers hot topics
Howard, Albom among highlights on LSA-SG panel
KENNETH SMOLLER/I
Football players Tony McGee (left) and Desmond Howard at last night's sports forum.
Young men's swim team
prepares for Eastern meet
by Mike Rancilio
Daily Sports Writer
The LSA Student Government
was belligerent in its attempt to
land columnist Mitch Albom and
football player Desmond Howard
for its "Pros and Cons" forum last
night. It felt the two names would
peak interest in students, and that
they would add relevant informa-
tion to the discussion.
"We wanted Mitch Albom and
Desmond as head-liners," Rep. Tim
Hurd said, "but we were adamant
about having Desmond's strong
viewpoints about the student ath-
lete."
They were successful, on both ac-
counts.
Desmond Howard's introduction
was met by a standing ovation, and
chants of "Heisman" rang through
Rackham Auditorium. Many specta-
tors bowed reverently as he ap-
proached his seat next to the other
panelists.
The participants in the forum
also included television anchorper-
son Bernie Smilovitz, Interim Vice
.President for Student Services Mary
Ann Swain, hockey coach Red Beren-
son, football player Tony McGee,
and hockey player Aaron Ward, who
replaced basketball player Sam
Mitchell.
But the biggest surprise of the
night was the nature of Berenson's
comments. The audience often met
his remarks with resounding ova-
tions, as he attacked current ath-
letic-academic issues. He was asked
his opinion on recruiting and first-
year eligibility, and his responses
were straightforward.
"(The coaches) must keep their
perspective in order," Berenson said.
"If you cheat, you get fired. You
shouldn't have to cheat to win."
He also felt that all first-year
students should not automatically
be ineligible because of the repercus-
sions it would have on hockey pro-
grams and players.
"The University would not be
able to attract the top athletes," he
said. "The average age of a (hockey)
freshmen is 19 and a half. One year is
already taken away - the career
would be taken down to two years."
Ward also felt that all first-year
athletes needn't be deemed mel-
igible because of the academic pro-
grams that are involved with the
athletic teams.
"The support group care is pre,
sent for the student (to take advan-
tage of)," Ward said.
Albom had an opposing position
on the first-year eligibility issue.
He is a strong proponent of having
mandatory ineligibility for all
rookie athletes.
"There is too much pressure
placed on the freshmen athlete to
perform," Albom said.
In personal comments, Albom'
and Smilovitz showed their profes-
sional rapport, relating comical
anecdotes about each others' indus-
try. Speaking on the extended col-
lege careers of red-shirted athletes,
Albom and Smilovitz went at each
other.
"I was personally on the seven-
year program," Albom said.
"Bernie's using the home shopping
network."
Although these were entertain-
ing outbursts, serious comments
soon followed. Howard was asked
to comment on the issue of paying
college athletes; he was in favor of
compensating the athletes, but with
certain stipulations.
"The athlete who graduates with
a degree should receive some type of
compensation," Howard said, "but
not on the level of the pros."
McGee echoed Howard's feel-
ings, and added a cultural aspect to
his reasoning.
"When the athletes from the ur-
ban, inner-city area come to the up-
per middle class university,"
McGee said, "the athlete should be
compensated to bridge the gap."
When the issue of Proposition 48
- which mandates certain academic
standards for athletes - was
brought up, the panelists agreed on
its necessity, and the progress that
has resulted from it.
"It's good for college athletics
because it will force the high
schools to do a better job," Beren-
son said.
"Freshmen need more time to
adapt," Swain said in supporting the
measure. "The University should
think about (making all freshmen
ineligible)."
by Jim Foss
Daily Sports Writer
A few experienced members of the Mich-
igan men's swimming team had impressive
showings this past weekend in the U.S. Open
Swimming Championships. Now it's time for
some of the younger members of the team to
head out in search of competition.
The Wolverines will compete in the East-
ern Michigan University Invitational, held
this weekend in Ypsilanti. Michigan will send
a very young team to the meet, to take on a
field which includes the host Hurons and
Oakland University.
Junior Steve Bigelow heads the charge to
Ypsilanti. The defending Big Ten Champion
backstroker is favored to win his event. Also,
junior butterflyer Tom Hay, and junior sprint
freestyler Noel Strauss will be competing.
These individuals met the standards in their
events to qualify for the U.S. Open Champ-
ionships and had the option of competing over
Thanksgiving break. However, they will swim
in the Eastern meet instead.
Some of the newer swimmers will repre-
sent Michigan this weekend, since they did not
compete at the national meet.
Sophomore Kevin Glass will be competing
for Michigan in the middle distance freestyle
events. Meanwhile, rookie Bill Pettitt and
Chris Veber will swim in the distance events
for the Wolverines.
Also, Thomas Blake will be competing in
the backstroke, while Drew Hansz and Jason
Field will swim in the breaststroke and but-
terfly events, respectively.
Michigan coach John Urbanchek realizes
that Michigan is not sending its top unit to
the meet.
"Our team is more like a 'B' team with the
exception of the upperclassmen," Urbanchek
said. "The majority of the squad is freshmen
with the exception of Bigelow, Hay, and
Strauss."
The meet should provide the Wolverines
with a moderate challenge.
"Because of the team members that we are
sending, this should be a very good competi-
tion for most of the boys," Urbanchek said.
The meet will take place over the course of
three sessions. It begins at 6 p.m. Friday, and
finishes with two sessions Saturday at 9,a.m.
and 5 p.m.
BYU women plunge into Ann Arbor
by Kim DeSempelaere
Daily Sports Writer
Diving into its second home meet
of the season, the Michigan
women's diving team will host
Brigham Young in Canham Natato-
rium today at 10 a.m.
Penn State and Harvard were
scheduled to compete in the three-
day Michigan Open, but they
withdrew.
Senior Lisa Cribari will be
among the six Wolverine divers
competing. Cribari has had a highly
successful season thus far. At
Michigan's other home meet,
Cribari placed first in both the 1-
meter and 3-meter events.
"I was really happy with my
performance," Cribari said. "I think
I performed pretty well."
Unlike when the team travels on
the road, the entire Wolverine squad
can compete this weekend. When
Michigan dives away from Ann Ar-
bor, only its top three performers
can participate.
Senior Margie Stoll has also
performed well this season. She
placed fifth in the 1-meter and third
in the 3-meter at the Wolverines'
last double-dual meet. Both Cribari
and Stoll will likely compete for a
position at the Olympic trials in
April.
Rounding off Wolverines' com-
petitors will be senior tri-captain
Julie Greyer, senior Karen Sinclair,
junior Martha Wensel, and sopho-
more Cinnamon Woods.
The Michigan men's diving team
will be traveling to the Eastern
Michigan Invitational tomorrow
and Saturday.
Detroiters
lobby for
stadium tax
DETROIT (AP) - Civic leaders
say they back efforts to build a new
Tiger Stadium in downtown Detroit
rather than renovate the existing
stadium or move it elsewhere.
Paul Hubbard, president of New
Detroit Inc., and Arthur Johnson,
president of the Detroit chapter of
the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People,
held a joint news conference about
the stadium yesterday.
They said they planned to lobby
today before the state Senate
Government Operations Committee
which is considering legislation
that would allow new car-rental,
hotel and meal taxes in Wayne
County to finance a new stadium.
"A new stadium will mean new
jobs, real economic growth and a
restoration of our image," Hubbard
said.
The team has said it needs a new
Junior Wolverine Missy McCracken swims during a meet last season. McCracken and her teammates will
take on Brigham Young University today through Saturday.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING
M looks ahead to Cougars and roses
by Rich Mitvalsky
Daily Sports Writer
Initially, the 4-0 Michigan wo-
men's swimming team planned to
host Brigham Young, Harvard, and
Penn State this weekend. However,
for the Wolverine's final com-
petition before the holiday break,
only Brigham Young will make the
trip.
With the cancellation of Har-
vard and Penn State from the lineup,
the format of the meet changed
from a three-day, prelim andfinal
invitational, to a three-day timed
final dual meet. Thursday, Friday,
and Saturday, competition will
begin at 5:00 p.m. at Canham
Jenny Sutton, all contributors that
deep breaststroke group, will not
swim this weekend, as each has sus-
tained an injury.
While a few of the Wolverines
performed exceptionally well last
weekend at the U.S. Open Champ-
ionships in Minneapolis, the squad
hopes to raise the overall level of
team performance in this meet
before their training trip in late
December.
"We had a mixed-bag reaction of
the U.S. Open," senior co-captain
Michelle Swix said. "We were 'ta-
nere for it (rhe meit) and when
in the world, swam to a third-place
finish in the 100-meter breaststroke
in Minneapolis, the highest place of
any Wolverine at the meet.
In past seasons, the Wolverines
holiday haven has been the islands of
Hawaii. However, over this win-
ter's holiday break, the team will
travel to California for their annual
training trip. Interrupting Mich-
igan's fun in the sun will be dual
meets against national powerhouses
UCLA and USC as well as a trip to
the Rose Bowl.
To this point in the season, Swix
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