6 - The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - Monday, April 4, 1994 DUDLAR Continued from page 1 season. At6 feet 4,245 pounds, Dudlar establishedhimselfasacompetitiveplayer in his championship seasons at Brother RiceHigh School in Birmingham, Mich., with teammates like Boston College All- American tight end Pete Mitchell. Yet his list of lacrosse accomplish- mentspractically overshadows his feats in football. In Dudlar's three years on the varsity squad, he helped the team to three straight state championships and a record of 66-5. Hissenior year, BrotherRicealso won the Midwest Championship, after he was named most valuable player in the state tournament. Andduring his final twoyears of high school, he was named to the All- State and All-Midwest teams. So a guy who decided to try a new sport his freshman year of high school modestly collected a barrage of titles. "Gannon is deserving of any playing time he gets," junior attackman Tony DiGiovanni said. "He's probably the best defensemanwehave."DiGiovanniisvery familiar with Dudlar's skill and ability because the two played each other in high school. He also could be head recruiting coach for Michigan, having actively pur- sued Dudlar and Brother Rice teammate Steve Morrison to play lacrosse this sea- son. (Morrison still has one year of eligi- bility for football). Coincidentally, three starting defensemen did not return this season. Once Dudlarrediscovered hisdominating defensive will, he becameapivotal link to the team's success and its current 7-1 record. WithtwoBigTenchampionshipsrest- ingon the conscience ofthe lacrosse team, is it ready for its Rose Bowl equivalent? "We realize we're a club team and we're not overly obsessive with winning and going crazy,"Dudlar said. "There's a good balance of having fun and taking it seriously on the team." "You could tell he was rusty, but the skills werethere,"coach DiGiovanni said. "He's one of my hardest workers. He's one of a half-dozen (on the Michigan squad) who could be starting for a varsity somewhere." Clearly whatbroughtDudlartoMichi- gan was its football program, not the respectable lacrosse club. But don't as- sume lacrosse was all but forgotten when he committed to Michigan. "(Lacrosse) was something I always knew I wanted to do when I stopped playing football here." Dudlar facilitated the transition be- tween the two sports, playing lacrosse summer leagues. He believes the rewards from lacrosse come from within, espe- cially because lacrosse attracts less exter- nal praise. It is doubtful anyone would fault him, though, if he admitted the transformation was not without a hitch. Mov,;;g from a major revenue sport to a club sport was "a nightmare," he admitted in jest. "There's no comparison. In football, everything is first-class. You get the best of everything. Then you come to club lacrosse. You'repaying forexpenses. (But) that's nbt the most important (factor). "The most important thing is playing the game. It's just being with a bunch of guys who want to do the same thing that you're doing - the camaraderie." One of teammate Tony DiGiovanni's first memories of Dudlar in high school describes Gannon as an unferocious op- ponent. In fact,duringthisyear'sfootballgame againstMichiganState,Dudlarwaspulled. As the game progressed, he waited pa- tiently on the sidelines, giving pointers to his replacement, formerWolverine Shawn Collins. While this enraged his father-a former Arizona State football player - Gannon simply was simply illustrating his roles as a team player. "(When Iplayed), there was noway in hell I'd give another guy playing my position any tricks of the trade," his father said. Frank Dudlar then went on to recant theirconfrontation afterGannon'scharac- teristic advice session. "He says to me, 'Father, how would I feel if Shawn is doing something wrong, I see it, I can correct it...If I didn't do it and on that play Michigan lostthegameby menot wanting to share that knowledge?"' And friends refer to this sensitive man as Thor? While only fitting to a man who could bench press 375 pounds when he arrived in Ann Arbor back in 1990, the nickname arouses suspicion. Two penalties in eight years of foot- ball. Growing up, Gannon wasembarrassed by the nickname (also his middle name), afraid that other kids would tease him because of his "dork(ier) pear shape." "In the neighborhood, I was probably one of the younger kids and I was usually the worst out of all the guys because everyone was older than me," Dudlar admitted, "andthatreally helped mecome along quickly in terms of my athletic development." UnlikeotherMichigan natives, Dudlar did not grow up consumed by the aura of Michigan athletics. It wasn't until his jun- ior year, when Brother Rice center Marc Milia signed with the Wolverines, that Dudlar realized he too could play for a college football superpower. Dudlar. Whether it's bonding during sum- mer workouts or winning the Rose Bowl his junior year, Gannon depends on his friends during the low points as well. After losing to Notre Dame this past season, he and starting quarterback Todd Collins es- caped on a fishing outing. And they didn't talk about football. "Just having those guys who've been through the same experiences as you, it's really special,"heconfided."'There'sdefi- nitelydifferentextremes(between lacrosse and football), but there's still that sense of IDYOIA A UNIVERSITY ra: a CHICAGO The Graduate School of Business MBA Friendships with coaches is just as important to Dudlar and there's no ques- tion he has had the privilege of talented coaches. And vocal ones at that. Both football coach Gary Moeller and DiGiovanni are known for their boister- ous styles. He's thankful the latter allows him more freedom on the field. "(DiGiovanni) is a very vocal coach, but it's hard for me to take him too seri- ously afterplaying football for fouryears"* Dudlaradmitted. "Hedoesn't really yell at me that much although he probably should." DiGiovanni must be providing sore guidance because so far this season, the Wolverines' star defenseman has been honorary captain twice (in addition to the five Michigan captains) and has scored one goal and three assists. "He gets nervous before any competi- tion where you have to show your abili- S ties," Tony DiGiovanni said. "Just cause its a different sport, a different level of competition, different intensity, different exposure, he still gets the butterflies." People might question why after four yearsofparticipatinginoneofMichigan's most rigorous athletic programs, Gannon wouldn't want to be a "normal student" "A lotofpeople you'd be interested in. can't see past you being an athlete, a* football player, and the stereotypes that go along withthat. I'm notparticularly suited in terms of that stereotype." Ofcourse, some of the people who are interested in him may well have been scoutsforNFL teams. While mostathletes dream of the opportunity to play profes- sionally, Dudlar dreams of becoming a doctor. "IwasdisappointedthatGannondidn't try to play pro football," his father admit-* ted. "No matter what anyone says to Gannon, Gannon is always focused to be a doctor. Nothing is going to deter him." With graduation in December loom- ing though, Dudlarmay have to find some- thing new to occupy his time. "It's just a question of finding some- thing to put your passion into," he said. "After I was done playing football, la- crosse was a natural carry-over. After* lacrosse is over, there's going to be other endeavors." - Onelaborheishappy to beridofis the business behind football. "There are-times you feel like you're going in and punching the time clock down at (Schembechler Hall)," he said. Dudlar, a biology major, conceded athleticprograms often deterathletes from getting an education by demanding hours of commitment. He is determined not to let this educational opportunity pass him by. Dudlar's 3.0-plus GPA is evidence of his intelligence off the field. "When you come in, they use you and you should by all means use them back. That'showithasbecomeincollegeathlet- ics. There's so much money involved and everyone feels the pressure." Under that scrutiny, he's still self- motivatedandindependent.Yetoneofthe few things he holds on to is sentimentality. In football, Gannon, like his older brother Gunner who played nose guard at the University of Richmond, wore his father's No. 55. Unfortunately, the la- crosse jerseys in high school didn't num- ber that high. So why chose 22? It's 55 upside-down. "Gannon is a true team player," a proud Frank said. "If I knew what made him tick I'd tell you." Professional education for positions of leadership in the Jesuit tradition of excellence. Candidates may begin program in any quarter. For information call 312-915-6120 or complete coupon below. Water Tower Campus 820 North Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60611 Loyola is an equal opportunity employer/educator. I - - - --- - - - - - - - - - - -_ _ _ EVAN PETRIE/Daily After four years of Michigan football, Gannon Dudlar now shines in lacrosse. Mail To: Loyola University Chicago Graduate Business School 820 N. Michigan Ave. " Chicago, IL 60611 '"[VIA Name Telephone No. Mailing Address City State Zip Attention husbands, wives, significant Save 101 others and dependents* of when purchased befor U of M students... May 4-$103 The University Health Service Spr/Sum Prepaid Health Plan is When purchased after available to you! May 4-si15 re A combination of athletics and aca- demics dictated his selection ofcolleges as henarrowedhischoicestoStanford,UCLA and Michigan. But the conveniences of being so close to home, and having such a dedicated fan club featuring his mom and dad, won Gannon's heart. Immediately forced to take football more seriously than the average freshman, he played six games and registered four tackles, two assists, two tackles for loss and two sacks. Dudlar emerged because of veterans' injuries, even though he was less developed and experienced. Up to 267 pounds his senior year, Dudlar survived and also completed his eligibility in the designated (and unique) four years, while his roommates and close friends will be returning next fall. Over four seasons, however, he did accumulateanumberofinjuries. His medi- cal report resembles that of someone en- tering a geriatric ward. "I've hung up my cleats. My body is too banged up to go on and try to do anything further (like the NFL)," he said. "If I really had a good shot at it, maybe things would have been different...but it's not something I really wanted to do." Camaraderie and friendship accentu- ate the highlights of playing sports for camaraderie." So now that football's spring practice has begun, Dudlarisn'tamongfriendsand roommates at Oosterbaan. Although there are minimal side effects now, school, la- crosse, and hobbies keep him busy enough to dispel any regrets he might have. "I make fun of them .right now," he admitted. "I'm enjoying the free time, but I know once fall rolls around, Saturday afternoon is going to be tough." It has not been all lemonade and lolli- pops for Dudlar this spring. Seeing other players strength training, he realized how much he misses the laborious routine. "Just seeing the camaraderie, that's the first time I really felt left out of it," he said. When forced to play freshman year againstlinemenwhowere50to I00pounds heavier,conditioning was essential forpro- tection. Yet in lacrosse, one of the only protectors you haveisyour helmet. Some- times, it hurts more than it helps. "It's hard (to get to know people) with the helmets on, everyone looks the same. I didn't want to come off as a snob or anything, but now I know all the guys. "I was a little bit apprehensive at first," Dudlar said. "I didn't want to step on anybody's toes when I came in." 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