The Michigan Daily-Saturday, July 31, 1982-Page 11 Woolfolk happy with Giants By RON POLLACK Last in an eight-part series Disappointment was quickly replaced by happiness for Butch Woolfolk on the first day of this year's national Football League draft. "I thought that I would go higher in the first round than I did," said Woolfolk, "But when I found out that I wasn't going to be one of the top three running backs chosen, I was hoping I'd go to the Giants." AND GO TO the Giants he did, much to the delight of Woolfolk and the New York lans who were chanting "Butch, Butch, Butch" when it was time for the NFC team to make its first-round selec- tion. "I like the New York Giants," said the Westfield, New Jersey native. "Their being close to home is an ad- ditional plus. Even if I were from California, I'd want to play for them, because they're a good team and I ad- mire a good team." Another plus for Woolfolk is the fact that he has an excellent chance of becoming the team's starting tailback. The Giants' running game was a definite weak spot last year until fullback Rob Carpenter joined the team. Despite the presence of Carpen- ter, a quality tailback was still lacking. IT IS FOR that reason that the Giants picked Woolfolk and Syracuse tailback Joe Morris in the first and second roun- ds of the draft. Although he is con- sidered to be the most likely candidate to start at tailback, Woolfolk is taking nothing for granted. "I haven't earned the starting spot yet," said Woolfolk, who became Michigan's all-time leading ground- gainer last year. "I haven't sewn it up. It's there for me to earn, but I have to earn it. Everyone keeps talking about Rob Carpenter and me being in the backfield together, but there are other people in camp and I'll have to beat them out to get that starting spot." He adds that he will do everything in his power to be in the starting lineup. "I really like playing. I can't be content sitting on the bench. So my only goal this year is to play a lot. I hope to help MICHIGAN'S ALL-TIME leading rusher Butch Woolfolk may team up with established running back Rob Carpenter in the New York Giants backfield next year. the team, because we definitely have our eyes set on the Super Bowl." WHILE Woolfolk won't assume that he has a starting berth locked up, he does feel that he and Morris will be a big help to a Giants' offense that was anything but explosive last season. "We can add a great deal," said Woolfolk. "Our defense was third in the NFL and our offense was 28th, dead last. So the added dimension of myself and Joe Morris will definitely help. It will add the dimension of breakaway speed, and allow us to throw to the backs more often and more effectively. "At Michigan I hardly caught any passes," he continued. "I'd be lucky if I caught 10 a season. That's not very many. I figure I'll catch twice as many or even three times as many this season with the Giants." SINCE HE didn't catch a great deal of passes in college, Woolfolk admits that he must improve this area of his game. But he does not think this will be a problem. "When you don't do something a lot, it doesn't mean you can't do it. It just means you have to work on it," said Woolfolk. "Just because I didn't catch the ball a great deal at Michigan doesn't mean I can't do it." In addition to catching the ball, Woolfolk is looking to better his blocking skills. "If my blocking and catching were adequate, then I'd be great," he said. "And I'm not great. So that's what I have to work on in training camp. Blocking is something I wasn't required to do at Michigan. Anytime you don't do something, you get rusty at it. But it's something I think I can do. Hopefully during the season I'll be a good blocker and receiver." ALTHOUGH he didn't block or catch passes a lot in college, Woolfolk did spend a good deal of time running track. "I will miss track because I've been competing in track longer than football," said Woolfolk. "I started track in fifth grade and football in - eighth grade. So I'll definitely feel a loss." Just as the Giants' fans will feel a gain should Woolfolk perform at the pro level with the same success that he had as a collegiate. Ricks looks to prove himself in '82 season By BARB BARKER Specialtothe Daily CHICAGO - With Butch Woolfolk now in the National Football League, Michigan tailback Lawrence Ricks is looking for 1982 to be his season. "I see 1982 as a year to get out there and show people what I can do," said the 5-10, 195 senior at yesterday's Big Ten conference luncheon. "I welcome this as my opportunity to do the best for the team as well as myself." RICKS, WHO hails from Barberton, Ohio, spent most of last year in the shadow of all-time leading Michigan rusher Woolfolk, after having rushed for 850 yards the season before. But he is now expected to play a prominent Ricks role in the Wolverine Offense. "I always want what's best for the d team," he' said: "But being a coa- petitive person of course it was hard not getting to play as much. I don't think I'm better or worse than Butch. I just know I can do the job." Ricks said he sees this year's team as a conference leader despite the Big Ten's increasing competitiveness. "I GREW UP with the Ohio State- Michigan rivalry, and of course I like to see the championship come down to that game," he said. "With Steve Smith returning as an experienced quarterback I know we have the poten- tial to be there at the top." Ricks, who is an engineering student concentrating in computer science, said he thinks that Michigan is unique in its emphasis on education. "Bo (Schembechler) has played a major part in my academic career," said Ricks. "He really emphasizesthe importance of getting a degree as well as playing good ball." And this season Schembechler will also emphasize Ricks and the Michigan running game. SCORES National League Los Angeles 10, Atlanta 9 Cincinnati4,SanDiego2 Philadelphia 3, Chicago1 Montrea1s.St. Louis4 American League Kansas City 4, Baltimosree3 New York 4, Texas 0 Cleveland 7, Milwaukee 2 Toronto6, etfoitS