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mTns~Ai, DT DE E, 1945

THE MICHIIAN- AILY

. . ........ . ...... . .. .......


Cabers

To

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estern Michigan


Sixteem Bronco Freshmen Set
For Saturday's Contest Here
Capt. Van Dis Only Returning Letterwinner
On Squad Averaging over Six Feet in Height

.

By HTANK KEISER
Youth will have its fling Saturday
night at Yost Field House when Coach
Herbert W. (Buck) Read pits his all-
freshman Western Michigan varsity
quintet against the unbeaten Wolver-
ine basketball team.
Working with a squad whose com-
plement is composed of 16 freshmen
and a lonely two seniors, Read hasn't
had much choice as far as picking his
men on the basis of experience goes.
But the Bronco tutor, now in his 25th
yearat Western, has been heard to
say confidently that he believes his
neophite group is coming along fast
Michigan Squad
To Be Featured
At Sim -Gala
Although Matt Mann's annual
Swim Gala Dec. 15 at the IM build-
ing pool will feature the Michigan
State A.A.U. swimming and diving
championships, the main spotlight
will be on the Wolverine mentor's
latest tank squad.
For the past 20 years Wolverine
swimming teams have been top com-
petitors and usually the team to beat
in the nation. It isn't improbable
then, that most of the spectators at
Swim Gala will be thinking ahead to
future days in March 1946 when the
various tank titles are again on the
line.
Dual competition for the Maize and
Blue natators will not begin until
after the holidays, but the Wolverines
expect to be in top shape for their
Swim Gala debut. The swim schedule
will be announced next week when
Matt Mann returns from the annual
winter meeting of the Conference
coaches in Chicago.r
DAILY VARIETY SH
F ield Hous
By WALT KLEE
If anyone on campus has a yen to
see a three ring circus he doesn't
have to wait for Ringling Brothers to
come to town, because only under
the "big top" can more happen under
one roof than is going on in the Field
House these wintry afternoons.
Not only are three winter sports-
basketball, track, and wrestling-go-
ing in full swing, but Coach Ray
Fisher has probably beaten everybody
to spring training with a handful of
baseball players engaging in pitching
practice.
Cagers ,Spied First
Upon entering the arena people
are first attracted to the lighted bas-
ketball court where Coach Bennie
Oosterbaan and his assistant, Bill
AP PolPlaces
Indiana at Top
NEW YORK, Dec. 5-(P)-Indiana,
St. Mary's and Columbia were brack-
eted near the top as the teams show-
ing the most improvement in the 1945
grid season today by writers and
coaches replying to an Associated
Press poll.
The same experts singled out Min-
nesota's failure as the biggest disap-
pointment of the camIaign.
Bo McMillin's Hoosiers, drubbed by
Illinois, Ohio State and Minnesota
last year, were unbeaten but once
tied in sweeping to their first Western
Conference crown. Among their vic-
tims was Minnesota, which lost 49-0,
the worst beating in Gopher history.
St. Mary's, a team that lost seven
games a year ago, put together nine
freshmen and two sophomores in a

lineup including the great Herman
Wedemeyer to take six of seven
starts, losing only to U.C.L.A. in the
final game.
All varsity letter winners are
requested to attend an 'M' Club
meeting at 7:30 p.m. today at
the Union. The purpose of the
meeting is to elect officers.
Liroducdng ...
Alce Naknu re
Especially trained for facial
and scalp treatments.

and will give Michigan a load of
trouble.
One bright spot in the Brown and
Gold's cage setup results from the fact
that a few of the squad members have
annexed some sort of previous col-
lege-level cage "time." In fact, one
of the starters actually played a while
on the 1942-43 Western combination.
This "old-timer" is Melvin Van Dis,
left forward and acting captain of the
'45-46 crew. The 20-year-old veteran,
whose vital statistics read 6 ft. 4 in.
by 180 pounds, handled the center
assignment on Buck Read's squad
three years ago, before entering the
service.
Six-footer Donald Boven, Kalama-
zoo bred, will do the honors at the
center spot.
Fitch at Forward Spot
At the other forward berth, Coach
Read will start 21-year-old Robert
Fitch, whose story of previous basket-
ball experience ishset against the
background of the Three Rivers,
Mich., high school varsity. Fitch is
another tall boy, measuring 6 ft. 1 in.,
and weighing in at 170 pounds. While
playing for Three Rivers, he amassed
one of the school's top scoring records.
Muskegon and Dowagiac have made
their contribution to the Brown and
Gold '45-'46 cage crew, in the persons
of guards Robert White and Andy
Moses, respectively. White excelled on
the Muskegon High aggregation,
where he alternated at the forward
post, as well as at his present guard
position.
Moses Youngest Player
Moses, 18-years-old and the young-j

Sronis
SPOUTS
NEWS +VIEWS+ *COMMENT
By BILL MULLENDORE, Sports Editor
INDIANA UNIVERSITY'S football team did not win the Western Confer-
ence football championship this year.
No, we're not crazy. It's a fact. Indiana did not win the Big Ten football
title. It didn't win it for tha very simple reason that there is no Big Ten
football title to be won.
The Western Conference does not recognize a champion in football.
and never has. Each year, the team with the best percentage record
for the season is acclaimed by the press as the Conference grid titlist,
but the award has no official sanction.
A technicality? Yes, it probably is. But the fact remains that the Big
Ten, for reason or reasons unknown, has never gotten around to setting up
the machinery for naming a football champion.
The funny part about it is that championships are recognized in all other
sports. Why football, the nation's number one collegiate sport, was left out
is something of a mystery.
The situation may be changed before another football season has rolled
around. Representatives of the University of Michigan, we understand,
intend to present a plan to resolve the paradox.
MICHIGAN ATHLETIC DIRECTOR H. O. (Fritz) Crisler advocates a
system patterned after that used by the Pacific Coast Conference by
which the coaches and faculty representatives from each school cast ballots
listing the various teams in order of preference. The winner is decided on
a point basis, much as "most valuable player" selections are made in baseball.
We are heartily in favor of the proposal. In the first place, we think
that the Big Ten very definitely should make some provision for naming
an official champion. Secondly, we feel that the percentage "newspaper"
title is not awarded on a rational basis.
IF EVERY TEAM in the Conference met every other team in the course
of the season, there might be some logic in deciding the title-winner
on percentage. But the average Conference football team plays a Big Ten
schedule of, at most, six games. Very often, the two top elevens in the
Conference do not meet each other.
That very thing happened not so .long ago, back in 1943. Michigan
mid Pn~ "l" "n.+ -1_.._ --

III

I

.1i

and ruue ied tar the championsip , oth undefeated in Big Ten Alexander G. Ruthven, representa ________estmemberofRead'steam,_alsois
quoted at 175 pounds and 6 ft. 1 in. play. But no game between the two schools was scheduled with the tives of the Board in Coritrol of Ath- -_-
Although fresh from Dowagiac's Cen- result that the supremacy of one or the other was never established. letics, and several members of the
tral High, he is reported to have coaching staff will be on hand for the
ability and experience comparable to Under the point system of selection, the possibility of a tie is very remote. opening of the annual winter meeting T
the older starters. One team or the other would be judged superior, by the men most qualified of the Western Conference schools
Western Michigan will have played to make that decision. We cannot see how the best team could escape taking today at Chicago.
three games by the time they take sole possession of the title it deserves. Expected to be on agenda at the FLIGHT INSTRUCTION
on the Wolverines this weekend. That's why we hope the Conference will act favorably on the proposal, gathering are problems of rule re-
__.vision necessary to reconvert the Big OUR NEW AERONCA CHAMPION has arrived
Ten to a peacetime basis. Retention and is the first new postwar plane on the field.
OW: I-M Basketball Resuls or discontinuation of freshman eligi- A deluxe tandem trainer, it has many new fea-
a e R subility will be one of the major issues.
Of Last Night's Games Winter and spring sport schedules tures of construction and remarkable perform-
ap acity S t-r-e Night's Gais will also come up for consideration, ance. Come out for a demonstration.
' Scores of last night's basketball along with suggestions to curtail foot-
.,__games in the I-M Independent ball seasons to eight games.
Barclay, are putting 25-odd members wrestling team to be found. About 40 League are: TYPEWRITERS
of'the basketball team through their men are paired off on the mats en- Ship's Co. 37, Rangers 18. Bought, Rented
paces. gaged in the gentle art of trying to Poontangers 30, Jr. Birdmen 22. Repaired Dealer for Aeronca - Bellanca - Commonwealth.
The sounds of running feet and twist each other's arms off. Semper Five 65, Watched Dogs STUDENT and Municipal Airport - 4320 South State Road
bouncing balls draw the casual ob- Quiet, Isn't It?! 20. OFFICE SUPPLIES Ann Arbor Phone 25-8825
server to the center of the building The sounds are many and varied. Engineers 51, D.D.T.'s 26. 0. D. MOR R IL L
to watch the proceedings on the hard- The sound of running feet on the 314_s. State St. Phone 6615
wood. Yet, after a couple of minutes hardwood differs greatly with that of
of watching a basketball scrimmage, the running feet on the cinders. Every A
one is startled by a booming "traack." few minutes there is the sound of a
Following the sound of the voice to gun. Then too, there are the gentle
determine the cause for disturbance thuds of the baseballs, as they find
one sees the fleeting forms of a group their way into waiting mitts.
of Michigan's thinclads speeding The pants and grunts of the various
around the oval cinder track, men in the wrestling room, add to
In addition to those running like typthe melee of noise that typifiesf
In aditon o tose unnng iketypical afternoon at the Yost Field
fury, there are several groups of cin- yHouneYs
dermen jogging on the outside of the House.
track or doing a weird form of sit-
ting up exercises to limber'up for the
time they will speed around the cin- COOL, CALM CUTS.d o
ders against the stop watch held by .
Track Coach Ken Doherty. Your haircut is blended, shaped,
Thinclads At It Too cut to your individual tastes.
Your hair and scalp problemsi
Others on Doherty's team are en- aeorpolm o.Orpp
gaged in pole vaulting, shot putting, uarty with th Sevic a is .
high jumping, or broad jumping. In commendable. Weare glad to l
glancing around the room one won- serve in the interest of public a
ders if he is dreaming as the eye falls health and morale.
on the figures of several men in base-
ball uniforms, playing catch.h ACL abr
Wandering around the balcony in Off State on Libertyk}
the Field House there still is the
A Gift From
Steb&saysJust look through
Staeb Days
t our stock for new and
S is always appreciated . xlsv u g sin
y men-excusive suggestos
TO HELP THE SHOPPER, for Christmas.
S WE SUGGEST:
Hats by Mallory
Ties by Wembley
Sport Shirts by Manhattan
Robes by Rabhor
Sweaters by McGregor
Hosiery by Interwoven
Handkerchiefs by Arrow
Gloves by Hanson
Jewelry by Hickok, etc., etc.
All Gifts