SPORTS SUPPLEMENT Y 41 Vtg~ A60P :43 a t ty SPORTS SUPPLEMENT iq. ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1953 1 Michigan s Greatness Is Based on Spirit s s * * R * * * 4 . e " S S 9 9 * * THE ONLY WAY-to stop a good passer is demonstrated by the Michigan forward wall. Laurie LeClaire (39), Jim Balog (72), and big Gene Knutson (86) team up to throw Illinois' sensational quarterback Tom O'Connell for a 10 yard loss in the third period of last year's game at Ann Arbor. Michigan didn't do enough of this however, and the Illini took home a 22-13 win. * * * * * * * * 'M ridders May Havel Banne r Season in..1.1953 By IVAN N. KAYE Daily Sports Editor Michigan's football team this year may well be the strongest seen in these hills since the na- tional champions of 1948. Bennie Oosterbaan finds letter- men abounding on all sides as he begins his sixth season as head coach, and twenty-fifth in the em- ploy of the university at which he achieved athletic immortality in the roaring twenties. a FOR THE first time since that all-victorious 1948 season, there is sufficient depth at most posi-. Review of '52 MICHIGAN MICHIGAN MICHIGAN MICHIGAN MICHIGAN MICHIGAN, MICHIGAN MICHIGAN MICHIGAN 13 7 28 48 21 13 49 21 7 Mich. State 27 Stanford 14 Indiana 13 N'western 14 Minnesota 0 Illinois 22 Cornell 7 Purdue 10 Ohio State 27 tions to enable the Maize and Blue to weatherthe rigors of the Big Ten schedule. The schedule itself, though its conclusion is murderous, with Illinois, Michigan State and Ohio State to be faced on successive Saturdays, is easier in the beginning than any in recent years. For the past three seasons Michigan has been de-. feated in its opening game by Michigan State's meteoric grid- iron machine. Loss of the open- ing game is perhaps the worst psychological setback any team can suffer, and although the Wolverines came back fighting during the last two seasons af- ter defeat in the opener, the aftereffect was to shake the morale of the varsity. The Wolverines will play their first four games (Washington, Tulane, Iowa and Northwestern) on the home turf of Michigan Stadium. Not only is the opposi- tion weaker at this point in the schedule than it was last season, but the advantage of playing at home further strengthens the varsity's chances for a successful beginning. * * * THE ONLY dark spot in the personnel picture is the shortage of experience at the all-important quarterback position. Here 'the Into their corresponding defen- sive positions. That is to say that the linemen- retain their positions on defense with the center moving to linebacker, and the backfield quartet yields one linebacker to team with the center, and three defensive half- backs. This problem of fitting the men into positione ondefense has been a major headache at many schools. O'Shaughnessy, who had been regular offensive center for two seasons, could not play the defen- sive linebacker position as well as Dean Ludwig, so the coaches shift- ed the Michigan captain to right guard, where he will operate on offense and defense, turning over the center-linebacker role to Lud- wig. THE VARSITY is particularly strong in the line. The ends are led by big Gene Knutson, Bob Topp, Tad Stanford and Jim Bates. Knutson is an established performer, having won the Meyer W. Morton Trophy in the spring of 1952 as the most improved player of the drills that year. The giant 218 pounder from Beloit, Wisconsin is a terror on defense, a rugged blocker, and is decep- tively fast as a pass-receiver. Bob Topp, one of the state of Michi- gan's finest prep school athletes, has finally come into his own. He was unexpectedly rugged on de- fense, where some observers had thought his slim (6-2, 180 pound) build might be -a detriment. Topp is the best pass-catcher in the Michigan camp. He is a senior, and like Knutson he should have his greatest year this autumn. Tad Stanford is a letterman golfer who missed spring prac- tice due to activity on the links. He can play either left or right end. It should be noted that .,m the Michigan system the left end is primarily a pass-catcher, while the right end is mnainly a blocker, though each will do a good deal of both during the course of the season. Because of Topp's unexpected rise dur. ing the spring drills, it remains to be seen who will team with Knutson at the end positions. Stanford had previously had the inside track on the left end spot, but Topp and Jim Bates of Farmington, a rugged 6 foot 2 inch 195 pound junior, should provide plenty of competition. and is presently torn by friendly strife as brother Dean stars ;at end for the modern-day IBuck- eyes. Last year at Columbus, both Dugger boys were carried from the field within a few minutes of each other. It was, needless to say, a tough after- noon for mother Dugger. Mich- igan's Dugger was co-recipient with Tony Branoff of this year's Morton trophy as the most im- proved player of the spring drills. At 5-10 and 175 pounds, Dugger is small for a Big Ten guard, but his aggressiveness more than makes up for the lack of weight. , Ron Williams, like Dugger, is possessed of great competitive spirit, and coupled with an ideal (5-9 185 pound) build for a guard, is a wealth of experience which goes toward making him one of the key figures in the 1953 line. Williams hails from Massilon, Ohio, the spawning ground of All- Americans. He captained the Michigan Junior Varsity in his sophomore year. * * -* IN ADDITION to the aforemen- tioned quartet, there are some oth- er promising candidates for the guard positions. Ted Catchey and Cass Chomicz will be heard from before the season hasdpassed. Catchey is stocky, reminding one of Dominic Tomasi of earlier Michigan fame, while Chomicz is tall and rangy. Both will be jun- iors. The tackles are headed by Art Walker, all conference de- fensive star last year, Jim Ba- log, a giant 6-3 215 pound sen- ior from Wheaton, Illinois, Dick See 'M' FOOTBALL, Page 8 By IVAN N KAYE Daily sports Editor MEMBERS OF THE CLASS of 1957: you are to be congratulated 'on selecting as your' place of matriculation one of the greatest universities in the world. Michigan is a shining name in the academic ranks, a feared ad- versary on the athletic field, and above all, a well-balanced all-round school which brings out the best in its student body. Many have searched for reasons why Michigan is great, but the only answer is its combination of the essentials of college life in a manner which imparts to those who study in its halls the stuff of which success is made. The one factor which ties these essentials together and holds this university apart from and above its contemporaries is the in- tangible item called "Michigan Spirit." * * * * 'Michigan Spirit' ... MICHIGAN SPIRIT IS more than yelling at a football game, or singing the "Victors" on Friday nights over a glass of beer at the Pretzel Bell; it is perhaps looking at the gray ugliness of the Ro- mance Languages building and instead of seeing only.its imperfec- tions, seeing the generations who have gone before, and realizing that great men trod these same time-worn halls of learning. Maybe Michigan spirit is the pride you feel when you find out that your university was the pioneer in admitting women; teaching education, forestry, dentistry, pharmacy and internal medicine; building a fieldhouse, having a glee-club and a news- paper with over three score of years in continuous publication. Maybe Michigan spirit is a walk around the campus on an Indian summer afternoon, and a look at all of the marvelous edifices which bear mute testimony to the pride that other men in other years had in their university. The Law Quadrangle, the Rackham Building, the Union, the League, and Burton Tower with its majestic Baird Carrilon are but a few .reminders of Michigan's proud past and wealth of ac- complishment. + + " s MAYBE MICHIGAN SPIRIT is the Tappan Oak, or the Druid Rock, or the Engine Arch or the steps of Angell Hall. Maybe its open- ing night at the Union Opera, or the Junior Girls Play; or a week- end on the sports desk at the Daily. Maybe its a thousand little things accumulating over a four year period that turn the brash young fresh- man into the nostalgic, sentimentalist who goes under the title of senior; but whatever Michigan spirit is, it binds all of the good things of life in Ann Arbor together and makes of college days an unfor- gettable experience. Athletics for All... SINCE THIS SECTION of the Daily is devoted to sports, it might be enlightening to review the opportunities for athletic partici- pation here at Michigan. First and foremost are the varsity sports, which are handled by the finest all-round group of coaches in Amer- ica today. There are Big Ten teams operating in football, basketball, baseball, track, swimming, tennis, wrestling, gymnastics, golf, and cross country. In addition Michigan has the nation's finest Ice Hockey team; a team which has been national champion four times in six seasons. There are other sports such as soccer, rifle-shooting, sailing, skiing and bowling which are offered to interested par- ticipants on a club basis without actual varsity standing. Touching the lives of almost every student is the vast Intramural Sports program in which competition is offered on both an individual and team basis. The leagues encompass the Dormitories, the Frater- nities, the Independents and the Faculty. I-M competion is spirited and the caliber of athletics is extremely high. The intramural sports program is administered by Earl Riskey and his assistant Rod Gram- beau. These men preside over what is considered the finest student athletic program anywhere in the nation. * * * * Top Facilities ... HOME OF ATHLETICS, both varsity and intramural, at Michigan is historic old Ferry Field. This tract of 225 acres, donated back at the turn of the century by Dexter M. Ferry of Detroit, is the site of the Intramural Sports Building, Yost Fieldhouse, the Michigan Baseball Stadium, the track grandstand, 34 tennis courts, and var- ious football practice fields. Bordering the area is South Ferry Field, on which are located the Intramural football and baseball playing fields. Adjoining Ferry Field, on the West is the gigantic Michigan Stadium, scene of the varsity's home football games. The stadium rests solidly in the ground, with no posts to obstruct view, and no running track to push the spectator farther from the actual playing field. The stadium is only partly visible from ground level, three-fourths of it being below the ground, carved into one of Ann Arbor's more prominent hillsides. See 'SPORTSCRIPT', Page 5 November Games Test Of 1953 Football Slate' STOPPED-Mchigan's rugged linebacking star Roger Zatkoff (left) and defensive halfback Dave Tinkham (right) team up to stop Minnesota's great All-American tailback Paul Giel after a short gain in last year's;game at Ann Arbor. Michigan's defense was rough that day, and the Wolverines kept the "Little Brown Jug" with a 21-0 victory. * * * * *S ** By IVAN N. KAYE Daily Sports Editor The University of Washington will open Michigan's nine game football schedule on September 26, at the Stadium. The meeting will be the first be- tween the two schools. The Hus- kies will be playing their first game under new coach John Cher- berg. Washington had previouslyj been coached by former Yale men- tor Howie Odell. * * s THE HUSKIES have long been a power in West Coast football. Last season, with Don Heinrich leading the team, Washington won seven out of ten games, including a surprising 22-7 conquest of the powerful California Bears. Michigan has dropped its last two games with Pacific Coast opposition. Stanford pinned 23- 13 and 14-7 losses on the Wol- verines in each of the last two seasons. Tulane will follow Washington into Michigan Staduim in the second of four consecutive home games for the varsity. The Green Wave under coach Raymond (Bear) Wolf will sport an all-sen- ior backfield and a line which should average better than 205 pounds per man. * * * TULANE MUST face Georgia at Athens before coming to Ann Ar- bor, and a tough game with a ma- jor sectional rival should take something out of the Greenies. Iowa's Hawkeyes, coached by former Michigan gridiron hero Forest Evashevski, will furnish the first Big Ten opposition for Bennie Oosterbaan's Wolverines. It will be the fourteenth meeting between the two schools. Michi- gan has won tin and tied one. The Hawkeyes lost five of sev- en conference games last season, and were generally a poor team, but on 'October 25 they rose to in- credible heights to upset mighty Ohio State, 8-0 in the gridiron surprise of the year. Iowa seems to play at least one great game ev- ery year, and coach Evashevski would like nothing beter than to lead a team to victory in the sta- dium where he achieved fame as the great blocking back for Tom Harmon. THE IOWA coaching staff un- der Evasheviski includes some prominent Michigan names. Chal- mers "Bump" Elliott, Archie Ko- dros and Bob Flora are all han- dling key positions. Elliott was an' All-American on the 1947 Michi- gan team, while Kodros was cap- tain of the 1939 squad. Northwestern will be out to avenge last year's humiliating 48-14 loss to Michigan when it invades Ann Arbor on October .17. The Wildcats will have their pass-catching star Joe Collier, who holds the conference record with 34'receptions for 650 yards last season, in addition to a vet- eran line and some promising sophomore backfield candidates. The Wildcats gave Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ohio State ter- rific battles last year, and seemed to have their only bad day against Michigan. The last Northwestern team to appear in the Stadium defeated Michigan 6-0 in 1951. Michigan's first away-game and first real test of the 1953 season will come on October 24 when the Wolverines journey to Minneapo- lis for the annual clash with Min- nesota. a little confident. The Wolverines however, are not accustomed to such treatment from a team which they have beaten 25 times in 38 games, and this might very well be the end of Illinois' current dom- ination of Michigan. Illinois has 26 lettermen re- turning, but key losses are quarterback Tommy O'Connell, the nation's best passer last year, and star end Rex Smith. The Illini will have a good line, and that alone will mark them as a contender for conference honors, but they lick suffidei7i~- depth to be considered a major threat. Illinois is always primed for the Michigan game. As with so many schools on the schedule, the Michigan game is the big one. In Minneapolis, Columbus, Cham- paign, East Lansing and Evan. ston a victory over the Wolver- ines means a successful season. The coaches know that and so Future Foes 1953 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Sept. 26-Washington at A. A. Oct. 3-Tulane at Ann Arbor, Oct. 10-Iowa at Ann Arbor Oct. 17-Northwestern at A. A. Oct. 24-Minn. at Minneapolis Oct. 31-Pennsylvania at A. A. Nov. 7-Illinois at Champaign Nov. 14-MSC at East Lansing Nov. 21-Ohio State at A. A. do the players, and that is why a Michigan conference schedule is always murderous, no matter what the pre-season predictions concerning the strength of the opposition. * s * THE GAME with Michigan State on November 14 at Mack- lin Field should he one of .the ALMOST, BUT NOT QUITE: Wolverines Came Within, One Game of] graduation of 215 pound Ted To- L por leaves a pressing vacancy. Top Line coach Jack Blott is loaded choice to fill the signal-caller void with outstanding performers at is sophomore Lou Baldacci, a rug- the vital guard and tackle spots. ged 205 pound Akron, Ohio pro- Michigan has four guards who duct, who runs, passes and blocks constitute the finest quartet of its with exceptional skill. Behind kind in the country. In addition Baldacci are Bill McKinley from to the converted O'Shaughnessy, Norwalk, Ohio, Ray Kenaga of there are Dick Beison, Don Dug- Sterling, Illinois, and the great ger and Ron Williams. forward passing star from Flint, * * * Duncan McDonald. Kenaga, quar- ALL FOUR are seniors with Michigan's 1952 football team came within one game of winning the Western Conference cham- ionship. Going into the final game against Ohio State in Columbus, the Wolverines were in first place' in the Big Ten, but the Buckeyes, who had not tasted victory over Michigan in eight seasons, rose to great heights and stunned a vast homecoming crowd of 80,000 with a 27-7 win. MICHIGAN had the better of the statistics, but fumbles and in- tercepted passes stalled the of- fense. Ohio State took advantage of every Michigan error, with the great little defensive halfback FreddBruney being the player of the day. The game had been figured to. ho ,,or.,nlncp n A.to 4.. la Ifat Michigan managed a consola- tion touchdown. The Wolverines began their season on the wrong foot by drop- ping games to powerful Michigan State and a weak Stanford team out on the Pacific Coast. *: * * THE MICHIGAN STATE game began with a rush of excitement as Michigan struck for two quick touchdowns, but the Spartans, four deep at every position, gradually wore down the Wolverine linemen 4 * S IT WILL MARK the fiftieth an- greatest of the season. It will be TI,* E rul . I niversary of the first "Little Brown televised across the nation as the Bi en "1tle Jug" game. Michigan has held the game of the week, and might well sacred crock since 1943, and Wes turn out to be the game of the Fesler's strong team will be year. and emerged with a hard-earned primed to return the trophy to The Wolverines will get a 27-13 victory. Minnesota's halls. break from the schedule which The following week the Stan- The Gophers will have 30 will see the Spartans face pow- ford team pulled a mild upset returning lettermen, including erful Ohio State on the Sat- by beating Michigan, 14-7. The the great All-America tailback urday before the Michigan varsity seemed to be suffering a Paul Giel, around which to build game. That kind of competition let down from the previous their 1953 team. Last season is going to take the edge off the game, and could not put any Minnesota tied both Purdue Spartan offense, and there is kind of offense together against and Wisconsin, the schools an excellent chance that the the Indians. which shared the conference Buckeyes might beat Biggie Returning home, the Maize and championship. Experts rate the Munn's team. Northmen a definite contender Michigan State was the nation's Blue plunged into the Big Ten despite a rugged schedule which finest football team last year, schedule and captured games finds them meeting Southern and will have 21 lettermen re- from Indiana (28-13), Northwes- California, Michigan State, II- turning from the squad that tern (48-14) and traditional rival linois and Michigan before the swept through nine opponents Minnesota (21-0). Tailback Ted season is half gone. while stretching its unbeaten Kress ran for 210 yards in the Michigan's homecoming game .streak to 24 games. Northwestern game as the help- will feature an old rival, the Un- * * less Wildcats were crushed by a versity of. - Pennsylvania. The THE SPARTANS are in the Big Michigan team which was at its Quakers, a frequent football op- Ten this season, and the compe- offensive peak for the season. ponent in the bygone days of tition will be the toughest the Illinois moved into Michigan Fielding Yost, will appear on the East Lansing lads have ever Stadium on the Saturday follow- Michigan schedule for the3, first known. If Michigan State goes int,...+. Minnfsfna~.+a cmarva nr ii- tie cn. 14-;.-onrara AA A crvr.,. t....hrouh this ~an n~ain f ti x . t 1 !^, F W k t i l s . l I a T&,