'TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1953 THE MICHIGXN DAILY A PAGE THIRTEEN 4 ~ New Rule Change t ood forFootball 'M' Adjusts to One-Platoon Game; }! :: Problems Arise at Other Schools Wolverines Will Present Improved Aerial Defense - ....._ By IVAN N. KAYE Daily Sports Editor Last winter the N.C.A.A. rules committee threw out the two-pla- toon statute and returned football to its pre-war level. The new rule states that once a player is withdrawn from the first and third periods, he may not re- enter the game during those quar- ters. In the second and fourth pe- riods the same holds true except that during the last four minutes of each, a player may go back in the game if previously withdrawn. * . * THE GAME is thus returned to the all-round player, and taken from the hands of the specialist. The accent in 1953 is on versatil- ity and overall ability. Oddly enough, it was Michi- gan's Athletic Director .Fritz Crisler, who as chairman of the N.C.A.A. rules committee pre- sided over the liquidation of the, idea which he, himself popular- Ized in 1945. It was in October of that year that Crisler, faced with the un- happy prospect of meeting a na- tional champion Army team, de- vised the platoon system as a means of conserving the sparce manpower of a Michigan squad which was composed mainly of seventeen year olds. * * * THE TWO-PLATOON system made history in Yankee Stadium as the Wolverines, rated five touch- down underdogs, played mighty Army to a complete standstill un- til halfway through the fourth quarter. At this point, Army's tre- mendous reserve strength finally wore Michigan down, and Glenn Davis ran for two touchdowns and a 28-7 victory. Army was held to its lowest score all season. The New York writers were amazed at the ef- fectiveness of Crisler's two pla- toons. From that point on, Mich- igan became the pace-setter in the new style of football. Much of the success of the great 1947 national champion Michigan team was traced to the, two-pla- toon system which encouraged the specialist. Crisler called his 1947 squad "A crowd," and the foot- ball review said of Michigan's team, "A collection of chrome- plated, hand - tooled specialists which. probably constituted the greatest football team of modern times." . 9 A LOOK at the approaching sea- son shows that Michigan, the school which prospered so much under the two-platoon system, will not be hurt in the least by the return to the old style of play. Even in the days of the spec- ialist;, Michigan players were trained to play on both offense and defense. This was done in case of injuries to key players. For example, last season full- back Dick Balzhiser was used almost exclusively on offense, but he spent many practice hours learning how to play de- fensive halfback in case the oc- casion would ever arise when he would be needed in that ca- pacity. It was this idea of train- ing everyone in both phases of the game that is now playing off for the varsity. At many schools where separate teams were used for offense and defense and where the practice sessions were devoted to only one phase of the game, there exist some real problems. A great ball- carrier may find himself on the bench, playing second string to a man who, though not quite as adept at offensive football, is a much better defensive performer. AT EAST LANSING, Jim Ellis, the Spartans' great safetyman, who was heretofore only in the game on defense, has been intall- ed at halfback, where he must now play both ways. Fortunately. for Biggie Munn, and unfortunately for Michigan State's opponents, Ellis seems to be better on offense than he was on defense, if such a thing is possible. Some coaches may not be as lucky as Munn, and may have to start a mediocre player who does everything adequately in pref- erence to a star passer who can- not, for example, play defense. INJURIES HIT MICHIGAN as centers Jim Bates (left) and Dean Ludwig (right) have both been sidelined. Ludwig is out for the entire season, while Bates will miss the first three games. The injuries have hurt the Wolverines at linebacker where they lack experience. Injuries' Hit Bates, Ludwig; Create Linebacker Shortage, By PAUL GREENBERG Associate Sports Editor Ask any of the frantic grid coaches across the nation and they'll tell you that it's twice as hard to get a team ready for that opening game with the disappear- ance of the familiar two-platoon system. Down at Ferry Field; where the 1953 model of the Michigan grid machine is being assembled - there's been a hubub of activity ever since' the practice sessions opened back on September second. Coach Ben Oosterbaan and his staff has been working with the squad, drilling it on the compli- cated Michigan single wing while not forgetting the defensive angle. ACTUALLY, except for the line- backing spots where Rog Zatkoff and Laurie LeClaire roamed last year, the team racks up as strong- er defensively. The pass defense, a traditional Wolverine Achilles heel, looks better with Dick Balshizer and Tony Branoff at the halfs and Ted Kress at safety. The one weakness in the Maize and Blue antiaircraft unit is its lack of, height, not one of the three defenders measuring six feet.The Wolverine "dwarfs" will be tested roughly right at the start when the Washington Huskies invade with their start- ing end duo towering 6-5 and 6-8. Through the line, Michigan is powerfully situated. The first three ends, Bob Topp, Gene Knutson and Tad Stanford rate 'as excel- lent two-way prospects. Topp, rangy senior from Kalamazoo has finally lived up to all of the great notices he received as a high sch'ool star and seems ready to re- place the hard to forget Lowell Perry. * * * HUSTLING and hard - knit guards Dick Beison, Don Dugger and Ron Williams will share the majority of the work in the mid- dle of the line with center and captain Dick O'Shaughnessy. O'Shaughnessy will also man qne of the linebacking posts with quar- terback Lou Baldacci. Jim Balog, Art Walker, Don- Bennett, Herb Geyer and Dick' Strozewski will all draw plenty of action in the tackle slots and their size and talent gives line coach Jack Blott plenty of depth there. The. backfield has also looked strong and deep, although the first quartet with quarterback Baldacci, halves Branoff and Kress and Balshizer at fullback will see most of the action. Branoff and Baldacci will do both the punting and place-kick- ing, either of them figuring as a solid replacement for both Bill Billings and Russ Rescorla, now graduated. A HEARTY I WELCOME IS I I I I EXTENDED TO THE CLASS OF 1957 WHEN DOWNTOWN, DROP IN AND VISIT OUR STORE. IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SHOW OUR MERCHANDISE. WE CARRY A COMPLETE LINE OF NATIONALLY KNOWN MERCHANDISE COTTAGE INN PIZ ZERIA8 CALL 3-5902 fJCarryout Service for ;cyour Convenlience "Real /alan Food is our Sp cialt/ PIZZA SPAGHETTI STEAKS RAVIOLI CHICKEN ChOPS We Cater to Parties 512 WILLIAM STREET o Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday .ind Sundiy-5 P.M.. A. Friday and Saturday 5 P.M.-2 A.M. Closed Monday bee<- <--><-- o--->-a<-- -,<->c0c ->c --->0 . i Michigan's pre-season football practice has been marred by sev- eral disheartening injuries to key players. i Center and linebacker Dean Ludwig has been sidelined for the season with a head injury. He had been one of the brightest stars all through the spring drills and the early fall sessions. His loss is es- pecially serious in view of the line- backing problem which finds Coach Bennie Oosterbaan without any experienced men at these vital positions. * I is good if Baldacci and O'Shaugh- nessy do not fill the assignment. A number of Michigan play- ers have been mentioned in the various pre-season forecasts as being outstanding prospects for stardom in 1953. Stanley Woodward, a top-notch judge of football talent, has desig- nated O'Shaughnessy as -an All- America choice at center. Guards Don Dugger and Dick Beison and tackles Jim Balog and Art Walker also came in for some praise in various publications. - READ AND USE ; I i I i Van Heu Hyde Par Mallory Hats sen & Manhattan Shirts, Neckwear, Pajamas McGregor Sportswear Alligator Rainwear rk and Winston Suits, Topcoats and Overcoats Interwoven Hosiery -- Wembly Ties Stradivari Sport Shirts DA I LY Store Hours: Daily 9 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. 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