TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1954
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
PAGICFITV
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McDonald's Grid Career at Michigan
Contains Many Setbacks, Few Glories
Pucksters' Rugged Play Against McGill
Brings Optimism as WHL Season Nears
By STEVE HEILPE1AN
Many sad blue-jerseyed men
filed into the Michigan locker
room in Columbus a couple of
Saturdays ago, but few were more
disappointed than the man bear-
ing the numerals "23" across his
chest.
For Duncan McDonald it was
another in the long list of disap-
pointments and setbacks in his
days at Michigan.
Highly Touted
Perhaps one of the most highly-
touted football players ever to
enter the University, Dune never
lived up to expectations on the
gridiron. There were exceptions,
however-times when it appeared
that the former Flint Northern
star was ready to take his place
with the best in collegiate foot-
ball.
But this happened only twice.
Last year McDonald came off
the bench to spark Michigan to
victory in two games. It was in the
Iowa contest that the blond sig-
nal-caller led his mates to a 14-13
win; and it was McDonald who
led the three Wolverine touch-
down drives which beat stubborn
Northwestern, 20-12.
A Forgotten Man
A football hero, however, must
continue to produce or he is quick-
ly forgotten. The sport is a de-
manding one, having no time to
consider the nostalgia connected
with past performances, and Dune
has been virtually a forgotten man
since the Northwestern game.
If this were simply a case of a
football player failing at his job,
there would be no story to write
about, but it is not so with Mc-
Donald, who has been a victim of
many unfortunate circumstances
throughout his college career.
Blaik Applies Pressure
His first bad breakcame even
before he had entered the Uni-
versity. After gaining prominence
as a schoolboy , passing phenom
at Flint, he was one of the most
sought-after athletes in the coun-
try. Word has always traveled
fast to West Point, and, there was
no exception in this episode--
Army coach Red Blaik applied
pressure through telegrams and
phone calls, tying to get Dune
to visit the Academy.
A boy not yet out of high school
can resist only a certain amount
of invitations from i person of
Blaik's reputation, so McDonald
agreed to take a, six-week vacation
at "The Point," during the early
part of the 1951 summer. He and
22 other prospective entrants
(mostly athletes) were shown what
life at West Point was like.
Turns Down Army Offer
Also included in the 'vacation'
was preparation for the Acad-
emy's entrance exams. Blaik and
his associates helped the 23 men
study for them but only 13 of the
original group passed. McDonald
DUNCAN McDONALD
.. Plagued by bad breaks
was one of the lucky ones, but con-
cluded that Army was not the
place for him. He went back to
his home in Flint, and decided on
Michigan as his school. Then
came the first of the unfortunate
incidents.
The famous cribbing scandal
at West Point had broken out in
early August, and further investi-
gations brought the six-week af-
fairs into the open. By itself,
Blaik's recruiting policy would not
have merited a second glance, but
this was Army's time to be repri-
manded, and in full.
Tribune Breaks Story
August 8 saw The Chicago Trib-
une run an eight-column banner
headline across the top of its front
page saying, "Michigan Football
Star Tells of West Point Offers."
The story, by sports writer Jerry
Ledonne, told how "one of the
most sought-after athletes of re-
cent years" was a victim of the
"scandal.''
McDonald later said that the
Tribune reporter put words in his
mouth, and was baffled by the
whole situation. And Dune had
something to be baffled about, for
he had only acted in good faith,
yet was smack in the middle of a
national controversy, caused part-
ly by the desires of an enterprising
journalist.
Sees Little Action
The controversy soon died out,
and Dunc having much pressure
on himself, entered school at Ann
Arbor in September. Since fresh-
men were eligible for varsity com-
petition that year, Dune played
under Bennie Oosterbaan, but
didn't see much action. He didn't
figure heavily in Michigan's plans
during his sophomore year, either.
It soon became apparent that
McDonald, a strict T-formation
quarterback, might never fit in
with the Wolverines' single-wing
style of play. Although a great
passer, his limitations as a block-
er would severely hinder him as a
single-wing player.
Becomes a "Spot" Player
More woe was heaped upon his
shoulders the following year, when
the one-platoon system came back
to collegiate football. Never a
defensive player (he played only
on offense during, his high school
days) he began to realize that he
might never be anything more
than a "spot" performer.
He did help the Maize and Blue
last year as a passer, and became
a crowd-pleaser with occasional
exhibitions of passing wizardry,
as in the Iowa and Northwestern
games. It appeared that his de-
fensive flaws were going to be
overlooked when this season be-
gan, for Michigan, in need of an
offensive punch, inserted him as
starting quarterback in the open-
er at Washington.
McDonald Replaced
With Michigan's mediocre show-
ing at Seattle and loss to power-
ful Army the following week, Mc-
Donald's status as a starter was
in jeopardy, although he had not
played worse than most of his
teammates. After Iowa grabbed a
quick 13-point lead against the
Wolverines the next Saturday
(due to two 'M' fumbles), Mc-
Donald was removed from the
lineup, and saw little action for
the remainder of the season.
In one of his brief appearances
after the Hawkeye tilt, Dune al-
most lifted his team from defeat
to victory. He entered the contest
late in the fourth quarter against
Indiana, with Michigan losing,
13-9. After leading an 'M' drive
deep into Hoosier territory, he
aimed a spiral into the end zone,
but the game-winning pass never
materialized, as his receiver drop-
ped the ball.
Coach Praises Dune
Although a disappointed player,
Dune was a great moral factor
in the success of the Michigan
teams he played on. Said Coach
Oosterbaan: "Dune has been a
tremendous asset to my team. He's
done everything that's been asked
of him, and I'm proud of him.
His attitude has been wonderful,
to say the least."
So ends the story of Duncan
McDonald-but only as far as
his college career is concerned.
Thought of by many as a prospect
for professional football, a sport
perfectly suited for his talents,
he may yet prove that he can
reach stardom in the gridiron
sport.,
By PHIL DOUGLIS
Written off during preseason for-
casts as an "also-ran," and under-
manned team, Michigan's hockey
squad proved to all in attendance
at the McGill Series last weekend
that it will still be a factor in the
impending Western Hockey League
race.
Lack of Depth Not Fatal
Particularly in the opening
game, which the Wolverines won
by a 4-2 count, Michigan indicat-
ed that the presence of only 13
men on the squad will not prove
disasterous - as many pre-season
dopesters had believed.
Looking at what the Wolverines
have right now, it is obvious that
what they lack in quantity, they
certainly have in quality,
Captain Bill MacFarland is the
spearhead of the team. Whenever
he gets his stick on the puck, the
throngs begin to roar, for he is
almost certain to out skate sever-
al defenders and at least get off a
good shot or a key pass to a team-
mate. The big Toronto Junior, who
scored 26 goals last season, is an
All-American center candidate.
Howes Pleases
Coach Vic Heyliger however is
most pleased with the play of
goalie Lorne Howes. Howes, who
spent last summer working out on
a Boston Bruins summer farm,
proved that he is equal to the pre-
season raves which consumed col-
umns of newsspace, with his out-
standing play against McGill.
Returning up front again, Hey-
lige rsingles out for special note,
sophomore center Tommy Rendall.
Rendall, fast and a good stick-
handler, centers Michigan's sec-
ond line, and proved in the McGill
opener that he can skate with the
best of them. On several occasions
he completely outskated the Red-
men defenders, only to pass the
puck into a teammate in a more
advantagous position.
Karpinka, Dunnigan Star
The Wolverines have two other
outstanding sophomore forwards,
Jerry Karpinka and Dick Dunni-
gan. Both looked very good in the
McGill series, though they have to
go a bit before they approach the
skill of their veteran teammates.
Another rookie forward is wing
Baden Cosby, who recently came
out for hockey and gained a place
on the squad. How much Cosby
will be used by Heyliger remains
to be seen. Of slight build, the
Gravenhurst, Ontario, soph will
have to fight for a place on the
playing squad.
Three Veteran Wingers
Michigan has three veteran
wingers, Jay Goold, Neil Buchan-
on, and Yves Hebert. Goold look-
ed the best of this trio in the Mc-
Gill opener, scoring two goals.
Hampered by a broken kneecap
last season, he appears to be in
good shape again, and will be a
crucial cog in the Wolverine at-
tack this season.
Buchanon, last year a defense-
man, looked rather weak on pass-
es in the McGill opener, but made
up for it by scoring a beautiful
goal on a pass from Rendall to
start the scoring. Hebert has been
iC
_I J
TOMMY RENDALL
... top prospect
out for weeks with an injury, and
will not see action for awhile.
Top Defensemen
On defense, Heyliger has come
up with three gems. Bob Schiller,
Bob Pitts and Bernie Hanna all
turned in fine defensive games.
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Schiller is a fierce player, whose
vicious play has the opponents
continually off balance. Pitts and
Hanna have shown outstanding
stickhandling ability, and the trio
showed up very well in working
off Michigan penalties.
Last but not the least on the
roster is senior goalie Bill Lucier,
who hardly ever puts on a suit,
but sits in the stands awaiting the
call to duty if it should come.
Lucier, the last remnant of Mich-
igan's national champs of two
years ago, is a skilled goalie, but
always has played second fiddle
to somebody just a trifle better.
Add to all of this Heyliger's
amazing coaching genius and it
appears as if the Wolverines may
give everyone in the WHL a run
for their money again this season.
SWIM STAR ATTENDED FORDSON:
Kruthers, Stager Join Forces Again
By BOB JONES
When Michigan back-stroker
Jim Kruthers was a junior at
Fordson High School in Dearborn,
a new swimming coach took over
burden for Coach Stager this sea- the 100 yard event was 1:00.5, a
son. mere seven-tenths of a second off
Took Sixth in Big Ten of the interscholastic record held
As a sophomore, he placed sixth by Larry Heim of Redlands, Calif.,
in the Big Ten 200 yard back- High School. He also led off the
stroke race. An ear infection kept Fordson record-breaking 150 yard
him out of the NCAA Meet at medley relay, splitting out in 27.0.
Princeton. Every Record but One
Kruthers swam the lead-off leg During his high-school senior
on the Wolverine 300 yard medley year, Kruthers set pool records at
relay in most of the dual meets last every pool he swam in, except one.
year. He is primarily a hundred- Kruthers also boasts a good rec-
man, but has turned in respectable ord scholastically. His grade point
performances in the 200 as well, is "about 3.45." He is a member
As a senior at Fordson, Kruthers, of the Triangle Honorary and Pi
was the fastest high-school back- Tau Sigma, a mechanical engi-
stroker in the country. His time in neering honorary.
be an angel
give him a
WILLIAM TELL
SPORTSHIRT
BY 11 f V
C JIM KRUTHERS
... top 'M' back-stroker
the team, and led it to a state
championship.
Now, four years later, with Kru-
thers again a junior, the same
man, Gus Stager, has taken over
this perhaps an
the Michigan swmiming team. Is
this perhaps an omen portending
a Big Ten championship for the
Wolverines this year? Kruthers
hopes so.
-' At any rate, the husky back-
stroker will count more on hard
work than superstition in shoot-
ing for this goal. Kruthers, an in-
distrial engineering student, will
JANUARY 3-31 shoulder much of the back-stroke
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