SPORTS
SUPPLEMENT'
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SPORTS
SUPPLEMENT
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1955
12 PAGES
. M
Gridders
Face
Power -Packed
Slate
Buckeyes Batter Hopes
Of 1954 Football Squad
Michigan Eleven Lists
Speed, Depth, Promise
0
f _
By ALAN EISENBERG
Associate Sports Editor
Many, many years will have to
pass before football and Michigan
fans alike, will be able to forget
the talented coaches and courag-
eous players that made up the 1954
Wolverine grid squad.
There have been Maize and Blue
teams more successful than last
year's aggregation; there was no
Bob Chappius or a Tom Harmon
on the squad; there was no fabled
trip to Pasedena to talk about or
an undefeated season to boast of.
As a matter of fact, the '54 Wol-
verines lost three games and tied
for second place in the Big Ten.
Yet, almost all interested parties
consider last fall one of the best
in Michigan's fabulous history. For
it was a team, ranked before the
season, as an "also-ran" in the
Western Conference. The Maize
and Blue, the experts predicted
confidently, would fight it out with
Ohio State for fifth place.
Lots of Reasons
They had a lot of reasons-and
they were all sound. But the prog-
nosticators forget one thing: the
intangibles. A hard working coach
brought out in his men more than
they ever realized they had. He was
able to do it because his players
wanted to do it; because they had
the spirit, the desire, the fight and
the heart.
And so, onthe morning of the
last big football Saturday, the eyes
of the sports world were focused on
Columbus, Ohio, where Ohio State
and Michigan would battle for the
championship of the Western
Conference.
Rose Bowl Chance
Hysteria ran higher than usual
in the Buckeye's backyard. A vic-
tory for OSU would give them an
undefeated season and a trip to
the Rose Bowl. Michigan needed
a win to garner a cochampionship.
When the dust had bleared, a
dauntless band /of Ohioans had
hammered a Maize and Blue into
submission, 21-7, after Michigan
had taken an early 7-0 lead and
an upset appeared to be in the
making.
The turning point of the contest
came late in the third period. With
the score tied, Ohio stopped the
Wolverines on the one-foot line
after four plays had gained as
many yards for Michigan. That
magnificent goal-line stand prov-
ed to be the straw that broke the
Wolverines' back, for the Buckeyes
promptly marched 99 yards for
the score that turned the huge sta-
dium into a madhouse. A third
touchdown with less than a minute
to play was just extra gravy for
Coach Woody Hayes and his team.
The visitors marched 68 yards
after the opening kickoff to score
before Ohio had its hands on the
ball. The touchdown play com-
pletely confused the Buckeyes.
Fullback Fred Baer handed off to
Lou Baldacci who pitched off to
Danny Cline who swept left end
all alone for a touchdown. Michi-
gan continued to dominate the
contest but could never cross pay-
dirt.
Underdogs Win
It is difficult to say whether the
Iowa or Michigan State wins were
"bigger." A crippled Wolverine
team, overwhelming underdogs,
handed the Hawkeyes two touch-
downs in the first eight minutes of
the game, and then completely
outplayed the favorites the rest of
the way to win, 14-13. Sophomore
end Ron Kramer, who took a 29-
yard pass from quarterback Jim
Maddock for the final score, con-
verted after both scores to provide
the margin ,of victory.
The game stands as the flower-
ing point of the season. The squad
played as a cohesive unit for the
first time during the year. Herald-
ed Kramer started to live up to his
pre-season notices and Maddock
directed the team superbly. Michi-
gan demonstrated to the shirt-
sleeve crowd good depth and the
ability to come from behind.
Fumbles led to both of Iowa's
scores. Ed Hickey dropped the op-
ening kickoff and it was recovered
by the Hawkeyes on the 17-yard
stripe. Seven plays later the Maize
and Blue trailed by one TD. On the
second play from scrimmage on
the ensuing kickoff Iowa again
snatched up a loose ball. It also
took only seven plays to score.
From there on in though, it was all
Michigan.
Capacity Crowd
A capacity throng of 97,239 roar-
ed gleefully as Michigan picked up
its first win against Michigan State
since 1949 as it humbled the Spar-
tans, 33-7. Kramer, the huge East
Detroit end, played his greatest
game of the season to lead the vic-
tors. Said one newspaper observ-
er: "Yesterday he (Kramer) outdid
all his previous efforts as he put
forth one of the greates individual
performances seen in Michigan
Stadium in a long time."
There were, however, times dur-
ing the year that it looked like the
closest Michigan would get to Cal-
ifornia would be through a travel
folder. This was especially true aft-
er the debacle against Army. The
quarterbacking magic of Pete Vann
was the key factor as the Cadets
trounced a slightly favored Michi-
gan contingent, 26-7.
The West - Pointers out-played
and out-fought the Wolverines at
at every phase of the game. The
Army line continually opened gap-
ing holes in the Wolverines forward
wall.
Open with Win
Coming after an unimpressive
14-0 win over the Washington Hus-
kies gloom settled over Ann Arbor.
Playing at Seattle, almost exclu-
See KRAMER, Page 11
By JACK HORWITZ
Associate sports Editor
When the 1955 edition of the
Michigan football team trots onto
the gridiron to face Missouri in
the opening game, most fans will
be looking to the future with vis-
ions of perhaps an unbeaten sea-
son and a trip to the Rose Bowl.
After a season in which the
Wolverines drove down to the wire
before losing their chance for the
trip to the coast, Coach Bennie
Oosterbaan's gridders will be faced
with a schedule, similar to the sui-
cidal nine-game card of 1954.
Facing Army, Iowa, Michigan
State, Minnesota, Illinois, and
Ohio State, all of whom rank
among the best in the country, the
Wolverines will field a team which
appears to be one of great depth
in many positions, good team
speed, and highly experienced to
meet the challenge.
25 Gridders Return
The grid squad lists a nucleus
of 25 returning lettermen from
last season's second place finish-
ers in the Big Ten. The returnees
include regular , starters at both
ends, center, one guard, and quar-
terback, fullback, and right half-
back in the backfield. To fill in
the gaps, many reserve letter
winners and some promising soph-
omores will also be added to the
roster.
Probably the only worries
which bother Oosterbaan are the
tackles and left halfback slots.
With the loss of All-American Art
Walker and his running mate Ron
Geyer at the tackles, and Danny
Cline at the tailback spot, the
RON KRAMER (No. 87)
... All-American prospect?
GLORY AT COLUMBUS-Dave Hill is stopped in the most controversial play in recent years. The
big Michigan fullback was slammed at the one footline for the third straight try-and from there
the Buckeyes of Ohio State took over-and marched right in to the Rose Bowl, beating Michigan,
BIG JERRY GOEBEL-reaches high into the air to bat down one of quarterback Sandy Lederman's
aerials and the Wolverines rip the Huskies of Washington in last season's opener, 14-0.
Michigan coaching staff will have
to use many untried gridders to
fill the vacancies.
Fullback Question
Another question mark may be
the fullback slot. Lou Baldacci,
who started as a quarterback in
1953, will alternate between the
quarterback and fullback posi-
tions as he did last season. Dave
Hill, another regular fullback,
missed the entire spring practice
and is still unsure of playing this
fall.
The loss of Walker and Geyer
leaves only John Morrow, a con-
verted center, and Bill Kolesar as
returning tackles. Morrow, who
who played about half of the 1954
season and Kolesar, who saw only
52 minutes of action, will be com-
peting with Clem Carona, Jim Or-
wig, Jim Davies, Jim Preston, and
Dave Owen for the starting as-
signments. Owen, the Big Ten in.
door shotput champion, has great
speed and agility for his 200
pounds and will be a strong can-
didate in the fall.
Strong Line
The rest of the line should be
very strong, especially the end po-
sitions. Big Ron Kramer, Michi-
gan's most likely candidate for
All-American honors this fall, is
being hailed as one of the finest
ends Wolverine grid fans have
seen since the playing days of
Oosterbaan. His fie pass rcev-
in gability, expert marksmanship
in converting the points after
touchdowns, and a 41.4 yard av-
erage in kicking the pigskin, make
the 220-pound end a star after
only one season of varsity com-
petition,
In addition to Kramer, the re-
turning ends include Tom Maents,
Mike Rotunno, John Vesselenak,
and Charlie Brooks. In addition,
End Coach Matt PataOlli has
Dave Ward, Dave Bowman, and,
Gordon Morrow as likely pros-
pects although they may find it
hard to break into the lineup
with such an array of regulars
ahead of them.
Seven Centers
The center slot seems quite deep
with four regulars returning along
with three sophomore prospects.
Jim Bates, after being out last
season with an injury should be
ready for action along with Gene
Snider, Jerry Goebel, and John
Peckham. Bill MacPhee, Lionel
Sigman, and Don Rambiesa will
also be trying to break into the
lineup.
At the guards, Captain Ed
Meads, Jim Fox, Dick Hill and
Bob Marion are returning this
year. Meads and Hill showed some
very fine play last season and Hill
was regarded as one of the finest
guard prospects in the Big Ten.
Behind them, a flock of veterans
and prospects will fill in the depth
at these positions.
The backfield will be essentially
the same story, lots of depth and a
few stars. The strength lies in
two positions, the quarterbacks
and wingbacks. Baldacci along
with Jim Maddock handled this
spot last season and both are re-
turning. With Baldacci filling the
fullback slot part of the time,
Maddock will be aided by Jim Van
Pelt, winner of the Meyer Morton
trophy given to the outstanding
prospect in spring practice, John
Greenwood, and Paul Baldwin,
both reserves last season.
Branoff Recovered
Tony Branoff will probably start
in the right halfback slot, barring
any recurrence of the leg injuries
which kept him sidelined a good
portion of the 1954 season. The
hard-driving wingback was the
workhorse of the 1953 squad both
as a ball carrier and a pass re-
ceiver. Behind Branoff, Backfield
Coach Don Robinson has Ed
Shannon, who filled in for Branoff
when the latter was injured. The
Chicago junior played 223 minutes
of football along with Ed Hickey
and George Corey who salso saw
See GRID, Page 10
1955
Schedule'
l
Pueksters Annex
NCAA Ice
Title
MacFarland Leads Hockey Squad
To Second Place Finish in WIHL
By DAVE GREY
The crown of collegiate suprem-
acy is being worn proudly again
by Coach Vic Heyliger's fighting
hockey team.
Michigan climaxed a thrilling,
season-long uphill struggle when
it defeated Colorado College last
March, 5-3, to skate off with top
honors -- the 1954-55 National
Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) hockey championship.
Fifth Title
For Heyliger, the win marked
his fifth national title in the last
eight years.
Second place in the Western In-
tercollegiate Hockey L e a g u e
standings was good enough to gain
a playoff berth and the much-
sought-after trip to the finals for
Michigan at the huge Broadmoor
Ice Palace at Colorado Springs,
Colo.
T h e undermanned Wolverine
sextet was perhaps one of the most
unusual in history of Michigan
sports. Boasting a roster with only
one senior-reserve goalie Bill Lu-
cier-Michigan not only lacked
experience but it was also _shy in
depth. Heyliger skated most of
the season an 11-12 man team, an
almost unheard of small number
in today's "fastest sport."
Tired certainly was the apt word
to describe the Wolverines' early
season performance as the neces-
sity of double duty started to take
its toll. Michigan was barely able
to put two full forward lines on
ice, while opponents were using
three offensive teams.
WITH PHIL DOUGLIS .
Daily Sports Editor
ON BEHALF OF the Michigan sports scene, it is indeed a pleasure}
to extend a hearty welcome to you, the class of 1959.
During your four years at Michigan, you will have the pleasure of
watching some of the world's finest athletic teams perform right- in
your own back yard, experiences which will add to the richness of a
well-rounded college life..
It it's champions you wanted, you were wise in picking Michigan
as your school. No other university in the world can match Michigan
in overall championships down through the years.
The great Wolverine teams are threats every time they go into a
contest-and a quick peak at the record books will show you why.
They will show you exactly 100 Big Ten titles won, and 24 shared.
They will show you over 116 individual national champions, 15 NCAA
team championships, and some 32 unanimous football All-Americans.
Education First .,..
BUT MICHIGAN also views sports in their proper perspective. Never
does an athletic contest become more important than the educa-
tional functions of the University.
More than championships, Michigan looks with pride at her
great athletic tradition and spirit. This spirit is intangible, and wrap-
ped up in names such as Yost, Harmon, Chappius, Kipke, Friedman,
Oosterbaan, Mann, Fisher, Ricky, Sisler, Heyliger, and of course
Crisler.
It is the "Victors" of Ebel, the bands of Revelli, the largest col-
legiate stadium in the. world, the cry's of "Roll 'em Up." the smoky
atmosphere of a local restaurant on a football Saturday, the open
houses on fraternity front porches, the big hockey nights at the
Coliseum, the roaring pep rallies, and the big bells of Burton.
Typifying this "spirit that is Michigan" was a little incident,
that took place last spring. When Michigan's mighty hockey squad
won the right to bid for the National Championship at Colorado
Springs, Colorado, some five Fichigan students, in a car painted with
Maize and Blue slogans, started out across the nation-following the,
Wolverines.
After a hair-raising series of near mishaps, the group finally ar-
rived at the Broadmoor Hotel a day or so later-only to find out that
all tickets were sold. But armed with determination and cow' bells,
these diehards somehow managed to squeeze into the jammed Ice
Palace, and despite the huge Colorado partisan crowd, the group was
very audibly in evidence.
Tennis Team to
By DICK CRAMER "
Michigan had a team of destiny
last year.
After the Wolverines had failed
to win a single Big Ten champion-
ship in 1953-54, at least one team
-the tennis squad - promised
from the beginning to regain for
Michigan some of its accustomed
title glory during the 1954-55
school year.
Coach Bill Murphy's netters
didn't fail. They followed the
script to perfection by sweeping
undefeated through a hectic
schedule of 13 dual meets and then
unseating three-time champion,
Indiana, in the Big Ten playoffs
at Evanston, Illinois.
Start Early
The record of accomplishments
began with a sparkling southern
tour during spring vacation. Only
three individual matches were lost
in defeating Vanderbilt, Georgia
Tech, and Georgia on the April
jaunt.
A full month elapsed before the
Wolverines resumed dual meet
competition, but they proved that
the scledule-break was well used.
Not only were Big Ten opponents
Northwestern, Wisconsin, Ohio
State, Michigan State, Indiana,
and Illinois rolled over, but three
non-conference foes also met de-
feat before Michigan.
Losing only three of nine
matches against Indiana, the Wol-
verines actually found their
roughest going against Western
Michigan in an "exhibition" meet.
The rivals from the great tennis
Undefeated Year
Netters Capture
yBig Ten Crown
MacKay, Jaffe, Nederlander Spark
BILL MacFARLAND
. . . reelected captain
skate, and required 36 stitches to
be closed.
On top of this, fiery new center
Tom Rendall was declared ineli-
gible, because of an incomplete in
his transfer record from the Uni-
versity of Manitoba. Coach Hey-
liger had more than reason to be
pessimisti cabout chances to makeF
the playoffs.
But "that miracle" must have
happened as the Wolverines ever
so slowlyu beg n o aiust tfhem-.
BARRY MacKAY
. . . Number one singles
joined a full complement of vet-
erans in attracting a pre-season
rating of favorites in the Big Ten.
Wresting the top three positions
on the team from the returning
lettermen, the newcomers were
led by the spectacular nationally-
ranked Barry MacKay from Day-
ton, Ohio. MacKay, in the first
singles position, went through the
entire dual meet season without
defeat.
1954