THE MICHIGAN DAILY PAGE THREE PAGE THREE Grid Professors' Aim To Repeat Past uccesses By HANK KEISER If there is ever any question as to what single factor has had the most influence in contributing to the suc- cess of the University of Michigan's football teams, one need only turn his eyes to the famed list of coaches record by compiling 2,821 points to their opponents' 42. "Pop" Yost retired as Head Coach in 1923, after 23 consecutive years of service, and George Little suc- ceeded him retaining the position for one year. Yost again took over in '25 and '26 while Elton "Tad" Wie- man coached Maize and Blue crews the two following seasons. Kipke Becomes Coach In 1929 Harry G. Kipke stepped in- to the head man's berth. Kipke, one of Michigan's great All-Americans, and letter-winner in baseball and track as well, turned out four Con- ference Championship crews from 1930 through 1933, and added na- tional honors in the last two of these years. Today, the Maize and Blue's coaching staff is recognized as one of the best in the country. Faced with one of the roughest schedules in its history, Michigan is counting on "Fritz" Crisler and his aides to shape a team of the calibre that has brought the University fame in the past . . . . a team that will be a prime contender for national honors.. Crisler Is Key Man The key man in the picture is Wol- verine Athletic Director and Head Football Coach, Herbert Orin "Fritz" Crisler. "Fritz" became head coach at Michigan in 1938, after serving in the same capacity at Princeton and Minnesota and holding a position on the athletic staff of the University of Chicago, his alma mater, from which he was graduated with scholastic honors in 1922. While at Chicago he distinguished himself in football, basketball and baseball, becoming one of the Uni- versity's two nine-letter men. Ici- violinist in name he lacked any sort of natural ability. In his eight years as the directing genius of Maize and Blue grid crews Crisler has built up an enviable rec- ord, coaching Wolverine teams to 48 victories as against only 11 defeats and two ties. In addition, his 1943 aggregation shared the Big Ten foot- ball crown with Purdue. Strategy Of Attack Crisler's strategy is that of attack. It has been characterized as "inter- esting, deceptive, and productive of victories." Operating from a basic single wing-back and a "T" forma- tion on the offense, and utilizing a variety of "Crisler-devised" defens- ive tactics, his teams have always been feared and respected by their opponents. The training of the powerful Wolv- erine forward walls is handled ably by Head Line Coach Clarence L. "Biggie" Munn, who came to Michi- gan from Syracuse in 1938. In his seven years with the Maize and Blue he has built up the reputation of be- ing one of the finest line tutors in the country, continually developing powerful combinations from raw, in- experienced material. Munn Picked All-American Munn played guard at Minnesota under Crisler, in 1930 and 1931, and was named to the All-American squad. He captained both the Gopher football and track teams in his senior year. After assisting Minnesota's coach, Bernie Bierman, upon graduation, he became head coach and athletic di- rector at Albright College in '35 and '36 and line coach at Syracuse the following year, after which he came to Michigan. Earl T. Martineau, another of Martineau earned All - American honors in Minnesota's backfield, in which he starred from 1921 to 1923. Before entering college he served with the Marines in the First World War. While in France he fought in every major American campaign, dis- tinguishing himself time and again for bravery and heroism, for which he was awarded the Croix de Guerre, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Purple Heart, three general or- der citations and four regimental citations. Coached at Purdue He has also acted as backfield coach for three years at Purdue and head coach five years at Western Michigan College in Kalamazoo. The fourth member of Michigan's "brain-trust" is Bennie G. Ooster- baan, a man well-known both on the Wolverine campus and to Maize and Blue fans. He starred here in foot- ball, basketball and baseball and gained especial fame by clinching the All-American end nomination for three straight years, 1925, '26, and '27. Oosterbaan lends his well-devel- oped talents to training Michigan's flankmen. As end coach since 1928 he has developed many stellar grid aces and the fact that none of them have approached the greatness of their tutor does not detract from his recognized coaching ability but, rath- er, testifies to Benny's natural bril- liance. Oosterbaan is also the Wol- verines' head basketball coach. These four men, assisted by former Maize and Blue stars Wally Weber, Bill Barclay and Art Valpey consti- tute the pillars upon which rest Michigan's hopes for a successful 1945 grid season. Their job is made doubly difficult because only one of BENNIE OOSTERBAAN EARL MARTINEAU "FRITZ" CRISLER that have shepherded the stellar Wolverine grid squads through vic- torious years. Foremost among these. men is Michigan's "grand old man" Fielding H. Yost, whose "point-a-minute" teams established an unparalleled "BIGGIE" MUNN dentally, it was while playing end under the Maroon coach, Alonzo Stagg, that he received his nickname. After Crisler continually bungled a play, Stagg christened him 'Fritz," sarcastically stressing the fact that although he resembled the famous Record SPOUTS' NEWS + VIEWS + COMMENT By ILL MULLENDORE, Daily Sports Editor LAST YEAR, the pre-season dopesters rated the Washington Senators as a good dark-horse bet to sneak by the leaders and perhaps grab off a pennant for themselves, but that did not prevent the Nationals from finish- ing a dismal last. This season, the experts all but forgot about Ossie Bluege's charges, but a glance at yesterday morning's standings shows them resting serenely in second place, one percentage point above the second place New York Yankees and four and one-half games back of the league-leading Detroit Tigers. All of which leads us to speculate a bit on this team which seems to delight in confounding those "in the know." We had the opportunity to see the Senators on three occasions be- tween semesters as they knocked off the Tigers in a three-game series, two games to one. And by wartime standards, the Washingtonians were far from unimpressive. Bluege, in his third season as manager of the club, has put together a young, aggressive, hard-hitting ball club with a nice balance between youth and age. Given respectable pitching, it is a team that could offer a serious challenge to the leaders. For one thing, Washington can undoubtedly qualify, as the fastest club in the American League, if not in all baseball. Heading the list of speed demons is George Washington Case, the phenomenal sprinter who is claimed to be the fastest man in the game on the hasepaths. Case is currently leading the league in the base-stealing department, and his unusual speed and quick getaway from the plate have gained for him more than the normal number of infield hits. His legs also make him an excellent ground coverer in the outfield. But Case is not the only fast man on the Washington club. Out- fielder Bob Gardock is also a sprinter of some repute, as are infielders George Myatt and Gil Torres, and outfielder George Binks. Binks, a new comer to the league, has also proved his worth in the runs-batted-in de- partment, in ,which he ranks third best in the circuit. FOR BATTING PUNCH, the Senators have, besides the surprising Mr. Binks, veteran first baseman Joe Kuhel, Case, catchers Rick Ferrell and Al Evans, and Myatt, all better than fair hitters. In a year of almost unbelievably light hitting, Washington stacks up favorably with most clubs. The pitching department, the big question mark, depends on three knuckleballers-Emil (Dutch) Leonard, Roger Wolff, and Johnny Nig- geling-, for its main strength. Also lending a helping hand is colorful little (5 ft. 6 in.) Marino Pieretti, whose speed and general mound prowess belie his size. Joe Haynes has also been of some aid. Leonard and Niggeling, however, are getting on the ancient side, and can hardly be counted on for regular duty. The work of the others, with the possible exception of Wolff, has been spotty to date. Thus, pitch- ing remains as the department on which Washington's chances may rise or fall. To predict that the Senators will continue in their winning ways would be rather hazardous. Every team has its momentary spurts, even the Phila- delphia Phillies. But this recent surge has been interesting and has caused the leaders some little alarm. And in these years of wartime baseball, anything can happen. - - --- - - Crowd 'I Crisler's valued lieutenants, is charg- ed with whipping Maize and Blue backfields into fast-moving, well- coordinated, hard-hitting units. He joined Michigan's coaching staff in 1938, coming from Princeton where he had served under Crisler for the previous six years. Euatches Major League Standings NATIONAL LEAGUE last year's starting men is available for varsity ball. However, judging from past rec- ords, it can safely be predicted that Michigan's "grid professors," al- though beset by many handicaps, will produce a battle squad that can be counted on to pose a major threat to any top team in the country. Tigers Lose, 5-4 Passing Emphasized in Wolverine Grid Session Walt Teninga, Tom nfield, Bob Spencer And Chuck Lauritsen Try Hand at Hurling Grimes Leads Yankee Attack; Detroit Lead Cut by One Game Bevens Outpitches Overmire Before 31,288 Fans; Greenberg Strikes Out as Pinch Hitter By BILL LAMBERT While the blazing sun beat down on Ferry Field with all its summer intensity,Coach Fritz Crisler and his staff put the 'Wolverine gridders through their paces yesterday, plac- ing emphasis on passing for the first time during the early drills. Pass Plays Set Up Beside the usual dummy and blocking drills, backfield sets and pairs of ends were taking their first crack at setting up pass plays. Capt. Joe Ponsetto and Howard Yerges, re- serve quarter-back last year, were among the signal callers. Earl Al- bright, a new navy candidate, Walt Teninga, a civilian freshman, Tom Imfeld, Chuck Lauritson, and Bob Spencer were among those who took turns flipping the pigskin on the pays. Listed among the receivers were Bob Mann, fast end who was injured last fall; Ed McNeil, civilian fresh- man from"Toledo, Ohio; Cecil Frei- hofer, returning letterman from last year's squad; Ed Knick, and Ed Grankowski. Short running passes were the order of the day, with the ends splitting, and a back slicing over the middle. First Scrimmage Held At the end of the practice session, the squad went through an abbrevi- ated scrimmage, the first actual body BUY WAR BONDS CLASSIFIED DIRECTORY FOR RENT LIVE BETTER permanently in PITTSFIELD VILLAGE. You'll get more out of life - in this permanent community of 422 apartment homes, privately owned and managed, that offers country life with city conven- iences. On Washtenaw Road, be- tween Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Parks, playgrounds, school. One -story 2-level arrangements save steps. Elect. ref rig., gas stove, two bed- rooms. $52-$62 mo., unfurnished. Model apartment open daily 9 to 6 and Sunday 3 to 6; or phone Ann Arbor 2-6553. LOST REWARD: For return of wrist watch removed from the Men's Room at Michigan Union on June 21. Watch is Graduation gift of great senti- mental value. Leave at Union Desk or mail to Dave Mulholland, 610 S. Lansing St., Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. No questions will be asked. LOST: Ladies' wrist watch, platinum. Initials K. C. og back. Waltham, at Whitmore Lake July 4. Reward. contact since the start of the summer workouts. For. the most part an of- fensive scrimmage, the squads ran through only a few plays to gain smoothness. Of interesting note during the summer drills, is the outstanding representation of last spring's Michi- gan track team. Six members of the thinclad aggregation are seeking berths on the 1945 edition of the football machine. Lauritsen Backfield Candidate Lauritsen, a pole vaulter, and backfield candidate; Warren Bentz, another vault specialist who earned his football letter last year ; Hank Fonde, a sprinter and potential back; John Weyers, high jumper who last fall played guard; and John Larson and Russ Reader, both hurdlers, completes the list of former track- sters who have turned to the gridiron this year. The gridders will lay off today, with practice slated again for Mon- day, and continuing straight through the rest of the week. According to coach Crisler, "Plenty of, work will be needed to round off the rough edges," in the drills to come. TEAMS W x-Brooklyn........42 x-Chicago ........38 x-St. Louis.......39 New York........38 Pittsburgh .......36 Boston ............34 Cincinnati ........32 x-Philadelphia ....20 L 28 28 30 35 34 35 34 55 Pct. GB .600 . .576 2% .565 21,, .521 512 .514 6 .493 71Mf .485 8 .267 24'