Championship, Not Bowl, Chief Aim For M

CHAMPIONSHIP, NOT BOWL CHIEF AIM FOR M
By Wayne DeNeff

Let’s set the record straight.
Naturally, Michigan wants to go to the Rose Bow like any other Big Ten team with a chance to make the trip, but there is one thing more important to Coach Bo Schembechler and his Wolverines.
And that is to win the Big Ten championship.
Hardly anyone is talking about the Big Ten title these days because of Ohio State’s tremendous power and the fact that the Buckeyes won’t be allowed to play in the Rose Bowl even if they win another championship.
But to Schembechler “bowls are secondary.”
“If you play in a conference like the Big Ten you have one goal,” said the Michigan coach, “and that goal is the championship.”
Schembechler would rather not talk about the Rose Bowl because there are three games still to be played but the sportswriters keep asking questions about it.
Schembechler was asked if he thought the much-debated “no-repeat rule” was a fair one and a good one.
He thought about it for quite awhile.
“Let’s say this,” he said, “there are a lot of factors involved. It’s not just going out there and playing a football game… that concession had to be made in order to get the pact signed.
“If they change the rule then let them,” he continued, “but then let the second place team go to another bowl game. A Big Ten team would be a big attraction in the south.”
Schembechler also said that playing in a bowl game every year could be “the ruination of recruiting. It’s hard to keep up with things at home.”
Schembechler was asked whether he felt it was right not to send the best Big Ten team to Pasadena. “Let’s wait and see who the best team is,” he said with a grin.
Schembechler is hoping to keep his Wolverines on an even keel emotionally as they head into their final three games of the campaign—at Illinois Saturday, at Iowa next Saturday and at home against Ohio State on Nov. 22.
It was evident that emotions were running high, and low, in last weekend’s Big Ten games.
Previously winless Minnesota rose up to smash dangerous Iowa, 35-8. Winless Illinois gave Purdue a spirited battle for half a game. Indiana was up and MSU down. Michigan battered Wisconsin for five first-half touchdowns but couldn’t get inspired for the second half with victory in the bag.
Schembechler had mixed emotions about that second half.
He said he was disappointed that the offense wasn’t able to sustain a single drive in the second half and he said he hoped “this doesn’t carry over to this Saturday.”
On the other hand, “maybe it’s just as well we didn’t come into the dressing room breaking up the lockers,” said Schembechler who is among those coaches who believe it is mighty difficult to get a squad sky high on successive Saturdays.
“You’ve got to be ready to play every week,” he said.
It’s fairly easy to see what happened in the Minnesota-Iowa game. The Gophers appeared down and out after getting thumped by Michigan, 35-9, the previous Saturday. Then tight end Ray Parson quit the team, indicating internal troubles. Although he rejoined the club, Iowa must have wondered about Minnesota’s readiness.
The Hawkeyes found out soon enough because Minnesota came out blocking and tackling with viciousness and the shock was devastating.
It’s said the Gophers were sky high for Ohio State the week before playing Michigan. Coach Murray Warmath said the Gophers should have won.
Illinois’ spirit is one of the things concerning Schembechler this week as he gets his Wolverines ready for the game at Champaign.
“I’ve observed this from the films,” says Schembechler. “No matter what part of the game it is, Illinois has kept its poise and enthusiasm. They give it all they’ve got from start to finish. They came right out after Purdue and the first time they had the ball moved it real well.”