Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 41

climidt Tackles Lioes9 Retaildim WaSsS naji ffJofo the Lions finished the season in last place in the Western Division of the NFL. With the signing of Schmidt, Ford paved the way for a complete realignment of the Lions' staff. Ford said all of ex- From Oar Sports Wires DETROIT The youngest head coach in the National Football League today began a rebuilding Job on the lowly Detroit Lions. Joe Schmidt. 33, a 13-year veteran with the Lions, signed a five-year contract with owner William Clay Ford Wednesday at a reported $40,000 a year.

He replaced Harry Gilmer, a cowboy-clothed southerner, who was fired last week after coach Gilmer's assistants have been released but Schmidt said some are being considered for his staff. Schmidt's major Job will be to rebuild the sagging Lions who have fallen from their once lofty position in the NFL. He said he has been given a free hand to make deals but will discuss his moves with Ford and Russ Thomas, vice president and general man- 1 ager. JC Transfer Boosts By BOB HOEBNER State Journal Sports Editor In pre -season discussions, the Big Ten basketball coaches agreed that the conference didn't have any super stars in the Cazzie Russell or Jerry Lucas class this year. They also agreed that Sam Iowa or Ron Norman (63).

White has been a starter but Norman came off the bench against Indiana and scored 16 points. Williams and Jones each have been Iowa's leading scorer in four games. Jones was high in the other two. Junior forward Art Baylor will probably get the assignment to guard Williams. Benington plans to start his regular 1 i of Baylor, Matt Aitch, Lee Lafayette, John Bailey and Steve Rymal.

"We have to. make trades to make us a contender. It could take two or three years," Schmidt said. Schmidt is only one year removed from being a player himself, having retired after the 1065 NFL season. During 1966, be served as a defensive coach under Gilmer.

Commenting on troubles that plagued Gilmer when players were openly critical of the coaching staff, Schmidt said he expected no problems from the players. Gilmer himself desc i Schmidt on one occasion last year as a very good coach. He said Schmidt had the ability to get across to the players exactly what he wanted of them. "It will be hard to draw a line on friendship," Schmidt said. "It may create a little difficulty at first but we respect each other's abilities.

"I don't pretend to be a pied piper," Schmidt said. "I'm certainly going to be fair and honest with the ball players and expect them to be fair and honest back. "As a ball player fur 13 years, I know a player likes It won't be a joking matter Saturday night when the Spar tans attempt to slow down Williams and the Hawks. Williams is Iowa's second leading scorer with a 19.2 average. Tom Chapman, a 6-3 guard, is the leader with a 20.8 average.

Williams, Huston Breedlove. and Gerry Jones, who was ineligible last year, will probably be on the front line. Breedlove is 6-5 and Jones is 6-4. Teaming with Chapman in the back-court will be Dave White (64) Lions' Owner Bill Ford with Lansing, East Lansing, Michigon 12, 1967 SECTION Bob Hoerner Pi Ml JC Helped Aitch 2 Ways Playing Packers Like Facing Best in AFL, Dawson Says Williams could be player in the league. the key Williams is a former Detroit Northern High School athlete who played two years at Burlington Junior College in Iowa.

Averaging 30 points a game for the two seasons, be was named to the Junior College All-America team twice. Several of the conference schools, including Michigan State, recruited him last spring. Benington, Dave Strack at Michigan and Iowa's Ralph Miller had strong programs pointed at Williams. "Whoever gets Sam Williams," the Spartan coach said after the junior college player naa vtsitea tne Michigan state campus, "will be favored to win the conference crown. If we get him.

we should be favored. If he goes to Michigan, then Michigan will be favored. The same holds true for Iowa. "We are all about even right now. Williams would be the difference," Benington said.

Iowa won the recruiting battle and Williams has been vital in the Hawkeyes success this season. Miller and his Hawks, including Williams, come to East Lansing Saturday for their first road test in the conference race. Iowa has an 8-2 record, winning its' last seven games including its conference opener against Indiana. "Williams is certainly not a one-man gang," Benington said Wednesday, "but because he's so versatile, be gives you extra problems." The 6-3 J.C. transfer plays all three positions guard, forward and center.

"If you assign a guard to defend him." Benington ex- Stained, "he'll go inside where has an advantage. If you put a taller forward on him, he'll operate from the outside. "Maybe, if we put a reserve on him, he'll go to the bench," the coach joked. to be treated fair and honest I feel that the ball players are behind me 100 per cent" he added. "I do not think I'll have trouble with players criticizing coaches or players.

I certainly hope it doesn't come up," Schmidt said. "I'm going up against guys like Vince Lombardi and Blan-ton Collier. But I feel it's a great challenge, The comparison aligned Green Bay's front four of 245 pound Willie Davis, 260 -'pound Ron Kostelnik, 250 pound Henry Jordan and 245 pound Lionel Aldridge with Boston's up front line of 250-pound Larry Eisenhauer. 270-pound Houston An twine. 245 pound Jim Hunt and 240-pound Bob Dee.

"The Green Bay linebackers are like Buffalo's," Dawson went on, "big, strong, fast and they tackle very well. The ball carrier doesn't fake them out They're tough, they hit, they jam the tight end." That comparison set Green Bay's linebackers 245 pound Dave Robinson, 240-pound Ray Nitschke and 250-pound Lee Roy Canfey against the Bills' trio of 240-pound Mike Stratton, 225- pound Harry Jacobs and 225 -I pound John Tracey. 'The Green. Bay defensive backs are most like Oakland's," When Matt Aitch graduated from Maplewood High School In Richmond Heights, Mo. a suburb of St Louis he had a couple of problems.

He had Just completed three years on the high school basketball varsity. As a 64 center he had helped Maplewood win three straight conference championships. Matt wanted Jo play college basketball, but, at only 8-5, he was too small to be a center and he couldn't maneuver enough to be a forward. This is a problem many high school centers face when they advance to the college ranks. Matt had another problem, too.

He had spent more time on the basketball court than with the books at Maplewood, and his marks weren't good enough to enter most schools. By MIKE RATHET LOS ANGELES (AP) Kansas City quarterback Len Dawson took apart the Green Bay defense today without throwing a pass and found that in Sun- Belated Story, Page E-S day's Super Bowl game he'll be firing against the equivalent of Boston's front four, Buffalo's linebackers and Oakland's secondary. Ticking off attributes and personality of Green Bay's defensive forces, Dawson drew a comparison with the units of three American Football League teams. "The Packers front four are extremely quick, like Boston's," Dawson said, "and like Boston they're a veteran group which plays extremely well together." John Benington, Michigan auie oasKetbau coach, was top man at St Louis University at that time. He had seen Matt play several games as a senior and was interested in having the center enroll at St Louis U.

Benington had to drop the idea, at least for the time, when Matt's final marks were posted. Still hoping for a shot at big-time college basketball, the center enrolled at Moberly. Junior College. The school Is about 129 miles from St Louis. It was the best move he could have made.

He solved both of his problems there. Competition on the basket- Dawson Expects Similar Rush from Packers -BROOKS MEN'S SHOP- Capitals Swap MATT AITCH Washington For Walker ban court wasn't as tough at Moberly as it would have been at St Louis U. or some other major college. This gave Matt a chance to play in every game, and develop as an all-around player. He grew a couple of inches he 1-7 and 230 now and that didn't hurt the situation any.

"Looking back over Matt's career." Benington commented here recently, "maybe it was a good thing he didn't meet the entrance requirements at a larger school He might have been lost in the crowd on the basketball team. You learn to play the game in games, and he gained much more experience in two years on the junior college varsity than he would have at a big school." New Coach Joe Schmidt "I'll do everything in my power to bring a winning team into Schmidt and Ford emphasized that youth will play a big part in the rebuilding of the Lions into a NFL contender. There are 28 players on the roster with three years or less experience in pro football "The majority of our play-See SCHMIDT, Pg.E-4.CoLS Dawson said as he completed his breakdown. "They're real solid at the comers and they all react very well." Green Bay's cornerbacks ar Herb Adderley and Bob Jefcv. Oakland's Kent McCloughan and Dave Grayson.

The Packer safeties are Willie Wood and, Tom Brown, the Raiders' Rodger Bird and Warren Powers. Having completed his breaking down of the Green Bay defense into the three components, Dawson then put it back together again and said: "There's no doubt they're going to present a problem. They pressure you extremely well, and like Boston they have a lot of second effort If you knock them down, you've got to lay on them or they'll get back into the play. "But," Dawson added, "that doesn't mean they present a problem we can't overcome. 58s8 $95.00 OFF Two former Michigan State Walker and Stan Washington, traded North American Basketball League uniforms today.

Jim Kallman of the Lansing Capitals announced that Wash- Matt Hit the Books Stop in today for these great savings SPORT COATS 28 88 38 88 and mm Values to $50.00 One and Two Pants ington had been swapped to Cf FIIa 2nd Best In Nation? United Press btenatioaal Southern Illinois todav laid claim to the title of the best second best college basketball team in the nation. It did so over the dead bodv of Louisville, which was gunned down by the lean hungry SaluUs 53-50 in Carbondale, EL, night for its first defeat of the season after 13 consecutive victories. Southern Illinois, ranked se cond nationally in the United Press International small college ratings, went to Louisville, ranked second among the major schools, with a vengeance and vengeance is what the Salukis got A 70416 double overtime victim of the Cardinals earlier In the season at Louisville. Southern Illinois Jumped to an early lead and never was headed although Louisville surged to within two points at 48-46 with 3:05 remaining in the game. Walt Frazier, a 6-foot-4 Junior guard who sat out SIU's fine 22- season a year aso with scholastic difficulties, took it from there, sinking five free throws in the final 66 seconds as the Cardinals fouled intentionally trying to gain possession.

The victory was the second for the Salukis over a nationally ranked major power and intensified Southern Illinois' efforts to gain admission to the Missouri Valley Conference, of which Louisville is a member. The Salukis previously knocked off sixth-ranked Texas Western, the defending NCAA champion. in its own Sun Carnival. Texas Western was ranked kmd at the time. basketball standouts.

Horace the Grand Rapids Tackera for Walker. I Both players had trouble with their teams last weekend. Wash' ington was suspended for having a hassle with the Capitals coach and Walker was suspended for not showing up for a game. Walker, who has been with the Tackers for three seasons, is the league's leading rebounder with an average of 16 per game. He was the fifth scorer on the Grand Rapids team with a 13.8 average.

Washington has been tagged as the top rookie in the league. He is in second place in the league scoring race with a 24.6 average. The deal re-unites two of State's top players. Lance Olson. the Capitals new coach, and Walker played together for coach Forddy Anderson and later they were on the same Denver Truckers team in theil National industrial Basketball League.

Walkers first appearance with the Capitals will be against his former Grand Rapids team at Everett High School's gym Jan. 21. UNIROYAL WINTERIDE The Dry Road SNOW TIRE DOSS ZOKER TOE SERVICE 329 River St IV 7-59M omsm TOP COATS $4888 $5888 $7g88 Matt also found out that he had to work on his class assignments as well as his basketball assignments. Benington kept an eye on him. hoping that he would play his last two years at St Louis.

The coach knew Matt's basketball ability had advanced enough for the tougher competition, but there still was a question about his marks. 6ne day Benington received a call from an instructor at the junior college. "Matt's studies are up and in good shape. I think he can make the grade at any school now," was the report to Benington. Benington contacted Aitch and they talked about Matt playing at St Louis University.

Several other schools were interested in the center by this time. Including Drake and Colorado. Aitch hadn't made a decision on where to play his final two years when Benington accepted the coaching position at Michigan State. John was an assistant coach at State early in his career and, at that time, the Big Ten schools could not use junior college transfer students two years. When Benington found out that the Big Ten had changed its rule and allowed the JC transfers two years eligibility, he called Aitch again and asked him to go to Michigan State.

Pleased with an opportunity to play in the Big Ten, Aitch promised he would consider it seriously. The big center visited the campus for a weekend. It was the same weekend John's wife, Barbara, was in East Lansing house hunting. Mrs. Benington and Matt returned to St Louis on the same flight "Don't worry about Matt Aitch," Mrs.

Benington told her husband over the phone as soon as she was back in St Louis. "We sat together on the plane, and I'm sure I convinced him he should play for Michigan State." Fine Recruiter She's a fine recruiter. Matt decided to play at Michigan State. Benington is pleased with Matt's play on the court Last year he stepped into the center slot and helped carry the Spartans to a surprise second-place finish in the conference race. He was the team's third leading scorer and re bounder.

He's the only starting senior this year and is tops both in scoring and rebounding. If the Spartans make a strong run for the title, as many think they will, Matt Aitch will carry a major share of the load. But Benington is just as pleased with Matt's progress In the classroom. Theres' a letter in Aitch's file In the coach's office. It's written to Benington from Dr.

Keith Anderson, Coordinator for Education 450. In part the letter says: "Matthew Aitch has worked hard, attended classes regularly and has earned a well-deserved B. He has a positive attitude -toward education and he's been a pleasure to have in class." Thanks to many people, Including himself, Matt's problems have been solved. Values to From Our Regular Stock Values to $85.00 ALL JACKETS SWEATERS i3 to Vz OFF SPORT i3 OFF DRESS SHIRTS 13 OFF .13 OFF 13 mm Fight Resaits NEW YORK (UPD-Feta Morales, 1401-J. outpointed Ulysses Jimenez, 140.

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