The Times Herald from Port Huron, Michigan • Page 19

3C THE TIMES HERALD PORT HURON, MICH. Sunday, 0cibf 3 1,1978 Haddad trades in rushes, but not points for Huskies 3 J. v. if3) VoOl -v. I I 1 4 '1 By JEFF JACOBS Times Herald Sports Writer The nickname "Bobby" has been retired, but John Haddad is now in position to make his mark in collegiate hockey.

Sophomore Haddad has followed the footsteps of Port Huron's Steve Letzgus and has taken his hockey wares to play defense for Michigan Tech. The young fellows around McMorran Junior Arena once called the defense-man Bobby as in Orr because of his propensity for flashy rink-length rushes. Haddad still had a tendency to play like a fourth forward during junior hockey too. Well, that's all ended. Entering this weekend's Great Lakes Invitational at Olympia Stadium, Haddad has used his powerful slap shot to score six goals and seven assists in 16 games for Tech, ranked eighth nationally.

Coach John Maclnnes. however, makes a point of Haddad staying on the point and not shaking hands with the opposing goaltender. Position hockey, please. "Even when I was playing for Paddock Pools, I used to make a lot of rushes up ice," Haddad said. "But Coach Maclnnes doesn't go for that style much.

I may do it just once a game or so. By playing offensively in the past, it has helped on things like the power play and in my skating. Our team has the best percentage in the nation for scoring on the power play." After playing minor hockey in Port Huron for such travel teams as the Star Oilers in squirt, Secory Flyers in pee wee and Cosgrove Flames in bantam, Haddad jumped to junior hockey at age 15 with the defunct Port Huron Fogcutters in the Michigan Junior Hockey League. After playing for the Fogcutters for a year and a half, Haddad moved to the Paddock Pools Saints when the Port Hu- the games last year and finished with eight goals and 10 assists. This year he has moved in permanently on right defense.

"I'm a left-handed shot, but it really wasn't bad playing the off wing," Haddad said. "I think I felt fairly comfortable there because I've played so much defense on the right side. "I've improved 100 percent since starting college," he said. "We begin in October and skate just about every day until February. It's just natural to improve with that much ice time." Michigan Tech, 6-6-2 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, has drawn several players from Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan in recent times.

Maclnnes. twice NCAA Coach of the Year, does have five southeastern Michigan players on the team. Jeff Johnston, of Grosse Pointe Woods. Rodger Moy of Rochester, Al Mickalich of Pleasant Ridge and Dave Stewart of Livonia join Haddad on the Huskies roster. "We're a young team with mostly all under classmen," Haddad said.

"I think we could really compete for the national championshp next year. We're a little short on experience right now." Thursday Haddad expressed fear that defending NCAA champion Boston University would take advantage of Tech's Christmas layoff. The Terriers had been working out during the holidays, but it didn't help. Tech pulled out a 6-4 victory Friday night at the Olympia for the school's biggest victory of the season. Tech faced Ohio State in Saturday's Great Lakes championship game.

If the Huskies can maintain the playing level of Friday night, then they may not have to wait until the future to compete for the national crown. John Haddad and Tech could make the surge for an NCAA title this season. Wt VVY John Haddad Has six goals for 8th-ranked Tech ron team folded. Haddad starred for the Saints as they won the National Junior Tournament. "Bob McCammon (former Port Huorn Flags caoch and now coach of the Philadelphia Flyers) talked to me about trying out for the Kitchener Rangers of the OH A.

but I really wanted to go to college." Haddad joins a couple other Port Huron area players in college hockey. Jack McKinch plays for Northern Michigan and Mark Sanford is on the roster at Lake Sanford at Lake Superior State. Haddad. who saw action at right wing last season, played about two-thirds of s.1 I rj i if v-f Nebraska's Osborne feels Woody was a victim of his own emotions I By The Associated Press The decision by Ohio State to dismiss Woody Hayes after the legendary coach slugged a CTemson player in Friday night's 17-15 Gator Bowl loss, left the college football community in a state of shock Saturday. "He was a victim of his own emotion." said Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne, whose team plays Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl Monday night "I think what happened last night is unfortunate.

College football is supposed to be something more than win at all costs. "People want to win. If you lose, you feel I'ke somebody died pretty close to you for a while." Oklahoma Coach Barry Switzer said he was sorry that Hayes swung at Clem-son linebacker Charlie Bauman after an interception with two minutes remaining in the game. Asked if he could imagine himself hit ting a player, Switzer said, "I don't react that way. I can't see myself doing that.

But we haven't coached for 40 years." Osborne added, "Barry and I are still too smart to hit a guy with shoulder pads and a helmet on." Coach Bo Schembechler of Michigan, in Pasadena, for the Rose Bowl game against Southern California, expressed sorrow for Hayes. "I'm saddened by it," he said. "1 hate to see something like that happen. None of us who have been closely associated to him as a player or coach wanted to see it happen this way. 1 would hope you people (the press) look on the great things he's done as a coach, not dwell on his indiscretion." "I think you ought to all take into consideration the enormous pressure of coaching football today." Schembechler continued.

"Sometimes vou do some things that if you have second thoughts, you wouldn't do. I'm not condoning what happened, just saying there's enormous pressure." John Robinson of Southern Cal said, "I would think little of those who would gloat over it. Tragedies happen to all of us in our lives. When you decide to judge anyone, you've got to measure the good done in his life with the bad. Don Canham.

Michigan's athletic director, said, "I think we all feel the same all over the country. It's the passing of an era. I hate to see it happen that way. People who know him are damn sad about it. I guess it's an argument for retirement at 65 That's bad for the coaching profession.

I think Ohio State handled it properly. It's the first time I've ever heard of a coach hitting an opposing player in any sport." CONTROVERSIAL CATCH Football sails into the waiting arms of Steelers' Lynn Swann (88) dzone before Bill Thompson pulled him back, but late in AFC playoff game against Denver. The the touchdown was allowed by officials. See page Broncos claimed that Swann was not in the en- 1C for related story. No.

Duke falters again NEW YORK (AP) Wavne Mekov uevus nau ouiu up a Dig lead in the second half, only to lose it to the onrushmg Buckeyes This time. Duke led by as many as 19 points. at the start of the second half, before the underdog Kedmen turned things around. "I'sually in the first half we have problems." said Foster, "but now we're having them in the second." Shortly after Duke had built up its mountainous lead. St.

John's outscored the Atlantic Coast Conference powerhouse 16-2 as Mckoy contributed 8 points to the rally. That narrowed the margin to 46-39 with 12:17 left in the game. The Kedmen then outscored Duke 18-7 to move into a 57-53 lead with six min utes left. In one hot stretch. Gilroy.

cheered on by the thundering near-capacity crowd at the Garden, scored 10 straight points for St. John's to pull the Rednien into a 61-58 lead at the 3:56 mark. The Blue Devils could get no closer than 1 point away thereafter. Reggie Carter delivered the killing shots for St. John's with four free throw in the last 25 seconds as the partisan crowd rose to its feet.

"I'm really surprised at what's happening," Foster said. "I wasn't planning cm losing two games here, but you have to give St. John's credit. "The same thing happened in the Ohio State game. The Redmen came back two points at a time.

and Frank Gilroy led an inspired second-half rally as St. John's starred lop-ranked Duke 69-66 in the consolation game of the 27th KCAC Holiday Festival basketball tournament Saturday niht. It was the second loss in as many nights for the Blue Devils, who (hopped a first-round game at Madison Square Garden 90-84 in overtime Friday night to Ohio State, which met Rutgers for the championship. 'We don't seem to have it all together yet," said Coach Bill Foster. "Strange things are happening with us.

It's a complete turnover from what we've been doing." Duke's stunning upset loss was similar to its loss Friday night, when the Blue 1 1 '-WW i 5 a 1 Red Wings' playoff berth selected top sports story 1 1 1 FIT TO BE TIED Woody Hayes throws down a telephone during the Michigan-Ohio State game babtion for his actions in that game, was fired Satin 1977. A few minutes later he took a swing at a unlay for hitting a Clemson player in the Gator ABC cameraman, Hayes, who was place on pro- Bowl. TONIGHT! over Denver and a satisfying 45-14 rout of nemesis Minnesota. Anchored by rookie All-Pro Al Baker, the defensive line dubbed itself "the Silver Rush," and proceeded to set a club record with 55 quarterback sacks. Now ensconced with the Lions under the Pontiac Silverdome, time will tell how the Pistons fare under Vitale.

But the vociferous former University of Detroit coach and athletic director will be sure to let us know Much will depend on oft-injured center Bob Lanier. "Sweet Lou" was a slick-fielding joy to behold for Tiger fans. His timely hitting was a bonus, and opposing catchers finally had somebody besides Ron LeF-lore to worry about on the basepaths. Les Moss, manager last season at Detroit's Evansville AAA farm team, will replace Houk in Detroit next season. The Tigers never finished higher than fourth place during Houk's tenure Rick Leach didn't have to make a comeback in 1978.

His Michigan career has been among the most outstanding in college football history, and he holds a host of U-M, Big Ten "and NCAA offensive records. Leach finished third in the Helsman Trophy voting this year, The Flint native would like nothing better after three straight frustrations than to cap it all with a bowl victory. The fleet, powerful Gibson had baseball scouts drooling after his first college-level season at the sport A second team football All-American, Gibson would be a sure bet No. 1 pro draft pick If he hadn't opted for baseball. In terms of distance only, Danielson hasn't gone very far since he was a star quarterback for Dearborn Divine Child High School.

Replacing veteran Greg Landry as the Detroit Lions' top quarterback, the Purdue product started 11 games in his third pro season, and set team records for passes attempted and completed Principal architects of the team's resurgence were first-year general manager Ted Lindsay, an NHL Hall-of-Famer known as a hardnose both in his playing days for Detroit and as a team executive, and Bobby Kromm, the dapper, outspoken coach imported from the W1IA. Blending rookie talent like Dale McCourt and Reed Larson with veterans such as Dennis llextall and Nick Libett. the Red Wings captivated all of hockey as they came from nowhere to take second place in the Norris Division. Olympia Stadium, soon to be replaced by a new arena on the downtown riverfront, was the frequent scene of bedlam reminiscent of the days when Lindsay and the ageless Gordie Howe were the leaders of hockey's best team. Earvin Johnson brought his basketball "Magic" from state Class A high school champion Lansing Everett to nearby MSU along with another prep star, Jay Vincent of Lansing Eastern, and the results were Immediate.

The Spartans went 25-5 before a 52-49 loss to eventual champion Kentucky in the NCAA tournament. More evidence of the sports boom at MSU came on the football field where Ed Smith passed the Spartans into a share of the Big Ten title, and that 24 15 stunner over U-M In Ann Arbor on ()c. 14. But, completing the third and final year of an NCAA probation for recruiting violations, the Spartans can only watch as Michigan plays In the Rose Bowl again. In pro football, the Detroit Lions will have to wait until next season to complete their comeback from countless years of mediocrity.

Under Clark, the Lions were an unimpressive 7-9, but won six of their final nine games this year, Including a victory Mil By The Associated Press Judging from the votes of Michigan sports writers and broadcasters, 1978 was the year of the comeback. The renaissance of the Detroit Red Wings, a team that rose from the worst record in the National Hockey League to its first Stanley Cup playoff berth in a decade, was voted Michigan's top sports story of the year in the annual Associated Press poll. Michigan State's Big Ten basketball championship after a dismal previous season was chosen the No.2 story and third place went to the highlight of the Spartans' football comeback: an upset of Michigan. Filling out the year's Top Ten were: improvements in pro football's Detroit Lions under new coach Monte Clark. the much ballyhooed naming of Dick Vitale as the new coach of the National Basketball Association's Detroit Pistons.

second baseman Lou Whitaker of the Detroit Tigers winning American League Rookie-of-the-Vear honors. the resignation of Ralph Houk after five vears as the Tigers' manager. -Rick Leach capping a brilliant career as the University of Michigan's quarterback. the signing of top draft choice Kirk Gibson, a superstar wide receiver for Michigan State's football team, by baseball's Tigers, former Michigan prep star Gary Danlelson comes off the bench at mid-season to quarterback the NFL Lions to an Impressive finish. The effort of the Red Wings, who ousted Atlanta In the playoffs before elimination by eventual champion Montreal, easily outpolled everything else that made sports newi In Michigan during the year.

Holtz has no plans on leaving Arkansas LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) University of Arkansas football coach Lou Holtz said Saturday that he has no plans to leave Arkansas and take the head coaching job at Ohio State University. Holtz was rt'ported to be a leading candidate for the job after Woody Hayes was fired Saturday In a telephone interview from Honolulu. Holtz told Little Rock television statinp KARK that he has no plans to resign "I plan to stay at the University of Arkansas for as long as the people want me to," he said Holtz was in Honolulu to prepare for the Hula Bowl game next week. He dispelled rumors that was planning to depart Honolulu for Columbus.

Charles Bishop, president of the University of Arkansas, said neither he nor Frank Broyles. the university's athletic director, have been contacted by Ohio State University officials or by Holtz concerning the job. Broyles and Bishop said they would have no further comment VS. THE OWLS GAMFNME 7:30 PM ALL SEATS RESERVED ADUIT1 'U5 STUDf NTS RESEtVATIONS PH. 18541 61.