Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 13

1 In This Section Mmm section Sports on Television Page 3 I30Jl vS 0 George Puscas Page 6 A Yl Outdoors with Opre Page 8 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1975 LJZJ I I BIG GAME JUST A BIG BVST FOR MSV Buckeyes Slap Down Spartan 210 teslMk AND HAYES couldn't resist taking a shot at MSU quarterback Charlie Bagget, who engineered last year's 16-13 upset of the Buckeyes and had some uncomplimentary things to say about OSU a week ago. "Compare our quarterback (Greene) to the other quarterback and I think you get the answer pretty quickly as to who is best." Saturday's statistics bore him outt. Greene gained 48 yards rushing and completed three of seven passes, with one intercepted. Baggett showed a minus-nine yards on the ground and five of nine completions, but with three interceptions. He also lost a fumble.

Two of those interceptions blunted first-period threats by MSU, which had the wind at its back and good field position throughout the first 15 minutes. Craig Cassady, son of OSU Heisman Trophy winner Ho-palong Cassady, picked off both of those one at the Buckeye 13, the other at the 15. And to complete his hat trick, Cassady picked off a third one at the MSU 43 in the fourth period. AFTER WASTING those first-quarter chances, fortune Please turn to Page 4E, Col. 4 OHIO STATE TAILBACK Archie Griffin had his 22d consecutive 100 yard-plus day, picking up 108 yards in 29 carries, but it was left to fullback Pete Johnson and split end Lenny Willis to get the Buckeyes on the scoreboard.

Johnson broke a scoreless tie by scoring from the six with 1:16 left in the first half, added a nine-yard TD run in the fourth period and in between Willis, took a 64-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cornelius Greene. But a lot of the credit has to go to punter Tom Skladany, who averaged 44.5 yards on four punts, compared to John Powers' 31.7 7average for the Spartans. He kicked Ohio State out of trouble and MSU into a hole time after time. The Buckeyes, in fact, dominated every phase of the game. "There never was a big fouf in the Big Ten," Buckeye coach Woody Hayes boasted after the victory.

"It always comes down to one-on-one. "Ninety-five percent of the people you can walk over and bluff them. We've got the other five percent. I think we're going to have another good Ohio State football team. This team is a typical Ohio State team they hold on like Bulldogs." BY CHARLIE VINCENT Free Sport Writer EAST LANSING Michigan State's dream of returning to the glory days of yesteryear was exposed as sheer fantasy Saturday afternoon as the Ohio State Buckeyes crushed the Spartans, 21-0, before a record Stadium crowd of 80,383.

Kickoir time there was some question as to which was the better team: The Scarlet and Gray herd or Denny Stolz's revitalized Spartans. By 4 o'clock, there was no doubt, not even in Stolz's mind. "They certainly played better than we did, and they certainly deserved to win the ball game," Stolz said in the hushed Spartan dressing room. "I think we got beat up front a little bit in our offensive line. We suspected their defensive middle would be tough.

But we didn't handle them as well as we thought we could." It wasn't that the Spartans didn't have their chances. They appeared to be in control for the first 15 minutes. But they frittered away what opportunities they had and, by the time the second half was well under way, the game was out of control. MSU Performance Dull and Boring Injuries Hurt Us Stolz EAST LANSING Bring back Bubba. Bring back Clint Jones.

Bring back George Webster. Bring back Gene Washington. Ts there anyone in the audience who dares to say: "Bring back Football around here is still a minor-league sport. Triple-A, at best. That's too bad because so much was expected on this eagerly awaited afternoon in Spartan Stadium, and the Spartans produced so little.

Hell, they produced nothing, only embarrassment for and their followers. The only break they got is that the game wasn't on TV. Only their followers more than 70,000 strong in the record crowd of 80,383 had to witness this disaster. State did the worst possible thing. They bored everybody to death.

It was just no contest at all. They were amateurs playing against Woody Hayes' pros, and let's never again mock the old man from Columbus. He may have a better team than ever better than a year ago when he took that crushing loss hefe but still went on to the Rose Bowl. Everyone said or at least hoped that Woody's team would be inexperienced. Bunk.

These Buckeyes are every bit as poised and as talented as their predecessors have ever been. Their execution in a game so early in the season was truly a sight to behold. They were sharp. They were crisp. And they hit with a savagery that surely must have made the ground tremble over in Ann Arbor.

We all knew about the Bucks' backfield, the elusiveness of Cornelius Greene, the snake-like tactics of Archie Griffin and the pounding power of Pete Johnson. But nobody not Woody, not Denny Stolz, not anybody told us about those offensive linemen who blew out the MSU players, or those defenders who turned the Spartans into ft sputtering, choking machine that stalled all afternoon. It is all so bad from Michigan State's standpoint because this was the game the moment that was going to turn everything around. There was more enthusiasm in and around this Stadium than at any time in the last 10 years ever since that epic, 10-10 tie with Notre Dame in 1965. You could feel the electric air and hear a pounding In your ears as the MSU band hammered its way into the stadium and inflamed the followers of the Green and White.

You felt that a moment of greatness, of redemption, was at hand. What a joke. It's the Same Old Spartans They were the same old Spartans: stumbling on offense, disorganized on defense and generally looking like all the MSU teams we've come to know over these past 10 years. They offered almost nothing to their followers, not even a touch of imagination. It got to be so easy that even the peat man himself, W.W.

Hayes, put on a jacket midway during the game and enjoyed the festivities. The Buckeyes are coordinated in every respect of the game running, passing, blocking and kicking. Oh, boy, do they have a kicker in Tom Skladany. He kicked with the wind, against the wind; he probably could put a 50-yard punt up there in the middle of a tornado. Woody fooled us all.

He doesn't even have any of the old "seniorities" to worry about Greene, his quarterback, played with as much drive and deception as ever. Johnson looked like all of the great Ohoi State fullbacks in history. And what can you say about Arhie Griffin except that he gets six and seven yards every time he touches the ball and you can get a lot of first downs with this kind of running. But mostly It was the rest of Woody's cast which was so surprising. The Bucks lost a ton of experienced players but Woody had others ready ready, willing and able.

They performed as if this were the 11th game of the season instead of the first, and we all know who game No. II is against. So watch It, Bo. The most disappointing thing about Michigan State's play was its offense. They've got some good backs here or at least we were led to believe they were good.

Charlie Baggett at quarterback, Levi Jackson at fullback and Ted Bell at halfback were to give the Spartans the sort of diversified attack which hasn't been evident around here in the past and would put real excitement into the team. They did next to nothing. Stoh Now Has Real Challenge Baggett, who promised he would play his greatest game against Ohio State, played his worst. He had field position early and couldn't do a thing with it. And then, when he was backed up by the Ohio State defense, he began throwing the ball around AP Photo Craig Buckeye safety Cassady (right) interccepted three MSU passes this one he returned 15 yards WOLVERINES GRIND IT OUT BY CHARLIE VINCENT Fret, Press Sports Writer EAST LANSING Denny Stolz was ready to give full credit where credit was due: To the Ohio State Buckeyes.

But he also wanted to explain away the embarrassment that ruined Michigan State's 1975 football opener. "We went in with some serious injuries and we came out with some serious injuries," he said after the 21-0 loss to Ohio State here Saturday afternoon, HE BEGAN ticking them off: Ted Bell, Tom Graves, Pat McClowry, Otto Smith, Tony Bruggenthies. "None of these injuries were new," he said. "We tried to cover them, but when you play a game like this, the bandages come off in a hurry." What Stolz was saying was that all those injuries occurred during the three weeks of workouts that preceded Saturday's disaster. All of those players played and all left the game early.

"Bruggenthies (an offensive tackle) fractured his leg in practice a week ago, Bell has a combination knee injury and ankle sprain, Graves has a knee, Smith's knee is weak and McClowry has a shoulder. McClowry might require surgery, but we won't know until tomorrow." And although he had only kind things to say for John Powers a senior who never before had punted for MSU he said his regular punter, Dave a also had sprained ankle and "we would have used him if he had been healthy." There is little auestion that Duda's absence on the punting team (he did play some on defense) was costly. Powers averaged just 31.7 yards a kick while Ohio State's Tom Skladany averaged 44.5. QUARTERBACK Charlie Baggett, who threw three interceptions and lost a fumble, didn't offer any excuses, though, other than the fact that the Buckeyes' defense just outwitted the Spartans. "They just played a helluva game," he conceded.

"They did a lot of stunting and that Please turn to Page 4E, Col. 23-6 U-M Chills Badgers. Mkh. 20 2-3M 34 51 M0-3 2- 4 3- 1 325 Wis. 428 38 1C4 4- 2 e-O 10 3-30 10-23 0 Plrjt downs Rushes veras Passing vents Return varus Passes Punts Fumbles lost Penalties yards Michigan Wisconsin BY CURT SYLVESTER Fre Press Sports Writer MADISON Showing an utter disregard for Wisconsin's supposedly potent offense and pent-up title ambitions, Michigan rode the legs of Gordon Bell and the toe of Bobby Wood to a 23-6 victory in its season and Big Ten opener here Saturday.

Bell, the elusive senior tailback, pulverized the Wisconsin defense with more than 200 yards rushing and Wood, playing his first varsity game, kicked three field goals and a pair of extra points. But once again the Wolverines had to thank Heaven for their defense. Wolfman Don Dufek and" reserve linebacker Rex Mackall came up with interceptions and the Wolverine defense refused to allow Wisconsin to take advantage of the three interceptions thrown by U-M freshman quarterback Ricky Leach. Both Wisconsin field goals resulted from U-M errors in the first half, but the U-M defense simply would not budge in the second half as Leach, playing his first college game, slowly but surely put the game away. Fullback Rob Lytle scored the first U-M touchdown, Wood tacked on successive field goals of 22, 25 and 22 yards and Leach completed the day with a seven-yard TD pass to Bell in the closing minutes.

In most un-Michigan-like style, the Wolverines gave the football away three times, setting up both of Wisconsin's first-half field goals. Gordon Bell fumbled it away on the second play of the game and Leach threw two interceptions in the second quarter. But, in between, the Wolverines battered Wisconsin for 202 yards and a dozen first downs. Neither team was able to take full advantage of the opportunities, however, which kept the halftime score Michigan 10, Wisconsin 6. THE BADGERS SENSED a chance for an early KO when they gathered- in Bell's fumble, but they didn't count on the U-M defense to show quite that much belligerence so early in the season.

Wisconsin recovered the ball on the U-M 33 but could only get to the five-yard line before sending in Vladimir LaBun to boot a field goal from the 12. Michigan finally got started late in the first period, with Bell going for 14, Jim Smith picking up 11 on a counter and Please turn to Page 4E, Col. 1 WIS FG Lamia 22. MICH Lvtle IS run. (Wood kick).

WIS-FG Lamia 31. MICH FC. Wood 2J. MICH-F8 Wood 25. 1 MICH FG Wood 22.

MICH Bell 7 oasi from Leach (Wood kick). Rushlns MICHIGAN, Bell 28-210, Lvtle 15-91, Leach 8-30. Wisconsin, Marek 21-58. Starch 11-27, Kooina 7-14. Receiving MICHIGAN, Smith 1-27, Bell 1-7.

Wisconsin, Pollard 2-21. Starch MICHIGAN. Leech 2-10-3, 34 vards. Wisconsin, Kooina, 3-7-1; 27; Carroll, 1-2-1, 11. McMAKIPPS FOOT BROKEN Another Lion Injured ime a sancuotter.

It's going to be a long time before his coach, Denny Stolz, will ever try to convince anyone that Baggett is atrueAll-American. As one Chicago writer so bluntly put It: "Baggett is a self-appointed Ail-American." This was his chance to show what he could do, and all he could do was play like a raw rookie. Some of the blame has to go to Stolz and his staff because they had nothing figured out that even remotely fooled Ohio State. Baggett threw three interceptions, dropped the ball himself and did not look like the leader that a winning team must have to compete in the kind of competition the Big Ten offers. Before the game he kidded about the fact he was back driving his '68 Chevy, having pulled it out of the Red Cedar River when he was ordered to return the new car he bought last summer.

He played like he was at the wheel of a flivver. All of this may sound harsh, but, in truth, the Spartans were totally inept Putting it another way, they showed all the power of the Detroit Tigers and-or the Detroit Lions playing in Pontiac Stadium. Not even the clock could help the Spartans this time. The closest the Spartans ever got to scoring was the Ohio State 31. It was just dull and boring, if you'll excuse that expression one more time.

What Stolz does now to get bis team back up will be the greatest challenge of his coaching career. They waited for this game like kids waiting for Christmas morning. And when the fat man came down the chimney, he spat in their faces. Oh, well it's Ohio here again next Saturday. Miami of Ohio.

Anybody excited? Anybody care? It's Wajima In Marlboro NEW YORK (UPI) East-West Stables Wajima, the late-blooming son of Bold Ruler, catapulted himself into the picture for Horse of the Year honors Saturday with a thrilling neck victory over last year's champion Forego in the $250,000 Marlboro Cup. Wajima and Forego battled head-to-head through the stretch and at the end of the 14 miles it was Wajima's head that was in front. The victory for the 3-year-old celt was his fifth straight stakes triumph. It also made him the leader of thoroughbred racing's 3-year-old males, moving him ahead of Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure, who ran out. Patriots Vote To Strike Today FOXBORO, Mass.

(AP) The New England Patriots, in a move which escalates labor unrest and could delay the start the National Football League season, voted Saturday to strike and to refuse to play Sunday's exhibition game against the New York Jets. The league retaliated immediately, telling the players that if they strike they will not be paid and will be suspended until a labor peace is reached. When the vote was taken, the following statement was read to the players: "If the game is not played as scheduled, the players will not be paid, nor can they practice until a collective bargaining agreement is signed or a no-strike pledge is given by the union." The game the Patriots voted not to play is scheduled at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Conn. The Patriots were the first NFL team to vote to strike In protest of the absence of a contract between the NFL Player's Association and the NFL team owners. The vote figures were not revealed.

The players' union and the league have been without a labor contract since last July 1, when the players went on strike. That' strike ended in failure, but this past week the players rejected another attempt by the league to reach a contract agreement. going to believe this, but guess what we've been practicing all wee the coach sighed, a two tight-end offense. "We figured it would be just the thing against Cleveland. "Oh, boy," Forzano groaned, hand on head, "I hate to think of what'Il happen i Charlie (Sanders) goes down." Where, oh where, are Craig Cotton, John Hilton or Ron Kramer when the Lions really need them? McMAKIN WAS sent home before the Lions boarded their plane and missed Saturday night's game here, as did defensive linemen Doug English and Ernie Price and corner-back Ben Davis.

Bill Munson came along, but was not figured to play. That left the Lions with a grisly total of 15 men who have missed one or more games or a net of 46 man-games in the exhibition season. "I suppose the next thing a couple of assistant coaches will come down with Blue Bubonic plague," Forzano said, mustering a smile. McMakin's injury left a gaping hole in the Lions' game plan for the Browns.Jn lieu of ditching the entire program, the coaches gave running back Jim Hooks a crash course in Please turn to Page 7E, 1 BY JACK SAYLOR Free Press Spcrts Writer CLEVELAND John Mc-Makin approached coach Rick Forzano as the Lions gathered at Metropolitan Airport Friday for the short hop to Cleveland. "Coach," John said.

"I've got some bad news." Forzano, who has heard hardly any other kind all summer, steeled hiir.self and then learned that Mc.Makin, a backup tight end acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers, has suffered a broken foot. He will be sidelined indefinitely. "Beautiful," said the unsmiling Forzano. "You aren't i -ir r- -i i i j-i i.