Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 33

DETROIT FREE TRESS Friday, Dec. 27, '6 1 It Picks Miami of Ohio Grid Co ach BV GEORGE CANTOR Free Press Sports Writer ANN ARBOR The University of Michigan reached down to an Ohio school one-third its size Thursday to pick Glenn E. "Bo" Schembechler as the head of its multi-million dollar football program. Schembechler, a completely unexpected choice, was coach at Miami University at Oxford, for six years after serving as an assistant at Northwestern and Ohio ATHLETIC DIRECTOR Don Canham will make the official announcement Friday morning but the Free Press learned that the 39-year-old Schem bechler was approved Thursday by the university's Board of Athletics. The successor to Bump Elliott was spirited away by Can-ham after the board's top-secret meeting and was unavailable to reporters.

Elliott's resignation and appointment to associate director of athletics had been reported earlier in the week. In his six seasons at Miami, Schembechler ran up a record of 1016-3 anil shared in two Mid American Conference titles. His teams ran up a 12-ganie, winning streak at one point in 19ti3-66, the longest major college skein in the country at the time. Schembechler played offen sive tackle at Miami from 1948-50, the last two years under the coaching of Woody Hayes. He followed Hayes to Ohio State and served as an assistant to him for two stints.

He also was an assistant to Ara Parseghian at Northwestern in 1956-57, and calls these two coaches the greatest influences on his own technique. A NATIVE of Barberton Schembechler returned to Miami as head coach in 19fi3, succeeding John Pont who went on to success at Yale and Indiana. He finished second in the conference two seasons before winning two titles. His team finished third in 1967, his lowest mark, before rebounding to second place behind undefeated Ohio University in 1968. He was named Ohio Coach of the Year in 1966.

The crew-cut Scliemhechler is known as a frank and and somewhat volatile individual to associates at Mi- ami. He is a vigorous sideline marcher and can react heatedly when he feels the officiating is below par. Schembechler was approved at Michigan after a day of tight security and secret meetings. The university refused to reveal the location or time of the meeting, turning all inquiries aside with the explanation that it was a "private session." RUMORS EARLIER in the week had given former Michigan line coach Bob Hollway the inside track for the job. Also prominently mentioned were Penn State's Joe Pa-terno, Georgia's Vince Dooley and Tennessee's Doug Dickey.

Schembechler's name never came up and was unfamiliar to many Big Ten observers even after his appointment was revealed. But he apparently will fit right in with the youthful image Oanham is trying to maintain at Michigan. "I feel that a coach must go out on his own before he is 35 or be resigned to being an assistant for the rest of his life," Scliemhechler once said. He had turned down several feelers from Southeastern Conference and western schools and the feeling at Miami was that he was waiting for a call from the Uig Ten. The appointment will mark the first time since 1938, when Fritz Crisler arrived from Princeton, that Michigan has turned outside its own family for a head football coach.

"Bo" Schembechler Lakers Edge Pistons iVeiu U-M Coach Colorful, Honest DETROIT LOS ANGELES Bellamy 11 1-7 23 Baylor i 8-11 20 Bm9 12 7-7 31 Ch'b'lain 8 1-5 17 Disch'aer 3 0-1 6 Counts 3 2-2 8 Hairston 9 0-1 18 Crawford 2 0-0 4 Komives 1 1-1 3 Eqan 0 1-1 1 McLtmore 3 t-2 i Erickson 2 2-3 Miles 1 0-0 2 Hawkins 0 0-0 0 Walker 2 1-1 Hewitt 4 2-4 10 West 11 7- 29 Totals 42 10-20 94 Totals 323-35 95 DETROIT 25 27 23 1994 Los Angeles 25 27 22 2195 15 fewer times in the game that was close from start to finish. West wound up with points, while Baylor, who hit only six of 26 shots, scored 20. Chamberlain totaled 17 points and 24 rebounds. "THIS IS THE best we've played since I took over," said Seymour. We're looking better but we may run out of -games." The biggest of all wa the crusher by West, who went over the 16.000-point mark during the game to give the multi-starred Lakers the numbers 1-2-8 men on the NBA's all-time list.

The Pistons take Friday off, then meet the San Francuco Warriors in a Cobo matinee Saturday at 2 p.m. Things have to start looking up for the Pistons and Seymour soon. The new coach hit a low point Thursday. As he and his wife entered the arena, the ushers at the players entry gate inquired: "Are you the Los Angeles coach?" troit learned for whom (he bell tolls. Walt Bellamy scored 23 points and speared 2R rebounds, most by a Piston player in eight years, in the losing cause.

ALSO LOST in the shuffle was a brillaint performance by Dave Bing, who had been plagued by a month-long slump. Bingo scored 31 points to go with seven rebounds and five assists. The Pistons also got 18 points and 28 rebounds from Happy Hairston as they out-shot the Lakers, 42-36, from the field and out-rebounded the Western Division leaders, 73-59. But Detroit blew 10 of 20 foul shots and went to the line r'Vc 1 iiil jjjpl BY JACK SAYLOR Playing the Los Angeles Lakers is a lot like trying to patch a leaky hose patch one place and it breaks loose somewhere else. The Pistons neutralized Wilt Chamberlain and held down Elgin Baylor Thursday night so Jerry West did the damage.

West sank an off-balance driving hook shot with 10 seconds left to hand the Pistons a crushing 95-94 defeat before 8,420 fans at Cobo Arena. THE SHOT climaxed -a hectic comeback by the Lakers, who trailed by five points with 1:55 to go. Baylor's jump shot and a pair of free throws by West preceded West's game-winner. In between, the Pistons were victimized by a 24-second violation, a bad pass and Chamberlain's block on McCoy Lemore's shot. Then after West looped in his sensational shot, the Pistons came back upfloor with 10 seconds left to win it.

Jimmy Walker missed a shot, but Detroit rebounded and when McLemore tried from close range, the massive Chamberlain was there to block it again at the buzzer. "THE BIG GUY earned his money tonight right when they needed it," Coach Paul Seymour grimaced after his team had fallen for the 11th time in 13 games. The Pistons' "big guy" earned his money, too, as De- AP Photo George Allen, left, and Dan Reeves in 1966 when former was hired Rams Fire Allen Broken Hull's Jaw After 10-3 Season CHICAGO (AP) Chicago's Bobby Hull, the National Hockey League's top scorer, was resting in a hospital Thursday, suffering from a broken jaw received in Wednesday night's game with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Black Hawks will lose Hull's services for a week. He'll miss the weekend games at Minnesota Saturday and in Chicago Sunday against Los Angeles.

He is expected to play against Detroit Jan. 1. Allen and decided to do something about it. 'I ESS WHEN you own a team you can do what you want with it," said Allen. Turn to Page 2D, Column 6 and general manager, apologetically blamed himself and said the firing was due to a personality conflict." He described Allen as a "great coach and a fine family man." DURING THREE years as headman of the Rams, Allen had a record of 29-10-3.

In his first year, the Rams went 8-6-0 after a 4-10-0 1965 season under a 1 a Svare. In 1966, Allen's Rams won the Coastal Division of the National Foot LOS ANGELES (UPI) Dan Reeves, a feisty little Irishman whose life is wrapped up in the Los Angeles Rams, fired his winning coach, George Allen, Thursday but tried to soften the blow with a public apology. The move came as a shock to Allen who gave the Rams their first winning season in seven years when he was lured away from his job as defensive coach of the Chicago Bears in 1966. Reeves, the Rams president ANN ARBOR BO SCHEMBECHLER roll that one around on your tongue for a while. But don't laugh, my friend.

Remember they once gave us a man named Mayo Smith to lead the Tigers out of the wilderness and look what he did in the space of two years. So, if Bo Schembechler is as good as our man Mayo, you can start making your reservations for Pasadena and the 1971 Rose Bowl game. Or would you believe 1970? Who knows what this new man can do to restore Michigan's shaken prestige as one of the country's foremost football powers. But any guy who once worked for Woodie Hayes and Ara Parseghian has to know what work is all about, as well as excellence. You can bet the new man is as determined as Woody and Ara.

You can wager, too, that in his own way he'll be a colorful coach and this seems to fit in with this new image Don Canham is trying to build around here. Schembechler, from all reports, doesn't mind speaking his mind, whether it is to the press, to his bosses or even to the officials. He is not beyond borrowing some of old Woodie's sideline histrionics. No, he doesn't go bare-backed during the chill of late autumn and the cold of early winter, but he'll stomp around pretty good down there when things aren't going well. You'll see him take an imaginary kick at an imaginary ball but don't make any mistake about his anger.

It will be very real. Vress Welcome, tint HE CAN BE AN ENGAGING fellow when things are going well, but when they're not watch out! He can become downright volatile. He never bars the press, win or lose. He'll always talk to them. But sometimes he may get curt, exhibiting the old human emotion of impatience.

If Canham wants to wake up a few echoes around here and what do you think? it seems like he has picked the right man. Canham, the old track coach, moved swiftly in getting Schembechler named to the job. He got the recommendation from Parseghian and that was good enough for the new U-M athletic director. In fact, he feels it was the next best thing to getting Parseghian himself. Schembechler has always been high on Parseghian.

He says, "I feel Ara has the most progressive mind in football coaching. He is way ahead of the field and sometimes a little too far ahead. He'll admit that himself." As for Hayes, the new Michigan man admires Woodie for his knowledge in fundamental football. Schembechler says: "It is Woodie's technique to have his teams do the basic things a little better than anybody else. He isn't fancy but he is thorough." If the new man can instill Parseghian' imagination and Hayes' determination into the Michigan football program, then the Wolverines may indeed be a team to be reckoned with again.

Likes Basic Football APPARENTLY SCHEMBECHLER is an outstanding organizer who stresses the fundamentals of the game. He'll try to dazzle you with a varied offense but he gives you the notion that he'd rather ram the ball down your throat. That could be the Woodie influence. Who knows, he may even get to roll up the scores the way W. W.

Hayes, and won't that be fun when Ohio State comes to town. The natty, well-dressed Schembechler and don't IS PAR 1 8 MHklSSra 3 El idBB 13 ball League with an 11-1-2 record and then lost the West-Green Bay. In 1968, racked by injuries to key players, the Rams still managed a 10-3-1 record, good for second place behind Baltimore in the Coastal Division. Reeves who has injoyed prosperity at the gate since he brought the Rams here from Cleveland in 1946 issued through the club's publicity department the following statement: "George Allen is being relieved of his duties. He is a great coach and fine family man.

However, there is a personality conflict between us. It is probably more my fault than his but he is being relieved as head coach." REEVES SAID Allen would be paid off on the remaining two years of his contract, probably at about $50,000 a year. Allen said he was shocked by the sudden dismissal. "This came as a surprise Christmas present," he said wryly. "After the record we had.

I don't understand it. We had the best record in Ram history." Allen, 46, is known as a coach who thinks, eats and sleeps football and doesn't want any interference from the front office with his coaching. Reeves, a wealthy man who took a personal part in scouting and drafting for the club, apparently felt slighted by 1 1: Americans Recapture Davis Cup ADELAIDE, Australia OIPD The United States recaptured the Davis Cup from Australia Friday on the doubles triumph of Stan Smith and Bob Lutz over Ray Ruf-fels and John Alexander, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. The double victory, combined with the conquests by Americans Arthur Ashe Jr. and Clark Graebner in singles matches Thursday, gave the United States an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the best-of-five competition for the Davis Cup, the symbol of world amateur tennis supremacy.

Ashe and Graebner play singles matches Saturday to conclude the Davis Cup challenge round final, but the results cannot change the outcome. The last time the United States won the Davis Cup was in 1963, also over Australia. Australia has won the last four years. The easy triumph by Lutz and Smith, a pair of Califor-nians considered the finest amateur doubles team in the world, was achieved over Australia's two top players. But Ruffels and Bowrey generally are conceded to be the Aussies' weakest Davis Cup entry in more than a decade.

Ashe took Ruffels in four sets Thursday, while Bowrey extended Graebner to five. "I thought it was Graeb-ner's finest hour," said Dell, after the New York banker had completed his five-set victory over Bowery, the Australian champion, 8-10, 6-4, 8-6, 3-6, 6-1. Dell, who still predicted a 4-1 U.S. victory, said he was surprised at the play of the Australians and considered their game 15 percent better than anything else they have done this year. "His arm never bothered him," explained Dell.

"We were worried when it got cold near the end, but he had no difficulty." He said Ashe assured him his arm caused no trouble, whatsoever. FOUR-IN-ONE NATURAL SHOULDER SUITS IN FINE WOOL CHEVIOT 79.95 Our famous four-in-one suit: the versatile suit with an extra pair of contrasting slacks and a reversible vest gives you a lot of outfits for a little outlay. It's priced at just 79.95 during our clearance sale and it's one of the best values you'll find. Tailored in pure wool cheviot, with contrasting slacks of wool worsted flannel. no charge for alterations underestimate this sham aocearance he makes it fits in with the new image won't have an easy job following Bump Elliott.

Bump had a lot of "down years at Michigan but he left on a high note with an 8-2 record this season. Schembechler won't have the services of Ron Johnson, for one, and so he'll- have to do something of a rebuilding job in 1969. This, though, is the job he wanted. He turned down offers at half a dozen other major schools, including Kansas, Vanderbilt, Pittsburgh and Wisconsin, in order to get a Big Ten job. I 7 Schembechler comes from a very fertile territory for producing major college coaches.

Paul Brown played at Miami of Ohio, while Hayes, Parseghian, Johnny Pont, Sid Gillman, and Tom Blackburn all coached at JWciindts LOS ANGELES (UPI) The University of Southern California football team won the 13th annual Beef Bowl by default Thursday when Ohio State declined to compete in the eating contest. Coach Woody Hayes said his Buckeyes could not find the time to compete because of their "strict practice schedule" in preparation for their Rose Bowl game against the Trojans on New Year's Day at Pasadena. Just a week ago the Trojans staged their heat in the Beef Bowl and put away pounds of prime rib at Law-ry's Restaurant. the small Oxford school. The new man doesn't expect too much from his play 'ers just almost everything.

He says: "All I tell my players is this: I tell them education comes first and football second. Anything after that i3 all right as long as it doesn't interfere with the first two and that goes for girl friends, ARRORtAND BIRMINGHAM EASTtAND CRAND RAPIDS GRAND RIVLR GREENFIELD JACKSON LINCOLN TARK LIVONIA MALL VACK MOROSS fACOWB WALL NORTHLAND OAKLAND MLL PONTIAC VALL SHELBY 4 STATE UNIVERSAL CITY V.ESTPPKN ViESTLAND VvONDERl AND WOODVNARD MONTCALM fraternity life or any other campus activity." That ought to fit in nicely at U-M, too. I.