Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 40

4D DETROIT FREE PRESSTUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1989 hit rm i "IS is ave to race co. Id tram riot 1 igers illmBERS D0.TT UE Some kinds of changes needed for $0 Why have the Tigers slipped so far this season? Check the statistics. Last season, through Sept. 11, the Tigers were 76-67, 3'? games out of first. Today, they are 55-90, 25V4 games out of first.

How the key players have fared: PLAYER RECORD SAVES ERA '88 '89 '88 '89 '88 '89 Henneman 8-5 104 19 7 2.00 3.94 Hernandez 5-5 2-2 15 4.38 5.74 PLAYER RECORD STARTS ERA '88 '89 '88 '89 '88 '89 Alexander 11-11 6-16 17-30 17-30 4.38 4.29 Morris 5-11 12-13 16-30 10-20 4.20 4.93 Robinson 13-6 4-5 14-23 5-16 2.98 4.85 Tanana 14-9 9-12 15-27 16-29 4.24 3.67 Denotes quality starts PLAYER HOMERS RBI AVERAGE '88 '89 '88 '89 '88 '89 Bergman 5 7 31 29 .310 .260 Lemon 11 7 51 45 .264 .240 Lynn 20 11 41 43 .245 .228 Nokes 15 7 47 35 .243 .255 Trammell 15 4 65 35 .319 .232 Whitaker 12 28 55 82 .275 .257 by Gene Guidi Free Press Sports Writer 1 The last-place Tigers had reason to feel better about themselves this morning as they bused to Cleveland for a three-game series. The start of this three-city, eight-game trip comes on the heels of the Tigers' best home stand of the season eight victories in nine games. That included a seven-game winning streak the longest for the Tigers since their World Series championship season in 1984. The Tigers' recent success has been an oasis in a desert of defeats something to help make the dog days of September more bearable. To try to read anything more into it, though, would be a mistake.

The team that won eight of nine games on the home stand is not the team capable of bringing the Tigers back to contention or even respectability in 1990. Tigers manager Sparky Anderson said he would not be fooled by the September The Tigers might be willing to trade catcher Matt Nokes, though. With the emergence of Mike Heath this season as an everyday catcher, Nokes could be expendable. Though he has missed a lot of playing time this season because of injuries, Nokes, 25, still has a 32-homer season on his resume and should bring some significant value in a trade. And a lot of teams need a catcher.

Promising rookie pitchers Brian DuBois and Kevin Ritz look as though they could be a part of the starting rotation next season, which might tempt Lajoie to trade one of his established starters. But remember, he tried that before this season dealing Walt Terrell and Eric King and then watched as injuries leveled the starting staff. Lajoie believes that strong pitching could help the Tigers in a hurry and is hesitant to make a trade that could leave him vulnerable in that area. However it's done, the Tigers will have to undergo change in the off-season if they hope to avoid another lost summer in 1990. surge.

"We weren't a good team this season," Anderson said. "I've seen some players who can help us next year if they work hard on improving some things. And I've seen some young pitchers who have a chance to be good ones. But I won't get excited over a few wins." Of course, injuries can be blamed for part of the Tigers' problems this season. But winning teams overcome injuries.

The Tigers weren't good enough to play over the loss of key players such as Alan Trammel and Jeff Robinson. And unless the talent level of the 24-man roster rises, they won't be good enough in 1990 when the inevitable injuries come. If the Tigers aren't good enough, new players will have to be recruited if the team is going to be better next season. But where will these players come from? The Tigers say they are still opposed to free agency, so scratch that quick fix for replenishing talent. They will get the second pick in next June's free-agent draft, but the crop of college players who might come in and have an instant impact doesn't look promising right now.

Trades? The Tigers just don't have many marketable players they would be willing to deal. The San Diego Padres have made inquiries into a deal for Trammell and reportedly will make another run at getting the Tigers' shortstop in the off-season. But the Tigers don't want to trade Trammell. General manager Bill Lajoie believes the Tigers can rebuild around Trammell, as the Baltimore Orioles did with shortstop Cal Ripken. Lynn spent most of 1988 with Baltimore.

MSU learns from last year's mistakes Saints linebacker Hurt after crash at 100 m.p.h. football," Perles said. A Biggie Weekend: The late Biggie Munn's first five teams (1947-1951) will be honored in a pregame ceremony and reunion Saturday. Those teams 71 FOOTBALL WEEK Notre Dame at Michigan MATCHUP: No. 2 Michigan (0-0) vs.

No. 1 Notre Dame (1-0). WHEN: 3:30 p.m. Saturday. WHERE: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor.

CROWD: 105,000 expected; sold out. TVRADIO: ABC (Channel 7 In Detroit); WJR-AM (760) and statewide network; WWJ-AM (950); CKLW-AM (800). LINE: Even. Miami (Ohio) at MSU MATCHUP: Michigan State (0-0) vs. Miami, Ohio (0-1).

WHEN: 1 p.m. Saturday. WHERE: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing. one has been expelled, no one has broken the law of the land." TW-CAPTAINS: It was no surprise that senior left tackle Bob Kula, an All-America candidate, was named one of MSU's tri-captains Monday in a vote by the players. The others were Har-Ion Barnett, a senior strong safety from Princeton, Ohio, and senior Steve Montgomery, a former walk-on quarterback from Ada who now is the starting fullback.

SPARTANS ON TV: Sports information director Ken Hoffman said the Sept. 30 MSU-Miami (Fla.) game is 95 percent set for a 3:30 p.m. start on ABC (Channel 7 in Detroit). "The only reason it's not 100 percent is that they're waiting until six to 12 days ahead of the game to make it official," Hoffman said. ESPN tentatively has scheduled the Illinois at MSU game on Oct.

21 at 12:30 p.m. Hoffman said other MSU games being considered for national television are the Iowa game on Oct. 7, at home against Michigan on Oct. 14 and at Indiana on Nov. 4.

combined for a 36-8-2 record and were responsible for getting MSU into the Big Ten, said Fred Stabley, former sports information director helping arrange the reunion. On May 20, 1949, MSU officially became a member of the Big Nine Conference, making it the Big Ten. At halftime, Bob McCurry, captain of the 1946-48 MSU football teams, will be presented the Jack Bres-lin award for lifetime achievement. WALK ONS HONORED: As expected, John Gieselman, a redshirt freshman quarterback and walk-on from Birmingham Brother Rice, was awarded a scholarship. He's the No.

2 quarterback. Two fifth-year senior walk-ons were awarded scholarships: Brian Hill, a defensive tackle from Notre Dame in Chica By Perry A. Farrell Free Press Sports Writer EAST LANSING During Michigan State's first game-week of the season, coach George Perles will remind his players about last year's opener, a 17-13 loss to Rutgers. "We'll talk a little bit about being ready and overconfidence," Perles said. "We've tried to learn from last year's mistakes and hope it doesn't happen again.

We had a big mistake last year. We had the distractions; the three-game suspension with Tony (Mandarich). We tried to downplay it, but it did distract." Perles has tried to safeguard against an 0-4-1 start as he prepares the 1989 Spartans for Saturday's 1 p.m. home game against Miami (Ohio). "They've had the toughest camp, they've had more conditioning, they've had more discipline, they've been criticized more than any year," Perles said.

He said the whole program felt more comfortable this year than any of his previous six. "But there's still more room to feel comfortable," he said. "Gosh, I wish I had known seven years ago what I know now. I thought stability was you get a freshman, he goes five years and then he graduates We're ready to' go again. That's not the case.

This stability, I don't know when it ends, but in seven years we're doing things this year we haven't been able to do before. We didn't have confidence enough in maybe the players or maybe in ourselves. "It has been a lot easier this year, but I think it can get better. "We don't have any problems, no Free Press Wire Reports NEW ORLEANS New Orleans Saints Pro Bowl linebacker Rickey Jackson wrecked a borrowed sports car early Monday and must undergo surgery for a fractured cheekbone. St.

Charles Parish Deputy Sheriff Sam Zinna said the accident happened about 3:45 a.m. as Jackson was driving home on U.S. 61 west of New Orleans. He was in a friend's Corvette and rammed into the rear of a one-ton truck ahead of him at 100 m.p.h., Zinna said. The impact flipped the pickup, but it landed on its wheels, and the man and woman in it were not injured.

Zinna said there was no indication of alcohol, and Jackson would be cited later for reckless driving. He said the pickup was traveling about 40 m.p.h. when the Corvette hit. "From the point of impact, where Rickey struck the truck and started stopping, there were 452 feet of skid marks to where he came to a stop, which indicates speed in excess of 100 miles an hour," Zinna said. MORE HURTS: Los Angeles Raiders Pro Bowl kick returner and starting wide receiver Tim Brown underwent surgery (or a torn knee ligament and will miss at least 10 weeks.

Brown sustained damage to his right knee in the NFL regular-season opener Sunday against San Diego when he was hit by the Chargers' Ken Woodard on a kick return in the third quarter. Brown set a rookie record in 1988 for all-purpose yards while leading the NFL In kickoff return yardage with 1,098. Brown was the Raiders' top first-round draft pick in 1988 and the sixth player chosen in the draft. The Heisman Trophy winner at Notre Dame in 1987, he was also the Raiders' leading wide receiver as a rookie with 43 catches for 725 yards. He started nine games as a rookie.

Seattle wide receiver Steve Largent will be sidelined for at least six weeks after suffering a cracked bone in right elbow Sunday against Philadelphia New England offensive guard Ron Wooten was placed on Injured reserve because of a neck Injury he suffered in an Aug. 12 preseason game against the New. York Giants. He will miss at least six weeks. Linebacker Bruce Scholtz, waived by Seattle last week, was signed to replace Wooten on the roster.

Green Bay linebacker John Dorsey, who suffered a knee Injury in pregame drills Sunday, Is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery and might be placed on injured reserve. LAST HOLDOUT SIGNS: Sammle Smith, the last unsigned first-round draft choice, signed a four-year, $2.5 million deal with the Miami Dolphins. Smith, a running back from Florida State, was the ninth player taken in April's college draft. BUCKS FOR BUCS? Tampa Bay owner Hugh Culverhouee Is entertaining bids that could move the Buccaneers to Sacramento, according to a report In Monday's St. Petersburg Times.

The Bucs have been offered $50 million for the move, The proposed deal Is similar to offers Sacramento has made to at least six other franchises, including Buffalo, New England and the Los Angeles Raiders $50 million cash for the team, a new $100-mlllion stadium and guaranteed ticket revenues. STILL BOTHERED: Indianapolis Colts owner Robert Irsay said he still receives death threats concerning the team's nickname five -years after he moved the franchise from Baltimore. "We're not letting the Colts name go," Irsay said. "Legally, we have It. It's binding." OBITUARY: Arthur W.

(Dutch) Eleton, an original San Francisco 49er and O.J. Slmp-son'a junior college'footbaH coach, died Sunday of cancer in San Francisco. He was 70. Elston played with the 49ers from 1946-48 as a center and linebacker, and coached Simpson at City College of San Francisco, where he coached from 1962-84. CROWD: 70,000 expected; plenty of tickets ($18) remain.

Call 517-355-1610. TVRADIO: No TV; WXYT-AM (1270) and statewide network. LINE: None4 Games on television: Saturday 12:30 p.m. (BE) Eastern Michigan at Ohio. 12:30 p.m.

(EM) Princeton at Dartmouth. 12:30 p.m. CUD Baylor at Georgia. 2:30 p.m. Illinois at Colorado.

4:00 p.m. (EM) California at Miami 3:30 p.m. JSJ Notre Dame at Michigan. 7:30 p.m. (BSD Florida State at Louisiana State.

Sunday 1:00 p.m. Philadelphia at Washington. 4:00 p.m. Lions at New York Giants. Monday go and John Kiple, a free safety from Elk Grove, 111., who has a 3.82 grade-point average in finance and plans to attend law school.

"He's in our two-deep and has a chance to become an academic AIl-American," Perles said of Kiple. NO COMMENT: Perles wasn't biting on the Notre Dame-Michigan battle or his games with Notre Dame and Miami (Fla.) "God bless 'em both," he said of the Notre Dame-Michigan game. "We're not looking past Miami (Ohio), so there's no need to ask." GRANDPA GEORGE: Perles, 54, became a grandfather for the first time Sunday when John and Amy Perles became the proud parents of a boy Nicholas Bradford Perles. Perles traveled to Grand Rapids Monday morning to visit his son, daughter-in-law and grandson. He returned to East Lansing to have his weekly press conference and whisked off to another luncheon.

"Sometime today I'll get a chance to do what I'm paid to do coach Irish will see different Wolverines' offense Bo shuttles to Ohio to visit ill mother Lions cut veteran receiver Chadwick, lineman Darby Betty Schembechler, 86, mother of Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler, was hospitalized Monday in Barberton, Ohio. Schembechler visited his mother over the weekend and missed his scheduled press conference Monday in Ann Arbor. "Bo's mother has an illness that he did not elaborate on," said U-M assistant head coach Gary Moeller. "He left Saturday night after taping his TV show and was back here by 3 p.m. Sunday to address the team.

She's a little better. But he's down and did not want to come here." Moeller represented Schembechler at the Michigan golf course, where the last scheduled press conference before Saturday's home game with Notre Dame took place. "She has an (undetermined) illness," said Barb Lorentz, Barberton Citizens Hospital nurse. "She was breathing a little quickly, but is in satisfactory condition." Schembechler might return to Barberton sometime this week. By Steve Kornacki LIONS, from Page ID Chadwick's best season was 1986, when he caught 53 passes for 995 yards and five touchdowns.

An Achilles injury in the final game prevented him from reaching 1,000 yards. After that, his career was beset with injuries, limiting him to eight games in 1987 and 10 in 1988. With his one catch Sunday, he has 206 for 3,359 yards and 17 touchdowns in his career. He trailed Fred Scott by 292 yards for fifth on the Lions' all-time receiving 9:00 p.m. Denver at Buffalo.

The Polls TEAM REC PTS PV 1. Notre Dme (37)1-0-0 1,443 1 J. MichHan (15) 0-0-O 1,440 3. Miami (Fla.) (5) 1-0-0 1,360 3 4. Nebraska (3) 1-0-0 1,303 4 5.

Auburn 1-0-0 1,249 6 Oklahoma 2-0-0 1,121 I 7. Clemson 2-0-0 1,073 10 I. Colorado 2-0-0 1,065 9. Arkansas 0-0-0 1,035 7 10. Illinois 1-0-0 953 11 II.

Syracuse 1-0-0 900 14 12. West Virginia 2-0-0 713 17 13. Southern Cal 0-1-0 647 13 14. Pitlsburoh 2-0-0 598 23 15. Washinglon 1-0-0 514 16.

Alabama 0-0-0 506 19 17. Tennessee 2-0-0 492 18. Houston 1-0-0 470 22 19. North Carolina St.2-0-0 394 25 20. UCLA 0-1-0 365 i 21.

Louisiana SI. 0-1-0 310 21 22. Texas 1-1-0 168 15 23. Washington St. 2-0-0 157 24.

Iowa 0-0-0 135 25. Mississippi St. 2-0-l 120 Other receiving votes: Ohio State 107, Michigan Slate 96, Perm Stale 88, Georgia 86, Florida Stale 70, Mississippi 69, Southern Mississippi 64, Virginia 54, Air Force 51, Louisville 45, Kentucky 41, Arizona 38, Oregon 31, Brlgham Young 24, Fresno Stale 23, Texas Tech 23, Hawaii 11, Florida 10, Tulsa 4, Ariiona State 4, South Carolina 2, Texas 1, Western Michigan 1. TEAM REC PTS PVS 1. Notre Dame (39)1-0 705 1 2.

Miami (2) 1-0 421 5 3. Nebraska (1) 1-0 401 2 4. Auburn 1-0 553 4 5. Michigan (7) 0-0 552 4 6. Clemson 2-0 436 9 7.

Colorado 2-0 38511 8. Arkansas 0-0 332 I 9. West Virginia 2-0 28713 10. Syracuse 1-0 234 15 11. Illinois 1-0 212 I 12.

Washington 1-0 145 I 13. Alabama 0-0 13114 14. Pittsburgh 2-0 125 I 15. North Carolina St 2-0 84 i 14. Southern Cal 0-1 71 3 17.

Tennessee 2-0 47 I 18. Air Force 2-0 32 i 19. Georgia 0-0 3120 20. UCLA 0-1 30 7 i-unranked Olhers receiving voles: Arizona, Fresno State, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana Michigan Mississippi, Mississippi Ohio Oregon, Penn South Carolina, Southern Mississippi, Texas Texas Tech, Virginia, Washington State. Wolverines, from Page ID The Wolverines lost 31 turnovers in 1987, but had the fewest in the nation with 10 last season.

(Bowls are not included in the NCAA totals.) "Michael also was a little nervous, which is typical for the first time in a big game," Moeller said. "The team got uptight, and we didn't use Michael as well as we should have in that one. You've got to be balanced against Notre Dame." Said Taylor: "They're not going to be able to play us eight on the line again. I know why we played that style, being cautious after all the turnovers. But now we're ready." U-M has experienced starters at all but two positions.

Center Steve Everitt and guard Joe Cocozzo, both redshirt freshmen, likely will start. Their prime competitors for the jobs center Matt Elliott and guard Marc Ramirez also have never started. 1 "I think we'll be more wide open," said tight end Derrick Walker, who with inside linebacker JJ. Grant recently was voted co-captain by teammates. "Now they know Michael Taylor can handle things.

He can run excellent, throw excellent and is running the team very confidently." Said Taylor: "The only thing that can stop us this year is getting complacent and not working hard." Which isn't likely to happen this week. "I've found that my staff and players are more motivated by top competition," Schembechler said. "The Long Beach State game (a 49-0 victory in 1987) was one of the worst weeks of my life. "The problem we face is that Notre Dame has already played a first game (beating Virginia, 36-13). They have had their first-game mistakes and taken care of them." Moeller scouted the Kickoff Classic, but the Irish were not required to job against Gulam Khan.

"It's not who's the worst but who's the best," Moeller said. "We're really pleased with both. If they miss, it's by a narrow margin." Moeller plans to shuttle plays to the huddle by rotating tailbacks and tight ends as well as the usual receivers. He said Leroy Hoard, the Rose Bowl MVP, likely would start at tailback with fullback Jarrod Bunch but quickly added that Boles would see his share of action at tailback. "It's nice to think that if we run 60 times," Moeller said, "that they would each get it 20 times." U-M's starting offensive line averages 293 pounds and is the heaviest ever.

Last year's line averaged 287.8 pounds Six freshmen are listed as second-string. Notre Dame has split end William Pollard, quarterback Rick Mirer, defensive end Shawn Smith and linebacker Nick Smith. U-M has split end Derrick Alexander and fullback Burnie Le-gette. Bob Whitfield, an offensive tackle recruited by both schools while at Banning High in Wilmington, has started his first two games at Stanford. Brown, the Lions' No.

1 draft pick in 1985, suffered a knee injury in training camp and has been bothered with a bad back recently. If it's a physical problem, Fontes wants a cure; if it's not, he simply wants better play from Brown. "We have to stop beating ourselves," Fontes said. "When we do that, we'll have a chance to win some games. "It's a familiar story, a familiar ending.

We're going to try to change that. It won't be done overnight but it will be done." The Lions' biggest defensive need still is an effective pass rusher. "They (Cardinals) went back and threw 30-some passes," Fontes said. Aside from that, the defense was adequate but certainly not overpowering against the Cardinals. Blades was having an outstanding game nine tackles, an assist and one pass deflection before being injured in the third quarter.

The biggest source of encouragement to Fontes had to be the performances of Sanders and Gray in their first games. Sanders gained 18 yards on his first run, scored a touchdown and picked up 71 yards on nine carries. "I will not run this young man into the ground," Fontes said. "He will not run the ball 40 times a game, unless they don't tackle him." NOTEBOOK: Blades' injury has been diagnosed as a bruised clavicle, but he said he would play Sunday against the New York Giants. Rookie quarterback Rodney Peete began straight-ahead running Monday.

He will be fitted for a knee brace this week and also is expected to begin throwing. The soonest he could be ready to play would be Sept. 24 against Chicago. Fontes said quarterback Bob Gagliano played "decent" and would retain the starting job against the Giants. Gagliano completed seven of 20 passes for 116 yards.

i send game film because the Wolverines were unable to reciprocate with 1989 film. "Watching a tape of the game from TV helps some, but you don't see a lot of what you need as a coach," Moeller said. "I tried to be the TV camera that wasn't there, looking at all the perimeter-type things." Player substitution tendencies and subtle adjustments were Moeller's prime concerns in scouting. The Wolverines had their final scrimmage Friday. Moeller said several mistakes were made, but no players were seriously injured.

Linebackers Erick Anderson (ankle), Marc Spencer (knee) and Alex Marshall (bruised kidney) all have been cleared to practice after missing time with injuries. Reserve defensive back Dave Ritter (broken hand) is the only player injured during fall practice who remains out, Moeller said. He said Taylor is fully recovered from the slight muscle tear in his lower right shoulder. NOTEBOOK: Moeller said J.D. Carlson is his "guess" to win the placekicking yards list.

Chadwick, 28, said he hoped to sign with another team. "Sure, my family and everybody is here, but I don't think a change is all that bad," he said. "It would have been nice to finish out my career here, but how many players do that? "If this is the worst thing that happens to me, I guess it won't be that bad." After being released, Chadwick wished Fontes and the Lions well, then went through the Lions' offices saying his good-byes. "I think the team will do fine," he said. "I'm sure the quarterbacks and receivers are going to get on key this year and make some big plays.

But it will take a while." Fontes saw some encouraging signs in Sunday's loss, but he also was aware of the team's shortcomings. He liked the electric style of rookie running back Barry Sanders, the aggressive, alert defensive play by strong safety Bennie Blades, and the quickness and big-play potential of slot receiver Mel Gray. Aside from that, Fontes found no basis for satisfaction. One thing he wants to determine is why offensive tackle Lomas Brown is not playing up to expectations. Brown gave up a sack and was called for holding before being benched in the second quarter.

"Lomas is not playing the way Lomas Brown should be playing for us," Fontes said. "He knovJ that." Bania AD search narrowed to two Watson offers reward Kansas City, mo. ap) Tom Watson has offered a "large" reward for whoever returns three putters apparently stolen from his golf bag last week. But he hasn't said how much the reward will be. Watson said he left the putters Thursday in his bag in a storage room at the Kansas City Country Club.

But when he came back Friday, the putters had vanished. Ellis laid the panel talked with other candidates, but Ingram and Jordan were the only two interviewed. Ellis said the search committee does not have a definite timetable but hopes to make a decision within the next week. Acting athletic director Tom Jones said an announcement could be made within 48 Hours. Tuscaloosa, Aia.

(apj Alabama's search for a new athletic director is almost over, with the field narrowed to Florida State athletic director Cecil (Hootie) Ingram, 56, and former Crimson Tide All-America Lee Roy University of Alabama spokesman Mike Ellis said Monday both Ingram and Jordan were interviewed Sunday at Tuscaloosa by a 10-person university committee searching for a successor to Steve Sloan, who was pressured to resign on Aug. 16. ft ft.