Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 43

Wings trade rumors persist despite rift Ml if K.J' 9 Taylor, Bunch won't play Wolverines, from page ID fullback, and Tony Boles will start at tailback. Schembechler said freshman Burnie Legette, a high school All-America from Colorado Springs, will be the backup fullback. Bunch is expected to be out longer than Taylor. In addition to the severely bruised back Taylor suffered in the third quarter against Notre Dame, he played with a swollen triceps muscle in his right (throwing) arm. The triceps is crucial to forearm extension.

Schembechler didn't reveal the problem to the media, and closed practices last week. When asked about hiding the new injury, Schembechler said, "We can't afford to broadcast problems to the enemy." Yet, he felt compelled to start Taylor. The fifth-year senior completed five of six passes for 44 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown pass to Chris Calloway. His long throw was an 18-yarder over the middle to Desmond Howard. Schembechler said he was not considering removing Taylor until the back injury occurred, but second-guessed starting him.

"There was no zip on his ball," Schembechler said. "But he's a tough kid, and he wanted to do it." Minimizing Taylor's throwing resulted in a predictable offense. The Wolverines ran on all 12 first-down situations with Taylor. The strategy changed with Grbac, who threw on seven of 14 first downs. U-M scored two touchdowns with Grbac, one with Taylor.

"We're going to have to cut down on the offense," Schembechler said. "We have a new quarterback and will have a freshman some of the time at fullback. Legette is going to become a prominent player. We have to play him. "I do not want to put a lot of pressure on Elvis to master the wishbone like Michael did.

But don't you think Taylor isn't a quarterback. I want him in there, but I want him practicing, too. "The arm was swollen again today. He adjusted his throwing because of the other injury (pulled muscle under right shoulder) and now has the triceps. And he can't move." UCLA coach Terry Donahue said: "The performance Grbac put on coming off the bench was marvelous.

He looked so poised, and obviously added a dimension in terms of passing. He does not have the dimension of scrambling like Taylor. But both are very efficient." Schembechler said sophomores Ken Sollom and Wilbur Odom would be Grbac's backups, but did not specify a first choice. Sollom is a drop-back passer along the lines of Grbac and would best match the game plan. Odom is a passing and running threat.

It is difficult, although not impossible, for two teams to make a trade when their general managers aren't on speaking terms. The Red Wings and New York Rangers proved it a few weeks ago. So when the rumor surfaced again that the Wings are making a push to acquire goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck, it wouldn't go away even though Jimmy Devellano and Neil Smith denied it. A monumental tiff between the two since before Smith left the Wings to succeed Phil Espo-sito as Rangers GM might impede negotiations, but the teams showed they could still do business when they swapped left wings, Detroit acquiring minor-leaguer Chris McRae and a fifth-round pick for Kris King. To make that deal, sources say, Ken Holland, who succeeded Smith as Detroit's chief scout, did the talking for the Wings.

And who's to say that Devellano wouldn't use a similar mouthpiece to get a goalie he thinks could carry the Wings farther in the playoffs? i Those close to the situation in New York say Smith wouldn't mind giving up Vanbiesbrouck, a native Detroiter whom Smith considers to be a bit too talkative and somewhat of a troublemaker in the dressing room. In exchange, he would like a goaltender, presumably Greg Stefan, and a center, with which the Wings are loaded. Devellano thought he was close to a deal with Esposito this summer. But that fell through when Esposito was fired. And that was the incident that set off a protracted sequence of events that led to the rift between Devellano and Smith, friends for 18 years.

Since coming to Detroit as one of Devellano's first hires, Smith has made no secret that the job he most coveted in hockey was that of the general manager for the Rangers. And it was a job for which he had been groomed by Devellano. But eventually, Devellano would feel betrayed by the man he called "my best friend in the world." "Neil was like a son to me," Devellano said. "I've watched out for him ever since he was 17 years old." In fact, when Smith was a defense-man with marginal skills at Western Michigan, Devellano made him the 12th-round pick of the New York Islanders. When Smith was out of hockey, Devellano helped him get back in as a part-time scout in New York.

When Devellano came to Detroit, Smith came along. But Smith, in his haste to land his dream job, forget all loyalties, Devellano said. Devellano also lays part of the blame on Rangers vice KEITH GAVE NHL f3 president Jack Diller, who turned his search for a general manager into, "a fiasco." "After he semi-promised the job to Neil," Devellano said, "he offered it to Herb Brooks and Scotty Bowman. Keil should have had the guts to tell hint to shove the job." Meanwhile, before he was offered the job and was still on the Detroit payroll, Smith was traipsing around North America interviewing prospective coaches for the Rangers, all the while neglecting his responsibilities with the Wings. Devellano was so upset, sources say, that he decided to fire Smith, or at least not renew his contract with the Wings if he didn't get the Rangers' job.

And after he did land the job, Smith proceeded to continue to antagonize Devellano by trying to hire awaythe Wings' staff. First, he got Christer Rockstrom, Detroit's European scout, which Devellano didn't figure tci be much of a loss. But then he went after assistant coach Colin Campbell, whom Smith wanted to hire as co-coach with Roger Neilson. That's where DeVel-lano drew the line, threatening to go to the NHL and file tampering charges. "He did tamper with Colin," Devellano said.

"And the only reason I didn't go to the league was because I didn't want to hurt Colin's future chances." Every story has two sides, of course, but getting Smith to tell his isn't easy. Already, he has developed the bad habit of not returning his phone calls. And that has miffed more than a few folks around the league who considered Smith to be a friend. MONEY MADNESS: Agents around 'the league say it's nice that Gerard Gallant doubled his salary in two short negotiating sessions between himself and the Wings. But they note that Jie probably could have tripled his paycheck, to about $600,000, if he woiild have consulted an agent, who would have correctly pointed out that 40-goal-scoring left wings are a very rare commodity in the NHL.

ODDS AND ENDS: The Philadelphia Flyers are offering holdout goaltender Ron Hextall around the league. They would have sent him to Chicago for defenseman Dave Manson or center Jeremy Roenick, but the Hawks declined. Veteran referee Don Ko-harski, suspended for violating curfew the night before a Stanley Cup finals game, will do penance with a stint in the minors, starting with a game next month in Flint Guy Lafleur, who turns 38 Wednesday, has been the best player in the Quebec training camp, according to coach Michel Bergeron. What does that say about the rest of the team? THE PUNCH LINE: The latest joke floating around the Wings' dressing room: What do Alaskan whales and the Toronto Maple Leafs have in common? They both get confused when they're surrounded by ice. Michigan redshirt freshman quarterback Elvis Grbac will start against 134 yards against Notre Dame.

WEEKEND TV Thursday 8:00 p.m. (Off) Mid. Tennessee State at Georgia Southern. Saturday 12:30 p.m. (BSD Rutgers at Northwestern.

12:30 fJSD Ball St. at Toledo. 1:00 fin Ky. at Alabama. 2:30 (D) Michigan State at Notre Dame.

2:30 (Black Entertainment Network) Central State vs. West Virginia State. 3:30 S3 Ohio State at Southern California. 7:00 (BEE) Syracuse at Pitt. 8:00 Michigan at UCLA.

Sunday 1:00 p.m. Minnesota at Pittsburgh. 1:00 (O) San Francisco at Philadelphia. 1:00 Buffalo at Houston. 4:00 ID Los Angeles Raiders at Denver.

Monday 9:00 p.m. Cleveland at Cincinnati. The polls AP SCHOOL REC PTS PVS I. Nolr Dame (57) 3. Miami, Fla.

(3) 3. Nebraska 4. Auburn 5. Michigan 6. Colorado 7.

Oemson 8. Arkansas 9. West Virginia 10. Syracuse II. Washington 12.

Southern Cal 13. Pittsburgh 14. Tennessee IS Alabama 14. Oklahoma 17. Houston 11.

N. Carolina St. 19. Washington St. M.

IMnoll Texas A8.M 22. Oregon 23. Arliona 24. UCLA 25. Ohio St.

2-0-0 1,497 2-0-0 1,424 2-0-0 1,300 2- 0-0 1,290 0- 1-0 1,224 30-0 1,211 3- 0-0 1- 0-0 1,059 3-0-0 926 2-0-0 84S 2-0-0 1- 1-0 2- 0-0 790 746 704 695 640 531 471 449 3-0-0 1- 0-0 2- 1-0 1-0-0 3- 0-0 3-0-0 339 1- 1-0 2- 1-0 2-0-0 2-1-0 1-1-0 1-0-0 314 259 245 236 188 182 22 20 Others receiving votes: Georgia 122, Michigan St 115, Mississippi St. 108, Florida St. 103, Air Forci 78, Mississippi 44, Louisville 40, Penn St. 38, Kentucky 30, Virginia 24, Fresno St. 18, LSU 12, Florida 10, S.

Mississippi 4, Texas Tech 4, Minnesota 1. UPi SCHOOL REC PTS PVS Chiasson's rookie buddy i keeps impressing Demersj MSU won't give Ismail i a chance to return kicks MANNY CRISOSTOMODetroll Free Press UCLA on Saturday. He passed for mm Bama aide's disguise is curious story Free Press Wire Reports TUSCALOOSA, Ala. No wonder coaches don't trust the media. Wearing a Ball State jacket and cap he borrowed from his roommate and with a camera hanging from his neck and a press pass dangling from his belt, Alabama graduate assistant Tim Johnson walked into Kentucky's training room at Lexington, last weekend and questioned coach Jerry Claiborne at a news conference, attempting to ind out about injured players.

Alabama coach Bill Curry apolo gized Monday for the incident, which occurred after the Wildcats beat North Carolina, 13-6, and said Alabama was not spying on Kentucky, the opponent Saturday in a Southeastern Conference game at Tuscaloosa. "1 think he disturbed some people when he walked in one area with his 35-millimeter camera. But he took only one picture, and that was of the stadium," Curry said. "There was no competitive advantage gained by us. I have apologized to coach Claiborne." Shortly after the game, Johnson went to the training room off-limits to all but Kentucky players and staff.

When he identified himself as an Alabama representative, Johnson was told he was not supposed to be there. He then left for the interview room, where Claiborne was holding his post game news conference. Still curious, Johnson asked Claiborne about injured players. Claiborne accepted Curry's apology. "The situation is over," he said.

"It was just a young kid who didn't know what he could or couldn't do." PAY BEFORE PLAY: Alabama officials wanted to make sure they would get their $20,000 before the team took the field at Grambling. The 7:30 game Saturday night was held up for about 18 minutes because acting athletic director, Vann Pattaway, had not received the stipulated fee. The Bulldogs finally played when Grambling president Jo-teph Johnson promised Pettaway he would guarantee that received Its money. Grambling won, 34-22. BO KNOWS HIS CLICHES: Michigan coach Bo Schambachler proved Monday that a cliche such as "We play 'em one game at a time," is sometimes the honest truth.

Following his weekly news luncheon, Schembechler was Introduced to a reporter from the Baltimore Sun who wished to arrange an Interview. "Why on earth would the Baltimore Sun be Interested In me?" Schembechler asked. The reporter said: "Well, for several reasons, but mainly because you play Maryland In less than two weeks." Bo replied: "Oh my goshl That's tight, we do. With what we've been going through with Notre Dame and now UCLA, I ust haven't thought about Maryland." INJURY REPORT: Illinois running back Darren Boyer could miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, coach John Mackovlc said. Boyer, a redshirt freshman who backed up senior Kan Thomat, was hurt during Saturday's 38-7 loss to Colorado.

Mackovic said quarterback Jeff Georgt should be ready to start Saturday against Utah State despite a sprained left knee suffered against Colorado, Offensive guard Dean Dingman (strep throat) and middle guard Mike Teeter (ankle) are starters Schembechler ruled questionable. Linebacker Rusty Fichtner (pulled hamstring), kicker Gulam Khan (broken arm) and defensive back Corwin (Cornflakes) Brown (shoulder) were reserves listed as questionable. Defensive back Dave Ritter (broken arm) and linebackers Martin Davis (leg) and Chris Bohn (neck) remained out. Schembechler said Ritter, Bohn and Davis were key members of the kickoff coverage team missing Saturday, when Notre Dame's Raghib (Rocket) Ismail returned two kickoffs for touchdowns. Joe Cocozzo would replace Ding-man, and TJ.

Osman would start at middle guard if Teeter can't play. lost 30 pounds by not eating last week," Schembechler said. "The offensive line broke down at every position and was most disappointing after the kicking game. But I should probably apologize to Dingman for playing him. He had a severely strep throat and wanted to go." Donahue said backup tailback Shawn Wills was doubtful and All-America tight end candidate Charles Arbuckle was questionable because of ankle injuries.

football. New England had a few audi-bles and did it once in a while, and you'll see Detroit doing it once in a while. But it's different doing it once in a while than when it's your whole offense. "The option is tough against every defense. The option is like playing with 12 players on the field when it's your whole offense." So what will MSU do to defend against the option? Senior defensive tackle Tim Ri-dinger said breakdowns on the perimeter and missed assignments have been problems.

"We'll try to learn from last year's mistakes in defending it, but there's nothing I could tell you now," Perles said. "If you can remember, it was a pretty tight game, then in the second half they started loosening up and using it more and it became a problem for us. They moved the ball pretty well." TV SCHEDULE: Besides Saturday's nationally televised game against Notre Dame (2:30 p.m.; CBS, Channel 2 in Detroit), Michigan State will play Miami (Fla.) on TV Sept. 30 at Spartan Stadium. Kickoff for the will be at 3:30 p.m.

on ABC (Channel 7 in Detroit). The CBS crew of Jim Nantz, Pat Haden and John Dockery will do the Notre Dame game. Something To Think About: Pedes called a fake punt in the third quarter against Miami (Ohio), only to see Josh Butland tackled for a six-yard loss. "That was to give teams something to look at," Perles said. "We wanted to throw the ball some more and run the option too, but the weather made it difficulty low man on the totem pole and Set aside a bit, which is good," said Morton, 6-feet-l, 196 pounds.

"You don't have that added pressure. And really, I'd rather just stay in the background and let the guys who are supposed to do the scoring be the noticed ones. I'd rather be the quiet guy -who sits back and enjoys all the team glory." 1 A Peterborough pro pairing, Mpr-ton said, would be "a dream come true." "I've had one house all my life," said Morton, who has been sharing Chiasson's home in Farmington Hills since two weeks before camp began. "He's gone through all the rookie initiation stuff, like trying to figure Out where you're at, and shared it with me. I'm real grateful for Steve, and there's no way I'll ever be able to repay him." Contusion Confusion: North stars tfft wing Larry DePalma of Trenton, who collapsed on the bench Sunday shortly after checking Wings defensenian Rick Zombo into the boards, vfas released from Detroit's Henry Ford Hospital about two hours after being admitted for observation.

It was originally feared that DePalma who feft the ice on a stretcher had suffered a neck injury. But X-rays were negative, and DePalma, 23, was diagnosed as having suffered a contusion just his left shoulder blade that caused temporary numbness in his left arm. 'BEAMS-COLUMNS' LINTELS-HEADER PLATES" Cut and Fabricated To Your Specs No Order Too Small FEDERAL PIPE AND SUPPLY COMPANY 16464 E. MCNICHOLS (Cor. Ml.

Elliott Vi 30001 By Steve Crowe Free Press Sports Writer To Red Wings coach Jacques Demers, rookie defenseman Dean Morton is "the kid who came from nowhere" who might be headed some where fast. Morton, 21, the Wings' eighth pick in the 1986 entry draft, played 74 games last season with Adirondack of the American Hockey league, the Wings' top farm club. He scored only two goals, but assisted on 16. A Dean Morton Morton is without a point in two exliibition appearances, but has scored more than a few with Demers, with composure and consistency. "He's got a great chajice," said Demers, who plans again to team Morton with fellow Peterborough, Ontario, native Steve Chiasson in Wednesday's 7:35 p.m.

game against St. Louis at Joe Louis Arena. The childhood block buddies were solid throughout Sunday night's 4-1 victory over the Minnesota North Stars. "Dean's paid his dues, and this is a kid who couldn't even make the team at Adirondack last year," Demers said. Injuries to Adirondack defensenien were primarily responsible for the Wings scrubbing plans to send Morton down for an over-aged junior season.

"He persisted and worked, built himself up he deserves a shot. Those two kids are great buddies. They may become a tandem." "From Day 1 after the draft being the eighth pick you're kind of Spartans, from Page ID "But the ridiculous happened." Next season the Spartans might end up defending against Ismails on consecutive weekends. Raghib's broth- er, Qadry, is a redshirt freshman at Syracuse. The Orangemen will host the Spartan9 in next season's opener Sept.

15. MSU opens its season at home against Notre Dame the follow- 1' ing weekend. Filling The Caps: With the stunt 4-3 defense, Perles has built a reputation for stopping the running game. After it evolved with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1974, the defense has endured for four Super Bowls, a Big Ten title and the Rose Bowl. But the option game that Tony Rice operates so wonderfully at Notre Dame has found cracks in that defense the past two seasons, causing Perles and his staff some consternation.

Notre Dame has a two-game winning streak against the Spartans. In last season's 20-3 victory at East Lansing, the Irish rushed for 156 yards in the third quarter alone, when the Spartans' Green Wall defense futilely tried to stop Rice's deft ball-handling. Three Irish backs averaged more than eight yards a Carry in the quarter, Rice leading at 12.5. Rice had a run of 25 yards, Mark Green 23 and Tony Brooks 37. Notre Dame finished with 245 yards rushing, 195 in the half.

"It was great execution," Perles said. "It (the stunt 4-3) didn't have a lot 'of experience against the option until Iwe moved.into collegiate football. "Last year Rice had good situations with it. pitching was the problem because 3gu don't see it in pro 1. Notre Dame (45) 2 0 731 1 2.

Miami (3 2-0 647 2 3. Nebraska (1) 2-0 616 3 3. Auburn (1) 2-0 616 4 5. Colorado 3-0 512 7 6. Clemson 3-0 476 6 7.

Michigan 0-1 414 5 8. Arkansas 1-0 413 8 9. West Virginia 3-0 347 9 10. Washington 2-0 265 12 11. Tennessee 3-0 231 17 12.

Alabama 1-0 115 13 13. Syracuse 2-0 151 10 14. Pittsburgh 2-0 129 14 IS Southern Cal 1-1 94 16 16. N.C. State 3-0 75 15 17.

Washington State' 3-0 33 I 18. Oregon 2-0 27 I 19. Air Force 3-0 24 18 20. Georgia 1-0 21 19 2a Ohio State 1-0 21 i i-unranked Others receiving voles: Arliona, Fresno State, Michigan Slate, Mississippi Stale, Penn Stale, South Carolina, Texas AiM, UCLA, Virginia. INJURY UPDATE: Starting fullback Steve Montgomery suffered a thigh bruise Saturday, but is expected to be ready for practice today.

Starting right guard Matt Keller twisted an ankle, but also is expected to practice. NOTEBOOK: Scott Selzer established career highs Saturday wjth a 43-yard kickoffeturn and a 44-yard run..