Iowa City Press-Citizen from Iowa City, Iowa • Page 9

sports al grady sports editor Tuesday, August 19, 1975 Iowa City Press-Citizen 1 Commings is optimistic, but realistic Success, said Commings, is measured two-a-day drills. Forty-five lettermen are By STEVE HOLLAND Asst. Sports Editor differently by Iowa fans than by other on the team. By class the squad breaks I football fans across the nation. Commings down into 28 seniors, 33 juniors, 23 Bob Commings is looking forward to a pointed out that Hawkeye followers were sophomores and 25 freshmen, successful fall of Hawkeye football but ecstatic with a 3-8 season in 1974 after The twice-a-day workouts will continue reporters at tne annual press-radio-TV suffering through a 0-11 campaign the until school opens Aug.

28. Iowa is headed day Monday couldn't quite pin down what year before for an opening Sept. 13 date here with Big that means in terms of wins and losses. "They shouldn't pay me not to think we Ten foe Illinois. "What is success?" asked Commings.

can't beat anybody," said Commings. "I Commings, who begins his second year "At Iowa we're playing the numbers don't think you will be disappointed in the as head boss of the Hawkeyes, gave a game. As long as we stay healthy we have team this fall." strong "yes in reply to a question of will a chance against any football team we Commings expected 109 players to Iowa be a better football team?" piay." report this morning for the beginning of a year older and wiser," said OCZOr 'if Commings. "We Rave a returning let-terman or two at almost every spot. Our secondary should be strong and we have a couple of big tackles in Rick Marsh and Warren Peiffer who we can put in there." Commings thinks Iowa will be strongest at running back and weakest in the" defensive front.

Depth is the question on defense. Marsh (6-5, 250) and Peiffer (6-5? 260) could help the Hawkeyes out on defense after missing last fall for different reasons. Marsh is returning to school after taking a "sabbatical" from his studies. Peiffer has recovered from knee surgery. Defensive players also recovered from knee operations are tackle Steve Wojan (6-5, 230) and safety Rick Penney.

Nate Washington (6-6, 225) has regained his eligibility and should help the Hawkeyes at defensive end. However, veteran tackle Lester Washington is making a slow recovery from knee surgery and remains questionable in the Iowa defensive plans. Commings has the pleasant task of choosing from among three candidates as his starting quarterback. The Hawkeye fev JSP khti nil S- I i -a Iowa's 1975 schedule Sept. 13 Illinois, here Sept.

20 At Syracuse Sept. 27 Penn State, here Oct. 4 USC, here Oct. 11 At Ohio State Oct. is At Indiana Oct.

35 Minnesota, here (Homecoming) Nov. 1 At Northwestern Nov. Wisconsin, here (Dad's Day) Nov. 15 At Purdue Nov. 22 Michigan State, here help give us more intelligent coverage in that area, as Mike Chapman used to do in wrestling.

Steve will be in charge of most of the high school coverage, plus writing some prep columns and feature stories and headlines and page makeup and sharpening my pencils, etc. Good old John Cloyed, who had been my right hand for almost three years, has gone straight. He's working about 50 feet away on the other side of the editorial department. I haven't been back long enough to find out what he does over there, but I aim to one of these days and also call him back over here on occasion when I'm in trouble. John really got a baptism of fire as my assistant.

A week after he arrived, in November of '72, 1 had an appendectomy, so all of a sudden he was the full-time sports editor right at football playoff time, etc, when hardly having learned the headline count. Then, the next April, I had a heart attack and was gone from work for two months and again he was thrust right into the middle of being the editor-assistant. (Lots of luck!) Well, I will miss John, who did such a fine job of high school coverage during the last three school years in his quiet, cheerful manner and I wish to here publicly thank him for making my job much easier for the last 30 some months. But I digress. WE HAD LUNCH AT THE UNION Monday and then listened to Bob Commings orate (he'll love that word) about the Hawkeyes for the better part of an hour and then went to the practice field-.

Recreation Building to find some players to take pictures of. (Never end a sentence with a preposition.) You know, I am starting my 25th year in this job and I have never known it to rain on a picture-taking session in all that time. Luck waswith us again in that department Monday, because even though we need the rain, and even though it rained much of the morning, it was bright enough by mid-afternoon to get the players outside for pictures. When Commings talked, we listened: "We're going to try like hell to beat Illinois," he said, "and I anticipate having a good year." Asked by a reporter if this was a better team than last year, he answered "yes" almost before the question was completed. "Asked "Why?" he answered, "Because we're a year wiser, because of those big dudes (Rick Marsh and Warren Peiffer) we can put in there at tackle, because of the maturity of the secondary and because of the experience in our offensive unit.

"If this defense can mature like I think if can, we can be pretty tough. "But again, we're playing the numbers game here at Iowa. If our numbers stay healthy, I think we can beat anybody we play. "But we could play like hell and go into the sixth ball game and be 1-4 (against Illinois, Syracuse, Penn State, USC and Ohio State). So what's success? What's a good season? The Scoreboard's the only thing that counts." So everybody is worried about, or talking about, the defense.

THE IOWA FOOTBALL BROCHURE, edited by George Wine and Phil Haddy, may be prophetic. In a summary called, "The Outlook," paragraph five says: "If Iowa can hold an opponent to two touchdowns this season it will have an excellent chance to win. Last year Iowa won three games. The point totals for the losers in those three games were 10 for UCLA, 10 for Northwestern and 12 for Illinois. In 1972 Iowa won three point totals for the losers in those three games were 11 for Oregon State, 12 for Northwestern and 14 for Illinois.

In 1970 Iowa won three games. The point totals for the losers, in those games were 14 for Wisconsin, 13 for Indiana and 16 for Illinois. So it's pretty obvious what the defense has to do. The question is, can it do it? It seems like I'm back at work again. My timing is bad.

Remind me next year not to return to work from vacation on Iowa football "media day." (It'll be earlier than ever next year since Iowa's opening football game at Illinois is Sept. 11, which must be only one day after the high schools start.) Anyway; it's too much of a hassle. I always need a vacation after a vacation and Mondays are tough enough without Iowa football opening day being thrown in. I was so busy I didn't even get to go to the "open house" at the Bob Commings at 40 Hawthorne Drive, where I'll bet Sharon had fixed up all kinds of goodies to eat. First of all, there was a mountain of mail to go through that had accumulated in my two weeks' absence, including football brochures from every college in the country.

Some of them could have waited until today, of course, but some of the personal letters needed to be opened and a couple from afare were of such interest I'll share part of them with you later this week. Second of all, I had to try to meet the daily deadline. As usual, I failed. By the time we got through it was almost noon and we were scheduled at that time for a luncheon at the Memorial Union. (George Wine always wants to know why I arrive late when guys from Clinton and Dubuque and Storm Lake and Des Moines, get there on time.

I always tell him I have to work for a living!) PART OF THE "SLOWDOWN" this time (though not his fault), was getting acquainted with my new assistant, Steve Holland, a native Iowa Citian who came on two weeks ago to replace good old John Cloyed. Steve is a graduate of West High and of the University of Iowa who has been the sports editor at Hannibal, for the past year. He's a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, but only Johanna Beers (a dyed-in-the-wool Cubs fan) will hold that against him. (As a White Sox fan, I'm neutral on National League teams.) Steve's "thing" is track, so maybe he'll Stub Barron sees first drill for 64th year Irving J.

(Stub) Barron, former Iowa City insurance salesman and long-time secretary-treasurer of the Iowa City Monday Morning Quarterback Club, made it to the start of Iowa football practice Monday for the 64th consecutive year. The 86-year-old Barron saw his first Iowa practice as a freshman member of the Hawkeye squad in 1912. Three years later, as a senior, he was captain of the team. He later helped as an assistant coach and has made it a point of pride for more than half-a-century to be on hand for "picture taking" day as fall practice begins. Ex-Cyclone Otto Stowe retires from football FULLERTON, Calif.

(AP) Wide receiver Otto Stowe, who played at Iowa State, told the Los Angeles Rams Monday he is retiring from pro football because he had lost his enthusiasm for the game. The retirement was a surprise because Stowe, 26, was expected to be a prime contender for a spot with the National Football League club, which had six top receivers. Stowe may have made the decision to retire because he was still hampered by a broken ankle which cut down his mobility last year with Denver. The injury occurred two years ago when Stowe was with Dallas Reds' Concepcion has fractured wrist ST. LOUIS (AP) Cincinnati Reds shortstop Dave Concepcion, who has not played since Aug.

8 because of what was thought to be a bruised wrist, actually has a fractured bone and will remained sidelined two to three weeks. The fracture in the right wrist was revealed Monday when rays were taken for the second time, club officials said. A movable splint was placed on the wrist. One thing Iowa's football team won't be- Rick Marsh and Rod Walters. Each stands lacking in most spots this fall is size.

Illustrative about 6-5 and weighs about 265. Devlin and of the fact are these four tackles, relaxing Walters are offensive, linemen, while Peiffcr between "picture calls" Monday at press day. and Marsh, who did not play last season, are Left to right are Warren Peiffer, Joe Devlin, being counted upon to add strength to the defensive line. coach hopes to name his top choice soon, possibly as early as this Saturday. Hoping to see that nod are Butch Caldwell, Tom McLaughlin and Doug Reichardt.

The three are currently working with Rob Fick, who graduated from the position last year. "I have an opinion right now on who might be the starting quarterback but I'm holding off because it wouldn't be fair to the other two," said Commings. Commings thinks Iowa fans will see Hawkeyes breaking through the line more often for the long gainer this fall. Names which should become familiar are Jim Jensen, Rod Wellington, Bob Holmes, Mark Fetter, Ed Donovan and Dave Schick. "There were so many times we were within inches of a home run last fall," said Commings.

"We always seemed to be just a step away from making it." Commings also mentioned Tom Rusk of Dubuque and Jon Lazar of Tama as a pair of "excellent prospects" for the Hawkeye backfield. Both are freshmen players. The offensive side of the line should be anchored by tackle Rod Walters and guard Joe Devlin, both approximately 265. The center spot remains a touchy situation where veteran Ed Myers is questionable. Myers is fighting' off an intestinal problem and recently has been losing weight.

It's possible Jim Hilgenberg of Iowa City could see action at center should Myers continue to be ill. Hilgenberg is listed at No. 2 on the pre-season depth chart. Also, on the "worried about" list as practice starts is Dean Moore, a defensive end candidate who impressed Commings in spring training. Commings said Moore was the best defensive player last spring and could be one of the reasons why Iowa may be better.

A battle between Bruce Davis and Dave Butler of Iowa City will decide who will gain the starting right guard position. Aaron Leonard and Gary. Ladick are fighting for the right tackle nod. The tight end position should go to Brandt Yocom, who is co-captain of the Hawkeyes, along with linebacker Andre Jackson. Figuring into the split end picture will be Iowa City's Bill Schultz, Jim McNulty and Steve Paulson.

In all, there are four Iowa Citians listed on the No. 1 units as practice begins, the aforementioned Schultz and Butler, plus defensive end Mark Phillips and veteran defensive back Bob Elliott. Two other Iowa Citians on the squad are Mike Frantz and Steve Groen. vV hflM Srfmi i -M JmmVA -nttS -J "VESTED" Beach yzJ Buy One Hibiscus Plant Reg. $15 Value AND GET ONE Tree Rose Reg.

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Just write your own check when you wish to make use of the uniMoney feature. uniMoney WILl ALSO PREVENT OVERDRAWING YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT. I Coratville, Iowa and North Liberty 410 Kirkwood Ave. 1 8-9. Monday-Friday EWERS MEN'S STORE Press Citizen photos and Doug Reichardt, junior from Des Moines.

They're fighting to take over the spot vacated by Rob Fick. Coach Bob Commings says he hopes to make a decision on his No. 1 man possibly after the squad's first scrimmage this Saturday. 8 5:30, 9 5, Sunday All Phones: 351-9000 The question here is "Who's No. The answer may not be known for awhile, but these are the three top candidates to quarterback the Iowa football team this fall.

Left to right are Tom 'McLaughlin, sophomore from Dubuque; Butch Caldwell, senior from Dayton, Ohio; Downtown Iowa City.