Transcription:
…aerial dogfight anticipated
By Dave Benner
ids Staff Writer
Last year, Michigan State quarterback Ed Smith used the friendly skies over the I.U. secondary for 200 yards passing on 15 of 24 firings. The Spartans won, 23-0.
Saturday, in Memorial Stadium, Smith meets up with the Hoosier secondary again, only this time the skies may not be quite as friendly.
The Michigan State reputation this time around is roughly the same as a year ago, plenty of passing from Smith, the 1976 Big Ten passing leader.
This year Smith is the No. 2 passer in the conference, but the I.U. secondary has a little reputation of its own. Current NCAA statistics show the Hoosiers ranked No. 3 in the country in pass defense and junior cornerback Dave Abrams is coming off a two-interception game against Northwestern that helped him to earn United Press International’s Midwest Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors.
And both Abrams and fellow cornerback Willie Wilson are expected to be key figures in trying to stop the Spartans, especially after both had solid performances in I.U.’s 28-3 victory over Northwestern last Saturday.
“Both Abrams and Wilson played as well at the corners as we think they can,” Hoosier coach Lee Corso said. “Both have done real well for us the past few games. Abrams really played well against Northwestern and he richly deserved it (the Midwest honors).
“Wilson has been playing real well and he won the game for us against LSU. He’s had a lot of big tackles the past few games for us.”
Wilson came into the fall practice as the No. 1 cornerback, but lost his job after being beaten long two times in pre-season practice. He regained the first position when John Swinehart suffered an injury against LSU.
“I wasn’t playing up to my ability,” Wilson said. “I messed up and there was good people behind me who could play. John’s good and he deserved to play. It’s my last year, I got the opportunity to get my position back and I want to prove I’m better than in pre-season.”
Wilson got his first start with I.U. as a freshman in the 1974 homecoming game against Minnesota. The Hoosiers won 34-3 and Wilson considers the game his biggest thrill.
Wilson has been particularly effective against the run this season and he enjoys the contact aspect of his position.
“My main objective is to stop the pass, that’s No. 1,” Wilson said. “From my position, pass defense is the name of the game, but I enjoy contact, it takes out my frustration. I start building up on Monday and then by Saturday I’m ready to go. Making tackles rids my frustration.”
Wilson views the Michigan State game no differently than any other, despite the Spartan’s passing reputation.
“Personally, I don’t think of their record, their passing attack, their running attack,” Wilson said. “I just know that they line up 11 men, we line up 11 men, and when the horn goes, we’re ready.”
However, Abrams feels that Michigan State provides a special challenge.
“Any defensive secondary looks to a challenge,” Abrams said. “We get keyed up for a game that’s going to have a lot of passing. We’re really looking forward to this weekend.”
Abrams started at strong safety in I.U.’s final two games last year, but was moved to cornerback in spring practice, became No. 1 and stayed there.
“He had some trouble adjusting to cornerback the first couple of games, but he has adapted really well,” Hoosier secondary coach Trent Walters said. “The last three games, he’s really played well and has been the bright spot of the secondary.”
Abrams came to I.U. as a quarterback, but was moved to defense this year.
“The coaches left the choice up to me,” Abrams said. “I saw that I’d play sooner by going to defense and that was what I wanted-to play.”
Abrams earned a letter his freshman year at cornerback, was at safety last year and went back to cornerback in the spring to keep both he and senior safety Tim McVay in the lineup together.
“At cornerback, you’re more noticed than at safety,” Abrams said. “If a pass gets by you, it’s usually in plain view, likewise the run, but I enjoy it there. Willie and I work well with each other and the secondary as a whole works good together.
“We’re used to playing with each other now and our performance has gotten better. The key thing is we’ve been getting our assignments down.”
