The Cavalier daily :: Tuesday, September 12, 1972 :: University of Virginia Library

WHILE I SOMEHOW DOUBT that last Saturday's
Virginia-South Carolina football game, won, 24-16, by the
Wahoos in Columbia, will ever take a place beside last year's
Oklahoma-Nebraska encounter among college pigskin'
"classic" faceoffs, it was great to see nonetheless. Our Cavalier
defense, regarded by many as a trouble spot, proved
troublesome only to the Gamecocks, crushing the USC offense
at key intervals and highlighting an upset victory.

South Carolina, a 10-point favorite, went into the game
with their partisans knowing that, while a bowl game wasn't
looking too good this season, the Cocks should have had
enough manpower to whip the Wahoos. To top everything off,
the USC quarterback, Bill Troup, was an ex-Cavalier with
many and varied motives to do well against his old teammates.

WHEN HE GOT A CHANCE TO THROW the ball, Troup
did well enough but the 'Hoos were able to keep him at bay by
virtue of a relentless pass rush that threw Young Bill to the
Astroturf no less than eleven times. Doing much of the sacking
was second-year tackle Dick Ambrose, a fullback at this date
last season, who nailed Troup on three consecutive plays in the
third period. He had ample help from his playmates on the line
and at linebacker.

The funny thing about all this was that the Cavs were
touted as a team strong on offense but weak when the
opposition held the ball. For their stellar work in harassing
Troup and also for stifling the USC ground attack, linemen
Ambrose, Leroy Still, Stanley Land and Wills Williams and
'backers Kevin Michaels, Dan Blakely and Craig Critchley each
deserved a game ball, or a gold medal, or something.

Our pass defenders, despite giving up a whopping 318
yards, were still able to get tough occasionally. However, with
Turkey Don Strock and his Virginia Tech Wow Boys visiting
Scott Stadium in this week's home opener, a little help,
particularly on the right corner, would be helpful. Tech QB
Strock finished second in the nation last year in total offense.

COACH DON LAWRENCE'S CUP ranneth over with
post-game praise for his defense as the Wahoo mentor cited
team play and "togetherness" as key factors. The line was
given special mention for an outstanding game and Wahoo Don
also tipped his cap to assistants Joe Mark and Al Groh, which I
thought was a nice touch.

On offense it was clear that things were not functioning
according to plan. The game marked the unveiling of Coach
Lawrence's "Big Play" offense and, honestly, all the "Big
Plays" were few and far between. Passer Harrison Davis was
gunning deep much of the time but seemed to connect
consistently only with end Dave Sullivan. In defense of
Harrison, who still threw many passes quite wildly, his other
receivers were having considerable difficulty getting open.

I refuse, however, to give up on 'Big Plays," quarterbacks
or offenses after only one game, and that game a win. A
veteran line gave Davis excellent pass protection all evening. I
have seen Harrison Davis pass brilliantly and know that his
runners, Kent Merritt and Greg Dickerhoof, are capable of
great days. This is an offense that has the potential to win and
what they produce in the last ten games will be of interest.

Dietzel all but confessed in a post-game news conference
that he had been looking past the Wahoos to his game with
Georgia Tech later on this week. He seemed calm but not
shattered (He has a long-term contract) and credited the
Cavaliers with "teaching my young boys a lesson." Also lined
up on this fall's lecture tour are Profs. Fulcher of Georgia
Tech, Kinard of Ole Miss and L. Jones of Florida State. Mr.
Dietzel and the Gamecocks should find that these men all
command teams that teach well.

SINCE THE PAUL DIETZEL ERA began in Columbia, the
word has spread that anyone who dares go South to play with
the Cocks is in for a stiff test. The trappings of big-time
football abound. There is a new stadium, an Astroturf playing
field, a shiny marching band and an ample smorgasbord for
members of the press. The whole place just reeks of money
spent in pursuit of gridiron glory. The Gamecocks are
pardoned when they drop one to, say, Georgia or Tennessee or
Alabama, but they are expected to beat the Virginias.

I promise not to lose too much sleep over Dietzel and his
many problems but the questions remain – exactly how bad is
his South Carolina team and how good are the Cavaliers? Those
questions will stay open at least until Saturday when another
game will have been played and comparisons can start being
drawn. Until then, all you really can say is that Virginia's
better than South Carolina.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE TECH GAME
MYSELF because, if I tilt my head back and close my eyes, I
can see Virginia winning it. I can envision our defensive line
harassing Strock, our secondary "bending but not breaking,"
and our offense rolling with a smart mix of runs and passes.
Why, there might not be enough game balls to go around.
20-14, Virginia, is, I think, possible.

How marvelous are my dreams.