University of Virginia Library

Lawrence Vows 'Big Plays'
As Gridders Open Season

By DOUG DOUGHTY

With all eyes focused on a
defense which permitted a
scary 24.7 points per game last
year, the Cavalier football team
enters the 1972 season,
hell-bent upon bettering last
year's 3-8 record.

Optimism toward that goal
has centered on the strong
right arm of third-year
quarterback Harrison Davis.
Davis, competing against
now-graduated Larry Albert
for number one most of 1971,
only managed to complete 36
per cent of his tosses but spring
practice and an impressive
pre-season have spotlighted
Davis as one of the top
signal callers in the ACC.

"The best thing he does is
read defenses and he does that
as well as some pro
quarterbacks" is what Coach
Lawrence has to say about his
quarterback and ACC
sportswriters seem to agree.
League pundits making a tour
of the seven pre-season camps
destined Virginia as the
cellar-dweller for 1972, but
rated Davis as the best at his
position prior to the start of
the season.

But even if Davis puts
points on the board, will
Virginia outscore the
opposition? Coach Lawrence
seems to think so. He cites the
biggest improvement at the
linebacking positions with the
linemen definitely improving
with age and the deep backs
talented but maybe not so
experienced.

Starting off at middle
linebacker will be Craig
Critchley. Largest of this
group, Critchley is 6-0, 211
pounds and is an ex-backup
quarterback to Davis on the
first-year club of 1970.

Joining Critchley will be
two other third-yearmen,
Harry Gehr and Dan Blakely.
Neither was a starter last year
but saw substantial playing
time. Gehn suffered a shlder
separation last week and was
replaced by Kevin Michaels for
the South Carolina game.

Mr. Lawrence praises his
defensive ends Stanley Ladd
and Billy Williams, and indeed
they may rank as the best
tandem in the conference.
Williams has shaken off the
effects of a bothersome neck
injury last fall and hope is that
Land repeats his strong
second-year showing.

Replacing stalwarts Andy
Selfridge and Bob Bressan will
be third-year-man Leroy Still
and leading first-year rusher
from a year ago, Dick
Ambrose. Quick and aggressive,
Ambrose might find size a
problem. He is a mere 6-0, 214
pounds.

With many of the same
faces returning, the defensive
secondary features Gerard
Mullins, Steve Sroba (both
third-year men), Chris Brown
and first-year QB from last
year, Chris Turner.

Davis of course will lead the
offense, but he may not even
be the biggest gun on the
offensive platoon. That honor
goes to sprinter Kent Merritt,
who parlayed blazing speed
and shifty moves into the
fourth-place rushing standing
in the ACC in 7

Joining Merritt will be his
part-time mate from '71, Greg
Dickerhoof. Dickerhoof, more
consistent than transfer Mike
Lacika, was third leading
rusher for last year. Chuck
Belic, last year's linebacking
standout, is the slot back
where he will serve primarily as
a receiver.

Wide receivers Dave Sullivan
and Mike McGugan are back,
but Bill Davis, the ACC's
leading pass-snatcher last year
is gone. McGugan's condition is
guarded due to a sprained knee
and Bill Lanahan is a frequent
sub. Sullivan grabbed 32 passes
last year for 393 yards.

The offensive line is of
particular interest. Veterans
Bill Farrell, Steve Shawley,
Paul Ryczek, Tom Kennedy
and Dale Dickerson return
from tackle to tackle but left
guard Tom Glassic (6-4, 230
pounds) and right tackle Paul
Tamlonis (6-4, 226) are two
big first-year linemen who may
help by the end of the year.

Despite the optimism,
writers rank the Wahoos no
better than fourth for the
upcoming campaign. Mr.
Lawrence recognizes the
numerous question marks
about his club, but he
maintains that with a few
breaks, 100 per cent effort
from each ballplayer and a
minimum injury toll, that the
Cavs might just contest for the
ACC top spot.

Dave Sullivan Snares Down and Out