 | The Cavalier daily Thursday, October 12, 1972 |  |
VMI Is Winless
'Hoos Favored By 33
By FLETCHER THOMPSON
When the corps of Virginia
Military Keydets marches into
Scott Stadium Saturday, it will
be followed by a winless
football team that has been
tabbed as 33 point underdogs
and a losing tradition that puts
Virginia's to shame.
For those Wahoo supporters
who look to VMI to provide
the crippled Cavs with a
much-needed breather,
however, this year's edition of
the Keydets may be something
of a disappointment.
Before this comment is
dismissed as typical coach's
rhetoric a few matters should
be taken into account.
Foremost of these is the
fact that the Keydets will be
challenging the 'Hoos rather
questionable pass defense with
one of the most prolific aerial
attacks in the country. In five
outings, the boys from
Lexington have been averaging
about 200 yards per game, a
sobering thought for the
Cavalier secondary.
The mainstay of this
artillery is sophomore
quarterback Tom Schultze.
Thus far, Schultze has put the
ball up 120 times for 61
completions and five
touchdowns.
Schultze's favorite partner
in these airborne endeavors has
been split end Ronnie Moore
who has come up with 20
catches for the season. When
he is not throwing to Moore,
look for Schultze to toss his
bullets in the direction of back
Ronnie Norman or Bruce Farry
with whom he has connected
for several long gains.
On the rare occasions when
the Keydets keep the ball on
the ground, they will probably
be giving it to halfback Mac
Bowman who has carried for
222 yards.
Despite their proven ability
to travel around the field, the
Keydets have had serious
difficulty in finding their way
to the goal line. In five efforts,
VMI has registered a scant 51
points.
This meager sum can be
accounted for in part by the
fifteen turnovers the Keydets
have allowed and also by the
fact that they have had trouble
in getting their opponents to
relinquish the pigskin once
they have gotten their hands
on it.
Defensively, military men
can only be described as
woeful. It doesn't seem to
make any difference how you
go, you are bound to move.
Keydet defenders have been
moving backwards at the rate
of 360 yards per contest, while
surrendering three times as
many points as their offensive
counterparts can score.
Even so, the Keydets gave
ACC power Maryland a
struggle and will probably be
all the opposition the Cavs will
want Saturday.
| The Cavalier daily Thursday, October 12, 1972 | |