University of Virginia Library

Wahoos Nearing Readiness For Tigers

Photo By Bob Gill

Anonymous Cavalier Gridders Scrimmage At University Hall Field, Preparing For Clemson

After Four Weeks Of Hard, Hot Practices, Coach Frank Howard's Tigers Are Just Around Corner

By Hugh Antrim

Apparently that famous "white
meat" phrase was uttered in the
late '40s. To those naive Clemson
haters, "white meat" is
synonymous with inefficient
Wahoo teams.

The story goes like this. In the
winter of that historic year
Clemson ringleader Frank Howard
attended a Southern Conference
meeting in Roanoke. The William
and Mary athletic director
summoned his courage and asked
Mr. Howard if his Indians might
play Clemson the next fall. The
Baron of Barlow Bend responded to
the queries, "...you're too tough for
us; I want some of that Virginia
white meat."

The Cavaliers were not to play
Clemson until 1955, however, but
the tag "white meat" was picked up
quickly and has been used
constantly ever since.

Word has it that Mr. Howard has
doubts at present about that
famous utterance. He has
reportedly said that he doesn't
want to stir up a hornet's nest. It is
also rumored that the Cavaliers
have sharp swords already
unscathed, hornet's nest or no.

This short tale ends late
Saturday afternoon, but reports
from University Hall allow that
even A-1 sauce won't make that
white meat edible.

Coach Blackburn puts his 7-3
'68 record on the line in Scott
Stadium Saturday come what may.
If a few sore spots, bangs, and
bruises clear up by the weekend,
the Wahoos will be ready to go

Danny Fassio has gotten the call
to lead the offense; back-up men
Larry Albert and Mike Cubbage will
be right there if needed. Last year
the Wahoos moved the football
some 439 yards a contest, but some
fellows named Quayle and
Anderson graduated, Stepping in to
lead the ground attack will be
tailback Dave Wyncoop. The
fullback spot is still undecided;
look for either Gary Helman or Joe
Smith in the backfield with Fassio
and Wyncoop.

The Cavaliers sport a fine crew
of receivers. Chuck Mooser will
start from flanker, Bobby Bischoff
at the tight end, and co-captain
Rick Moschel at split end.

Veteran Rick Kotulak will head
up one tackle, while 6-2,
225-pound Gary Saft appears to
have nailed down the other tackle.
Big Abby Sallenger at 6-5 and 234
pounds is also available at that slot.

A healthy Tommy Thomas
could go at one guard, with Jim
Shannon blocking on the other
side. A pre-season pick at All
A.C.C., Dan Ryyczek will have the
football and the center position all
to himself.

Coach Don Lawrence's defensive
squad features seven '68 starters
hungry for tiger meat; they haven't
been fed that delicacy in some
while.

Tommy Patton and Al Sinesky
play the ends, and this pair is
acclaimed to be the best in the
conference. Patton has an ailing
knee, and Sinesky is recovering
from a shoulder injury but both
are expected to go 100%.

Inside, Randy Lestyk and Andy
Selfridge have been named to the
starting unit at the tackle spot.
Bobby Bressan and Jim Willits will
be there and ready as well.

Ed Kihm and "Possum" Page
play the outside linebackers, while
Paul Reid plays the ball from his
center linebacking position.

An all-lettermen defensive
secondary, headed by co-captain
"Rabbit" Rannigan, will be
challenging Tommy Kendrick's
aerial attack Saturday afternoon.
Andy Minton and Pete Schmidt are
stationed at the corners, while Bill
Lockwood and Bob Rannigan man
the safeties.

This defensive unit will be put
to the test soon; Frank Howard
claims to be able to score from
anywhere on the field. Refutation
of that claim comes soon as well.

In other A.C.C. games this
weekend: South Carolina heads for
Durham and the Blue Devils. The
Gamecocks are billed as title
contenders and Duke's Leo Hart
will be slinging passes everywhere
to put the Devils on top.

N.C. State will try to recoup
from the Wake Forest humbling as
the Pack goes up against an
improving Carolina Tar Heel squad.

Wake Forest challenges SEC
member Auburn Saturday going for
a second '69 Deacon victory; and a
revamped Maryland Terrapin
football team plays West Virginia at
the mountaineer abode. And to
reiterate - Clemson's Tigers come
prowling Scott Stadium Saturday,
and the Cavaliers are sharpening
their swords.