The Cavalier daily :: Wednesday, November 12, 1969 :: University of Virginia Library

With the stands still reverberating
with the jubilant roar of the
Cavaliers' first score in fourteen
quarters Jim Willits recovered a
Jack Dolbin fumble on Wake's 27
yard line. OB Danny Fassio brought
the team out of the huddle. Signals
were called, a power sweep pitch out
went to Jim Lacey skirting the
left end and the slender second-year
man weaved his way through three
defenders to the one yard line
where he was bounced out of
bounds.

This was typical of several
titillating performances by Lacey
in last weekend's heartbreaking
23-21 loss to the Deacons and
helped the 18-year old earn The
Cavalier Daily's award for Player of
the Week.

According to offensive coordinator
Ken Campbell the slight, 5-11,
164-pounder graded the "highest of
any offensive back" in gaining 111
yards on 22 carries, blocking like a
200-pounder and scoring a last gasp
touchdown just prior to the halftime
gun. To top it all off the
Pennsylvania native accomplished
all this with a painful hip pointer -
a severe muscle spasm, the same
type of injury which kept Tom
Patton out of two games earlier this
season.

His finest individual effort
boosted his season's output to 578
yards on 111 carries for a hefty 5.2
average. Last year as a freshman he
gained over 1,000 yards on rushing,
pass receiving, punt and kickoff
returns but his diminutive size
was expected to detain his skill on
the varsity. In fact Lacey had been
tagged for only spotty reserve duty
until a lucky, for him, quirk of fate
intervened in his behalf. Dave
Wyncoop, Frank Quayle's backup
the last two years, had received all
the accolades to start the season in
the tailback position. But Wynnie
received a severely sprained ankle in
the season opener and was forced
to sit out two weeks.

So Lacey started the second
game, Duke, and since then has
teamed well enough with roommate
Gabby Helman to give the Wahoos
the most productive one-two rushing
punch in the ACC.

Coach Campbell lists Lucey's
requirements as a running back in
an exuberant, straightforward manner:
"As a runner he is excellent,
despite his size ... has good speed
and runs a 4.7 forty yard dash in
full gear ... is capable of going all
the way ... is a tough boy and takes
a lot of punishment ... as a pass
receiver he is fair to good but we
would not hesitate to throw to
him."

In the awards the team votes for
its own players Al Sinesky won the
"Have Helmet Will Hit" kudos and
second-year man Gary Saff was
presented the offensive Wahoo
award.