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First Practice Under Lawrence

Cavs Begin Drills

By Tom Bell
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Heart-Stopping Gridiron Action Just Like This Will Be Clearly In Evidence When Spring Practice Starts Today

New Virginia Football Mentor Don Lawrence And His Staff Will Watch All 78 Hopefuls Closely In 20-Day Period

The new era in Cavalier football
takes another big step today as new
head coach Don Lawrence
welcomes 78 players to the opening
of Spring football practice.

New co-captains Andy Selfridge
and Gary Helman will lead the
squad, which sports 28 lettermen
and an impressive crop of first
year-men, into the first of the 20
practice sessions which run through
April 24.

The first three sessions will be
used by Mr. Lawrence as an
adjustment period for players and
coaches. Four members of the new
staff, including offensive
coordinator Sil Cornachione, will
get their first looks at the Cavaliers
in action this afternoon.

Mr. Lawrence has five objectives
for Spring practice: 1) To give
every player an opportunity for a
starting position; 2) placing players
in their right positions; 3) analyzing
strengths and weaknesses; 4)
exposing players to the offensive
and defensive designs; and 5) the
continued stressing of
the philosophy of winning for
Virginia and its people."

Selfridge and Helman were
overwhelmingly elected captains at
an earlier team meeting. Mr.
Lawrence notes that both possess
great leadership ability, dean's list
averages, and that they have both
started for two years. Helman has
led the Cavaliers in rushing and
scoring for the last two seasons, and
Selfridge has been a mainstay in the
defensive line.

Mr. Cornachlone inherits last
year's starting backfield intact,
including Helman, running back
Jim Lacey, quarterback Bill Troup,
and flanker Dave Sullivan, who was
Troup's favorite receiver last fall.

Former Cavalier star Turnley
Todd, the new offensive line coach,
will face gaps in the offensive line as
four starters are gone, including
All-ACC center Dan Ryczek and
Bob Bischoff. Tight end Joe Smith,
tackle Abby Salenger, and guard
Tom Kennedy are the returners.
Strong contenders to fill the open
spots are center Stormy Costas,
tackles Bob Burkley and Bill
Farrell, and tight end Bill Davis, a
two-year letterman and strong
challenger to Smith.

Highly-touted first year-men
Kent Merritt and Harrison Davis
should provide help in the
backfield. Center Paul Ryczek
Dan's younger brother, and end Ed
Sabornie, also up from the first
year squad, should challenge for
starting spots.

Gary Helman (left) And Andy Selfridge (right), Captains

Helman And Selfridge Hope To Usher In New Era This Fall

The major task belongs to new
defensive coordinator Bill Clay who
must rebuild the defense that lost
seven starters. End Billy Williams,
Selfridge, and safeties Bob McGrait
and Rob Gustafson are the only
returners.

Ric McFarland, Chuck Belic,
and Kevin Michaels, all lettermen,
should be the top linebackers, but
they will be pushed by first
year-men Harry Gehr and Craig
Critchley. Two-year letterman
Bobby Bressan and first year-man
Stanley Land should fill the
vacancies in the defensive line. The
cornerback positions are wide open.

Lawrence has been asked
innumerable times since his
appointment how long he thinks it
will take to get a winner. "I tell
them next year," he says. "Our kids
believe it and I believe it." With the
start of Spring drills, Mr. Lawrence
begins another phase of his
"Operation Win".