University of Virginia Library

Defensive Back Mullins Named
Cavalier Player Of Week

By JOHN MARKON

Harrison Davis Rolls Around End In Last Saturday's Action

Although heroes, in the classical
sense, were hard to find in last
Saturday's 28-0 loss to Duke, the
efforts of Gerard Mullins on the
defensive and specialty platoons
were recognized by almost anyone
who attended and led to his
selection as the Cavalier Daily's
Player of the Week.

After Duke had scored with ease
on their first possession the Scott
Stadium crowd must have been
wondering if 4:35 of the first
quarter wasn't too early to start to
work on a little liquid refreshment.
The little (5′9″, 185) Pound, Va.
speedster stopped a few of them in
mid-swallow by trucking Duke's
kick off back 57 yards and starting a
Wahoo drive.

Sophomore Defensive Back Gerard Mullins Received Cavalier Daily Accolade As Cavalier Of The Week

Speedy Second-Yearman Returned Kickoffs and Punts As Well Standing Out In The Defensive Secondary

Returning 4 kickoffs on the
afternoon for a total of 136 yards
including another fine runback of
38 yards in the third quarter, he
also had a punt return which he had
broken for a long gain called back
when a teammate was detected
clipping.

In addition to all this he went
all the way at cornerback and was
credited as having played the best
game of any in the Cavalier
secondary. He made six tackles and
drew coverage on Bill Baker and
Bob Phelan, two leading Blue Devil
receivers.

The versatility Mullins has
showed so far with the Cavs is easily
explained with a cursory look at his
background, Last year he played
both offense and defense for a 4-1
Virginia freshman squad and led the
team in punt returns. The decision
to switch him permanently to
defense was made near the end of
the year.

Back at Pound High School he
earned eight varsity letters, three in
football, three in basketball and
two in track. He claimed
All-District honors as both a
fullback and linebacker and was
named Pound's Athlete of the Year
in his senior season. Academically,
he has been president of every one
of his classes since the fifth grade
and was selected Outstanding
Senior in 1970. He is now enrolled
in the College.

Also playing strong games for
the Wahoos were linebacker Chuck
Belie, who led the defensive side in
tackles and center Paul Ryzek, a
second-yearman taking his brother
Dan's place in the line, received the
highest grade of any offensive
lineman.

Also deserving of mention is
team Captain Gary Helman.
Although not completely recovered
from ankle miseries and sustaining a
shoulder injury in the fourth
quarter he ran well while in the ball
game leaving Wahoo rooters eager
for more.

The selection of Mullins marks
the second straight week a
defensive player has been singled
out by the CD Staff giving any and
all offensive stalwarts scoring
touchdowns against Vanderbilt
inside tracks on next week's prize.