The Cavalier daily :: Friday, October 8, 1971 :: University of Virginia Library

The Cavaliers, riding high after
last week's surprise upset of
Vanderbilt, start a four-week series
of road games Saturday night when
they head south into the unfriendly
confines of South Carolina to face
Paul Dietzel's Gamecocks.

Hopes are high for the Cavaliers,
who broke out of a three-week
slump last Saturday in Scott
Stadium, but South Carolina
promises stiff resistance. The
Gamecocks are 3-1 on the season,
having lost only to Duke while
topping Georgia Tech, N.C. State,
and Clemson.

The Cavaliers go into the game
in the best shape they have been in
all season as for as injuries are
concerned. Greg Dickerhoof, kept
out of last week's game by a hand
injury, should be ready to return,
along with wide receiver Dave
Sullivan, running back Jim Lacey,
and guard Steve Shawley, all of
whom have seen only limited duty
in recent weeks.

The story of the game may
hinge around the ability of the
Wahoo offense, which finally got
uncorked last week under the
leadership of Larry Albert, to
penetrate the South Carolina
defense, dubbed the "Carolina
Bandits" by Mr. Dietzel, who
coached the famous "Chinese
Bandits" at Louisiana State a
decade ago.

Albert, as is now well known,
led the Cavaliers to a total of 385
total yards against the
Commodores, 268 of which he
personally accounted for on the
ground or in the air.

The "Carolina Bandits" were in
Memphis, Tenn., meanwhile,
holding Memphis State to one field
goal. The defense has given up only
three of the six touchdowns scored
by Gamecock opponents this
season.

On the other side, the South
Carolina offense, characterized as
"a balanced attack which is quick
and aggressive" by Cavalier scouts
will be hurt by injuries which
probably keep both starting
running backs out of action and
may hamper starting quarterback
Glenn Morris.

Two factors that could help
South Carolina are the artificial turf
and lighting in 57,000 seat Carolina
Stadium. The contest will be the
first under the lights for the
Cavaliers since 1967, and their only
other experience with artificial turf
was the disaster at Michigan.

"Virginia will be a real fired up
team after that win," said Mr.
Dietzel earlier this week. "And we
feel they have found themselves a
quarterback in Albert. And we
know all about Kent Merritt
because we tried unsuccessfully to
recruit him a couple of years ago.

"We have survived so far
because of the great play of our
defense. I know our offense has
been inconsistent, but we are
improving and I'm not worried at
this point."

Continued improvement by the
offensive line is one of the keys to
the performance by the Cavalier
attack. "Our line did a fine job
blocking for us against Vanderbilt,"
said offensive coordinator Sil
Cornachione during this week's
preparations. "Their play has
continued to improve, but South
Carolina has one of the quickest
defenses we will face. They'll have
to do a good job."

The Cavaliers have not beaten
the Gamecocks since 1961 and the
two teams have not met since 1968.
The series stands at nine wins, 14
loses, and a tie for the Cavaliers.

The Wahoos will fly to South
Carolina today and work out in the
stadium there tonight in
preparation for the kickoff at 7:30
p.m. Saturday.