University of Virginia Library

Tobacco Bowl Opponents

Tigers Feature Stiff Defense, Good Running

By JOHN MARKON

There is no rest for the weary.
Fresh from their 34-14 pounding at
the hands of South Carolina the
Wahoos will face Clemson Saturday
in the afternoon game of
Richmond's Tobacco Festival
doubleheader. In twelve meetings
between the two schools no
Virginia football team has ever
knocked off the Tigers.

This was understandable back in
the Frank Howard era when
Clemson turned out a succession of
fine teams but the losses have been
more frustrating of late with the
decline in Tiger gridiron fortunes.
Last year's Clemson squad went 3-8
but was able to polish off Virginia
27-17.

That was the year Howard, after
a thirty-plus year tenure as Head
Coach, climbed or was kicked
upstairs to make way for Cecil
"Hootie" Ingram, formerly an
assistant at Arkansas.

Ingram, big on gimmicks,
proceeded to plaster the whole
campus with Tiger Paw decals in an
effort to bring back the old
Clemson spirit and pride. His team
finished a prideful 3-8 and dropped
the first three on their schedule this
year before shocking Duke 3-0 in
Norfolk last Saturday.

Eddie Siegler provided the
game's only points with a 39-yard
field goal but Tiger linebacker
Larry Hefner led the Clemson
defense, the game's real stars.
Hefner's 13 individual tackles led to
his selection as ACC Defensive
Player of the Week.

Quarterback Tommy Kendrick
leads the offense and is suffering
through a bad season. He is rushing
for -1.6 yards per carry and has
made 42 per cent of his passes. His
one touchdown pass also pales a
little when compared to six
interceptions.

In Kendrick's backfield are
fullback Heide Davis, 4.7 yards a
crack and halfback Rick Gilstrap,
2.9 per try. Davis ran very well
against Duke as the Tigers amassed
the impressive total of 202 rushing
yards. Tight end John McMakin and
wide receiver Bill Kelly, with twelve
catches between them, lead
Kendrick's receiving corps.

The defense, although
victimized by Southland powers
Georgia and Georgia Tech, is a good
one. Ends Wayne Baker and Charlie
Mayer anchor a defensive line that
yield opponents 3.4 yards per rush
and deep backs Ben Anderson and
George Siepe key the secondary.

Before the season began it was
assumed Clemson would be an
offensive team relying on a good
passing game to offset a spotty
defense. This analysis has since
gone by the boards as the defense
has proved adequate while offense
has sputtered in games with tough
opponents. Kendrick is still to be
feared as an accurate passer with
good receivers and the leader of a
potentially explosive offense.

As of this date, however, the
offense's potential has not shown
its face. After four games with
strong teams the Tigers, now in the
thick of the ACC race, could be
pardoned for thinking of Virginia as
a "breather." They are 15-point
favorites.