University of Virginia Library

Player Of The Week

Belic Play Praised

By JOHN MARKON

Cavalier Linebacker Chuck Belic Delivers Crunching Blow To ACC Foe During Early-Season

The Steelton, Pennsylvania Native Gained Recognition For His Standout Play Against Army

An unsung hero in a season
when most Wahoos heroism has
been of the unsung, or at least the
hard-to-locate variety, is Chuck
Belic, Cavalier linebacker and this
week's CD player of the week.

In Saturday's 14-9 loss to Army
Belic made nine unassisted tackles
and from his middle linebacker
position led the Virginia defense to
a strong game, one that they
perhaps could have pulled out with
a little assistance from their
offensive counterparts.

Belic and his fellow linebacker
Kevin Michaels were all over the
field against the Cadets and were
central figures in holding the Army
to their relatively meager offensive
totals. In a game where the Cavs
went on the field 13-point
underdogs it was the efforts of the
defense, under some attack after
shoddy performances against South
Carolina and Clemson, that made
the score respectable.

Belic, a third-yearman, split
time as a starter last season but was
counted on heavily as a 1971
regular. In his brief moments of
exposure last season he still found
time to establish something of a
reputation as a hard-hitter and sure
tackler. While he has perhaps fallen
short of the All-ACC performance
the coaching staff touted him for
during pre-season he has been
consistently steady in every game.

Belic attended Steelton-Highspire
High School in Steelton,
Pa., an area of the country where
high school football is taken only
slightly less seriously than the
timing of the next steel strike. In
this challenging arena Belic
excelled, earning three football
letters, starring at fullback,
quarterback and linebacker.

His list of "All" honors is
imposing. He was, at times,
All-Central Pennsylvania,
All-Metropolitan in Harrisburg,
All-State, Honorable Mention
All-America and additionally
racked up Big 33 honors. He was
MVP at his school and was listed
among the 100 best backs in
America.

At the University Belic is
enrolled in the Education School, a
fact that, no doubt, pleases his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Miles Belic of
Steelton. Another Belic, brother
Miles, played football for Lehigh.
There also exists a third Belic as yet
unrecruited by the major collegiate
gridiron powers, she is Chuck's
sister.

Belic was honored not so much
for his play against Army as for his
consistent play throughout the
season. Looking back over the
seven Cavalier openings, a truly
poor game by Belic is not to be
found. Needless to say, this
statement cannot be made of
everyone on this year's team.

Other Wahoos on the credit side
of last week's ledger were Gerard
Mullins, the gifted second-year kick
returner and defensive back, who
had a good day in both capacities
and the aforementioned Michaels,
who led the squad in tackles with
12. Bob McGrail scored the only
Cav touchdown on a runback of an
interception initially tipped by
Andy Selfridge. For the remainder
of the team a quick look at the
schedule will reveal another game
Saturday afternoon.