University of Virginia Library

San Diego Prospect

Selfridge Is Picked, 21 Recruits Signed

By DOUG DOUGHTY

Cutting a swath through the
limelight centered around the
Amazin' Cavalier basketball
five, football coach Don
Lawrence and his staff have
been busy at work preparing
for next fall's campaign.

Although Mr. Lawrence and
his fellow coaches have already
signed 21 prospects to play
football for the Wahoos next
year, the biggest football news
around the University came
Wednesday afternoon as Andy
Selfridge, 6-5, 220-pound
co-captain for the 1971
Cavaliers, was selected on the
thirteenth round by the San
Diego Chargers during the
NFL's collegiate player draft
this week.

Selfridge is expected to sign
with the Chargers but will
probably be represented by a
Charlottesville attorney during
contract negotiations. The
Chargers recently acquired the
tried veteran Deacon Jones
from the Rams last week to
shore up their defensive end
and "Big Sil" was drafted to
play linebacker by new head
coach Harland Svare.

Back on the home grounds,
the 21 players given
grants-in-aid by the Cavalier
football staff represent "real
fine size that we haven't had in
the past", according to Mr.
Lawrence. With even more
candidates expected to sign
within the next week, the
coaching staff is proud to claim
that all boys considered to date
are good students.

Clearly the "find" of the
recruiting season has been Mike
Lacika. Already graduated
from Baltimore City Junior
College, the 6-0, 210-pound
running back garnered
All-American honors and was
voted the outstanding player in
his conference. Other signees
include Joseph Schaeffer, a
Cleveland schoolboy
quarterback; David Echols,
who was a running back for
nearby Fork Union, and
Raymond Keyes, who clocks a
tidy 9.9 for the 100-yard dash.

Size is undoubtedly an
important feature of the
incoming first-year crop. Ed
Milligan comes to the
University by way of
Maryland's Montgomery
County and at 6-7, 235 pounds
he is one of the biggest pledges.
Milligan is an interior lineman
as are New Jersey's 6-4,
235-pound Tom Classic and
6-4, 250-pound Charles Hale of
Grundy, Virginia.

This recruiting effort is
unique in that for the first time
in many years first-yearmen
will be able to play varsity ball
next fall. Although Mr.
Lawrence recognizes how
much of an academic burden
playing football for the
University can be, he specifies
that the new NCAA ruling
permits a Junior Varsity team.

The idea of a junior varsity
pleases Mr. Lawrence, "to the
fourth-year man who has
worked hard in practice for
four years, —the J.V. gives a
chance to play Friday before
the big game...bring up a
date...have his parents see him
play".

Virginia Tech dealt the
Wahoo coaching staff a though
blow when the Hokies signed
the Cavaliers' defensive
coordinator Bill Clay last week.
Mr. Lawrence admits that he
would have no trouble
replacing him with an old
acquaintance from his pro
football days, in other words a
"big name". Nonetheless, Mr.
Lawrence wants the kind of
experienced coach who has
helped out for eight or nine
years on the collegiate level
and only has a couple of
"feelers" along that line.

Tackle Andy Selfridge (Right) Watches With Fellow Linemen As Cavaliers Drop Carolina Game

NFL's San Diego Chargers Drafted "Big Sil" As A Linebacker During Round Thirteen Wednesday