University of Virginia Library

Homecoming Game

Wahoos Hope For Revival Against Terps

By FLETCHER THOMPSON

In bygone years, the annual
Maryland-Virginia get-together
has traditionally been a loser's
contest. Tacked on to the end
of dismal seasons for both
clubs, the game was
noteworthy only for the fact
that it frequently determined
who would finish last in the
ACC.

This year's Scott Stadium
Homecoming crowd will
witness a slightly different sort
of affair. Although neither
team is on the verge of
breaking into the Top Twenty
or even the ACC lead, both
have managed to display
some signs of life.

While the Wahoos have
begun to fade after jumping
out to a fast start against South
Carolina and Virginia Tech, the
Terrapins have started to shed
their pushover image. After
somewhat of a slow start our
neighbors to the north have
registered impressive wins over
Wake Forest and Villanova,
while dropping a close decision
to Duke, in the last three
weeks.

Reversing these trends will
be the Cavaliers task on
Saturday and at present the
outlook is not as promising as
Wahoo supporters would wish.

As usual, the list of injured
reads something like the
student directory. Among the
walking wounded are defensive
back and punt returner Gerard
Mullins, defensive end Billy
Williams, quarterback Harrison
Davis and ace receiver Dave
Sulivan. All of these men are
slated to play although how
much action they see depends
on the extent of their injuries.

Spearheading what is left of
the Cavalier attack will be
third-year signal-caller George
Allen as Davis still has not
recovered enough from his sore
thumb to throw the ball
effectively.

Allen's battery-mates will be
split end Sullivan, who is
hobbled by a knee injury
sustained in the Clemson game,
Mike McGugan, slotback
Chuck Belic with Davis
scheduled to spell them.

Sullivan is expected to see
double-coverage from the
Terps who think that shutting
out Sullivan is the most
important factor in stopping
the Cavs. Coach Don Lawrence
points out, however, that
Sullivan has been receiving
special attention all year and
still holds a commanding lead
among ACC receivers.

For the defense, Lawrence
says he expects Terp Coach
Jerry Claiborne to bring in a
more wide-open offense than
those he guided at Virginia
Tech.

So far this season the Terps
have shown a considerable
propensity to travel through
the air. Despite the injury to
starting quarterback Al Neville,
the Turtles recorded over 300
yards passing last weekend
against Duke under the
direction of sub Bob Avellini.

Although the Cav pass
defense has shown
improvement in recent weeks,
they could be in for a long
afternoon as they will be facing
the best passing team since
West Virginia.

To give themselves a good
chance to win on Saturday,
Lawrence says the Cavs will
have to eliminate the mistakes
that have put them in the hole
early the last few-weeks.

Instead of reserving all their
good moments for a
desperation second half effect,
the offense is going to have to
move the ball with consistency
throughout the game or there
may be a lot of disappointed
people leaving Scott Stadium
on Saturday.