University of Virginia Library

Could Make Squad

Sully Hangs On With Browns; Skins Cut Belic

By BILL BERNO

Dave Sullivan, the Cavaliers'
All-ACC wide receiver, has
raised some eyebrows after his
first three weeks in the
Cleveland Browns training
camp.

A 15th-round draft choice
of the perennial contenders,
Sullivan has impressed the
coaches with his ability to fight
for the ball and catch anything
thrown near him.

Head coach Nick Skorich
says, "He catches the ball real
well." Fran Polsfoot, the
Browns' receiver coach,
commented on Sullivan: "He
doesn't have blazing speed, but
he's fast enough. He has great
hands. If you get the ball near
him, he'll catch it most of the
time."

"Silky Sully" performed
that feat 52 times for the
Wahoos in 1972, and hauled in
seven touchdown tosses. His
name is plastered all over the
Wahoo record book. He is the
all-time leading Virginia pass
catcher.

Sullivan admits, "It's
tough out here, but just about
what I expected. The players
are bigger and faster and they
know their techniques. You
can see the difference in
coaching right away. Also,
nobody had to point it out
when the veterans arrived."

At the moment, Sully is
playing behind veteran Frank
Pitts. Yet to arrive in camp is
top draft pick Steve Holden of
Arizona State, who was tied up
with the College All-Stars. He
is expected to challenge for a
starting spot.

Sullivan's chances of staying
on with the team were
bolstered when Skorich
announced that draftee Greg
Pruitt would be played
exclusively at running back,
and see no action as a receiver.

At six feet and 185 pounds,
the Steelton, Pa. native isn't
the biggest player in camp. But
his lack of size doesn't worry
him. "I don't think it is as big a
factor at my position.
Defensive backs usually aren't
that much bigger, and most of
the time I'm away from the
inside traffic." Sully has shown
pretty good speed, clocking a
4.7 best in the 40-yard dash.

One of the Sullivan
trademarks vanished when the
Browns gave him jersey
number 48 instead of his
favorite 44. They already gave

that one to a guy named Leroy
Kelly.

Another ex-Wahoo in camp
is offensive lineman Jim
Copeland. Sidelined at the
moment with a groin pull,
Copeland is expected to start
the season at one of the guard
slots. He lost his job at center
when Bob DeMarco was
obtained from the Miami
Dolphins. Copeland's been
known to return to
Charlottesville and help Coach
Don Lawrence tutor the
Cavalier offensive linemen.

CHUCK BELIC, starting
wingback for the Cavaliers last
season, was one of nine rookies
cut by the Washington
Redskins last week.

Belic, up seven pounds over
his Virginia playing weight of
213, was trying out as a
linebacker, a position at which
he was a starter his first two
varsity years.

He had elicited good
comments from George Allen
during his first several days of
rookie camp and after a
scrimmage with the Colt
rookies. Competition was
especially keen among the
Redskin linebackers, including
veterans all-pro Chris
Hanburger, Myron Pottios,
Harold McLinton, Rusty
Tillman, Steve Kiner and
off-season acquisitions Dave
Robinson and John Pergine.