University of Virginia Library

From the Sidelines

ACC Power

By Hugh Antrim

Virginia has captured her first Atlantic Coast Conference
Championship since 1964. Such an occurrence is just not an every
day happening around here, But Coach Buddy Beardmore's tested
stickmen pinned a 9-7 defeat on the Terrapins of Maryland
Saturday afternoon to claim undisputed title to the ACC Lacrosse
crown. And there was another event Saturday afternoon that
proves to be of interest to Virginia Lacrosse fans - Navy tripped
Johns Hopkins by a one goal margin. Now remember, the
Cavaliers only lost to the Midshipmen, 6-5, and Navy was plain
lucky to flee back to Annapolis with that one.

But Virginia lost to Navy and was consequently eliminated
from the NCAA title race, but had the Cavaliers hung on to beat
Navy, they would be in the thick of the NCAA race. Not to be
chagrined with the Middie game, Coach Beardmore's squad
smashed Duke 16-1, and spanked the Terps 9-7 to become ACC
Champs.

So the Cavaliers rank four or five nationally; another goal here
or there and we would have a legitimate stake in the NCAA
title, pending Navy's upcoming meeting with Army on May 31.
But speculation was never the key to reality, and the stickmen
will have to settle for ACC supremacy. The stickmen will have to
settle for ACC supremacy.

It's always intriguing, to see a non-scholarship team whip a
scholarship team, and Virginia settled more than the
championship Saturday. Coach Beardmore no doubt would like
to be able to offer grant-in-aids, but every member of that
Lacrosse team plays ultimately because he enjoys what he is
doing. But at the University of Maryland it is estimated that eight
to ten scholarships are employed, and grant-in-aids for lacrosse
are undoubtedly presented at Johns Hopkins.

Maryland, the state, claims to have born and bred the game of
lacrosse (if not the Colts), and yet the state's universities resort to
some pay-as-you-play lacrosse players. Virginia can lay claim to
very little in the world of sports - maybe Rugby, maybe Polo. So
we find it praiseworthy that a bunch of amateurs can play for the
fun of it, and still have the pride to work towards a national
championship, and to realize a conference championship.

A lot of credit goes toward possible All-American goalie, Jim
Eustace, and a defensive line that has allowed but 5.4 goals a
game, including Messrs, Coy, Kavash and Hilbert. Probably just as
much credit is due Coach Buddy Beardmore. Mr. Beardmore has
judged talent and credit, with obvious coaching skill.

Perhaps equally worthy of comment is the University's tennis
team. Another case of scholarship vs the non-scholarship, this
spring's netters baffled just about everybody, except themselves.
The Lady Astor courts don't advertise very well, and very few
expected the netters to do better than 50/50 on the season.

The doubles combinations were a little shaky, and the team
was young - so much depth there was little strength. But no
skepticism was to faze Coach Gordon Burris' team. Three months
after the initial match the Cavaliers finished the season with a
remarkable 14-3 record and lone possessor of third place in the
ACC as a result of the conference tournament.

Two seasons ago, Virginia posted a miserable 2-12 record. Last
spring the Cavaliers broke even at 9-9. University Hall can't and
should not provide funds for tennis scholarships, yet they have to
compete with the ACC and against teams that do recruit from a
grant-in-aid situation. North Carolina and South Carolina offer
monetary favors, and Clemson has waged an all-out battle for
tennis supremacy.

Again we are intrigued by the success of a non-scholarship
team. Virginia, rebounding from a disheartening Wednesday 7-2
loss to Carolina, the netters took a solid hold of third place in the
weekend tourney. Because of the two ACC losses, Carolina and
Clemson, the seedings for tournament were crucial, and the
Cavaliers rose to the occasion in fine style, taking seven of nine
first round matches.

The accomplishments of 1969 are very real. There were over
300 people gathered to spectate the Harvard match. North
Carolina will never really believe that Virginia dumped South
Carolina 7-2. And there are some skeptics that will never fathom
the fact that Virginia, no scholarships, finished third in the
powerful ACC hierarchy (recording in the record books that Biff
Cooper, number five, and John Mertz, number eight, swept the
number two ACC doubles championships.

Now Mr. Blackburn, if you will just provide us with a win
from Frank Howard's Clemson Tigers next fall....