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In This Corner

Progress
Report

With Randy Wert

WHEN ONE GOES TO THE DOCTOR to find out what is
ailing him, the physician makes his examination and prescribes
a medicinal remedy. Although we wouldn't recommend the
Duke Blue Devils for service at Student Health, they certainly
pointed out the cause of Virginia's football malady.

Mike McGee's ballclub played like a 100% healthy,
smooth-functioning team should. They were not flashy or
awesome save the ball carrying of Steve Jones, who runs like a
fleet-footed bulldozer. However, the illness which Duke
seemed to be immune to Saturday which the Cavaliers
contracted in epidemic proportions was chronic
mistake-pronenesss.

TAKE AWAY THE COSTLY MISTAKES THAT
STOPPED DRIVES and/or handed the ball over to Duke and
the Cavaliers would be in the win column right now. Mr.
Lawrence commented that "we deserve better fate than that,"
and he is exactly correct. At last, Virginia showed a steady
offense, not flawless, but effective. Harrison Davis, roundly
booed in typical Scott Stadium bad taste upon returning to
replace injured Larry Albert, converted five of his first six
third and fourth down situations to keep drives going, three
times completing third and long passes. Jones was "held" to
140 yards, thirty of them coming when he slipped loose for his
long touchdown. Gerard Mullins made dazzling runbacks on
kicks and the pressure on Blue Devil quarterback Dennis
Satyshur was decent. The game was, for all intents and
purposes, statistically equal.

NEVERTHELESS, EVERYONE STILL
SCREAMS, "WE DIDN'T SCORE!" The reason does not lie in
some mysterious curse on the offensive unit, just a couple
little mistakes that happen to everyone made us come out
scoreless. Everyone fumbles, everyone slips and falls, and
everyone draws penalties from overzealousness. But it all
happened at once Saturday and it just SEEMS to always
happen to the Wahoos.

There were a good many bright spots, and a lot of good
signs on that field. But there were a few things that stuck out
which we feel we must point out if not gently criticize.
Although we fully realize that Harrison showed great
determination to get to the end zone on his first quarter run, it
has also been noticed that he carries the ball rather recklessly.
Granted, he was hit hard at the goal line but allow us to put
forth "Wert's Law." He who carries the ball like a loaf of
bread will be prone to fumble when hit.

FURTHERMORE, IT STRIKES US THAT THE PLAY
CALLING LACKED ORIGINALITY, something for which
there is no apparent strategic reason. True, our only bona fide
power back played little of the game, but it seemed such a
shame to sacrifice little Kent Merritt to 256-pound Willie
Clayton and his horde. Virginia's outweighed offensive line
(one doesn't get used to giving away twenty pounds) was
having trouble opening clean holes, and Mr. Merritt is not
known for his bull-like running.

Predictably, the Cavalier's passing attack rallied from its
slump. But the first five Wahoo passes, and who knows how
many of the succeeding 19 came on third down situations
which dictated the pass.

AT ANY RATE, MR LAWRENCE HAS THE DIAGNOSIS
and it remains up to he and the team to work hard enough to
eliminate these little but costly errors which obviously meant
the whole ball game Saturday. Hard work is the prescription
and it is a bitter pill to swallow. But we are convinced that
Coach Lawrence is an extremely dedicated man, and that this
dedication has been transferred to his staff and to his players.
In short, the Cavaliers are right around the corner.

Making pleas will not be the purpose of this column as a
rule. But this once, we feel it is extremely important that the
University and anyone else who cares to call themselves "fans"
not write off the 'Hoos for the season just because they are 0-3
and touchdown-less. There are still eight games to be decided
and anyone who has tried to bounce a football knows how
crazily it bounces.