The Cavalier daily :: Friday, November 5, 1971 :: University of Virginia Library

This weekend's football game in
Scott Stadium promises something
a little unusual. This weekend
30,000 people may pack the old
stadium stands. This weekend two
teams that have won a total of four
games get to play a "big one". This
weekend is Openings, and this
weekend the Cavaliers host Virginia
Tech.

On the rather provincial Virginia
state football scene this is the Game
of the Year. With William & Mary,
beaten by Tech earlier, out of the
way the winner will claim the state
title. The Wahoos will be defending
that crown, winning it last year
when they topped the Turkeys, 7-0,
in Blacksburg.

That was, however, before the
arrival of Charlie Coffey and the
emergence of Don Strock. Strock, a
quarterback who languished on the
bench most of last season, is now a
star. He throws short and long to
talented receivers and leads the
nation in passing and total offense.
The Turkeys average 23 points per
game.

Coffey, who succeeded Jerry
Claiborne as Coach, has been given
a bundle of money by school
president T. Marshall Hahn and has
instructions to go out and buy a
good football team. This is a feat
completed in the past by lesser
coaches than Coffey at lesser
schools than Tech.

"Creeping State-U-ism" is
worried about at the University but
it's galloping at Tech and the
Hokies like it just fine. Coffey's
arrival in Blacksburg was shortly
followed by increased coaching
salaries, a new field house, a jock
dorm and an equipment roomful
of garish new orange and white
uniforms. Bumper strips warn of
entrance into "Tech Territory."

On the field Coffey has the
Gobblers coming along. Their two
wins, over W&M and Ohio U., are
most impressive than the twin
Cavalier triumphs and only a leaky
defense, allowing a whopping 28.4
points per game so far, mars a rosy
Turkey outlook.

Cavalier Coach Don Lawrence
wasn't really expected to build the
Wahoos into a national power but
his 2-6 record is a disappointment.
After last week's win over N.C.
State Lawrence has made only one
lineup change, Ed Sabornie, last
year's first-year receiving star, will
replace Joe Smith at tight end.

At quarterback the Cavs will
again have Larry Albert, who
engineered last year's 7-0 win.
Albert has been fairly impressive of
late but Lawrence might have new
QB troubles. Wednesday's
Washington Star rumored back-up
field general Harrison Davis on his
way to Norfolk State via transfer.

The Techmen are weak on
defense against the run so the
chances are that Kent Merritt. Gary
Helman and Greg Dickerhoof won't
be under-utilized. The Turkeys'
pass defense isn't much better,
though, and a good mixture of runs
and passes, like that one used
against State but better executed,
could roll up some points for the
home side.

"Some" points won't be
enough, however, if the Cavalier
defense can't put some sort of
damper on Strock. The Warwick
(Pa.) Wonder will throw to receivers
Jimmy Quinn, Mike Burnop and
Don Reel. All are juniors except
Quinn, a senior, and together they
average 265.3 yards per game.

To beat the Turkeys the Wahoos
will need both a strong pass rush on
Strock and a fair rushing defense.
Even if this is the case the game
may not be close if the defensive
backfield turns in a re-run of their
debacle against Clemson. They have
played well recently.

On offense, someone, either
Albert or Merritt, will have to be
"on." Better play is expected of the
line and, if Albert is injured again,
the discontented Davis will have to
step in and move the team without
throwing interceptions. Ends Bill
Davis and Dave Sullivan should be
open to catch most passes the two
decide to offer them.

Scott Stadium game time is, as
always, 1:30 and, although Tech is
favored, the Wahoos are generally
given a good chance to upset. There
will be a banner contest for
flag waving types and those that
want good parking spots are advised
to come early. By the way, Beat
Tech.