University of Virginia Library

From The Sidelines

Football
Review

By Tom Bell

BEFORE THE EXCITEMENT OF BASKETBALL
overcomes the University with its Amazin' Cavaliers, ACC
Atmosphere, and high hopes for a team that will finally win
something, a final look must be taken at a team which was
often amazin' in a different way, inspired an atmosphere that
was anything but "ACC-ish", and won a lot less than had been
hoped the football team.

The season can hardly be called a successful one. The team
won only three of eleven games, the worst record since 1963
(2-7-1). Opponents outscored the Cavaliers 272-134, and
out gained them by more than 500 yards. They were last in the
ACC in scoring, and fifth in total offense and total defense. In
short, it was a disappointing fall.

THE SEASON WAS USHERED IN WITH GREAT
OPTIMISM brought about by a new coaching staff which had
supposedly injected new life into a tired team. Six losses in the
first seven games turned optimism to pessimism, however, as
the Cavaliers came close often, but managed only once to
combine all of the elements needed to come out on top. Week
after week this reporter watched Coach Don Lawrence sit in
the locker room after a game looking like a man who had lost
his last friend.

In the season's final weeks, however, the Wahoos began to
come around. In the final four games, they got two wins and
played well in their other two games, which were close losses
to Virginia Tech and powerful North Carolina. Offense and
defense began to play well at the same time. The team showed
signs of jelling. Just when things were starting to look good,
however, the season ended.

THE TEAM'S GOOD EFFORTS IN THE FINAL GAMES
removed some of the disappointment of a losing season, and
leave the outlook for next year much brighter, particularly in
view of the fact that 13 starters will return, eight of them with
two years of eligibility remaining. Many of the younger players
had troubles in the early part of the season, but came along in
the latter stages to help the team to its stronger finish.

Highly-touted Harrison Davis was an early disappointment
to many, but came on in the last two games with impressive
performances to silence many critics. Kent Merritt led the
team in rushing with 839 yards for fourth place in the
conference. These two will certainly continue to be heard
from.

IN ADDITION TO MERRITT AND DAVIS, the entire
interior offensive line, with the exception of sometime-starter
Stormy Costas, will be back. This unit improved steadily
throughout the year. Defensively, six starters will return, with
the only major gap at tackle where Andy Selfridge and Bob
Bressan will depart.

Mr. Lawrence and his assistants now hit the recruiting
in an effort to the pick of the Virginia high school crop.
The good finish of the Cavaliers should help the efforts to
draw talent to Charlottesville and away from Blacksburg and
Chapel Hill. A good recruiting year is essential for the success
of the program, especially this year when both the University
and Tech are making their first big pushes to gain the upper
hand in in-state recruiting.

THE 1971 SEASON WILL CERTAINLY NOT GO DOWN
as one of the best in Cavalier history. It was very disappointing
and frustrating at times, but near the end, things got better. In
a sense, it was a building year for a young team and new
program. Cavalier fans now find themselves in a familiar
position-reflecting on a disappointing season, and looking
ahead to the brighter days which must be just around the
corner. This season really answered few of the questions about
the long-range future of Cavalier football, so as they have been
doing for so many years, fans will once again have to wait 'til
next year.