University of Virginia Library

Dick Ambrose: You Don't Have To Be Big To Be Good

Cavalier
Profile

By G. DAVID ROTHENBERG

Dick Ambrose, Standout Rookie Lineman For The Cavs

Banging heads with guys
four inches taller and 30
pounds beefier than me is not
my idea of a sporting Saturday.
For Dick Ambrose, star
defensive tackle of the Wahoo
football team, playing against
bigger lineman has its distinct
advantages.

"I like playing big people.
They're usually slower and less
aggressive than the smaller
lineman."

"When you're as small as I
am (6 feet, 215 lbs.), you have
to concentrate more. If you
don't use speed or finesse
you'll find yourself on your
back."

Fortunately for the
Cavaliers, that has not
happened often this year to the
rookie lineman from Iona Prep.
The expertise of Ambrose, who
was picked honorable mention
by a national group of
sportswriters for the defensive
player-of-the week award in his
very first varsity game, is all
the more noteworthy since he
has played three different
positions in as many seasons.

At Iona Prep in New
Rochelle, New York, Dick
filled the middle-linebacker
slot. He played fullback for
three or so games when the
starting Iona back fielder got
injured. Apparently, this
impressed the Virginia scouts
sufficiently for Ambrose to be
tapped for that position for the
Cavayearlings, in whose service
he labored in exemplary
fashion.

But the varsity team needed
defensive lineman and Dick
was groomed for his present
role. The spectacular results
provide a glimpse of his
versatility and adaptability.

One common apparition of
the football athlete that
Ambrose dispels is the
dumb-jock syndrome. He is a
second-honors graduate from
high school and a New York
State Regents Scholarship
Alternate. To come to UVa,
Dick left Yale and other
schools by the wayside. He
explains that playing on the
line is not all simple,
unimaginative pass-rushing.

"It's a lot more complex on
the line than you'd think. You
look at the blocker's heels and
head to give you cues as to
whether it'll be a running play or
passing play.

Dick continues that
constant attention is
mandatory. "You have to
think during the game. If you
don't think during the game,
you're not playing a good
game."

In describing play in "the
pit" he adds, "It's physical but
it's not really the punching
battle everyone thinks it is
There's a lot of finesse, even
from the lineman's point."

"It is a battle of wits, too.
People won't believe that, but
on pass plays (for example) I
have my rush moves and he
(the offensive lineman) has his
blocker moves and we both try
to cut-think the other."

Dick has out-thought the
opposing linemen enough to
sack the quarterback at least
seven times this season
However, this is not his biggest
thrill, as electrifying as that
may seem from the stands.

"I think the biggest thrill is
popping someone behind the
line "

Pigskin aficionados
constantly state that Ambrose
is very small to play defensive
lineman. Dick acknowledges
this diminuity as an area of
great vulnerability.

"My biggest limiting factor
is my size. It limits me because
I can't simply overpower
anyone. Well, I can't do
everything I'd like to do. But, I
think that I've used my speed
fairly well and I've stayed out
of trouble."

And by staying out of
trouble by using his speed and his
head Dick has helped to
undermine the cherished
theory, conventionally
proportioned persons
everywhere should take note,
that you have to be big to be
good.