University of Virginia Library

Lawrence On Defense

'Combination Of Things'

By Hugh Antrim
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

"What should we do?"

"Stay with Rifle, Mabel Red,
Mabel Blue."

This fairly typical command
means just about nothing to the
layman, but just about everything
to the Wahoo defensive unit. Coach
Don Lawrence had just specified
one of his multi-defensive
alignments in yesterday's practice
session and had left the secondary
to work with the line.

Mr. Lawrence and his defensive
unit are working hard this week;
they've built a kind of reputation
for themselves and wouldn't care to
have William and Mary spoil things.

The story is fairly well known
that Duke and Duke's Leo Hart
were no match for an aroused
Virginia defense last Saturday, but
few realize the necessary
coordination of effort that spells
that kind of success.

Coach Lawrence knew where to
start — with the football players
themselves. He pointed out the
players' "mental discipline and
desire" as the basis for the
defensive performances thus far.
Replying to the notion that
Virginia defense was receiving
state-wide publicity, (and favorable
at that), he said that they deserved
it and that films of the game back
up such praise.

But the combination of effort
that was foremost in Mr.
Lawrence's thoughts was the
pass rush/pass coverage
combination that dumped Hart and
sent him bruised and whipped to
the Blue Devil bench.

Ned McDonald, defensive line
coach, had his boys pressure Leo
Hart at the same time Maury Bibent
had his secondary blanketing
Chesson and Courtillet. This
combination, Coach Lawrence
stipulated, allowed the blitzing
linebackers to polish off what was
left of a supposed potent Duke
offensive machine.

But Coach Lawrence was in a
hurry to get back to where it all
starts — with the players
themselves. "They believe in
themselves." Perhaps a simplified
explanation, this apparently is the
effect part of one of those causes
called a winning attitude.

Mr. Lawrence amplified his
feelings about his athletes by saying
that when a player doesn't do his
job, he doesn't hurt himself, his
coach, or his school he hurts the
other ten men on the field.

Taking the discussion from this
vote of confidence, Coach
Lawrence warily slipped William
and Mary into the conversation and
the problem of maintaining
momentum.

Hindered by several minor
injuries, the defensive unit is still
plagued with a lack of sufficient
depth.

The Indians of Williamsburg
sport two running backs weighing
over 200 pounds. Joe Pilch has run
196 yards in 41 carries from his
fullback slot, while Wes Meeter has
bagged 91 yards in 26 attempts.

But the Wahoos will be solid
favorites. Yes, Coach Lawrence
admitted that Virginia should win,
that is, on paper; but he sobered
the interview's final minute with
the recollection that VMI had been
solid underdogs on a sunny day
back in the fall of 1967. The
Keydets caught the Cavaliers down;
VMI won 18-13.