University of Virginia Library

16 Virginians Featured
On UHall Sign-Up Sheet

BY JOHN MARKON

Still another turning point
in the Virginia football
program was reached with the
announcement by Coach Don
Lawrence's office of a list of
30 signees, 16 of which hail
from the Cavalier
Commonwealth, marking the
end of a University tradition of
heavy out-of-state recruitment.

"We are still recruiting a
number of outstanding student
athletes and expect to sign
several of them, but we think
that we have recruited a solid
group to date." Mr. Lawrence
said.

The most local of the local
boys signed would have to be
Jay Ashby, a 6-1, 200-pound
center from Charlottesville's
Lane High School. The
remainder of the Virginians
show a good distribution from
all areas of the state.

Biggest man on the list is
6-4, 260-pound tackle Charlie
Hale from Grundy, Va., and he
may team with another tall
tackle, 6-7 235-pounder Ed
Milligan from Wheaton, Md.

Four quarterback prospects
highlight the roster: Scott
Gardner, a 6-2 185-pound
native of Sarasota, Fla.: Jim
Pruner (6-3, 180) from
Fairfield, Conn., Joseph
Schaefer (6-2, 185) from
Parma, Ohio, and Mike
Smeraski, (6-3, 195) who comes
well-recommended from
Stratford, N. J.

Running-back hopefuls
include Houston, Texas'
Raymond Albrecht (5-11, 185)
and a host of Virginians, one of
whom, Ferrum's Raymond
Keys (5-11, 185), is thought to
be in the "can't miss"
category.

Other signees deserving of
mention would have to include
tackle Tom Glassic, a 6-4,
235-pounder from Warren,
N. J., and receiver Don
Wierbinski, the only
Pennsylvanian on the list and a
6-2, 190-pound senior at Erie
High School.

Two junior college transfers
were also recruited with one of
them, fullback Mike Lacika,
already enrolled at the
University and slated for heavy
duty in the April 22 Alumni
game.

Chief gridiron recruiter Jim
West offered this explanation
for the unusual swing of the
recruiting pendulum. "Last
year," he said, "Coach
Lawrence got a late start in
recruiting and this year he had
time to spend in the state and
with the junior colleges where
we wanted to improve our
position."

Another key to the staff's
grand design was offered by
Mr. West when he mentioned
that "We looked for interior
linemen with the good size and
speed to compete in our
conference." The staff
certainly did come up with
some impressive frames on
which to hang Cavalier
uniforms.

The opening of spring
football practice is slated for
March 17 with the returnees
again having to learn a new
offense from the ground up.
Last year's practice should
make it easier for them this
time around. As the weather
gets less wintry outside it's
probably safe to say that the
prevalent mood around the
football offices is one of
optimism.