University of Virginia Library

To Sack A Quarterback And Win

Cavalier
Profile

By G.D. ROTHENBERG

"To sack a quarterback and
to win are the two best things
in football for me," asserted
Stanley Land. His soft-spoken
politeness belied the
hard-nosed play on the gridiron
that is so characteristic of this
oft-lauded Cavalier defensive
end.

But this was not the Wahoo
locker room after a tough
game. Nor was this a
smoke-filled post-game press
conference room. Instead, it
was over a placid, rather sedate
Open Square dinner that
Stanley Land discussed
himself.

It was back in Rockbridge
County High School in
Southwestern Virginia that
Stanley Land first
distinguished himself. In
addition to being a member of
the National Beta Club and
school Latin Club, he
immersed himself in athletics.
He participated in football,
basketball, baseball and track
to the tune of, by his own
reckoning, "12 or 13 letters".

Stanley played defensive end
and fullback well enough to
turn down football scholarship
offers from William and Mary,
VMI and West Virginia. He
elected to come to the
University because "my
mother liked it. It was also the
general atmosphere and the
school itself."

Solidly established on the
starting defensive line as a
pre-season pick for All-ACC
honors as well as in
Charlottesville, Stan is
satisfied. "I like the town and
the people in the city. I'm
learning something here, too."

As a third-year man in the
Education School, Stanley is
majoring in history and in
physical education. While
acknowledging the lure of
professional football, he would
like to utilize his college
education when his playing
career is terminated. "I'd like
to coach football on a high
school or college level and
teach either phys. ed. or
history."

This past summer found
Stanley training for a
post-football job, although in
this instance it was with slow
learners. "I worked as a

teacher's assistant. It was sort
of a program with kids with
learning disabilities."

Cavalier fans can be assured
that this is far in the future.
They can expect another full
season of stellar play from
number 99. Stanley has never
missed a game in his entire
University career and has
started in each contest, too.

Assistant coach Al Groh, in
charge of the defensive line this
year, sums up Stanley's
capabilities by saying, "I think
he is kind of a multi-role player
for us. Besides being one of the
very aggressive players
physically, he's a fierce
competitor and a team leader.

"He's willing to do
everything necessary to win the
games and expects everyone
else to do, too. In this way he
demonstrates his great
leadership. He's very coachable
and always puts out 100
percent."

Stanley totaled his feelings
on football with "I take pride
in football. I like to play and
it's fun. I enjoy the game."