University of Virginia Library

Rash Of Injuries Derails Cavs

By BILL BERNO

One of the unpublicized
reasons for the inconsistent
play of the Wahoo football
team in recent weeks could be
the number of serious injuries
suffered by key players.

Thirteen gridders who have
seen extensive action are listed
with some sort of injury.
Coach Don Lawrence
commented that, "Our timing
has been off due to the number
of new players in the lineup."

Hardest hit has been the
defensive platoon, which has
six of eleven players hobbled
by injuries. Most recent of the
victims is tackle Leroy Still,
who broke an arm against
Duke and underwent surgery
to set the arm and install a
bracing plate. He is out for the
remainder of the season.

Split end Billy Lanahan tore
up a knee against West
Virginia, and he is also out for
the season. Lanahan went
under the knife last week. His
injury paved the way for Mike
McGugan to break into the
starting lineup, and he proved
to be more than adequate as a
substitute. McGugan himself is
recovering from a knee injury
that kept him out of the
early-season action.

Defensive back Gerard
Mullins, who didn't play
against Duke, has aggravated
the knee injury that he had
received last spring. Mr.
Lawrence credits Mullins for
his desire to overcome the
injury, saying, "Mullins has
worked very hard. He has been
doing some running and
weightlifing and following the
program set up by our trainer,
Joe Gieck".

Most famous of the injuries
is that of Harrison Davis, who
is still nursing a shoulder
separation received against
South Carolina. Mr. Lawrence
believes that Davis still feels
some pain and the shoulder has
effected his passing in the last
three games.

Playing with injuries are
defensive ends Billy Williams
and Stanley Land and
linebacker Kevin Michaels.
Williams has a broken hand,
and Land could hardly pull his
shoe on over a swollen sprained
ankle. Michaels is still hurting
from an elbow injury he
received on his way to winning
the ACC wrestling
championship last winter.

Harry Gehr is crippled by a
broken hand and a slight
shoulder separation. He, like
Mullins, is "very doubtful" for
the Vanderbilt game according
to Mr. Lawrence.

Also missing the Duke game
was safety Steve Sroba, with a
pinched nerve, and injured
thumb. Fullback Greg
Dickerhoof separated a
shoulder on the first series of
plays against the Blue Devils.

All-time leading pass
receiver Dave Sullivan was hit
hard in the West Virginia game
and suffered a bruised shoulder
which slowed him down in the
Duke game, but "Sully" has
only missed a few minutes of
playing time.

Mr. Lawrence said before
the season that injuries would
hurt the 'Hoos because they
lack depth. After playing teams
like South Carolina and West
Virginia, which have
reputations as very physical
and hard-hitting squads, the
Wahoos have received more
than their share of hard knocks.