University of Virginia Library

Cavayearlings Oppose
Unbeaten VMI Rats

By Bob Cullen

In view of last week's disappointing
loss to the Tar Babies
of UNC, Coach Jim Alderman
is contemplating several changes as
he preps his Cavayearlings for this
Friday's game with VMI.

"We had 22 bad days against
Carolina," was the coach's comment
on last week's 34-14 loss.
Mr. Alderman was particularly
disappointed in his cornerbacks,
whose tackles were repeatedly
broken by the Tar Babies' hard
running tailback, Don McCauley.
The running of Clinch Heyward
and the punting of Hunter
Richards were the only encouraging
surprises last Friday.

The Cavayearlings will have to
bounce back if they are to entertain
any hopes of beating VMI's
undefeated Rats this afternoon.
Coached by Dick Braine, a teammate
of Coach Alderman at UNC,
the Rats have beaten Massanutten
Military Academy and William
and Mary in their only two outings
this year.

They feature the roll out passing
of Quarterback Murphy Sprinke
to flanker Paul Fraim, ably abetted
by the running of Tom Sowers
at halfback.

Defense is the strong point of his
year's Rats, however. Their goal
line has been crossed only
this year, by Massanutten when
the Rats were up by 31 late in
the game.

Scouting reports and opposing
coaches have stressed their ability
to contain opposing running attacks.
William and Mary's coach
called them the strongest freshman
team on defense that he
has encountered this season.

In spite of this, the Yearlings
are determined to bounce back,
and Coach Alderman is confident
that a victory is within their
abilities. For today's game he is
considering bulking up the defensive
backfield with Terry Bell
and assigning the ball-carrying
chores to Andy Selfridge and
Clinch Heyward.

The coach also plans to have
Bill Sterba split the time behind
center with incumbent Bill
Kettunen, who has been brilliant
but erratic thus far. The question
of whether these changes will prove
efficacious will be answered this
afternoon at 2 p.m. in Scott
Stadium.