University of Virginia Library

Blandford Flees 'The Bear'; Shines With Cavayearlings

By Sandy Prafer

Normally the group of prep
footballers that Bear Bryant and
the University of Alabama are interested
in is a pretty select one.
When Coach Bryant is interested
in a boy, he generally doesn't
go about showing his interest halfheartedly.

The prospective Alabama recruit
is usually flown to Tuscaloosa,
where football is monarch
supreme, and where no other
talents are appreciated more than,
if as much as, those of the gridiron.
There he stays in the Alabama
Hilton, the residence of 'Bear's
Boys' and is given the snow job
both by Coach Bryant and probably
one of his stars, such as Ken
Stabler, the flashy Alabama quarterback.
With regal treatment
like this, it's pretty hard for a
recruit to pass up the Crimson
Tide.

Charley Blandford did it.
Following a glittering football
career at St. Xavier High School
in Louisville Kentucky, where he
was named All-State guard,
Charley was recruited by some
thirteen colleges. Among the other
colleges seeking his talents were
Purdue, Vanderbilt, Kentucky,
and, of course Virginia, which
eventually landed him.

Charley explained his choice by
saying that at the other colleges
which sought him, football might
have been so completely overemphasized,
it would have hindered
his academic progress. As Charley
plans to major in pre-Med, one
can easily understand his motives.

Charley has already proved why
he was in such demand. His hard
work and field leadership earned
him the vote of his teammates for
co-captain. And as for his actual
play itself, the 5′11″, 190 pound
middle linebacker was the spark plug
of the Cavayearling defensive
unit which held VPI Gobblets to
minus-forty yards rushing. Bear
Bryant's loss was Virginia's gain.