University of Virginia Library

Wahoos Seek End
To Clemson Jinx

By FLETCHER THOMPSON

After breaking even for
Phase One of the '72-'73
campaign, the Cavaliers will try
to make history in their Phase
Two opener.

Phase Two, or the five
consecutive ACC Games with
which the Wahoos will
complete the year, kicks off
this Saturday in Clemson, S.C.
with the league rival Tigers,
a team Virginia has never
beaten in thirteen previous
tries. This year will be no
exception, according to the
oddsmakers, who have labeled
the hosts four-point favorites.

However, the 'Hoos have
already overcome one jinx this
year with their opening victory
against South Carolina in
Columbia and, if they can put
the screws to this one, Coach
Don Lawrence feels they will
be in contention for the league
crown.

The question of who will
start at quarterback is still a
mystery to everyone including
Lawrence, who claims he has
not decided between George
Allen and freshman Scott
Gardner.

Gardner, who took the
offense out of the doldrums
last weekend against VMI,
would seem to be the logical
choice, but Lawrence may opt
for the more experienced
Allen. In any event, he says
that both men will see action.

Besides the possible
quarterback switch, the only
other major change over last
week's line-up will be the
return of halfback Kent
Merritt, who sat out the VMI
contest with a separated
shoulder. Despite his week's
absence, Merritt still has a
healthy lead in team rushing
with 378 yards and a 4.3 yard
average per carry.

Other crippled starters will
be defensive ends Billy
Williams (broken hand) and
Stanley Land (swollen ankle)
and middle linebacker Kevin
Michaels (chronic bad elbow).

To win on Saturday, the
Cavs will have to milk another
solid effort out of their offense
against the tough Clemson
defense. A repeat performance
of the Vanderbilt game may
leave them scoreless at the final
gun.

Defensively, the 'Hoos will
be up against a Tiger offense
that has done little in the way
of putting points on the board

although Lawrence points out
that it has been bothered by
turnovers rather than an
inability to move the ball.
Fortunately, Clemson has
shown a strong tendency to
stick to the ground where the
the Virginia line allows only
2.8 yards a try