University of Virginia Library

Lawrence Signs Lane Stars

By CLARK EMERSON

Butch Cassidy and the
Sundance Kid have been
corralled. Lane football stars
Dave Sloan and Bill Copeland
inked grants Wednesday night
to become the 12th and 13th
Virginia signees of the 1973
season.

The signings were especially
pleasing to head coach Don
Lawrence, under extreme
pressure from the University
community. According to
Corbette King, president of the
Student Aid Foundation,
Lawrence must produce at
least a winning record next
season to retain his position.

Both athletes were heavily
recruited by area colleges and
it was rumored at one tim
that N.C. State had the inside
track on the two.

Their nicknames, bestowed
by the Daily Progress' Dave,
Sparks, are appropriate. Their,
stats are almost identical. Both
were 190 lb. running
back-linebackers, although
Copeland at 6-1 was an inch
taller than his backfield mate.
Both made all-district and all
regional teams along with
second team all-state honors.

Copeland, a track star in the
spring, rushed for 1100 yards
this past fall for a 7.3 yd.
average. His brother Jim is a
former Cavalier and Cleveland
Brown player.

Sloan gained almost 1300
yards for an average carry of
nine yards. He was Lane's
outstanding wrestler last, year
although he dropped the sport
this season to find time to visit
the many schools recruiting
him.

Also signed was kicking
specialist, Joe Jenkins, a 6'2",
195-pounder from Madison
High. His coach, Eddie Dean,
calls the senior a fine college
prospect, the most outstanding
kicker in the area. Jenkins'
longest field goal was 43 yards
and most of his kickoffs go
into, if not out of, the end
zone.

He also punted for better
than 40 yards a try. Jenkins
appears to be a replacement for
kicking specialist Billy
Maxwell, whose next season
will be his last.

The three represent an
outstanding group of signees,
according to head recruiter Jim
West. The coaching staff has
committed more than 70 per
cent of its first choices on
in state players and, said West,
will get more as the winter
progresses. Out-of-state
prospects, especially, tend to
delay signing until the last
possible moment.

Lawrence hinted that they
could log varsity time as
first-year men. "They are truly
outstanding athletes," said the
head coach.