University of Virginia Library

From The Sidelines

The Year
In Review

By Tom Bell

AS THE SCHOOL YEAR DRAWS TO A CLOSE, a review of
athletics for the year shows that it has been a tremendously
successful year for Cavalier teams, and that the outlook for the
future is the brightest it has been for some time.

Almost every University team has compiled a winning record
for the year, and two, the soccer and lacrosse squads, have won
ACC titles. The basketball team achieved what was probably the
most startling success of the year as they broke away from years
of mediocrity to compile a fine winning record, and even made it
into the national rankings for a few weeks.

PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGES of the
year were the appointments of Eugene F. Corrigan as Director of
University Athletic Programs and Don Lawrence as head coach of
the football team.

Mr. Corrigan took over the difficult task of heading up the
development of athletics in the growing University after being
away from the Grounds in positions with the ACC and
Washington and Lee University. His appointment leaves former
head of the department Steve Sebo free to concentrate his efforts
on intercollegiate athletics.

In his short time here Mr. Corrigan has shown a real awareness
of the tremendous problems involved, both in intercollegiate
athletics and in intramural and recreational athletics.

The shortage of recreational facilities has become acute in
recent years, as the number of students has grown and the
facilities have not. Work to alleviate this problem is now
underway, as within the next year there will be six new
all-weather tennis courts, and new handball and squash courts
which will be included in the building with the new pool.

MR. LAWRENCE AND HIS NEW STAFF HAVE BROUGHT
an enthusiasm to the football program which is unprecedented at
the University. Mr. Lawrence has put in long hours in coaching
and recruiting since his appointment early in the year, and his
prediction of a winning season next fall somehow sounds
different from the predictions of the last few years.

George Blackburn used a low-key approach to football which
met with only varied success. The type of enthusiasm which Mr.
Lawrence shows is, in the opinion of many observers, what has
been missing from the Wahoo teams of the last two seasons. The
Varsity, because of the coaching changes, had little time to
prepare for the Spring game and barely squeaked out a win over
the Alumni, but there were many extenuating circumstances, and
hopes are still high among the staff and players.

Only time will tell if Mr. Lawrence's program will be
successful, but all indications are that Cavalier football is headed
for a new era.

BOTH MR. CORRIGAN AND MR. LAWRENCE as well as
others in the Athletic Department seem to have an appreciation
for the University as an institution. Mr. Corrigan said recently
that neither he nor Mr. Lawrence wants to see the football team
(or any other team) drift away from the rest of the University
community. This is just one indication of their respect for, and
desire to maintain, the concept of the student-athlete.

SO, THE OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT. The
varsity teams are starting to win, and those who have not yet
found the winning formula are getting closer and closer to it. The
outlook for recreational athletics is not great, mostly because of
lack of funds, but steps are being taken to help stop the squeeze.
Most importantly, the athletic department is in good hands. The
addition of top-flight personnel to the already good staff has
resulted in a group which seems to be combining a driving desire
to win with an appreciation for the uniqueness of the University.
There are still problems to be solved in many areas, but as the
athletic year nears its finish (hopefully it will not reach its final
end until the national lacrosse finals on June 5), there is optimism
that the programs here are on the upswing, and that the fans who
for so many years have said "Wait 'til next year" will have their
long-awaited year in 1971-72.