The Cavalier daily :: Wednesday, December 13, 1972 :: University of Virginia Library

The atmosphere enveloping
the Cavalier's gridiron fortunes
is so bleak that Chauncy
Durden, sports editor of the
Richmond Times-Dispatch,
labels it a "wonderful
dedication to losing." Corbette
King and Bob Roberts, leaders
of the Student Aid
Foundation, disagree strongly.

"We are not in any way
dedicated to losing. The
University has been ready for

SAF Officers:

(From Left) Corbette King, Ted Davenport, R. Reid Young

good football for many, many
years."

The Student Aid foundation
was formed in 1948 to raise
funds for athletic scholarships
and collects more than
$365,000 this year, as opposed
to $10,000 in its first year of
existence. Its membership,
about 3,500, includes alumni,
businessmen, and other friends
of University.

Mr. King (class of '48), the
national chairman, and Mr.
Roberts, who heads the local
chapter, are both unpaid
volunteers. Neither seems very
tolerant of losing football.

"Our problem is football,
no doubt about it. Money is
definitely not the question
we're doing our job; we're
raising the funds.

"But a successful football
program depends on attitudes.
There must be a commitment
made to balancing athletics
with academics. As it now
stands, the University is the
scholastic equal of any school
in the ACC, but on the football
field we aren't even
competitive. There is no
balanced program."

Although officially the SAF
backs Don Lawrence
unconditionally, its individual
members had mixed feelings
toward his retention as head
coach. Mr. King reasoned that
Lawrence was not released
because of two factors.

First, the legal and moral
obligations arising from his
three-year contract caused
many members to think twice
about giving Lawrence his
walking papers. Some felt
compelled to allow Lawrence
one more year to raise the
Cavaliers from the ACC cellar.

Time Factor

Secondly, the change would
have occurred too late in the
year. Considering the existing
minuses with which head
recruiter Jim West must
contend, a coaching shakeup
would have sent even more
blue-chippers scurrying to the
likes of North Carolina and
Duke.

This need for continuity has
been a windfall for Lawrence
once before.

After the rather
under-nourished seasons of
1969 and '70, when the Cavaliers
were 8-14 and only 1-11 against
ACC competition, the need to
dump head coach George
Blackburn was obvious. His
logical successor would have
been a "name" personality
who has proven his leadership
elsewhere.

Instead, the job went to
Lawrence, who as sportswriter
Durden pointed out, was
second in command behind
Blackburn in charge of the
defense, and was just as
culpable for Virginia's
downfall.

According to Mr. Roberts,
the late firing of Blackburn
forced time to be a crucial
factor, especially in respect to
recruiting. Lawrence was
available and was hastily
promoted to the top spot.

Mr. King believes that in
order to avoid the boot,
Lawrence must produce a
winning record next season.

The pressure is also on
Virginia's athletic director
Gene Corrigan, who was hired
partly because his knowledge
gained as assistant
commissioner of the ACC was
considered valuable to the
University's sports program.

On the question of whether
money means might, each
denied being the Jack Kent
Cooke of Virginia athletics.

"Corrigari is definitely the
boss," they both contended.
"Now, we can give opinions to
the newspapers and television.
and, of course, from time to
time, we have conversations
with Corrigan, Lawrence, and
President Shannon about
certain topics of interest."

Roberts implied that the
Foundation's control over the
program's purse strings was
most evident in these subtle
tete-a-tetes.

The faces of both men
redden with anger when
reminded of the charges of
professionalism which seem to
intensify with every additional
dollar spent by the SAF.

"I abhor the people that tell
me that they are scared of
professionalism. It's so
ridiculous that it isn't even
worth talking about.

"If there's any question in
your mind, check our records.
Pros. Hell. We (the
Foundation) are not even good
amateurs.

"We don't demand a Bear
Bryant-like machine that goes
11-0 every year. I'd be satisfied
with a team that went 8-3 or
even 7-4.

"Now, if our football team
goes undefeated for the next
five seasons, then come to me
and we will both worry about
professionalism."

Both men agree on many
changes which must occur
before the Cavaliers rise from
the bottom of the conference
totem pole. Again the magic
word is "balance", which is a
euphemism for winning more
than you lose.

Both lament some of the
University's rigid entrance
requirements as being a
hindrance to competitive
football, especially the foreign
language requirement for
admission which has been
dropped by North Carolina and
Duke.

Since Carolina is willing to
lower its standards to admit an
attractive prospect while
Virginia is unable to make such
a compromise, they felt the
Tar Heels have a head start in
the recruiting race.

"Business Risk"

Although the planned
enlargement of Scott stadium
has been criticized as being
unfounded, he defended the
move as a "calculated business
risk" necessary to the success
of Virginia football.

While the projected seating
capacity of 43,000 is far above
this season's average game
attendance of 23,260, he
believed that such an
expansion of facilities would
be a boon to recruiting,
ultimately producing a winning
team capable of drawing the
crowds needed to fill the
stadium.

But the major condition
which must appear is what Bill
Gibson has called "an ACC
atmosphere." King mentioned
some trouble spots.

For instance, he contends
the University desperately
needs a marching band.
Whether due to tradition or
apathy, Virginia is the only
school in the ACC without
one.

Witness the effect the Pep
Band had on U-Hall
enthusiasm. Perhaps "76
trombones with 110 cornets
right behind" could pull off a
similar feat at Scott Stadium.

"We feel," Mr. Roberts
concluded, "that success is not
a simple thing, but it can be
attained with a cooperative
effort of the administration,
athletic department, student
body and friends of Virginia.

"Now is the time for
deeds–not words. If you
honestly want 'competitive
athletics' which will give the
University the balance between
academics and athletics, offer
to help."