The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 08, 1972, Special Football Edition, Page Page 6, Image 6
Tech balance
Fulci
By STEVE PARKER
Asst. Sports Editor
Bill Fulcher marches into his
new head coaching job at Georgia
Tech with no eye toward
mediocracy. "We'll consider it an
unsuccessful year when we don't
go to a bowl game," says the
replacement of ex-coach Bud
Carson.
Carson compiled a 27-27 record
Miami to
Toledo sti
By JIM HERSH
Sports Writer
In 1942 Miami of Ohio had a 3-6
record in football. That was the
last time a Miami team lost more
games than it won, and 1972 should
prove to be the 30th straight
winning season for the Ohioans.
Many people think Miami can
win the Mid-American Conference
championship, a title won by
Toledo the past three years.
Among the pro-Miami contigent is
their head coach Bill Mallory.
"I don't mind beingpcked to
win," says Mallory. Th is a
tribute to our players. We feel we
have a good team returning and
barring injuries we should be
fighting for the championship."
A large group of experienced
players are back for the Redskins.
Of the 34 returning lettermen are
nine of last year's offensive
starters and seven defensive
starters.
The key position on any football
team is quarterback and Mallory
believes Miami is in better shape
at this spot than they were when
they won seven of their ten games
last year.
Says Mallory, "One of the big
differences this year is that we are
not undecided on our quarterback
at the beginning. Steve Williams is
Charlotte
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Fred Bush
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has coach o
ier ey(
in his service as the Yellov
Jacket's mentor and was rewarde<
with his release, making Fulchei
only the fifth coach in Tech footbal
history.
Fulcher's squad appears to have
above-average strength at mos
positions and his Engineers coulk
easily propel themselves into k
1972 bowl game.
The strength of the Tech tean
appears to be its running back:
threaten
ronghold
a senior and helped us get back o
the right track at the end of las
year. His running has always beei
good and his passing has improved
100 per cent."
Williams threw only 27 times las
year, completing 14 for 212 yard
and one TD. He ran for 205 yards of
B1 carries. Back-up help will com4
from Stu Showalter, who was i
starter at the start of last year.
Miami uses the pass only to try to
balance out their running game
Last year they ran the ball 60,
times and passed only 137 times
They gained almost four time
more yardage on the ground thai
through the air.
When the Redskins do run it i
most often carried by tailback Bol
Hitchens. The 5-10, 195 junior wa;
13th in the nation in rushing las
year with 1157 yards on 271 carries
He also scored 13 touchdowns t
rank 16th among the nation'
scorers.
Although Hitchens is the bil
running threat, fullback Joi
Booker, a 6-1, 210 senior ran th4
ball for 333 yards on 86 tries
Wingback Ken Watson had the bes
average gain on the squad, 5.4
with 210 yards on 39 carries.
The back-up men are capable d
replacing any of the starters, witi
the exception of Hitchens, withoul
(Please see Page 8)
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754-6313
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Columbia, S. C.
)timistic
as bOW
which feature a group of speedy,
I talented individuals. Un
r fortunately for Fulcher should
I injuries cripple any members of
his starting offensive line his of
a fensive backs would be equally
t crippldd since the line reserves are
I all young and inexperienced.
I However should Tech's line
remain free of snake-bites, the
k offense would seem to have the
i ability and force to overwhelm.
On the offensive line return three
starters from last season's version
in the persons of tackle Rick Lantz,
guards Glenn Costello and Scott
Engel, Behind them are lot of
prayers.
Junior tailback Greg Horne, 205,
is the fastest of the rushers and his
swiftness paced him to the top of
the Tech rushing statistics last
campaign as he carried for 500
yards on just 123 trips.
t Rob Healy and Kevin Mc
n Namara, and Alan Hennessey
i highlight the remainder of the
backfield.
t Although Tech fails to have a
3 spectacular quarterback they do
have an experienced one in senior
Eddie McAshan. The 182-pound
McAshen heaved for 1186 airway
yards last year including seven
Mississip;
Bill Berry, who snared 24 passes
last season, will be Weese's
primary target. Gary Hall, a
sophomore, will try to fill the shoes
t of the departed Riley Myers, an
- All-SEC performer.
3 Up-front the Rebels are solid and
experienced. Butch Veazey, "has
the talent to be the finest tight end
i in the country," according to
Kinard. He has exceptional
t
Beve:
Corner ol
DiscC
all'i
eWe Cater Is
Owned and 4
in firs1
touchdown aerials.
Fulcher has indicated that hi
intends to 'open up the Yellov
Jacket offense and swing for thi
scoring play more often. Sucl
desires probably rest on just hov
far along McAshan has advanced
McAshen figures to breal
several of Tech's passing record':
under Fulcher's pro pass-orientec
offensive attack. For McAshen the
quest for records includes both the
good and the bad, including touch
downs and interception titles.
Should McAshen prove to have s
deadly arm, then the hands of his
receivers should prove equally
talented. All-Star candidate Mikc
Oven handles the tight end post,
while swift Jim Ownings and Jim
Robinson man ~ the outsidc
positions.
Offensively Fulcher knows: a
healthy line means a healthy body.
On defense, the Yellow Jackets
once again prove tough, blending a
fine returning squad from last year
with a strong upcoming sophomore
class.
The line and linebacking corpe
feature strong blends of experience
and talent. The defensive backfield
features safety Gary Faulkner who
last year tackled more opponents
"
Fr
quickness and blocking ability. At
the tackles Ole Miss will start a
pair of veterans, Don Leathers and
John Gregory. Kinard describes
the pair as, "real fighters." Art
Bressor and Dave Parham are the
guards, while Chuck Wood handles
the snaps.
The defensive unit will be dotted
with new faces although returnees
Reggie Dill (6-3, 216) and Steve
IIS COU
1scou
4
rage
Harden and
254-7771
un Price
Leg Parties
mperated by U.SAe
year
than enyone else in Tech history.
Joined by Mike McKenzie and Tim
r Lang, the Engineer segied looks to
be effective against the pass.
I Sophomore Randy Rhino also
pushes for a backfield job and
Carolina fans may remember his
defensive debut last season when
he picked off four freshman
I Gamecock aerials at Carolina
Stadium.
"This is a great squad with the
willingness to be winners," adds
Fulcher. "We're going to win. I
guarantee you that."
Last season Georgia Tech was
highly touted and picked for
national recogition by many pre
season maga ines only to suffer an
opening 24-7 setback at the hands
of the USC Gamecocks and then
limp to a 6-6 record.
This time around Tech is again
mentioned by some pre-season
seers and is again favored to
bounce Carolina when they face
each other at Georgia Tech in the
second affair of the season. But
first the Yellow Jackets must face
the Volunteers of Tennessee and if
the Jackets escape from that one
healthy then it would appear as if
Fulcher will again have Tech in
post-season play.
m Page 5
Burkhalter (6-2, 218) will anchor
the front four. The other two line
spots will named by sophomores.
The people in University,
Mississippi are talking about a
possible SEC championship this
season. But if Kinard's defense
anywhere matches the per
formance of his offense Ole Miss
may capture the national crown as
well.
.nt
Store
l Green
;Onl
'. Students