Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Soffe BY GEORGE MORRIS Gamecock Staff Writer This season Georgia will be among the 36 teams across the nation that will be running the veer -offense, and- the only regret Bulldog Coach Vince Dooley has so .far is that he didn't switch last year. Andy Johnson, who ably-directed the Georgia option attack for the past three years, has graduated, leaving Dooley without a quar terback replacement of equal caliber. "I think we run It (the veer) reasonably well considering that we don't have a quarterback that can really make it go," he said. "Our quarterback (Dickie Clark) reads pretty well and he runs the offense pretty well. He does everything pretty good, he just doesn't have the exceptional ability to make things happen." "There are two reasons we went with it," he continued. "One is nsive because of the success that schools have had with it. It certainly helped turn their program around. North Carolina is one, certainly North Carolina State is another and Kentucky, in our league, is another. All of these schools have done rather well with it, and we like it offensively. The second reason is that we've had a heck of.a time trying to stop it, so we need to learn more about it." Many factors will decide whether or not the veer, and the team as a whole, will improve Georgii's 6-4-1 record of last year. Most of these factors appear to be in Georgia's favor. Offensively, a bright spot is the line. "I feel like the offensive line should be good," Dooley said. "We have some experience and we have some reasonably good size." 'The "reasonably good" size Dooley refers to can better be described as enormous. Clearing -the way will be tackles Barry_ F c t Is s ridout b 1324 MAIN STREET . iTELPHONE te keys i Collier, 275, and Craig Hertwig, 260; guards Will Legg, 247, and Randy Johnson, 250; and center Vern Smith, 247. A key figure In the new offense will be running back Horace King, who played well last year and must pick up the slack left by the departure of rushing star Jimmy Poulos. Dooley rateitKing among the better running backs in the Southeastern Conference this season, and expects him to bear the brunt of the Bulldog running attack this year. Other than King, however, the Bulldogs are weak in the backfield. Fighting Clark for his starting spot are three others whom Dooley rates "right behind him." They are Ralph Page, Matt Robinson and Ray Goff. Shoidd Georgia depart from tradition and put the ball in the air the targets for Clark's passes wil have quality. Gene Washington, a speedster who returned 1w( kickoffs for touchdowns befort IRAND EXHIBI'1 IF LEATHER A] rou are invited 'ut on one of the glove-supple :oats in our new leather collec ion. You'll understand why we tand undisputed champions n the outerwear division. Vorkmanship's above standard, tyling is equally fine. Fight 'our way in! Fine Si outwea bestrom ld. ColumstA, S. C. 2920w 603/252.0043 reorgi-a breaking his ankle in the fourth game last year, is a long ball threat, and tight end Richard Appleby and Kevin Hartman will be the principle receivers if there is any passing to be done. A tough defense, another Georgia tradition, is ,predicted by $Moley, but not without reser vations. "I think we'll be reasonably good on defense," Dooley said. "We return good linebackers, we return good ends defensively and we return some good people in the secondary. We are concerned about the defensive line's lack of size. I worry about the size of our defense. We're very small." The linebackers Dooley refers to are a definite plus for Georgia. Sylvester Boler was outstanding toward the end of last season and is already being touted as a possible All-America. Keith Harris joins Boler at the position. The secondary is also well set, with Steve Taylor and Larry West 'ION ITS... iede and Leather r FROM'.$125 "I think we run it reasonably well considering that we don't have a quarterback that can really make it go.' ---Vince Dooley returning at the corners and Bubba Wilson and Abe Ansley at the safety positions. The defensive line is small, averaging 225 pounds, but appears solid. Anchoring the center will be middle guard Chuck Kinnebrew, 226, and tackles Dan Spivey, 246, and Bobby Gibbs, 226. On the ends are David McKnight, 229, and Rusty Russell, 202. One final factor in Georgia's favor is a schedule that replaces Alabama, Tennessee, N.C. State and Pittsburgh with Oregon State, Mississippi State, Houston, and, of 'course, Carolina. Dooley recognizes this fact, but rightfully considers his to be a competitive group of opponents. "The schedule is not as demanding as we've played in the past two years," he said. "I know that is a pretty strong statement, but on the other hand, we think it's very challenging. There's nobody on our schedule you could look at and say,"We can win without too much trouble.' All of our schools are first rate schools." Dooley has never suffered a losing season in his 10 years at Georgia, and the ciances are slim that he will experience one in this campaign. There are several things, though, that he must hope for if the prominence Georgia enjoyed a few years ago is to return this year. He must hope that his defensive. line will offset its lack of size with quickness, and hope as well that injury will not strike in the positions where depth is lacking. He must also hope that his quarterback can move Georgia's new offense. If these hopes ahme realities, Georgia could be a surprise challenger in this year's SEC race. But most of all, Vince Dooley must hope that his switch to the veer, with all its explosive tential, has not come a year too BRAZIER FREE with~ this coupon foot long super chil..ee dag Only at - 1366 Rosewood Dr~