Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Georgia Tech: a wreck no more By GEORGE MORRIS Asst. Sports Editor "Georgia Tech is a Ramblin' Wreck in a heckuva, heckuva mess," would have been appropriate lyrics to the Yellow Jacket fight song two years ago. But no more--a coach called Pepper has changed all that. Indeed, two years ago the once mighty Tech Football team was stumbling through a 5-6 season under coach Bill Fulcher. Fulcher's predecessor, Bud Carson, spent four years compiling a 27-27 record, and he was fired. Bud was lucky--some Tech alumni wanted him lynched. Today Franklin (Pepper) Rodgers has the city of Atlanta virtually eating out of his hand. Last year the Yellow Jackets did what virtually no one predicted, posted a winning record, and the prospects for a big season at Tech haven't been this bright in years. There's plenty of reason for the rampant optimism in Atlanta. 15 starters return from last years' squad, in cluding two school record breakers, and Tech makes only three road trips on an 11 game schedule. Combine that with Rodgers' proven ability to produce winners at other schools (Kansas and UCLA) and it's small wonder one major publication picked the Yellow Jackets 14th in the nation. The normally talkative Rodgers isn't saying much this preseason, but his silence can't hide the fact that Tech will be good this year. Tech was tied for eighth in the nation in rushing of fense last year, and there's no reason to believe they won't be potent in 1975. Two quarterbacks, Rudy Allen and Danny Myers, return, and the two compliment each other well. Allen, a (6-4, 200) senior, is the better passer and Myers (5-11, 190), also a senior, set Tech rushing records for quArterbacks. But the key to Tech's offense may be the play of halfback David Sims. Playing halfback for the first time in his football career, Sims gained more yards rushing (881) than any back in Yellow Jacket history. PEPPER DANNY RODGERS MYERS Adrian Rucker returns at the other halfback spot. Tech's offensive line is sound, but depth may be a factor if the injury bug strikes. Center Leo Tierney (6-3, 228) is one of the best in the South at his position, and tackle Jeff Urczyk (6-2, 238) and guard Mark Hunter (6 1, 230) also return. Tight end is a strong spot for Tech with Steve Raible and Elliot Price alternating. If the offense is sound, the defense may be sounder. Eight starters return, including standout linebacker Lucius Sanford. On the line Rodgers has only to replace one graduated starter, as Tony Daykin (6-0, 215), Red McDaniel (6-3, 248) and Rick Gigney (6-4, 255) return. Junior Bob Bowen returns at linebacker, and secondary returnees are cornerback Gil Kyle and safeties Danny Rhino and Eddie Porter. The Engineers schedule will also help Tech keep the home folks happy. Only Clemson, Auburn (both home games) and Notre Dame present major obstacles on Tech's schedule this year, although the Jackets could find road trips at Carolina and Tulane difficult. The cynical lyrics to the Tech fight song shouldn't apply to the Jackets this year, It's hard to say what the words will be this year, but one thing is certain. In Atlanta, Pepper Rodgers is calling the tune. Duke offen By BILLY COX Gamecock Sports Writer "They ran right over us, like a bunch of bulls," moaned Paul Dietzel, grimacing over the 345 yards the visitors had rolled up on him. "We just couldn't stop 'em." The scheme took place in the press room at Williams Brice Stadium, and the opponent was not an Ohio State or a Notre Dame, but small-time ACC entity Duke. A year has passed since then, scattering blatant question marks regarding Carolina's pigskin potency, but in Durham, N.C., time and 34 returning lettermen have reinforced Blue Devil coach Mike McGee's pre-season optimism. Duke gets a true test of its grit early when it opens against last year's kingpin, Southern Cal. The slategets no easier as the Devils square off against the likes of Florida and Pitt, in addition to its ACC foes. "We feel Duke is capable of making a strong bid for the ACC title in spite of a most demanding schedule," McGee said. "We look for real improvement offensively and are confident that the defense will improve into a good unit." While Duke's defense may later develop into somewhat of a joke, the Big Blue offensive wagon should keep its enemies from laughing. Those who witnessed USC's 21-14 1974 loss to the Blue Devils were painfully aware of the biggest bull on the field, tailback Larry Martinez, who devoured 199 yards in that one, and led the nation in ground-gaining until being sidelined with an injury. The fact that Martinez is now a third-string performer un doubtedly indicates that McGee has something powerful brewing in his backfield. Starting at fullback is junior Tony Benjamin, who, after having been named to a freshman All-America team two years ago, has already gone over the 1000 yard mark. Benjamin's proxy is Mike Borney, one of only two freshman to letter in m74 se explosive Then at tailback is junior Art Gore (5-10, 175) who played in only seven games last year and rushed at 5.0 yards per carry. Behind Gore is another elusive little tailback, 5-9 168-lb Bob Pruitt, prompting a Duke recruiter to remark, "Good things come in small packages." Rounding out the backfield are veteran signal callers Hal Spears and Bob Cor bett. A focal point in the aerial game h inges upon wide receiver and all conference return specialist Troy Slade. Slade snared 31 passes for 489 yards and two touchdowns a year ago, and broke every Duke record in kickoff return yardage. Larry Upshaw, who has two brothers in the professional ranks, is an ex-security cop turned receiver. Once clocked in the 100 yard dash at 9.3, Upshaw caught 14 passes for 203 yards last year. Finally, Duke jumped aboard the bandwagon and recruited a soccer style placekicker, junior college kicker of the year Vince Fusco. The 6-1, 175-lb sophomore has a Stenerudish firing range, botting three field goals of over 50 yards in '74. While Duke retains important personnel on a defensive squad that finished first in the ACC, repeating that feat this year may not be as easy. Seven starters are gone, and the secondary is so inexperienced that even a ragarm quarterback might look like a Heisman Trophy candidate against it. In short, McGIee should brace himself for high scoring games, because reliance on the defense could be fatal. Duke will have to score points to win, and if statistics mean anything (they usually don't), the Blue Devils can burn. "A lot of people have been saying that this will be the year, this will be the year for Duke football, for the last couple of seasons," said Gore, reflecting on the chances of improving upon a 6-5 mark. "Well, we want to turn some of that idle talk into factual history." Ole -Miss, Carolina similer By MARK LEARY Sports Editor With 17 seconds left last year's game between Old Miss and Carolina Bobby Marino calmly kicked a 21-yard field goal to give Paul Dietzel what he called "greatest single victory of my career." The Gamecocks will again be going to Mississippi this year and it is possible that the game could again come down to a field goal. The Gamecocks and Ole Miss are that much alike. In the series between the two teams, the Gamecocks have a narrow edge, winning 10 of the 17 games played. Ken Cooper, in his second year as Ole Miss head coach, fields a team that is similar to the team he had last year. They are a young squad and it is by no means an exaggerati e. to say that they go up against a "murderer's row" type of schedule. Ole Miss opened its season Saturday with a disappointing loss to Baylor 20-10. Against Baylor, the Rebels were unable to move the ball with consistency, showing that the quarterbacking situation was not at the point Cooper felt it needed to be. Also, two of Baylor's backs ran for more than 100 yards apiece against the Ole Miss defense. After their first game it was obvious that graduation losses had hurt Ole Miss. Defense hurt the Revels in their opener and defense is where graduation took its heaviest toll. The Rebels lost Academic All-America end Greg Markow, linebacker Stump Russell, strong safety Pete Markow, free safety Garry Hall and defensive tackle Mackey McKinzie. KEN COOPER If the defense is not the biggest question mark for Cooper and his staff then the quarterbacking situation is. One junior and three sophomores are all possible starters for Ole Miss. Talent is there, but the foursome all are inexperienced. McCuller said of the quar terbacks after spring practice: "All four quarterbacks are vir tually even. The quarterback or quarterbacks we do decide to go with will be determined in part by the type of veer offense we decide to utilize," he said. "Some are more adaptable to certain phases of the offense than others, and it follows that the other members of the unit are better able to handle another segment of the veer."