The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, August 29, 1979, Page Page 16, Image 16
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RALEIGH, N.C. <AP)- While North Carolina State is
the overwhelminc! choice to pnntiir#? the Atlantic _ u?mwn
_ . ? y ? r?7~~- " ?r "7 ~ Carolina and Fi
Coast Conference football crown, few believe the N q State is
Wolfpack will win without being severely tested. will earn whate
ine consensus among writers ana coacnes nas perhaps the
been that the conference is better balanced as it running backB
enters its 27th season than it was a year ago. Smith Vickers
In 1978, Clemson beat Maryland to win the title in 5pasnn milRt u
wnat was essentially a two team race. Each had graduation of ~A
disposed of N.C. State earlier in the season. K Smith accoui
The others were not a factor, although North season the m<
Carolina extended both Clemson and Maryland
m n ???ji.. u?t ? was iniertepic
m^iui c mollis viuoc 5aiucs. n,v^. oiaic, suuuuiy uciticu onrt fgilpH tft I
by the leaders, easily defeated UNC. however
THAT WAS 1978, a season in which Clemson won MOVING THE
every conference game while Virginia, which ^ ^ Its ^
finished last, did not win any. There was not a sinele .1 *
reversal. Each team defeated those below it in the rh^irV^tnnp?r
standings and lost to those above it. The receivjn
With judgement day nearly three months away Un Dawson
one thins is clear! N f! State will hp forr#?n fn rfwpnt __
? D ? ?? ? ? v"w,w" Nathan Hitter
its primary challengers-Clemson, Maryland and _nrn?. h
UNC-on three consecutive Saturday in October to attempts last s
give itself a commanding lead. neferaivelv
No fewer than five of the league's eight teams Hnrv fu?nir? ?!
received first-plate votes in a pre-season poll of the i Mi
media. N.C. Slate recieved 39 of 70 votes with
Maryland (17)/W (7), Clemson (6) and Virginia charae nf fi
u J aiso oeing named.
Inaseperatemlf, five of the league's head coaches Mnnm r
tabbed N.C. StaW while two named UNC. And Jerry
Claiborne, whos* Maryland Terrapins finished ctr?no?h^f
second in the writers noil and third in th*? rnnnhM sirengui 01 lis
poll, believes defending champion ciemson Tigers
'' should not be written off despite depletion through t- . t
graduation. (^arterbacV
WHILE CLEMSON must pass its share of tests to
scamp itself a solid contender, coach Danny Ford's
Tigers do own one distinct advantage. Clemson's Laurence '
games against N.C. State, Maryland and UNC are Tackle Steve
spread throughout the season and preceded by games Buddv Curr
MCTfliiKit nnnnn#?nt? the Tiffero chnnlH Ko ahlo fn Jr ?
handle" " ~ better linebac
Maryland must play Kentucky and Penn State in
succession before it meets N.C. State. UNC plays fhl_ n;.e.aa.
m n a r-1 ^11 i WHS pre-seaso
m.v,. owic, uuu-uuiuviciict: iw jo>h?i varuiina ana .
Clemson in a block of four weeks. Bu^sontte
But N.C. State has the most difficult Assionrnent nf MUrruss e
all. Prior to the three weeks of fury against the other TERPS
. contenders, Bo Rein's Wolfpack plays no lesser an
opponent than Auburn on the road. productive
SHOULD THE PACK still be in search nf a nrnwn the Ju!!i^j
ftnmh?tumblirtg-btock wuuht be'Buhe SI fWrtftW'tM"~^ceitevMped
Nntn frpnlc iniurv
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ist for sg?
Bv Steve Riddell
Assistant Sports Editor
The Carolina varsity football
team has lost the services of
starting tailback Johnnie Wright
because of a knee injury suffered
in practice.
"I thought it was just a bad
bruise," said the star running back
from his bed at Richland Memorial
Hospital last night. "I've had
bruises that hurt more."
Unfortunately for the
Gamecocks, the injury that Wright
sustained when he was hit by a
helmet in the side of his knee
during a practice session on
Saturday was not merely a bad
bruise. Instead the tests on his
rigm Knee revealed a torn medial
collateral ligament which will
sideline him for the season.
WRIGHT UNDERWENT
surgery to repair the damage
Saturday afternoon. Afterwards
his knee was placed in a cast which
will remain on for four to six
weens.
"I was expecting this to be a big
year," said the despondent running
back. "I was really prepared
for it." Wright, who picked up 903
yards on the ground this past year
for the Gamecocks and sported a
5.1 yard-per-carry average, was
expected to be a solid returner to
the Carolina backfield.
dinACC
cpected
viched between the Oct. 27 showdov
d the Duke game are tough Sout
?nn State.
in no position to back into a title. 1
ver it wins.
keys to the kingdom are held b
illy Ry Vickers and quarterback Sco
, who rushed for an even 600 yards las
Irp nn n nnrtinn nf thp elanlr ]pft hv thi
11-American Ted Brown
ited for 1,045 yards in total offense la:
>st of any returning ACC player, h
111 times in just 101 passing attempi
hrow a touchdown pass all seasoi
I BALL on the ground is the Pack
nse line is anchored by All-Americ
cher with plenty of help from linems
d Chris Dieterich.
I corps is in good hands with tight er
[id wide receiver Mike Quick, kick*
will salvage points when the offers
t.iHe converted on 17 of 19 field go
Bason.
N.C. State is strongest in the seco
the play of Woodrow Wilson, Donn
e Nail and Ronnie Lee.< Joe Hanna
iker while Simon Gumpton leads ti
on t vail.
)LINA a disappointment last seas<
:h Dick Crum. hopes to rebound on tl
running game. Amos Lawrence, wl
irds, surpassing the 1,000-yard mar
straight year, is the Tar Heels' me
Matt Kupec, who completed 59 pe
les in 1978, and full back Doug Paschi
blocker and receiver, ably support
Junkman leads the offense line.
' and Darrell Nicholson are two of tl
kers in the ACC, and defensive bat
leads up the secondary.
s had more than its share of problen
l. The most noteworthy was the 1<
xy put All-ACC defensive back Lkr
shelf for the season.
ost inrougn graduation a fine pair
in Steve Atkins and Alvin Maddox ai
quarterback in Tim O'Hare. Tho
unsettled after runnihg back Georj
3niAjsPssLa:a.m^!t?siLM
a sore arm. s?acc. p+o* r
ison to kn<
"Nobody hates losing Johnnie
for the season more than I do,"
head football coach Jim Carlen
said. "He is a quality running back
and some of our other players such
as Jeff Kendziorski and James
McKie will have to step in now and
take up the slack."
Although Wright will be missed
7 was really expecting
a big year. /
was really prepared
for it.'
Johnnie Wright^.
this year, seniors Spencer Clark
nnrl Stpvp Horspv should hp a hip to
v ~ ~ v
fill-in and supplement All-America
candidate George Rogers in the
Carolina backfield, too.
Wright, who will be redshirted
this year, feels that he will be able
to bounce back next year. "It will
take some time to get back into it
?s Jlv. .
se
ge
is j ?
4m ' V m> v < ? ? ? ^ ^ t t
* ' !*&&sas
>e injury
after sitting out a year," said
Wright. "I'm just going to try to
stay in shape and be ready."
"WE REALLY DON'T know
evartlv what haDoened." said
trainer Dave Huffstetler. "It was
pouring down rain, but it was not a
freak type of injury. There is really
no way to avoid these things
because they're the type of injury
that occurs sometimes," he added.
"Johnnie is a valuable member of
our football program and we'll
have him working hard to get
ready for next year," added
Carlen.
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