University of South Carolina Libraries
WAKE FOREST JJJJL SEPT*5 AWAY All-ACC quarterback Jay Venuto and Coach John Mackovic have left Wake Forest, but A1 Groh, Mackovic's successor, insists that the Deamon Deacons will be styled much like their past squads. Groh's main task is trying to replace passing ace Venuto. Sophomore Gary Schofield and senior David Webber are vying for that quarterback position. Whomever gets the nod will have one of the nation's best pair of receivers to set sights on; Wideouts Wayne Baugmgardner and Kenny Duckett have combined for 189 catches and 3,086 yards in their Wake careers. All three tight ends and the entire runnine attack will return this season, vet the offensive line _ , - returns only one starter. Replacing three linemen and a linebacker and fortifying a weak secondary are the biggest chore for the Deamon Deacons on defense. i iirnrrmm iv\i33i33irri SEPT. 12 HOME Fifteen of last year's starters return to Ole Miss this season, but one of the most instrumental of these will not be in full form for the Rebels' contest with USC. John Fourcade who in 1980 broke Archie Manning's record for total offense in one season with 2,229 yards, suffered a broken bone in his throwing hand during the summer and is expected to miss the Rebels' opener. Fourcade is the key to the explosive Ole Miss offense, whirh led the SRC in total offense last season with an average of 389.6 yards per game. A seasoned stable of six running backs will charge the Rebel running attack. The receiving duo of Ken Toler aand Breck Tyler, dangerous in 1980, will balance out the offense, yet the chief factor of the unit will be the condition of Fourcade. Ten of last season's defensive starters are back, but Coach Steve Sloan has switched two linemen to the offensive side. Sloan plans to make other switches to add bite to the defense ? last season's main trouble area. DUKE nuMt With the return of 19 starters, among them ACC 1980 Rookie-of-the-Year quarterback Ben Bennett, Duke Coach Red Wilson can finally look ahead with hope. "We are now at a point in our program where we could take the people we have returning this year and play a game today not having to depend on any incoming freshmen," Wilson says. "This is the first year that we have been in that type situation and it is one that we have been looking forward to. We are beginning to have enough depth to be competitive." Bennett, who completed 174-of-330 passes for 2,050 yards last season, will be the offensive axis. A good contingent of wide receivers aid Bennett. The ground game, athough remaining intact, must improve tremendously from a year ago. Defensive back Dennis Tabron will head the prevention unit. Other backfield positions, however, must be fortified. A punter must also be found. GEORGIA Aq^M SEPT. 26 InMI AWAY The national championship and half of last season's starting lineup is history to Georgia Coach Vince Dooley as [ he fields his 1981 edition of the Bulldogs. The entire Georgia secondary from 1980's only undefeated > team .includ in*, All-American Scott Woerner and All-SEC Jeff '* Hipp, was lost to graduation. Both defensive ends and a top linebacker have also departed. J But then there's Herschel Walker. He's back and he's ? expected to be the nation's best. As a freshman last year, ! Walker set an NCAA record with 1,616 yards and finished I third in the Heisman Trophy balloting. He had four games over 200 yards last year and was the Sugar Bowl's and SEC's Most Valuable Player. Buck Belue will call the signals again this year for the Bulldogs. Belue topped the Southeastern Conference in passing efficiency last season. Flanker Lindsay Scott and tight end Morris Brown are two experienced receivers. The Georgia offense will no doubt be powerful, but the defense will have to be tested. PITTSBURGH & * * trzz^ oct. 3 ljs2l_ home lj Fifteen starters, including four Ail-Americans, will be ? missing, but the 1981 Pittsburgh team is expected to be in the country's top ten. Unlike recent years when the defense dominated, 1981 could be a year of offense for the Panthers. Pitt returns an All-American candidate atquarterback, and 1980 freshman sensation Dwight Collins will be back as receiver, along with four others. Joe McCall returns to his tailback spot, while senior wayne uitsarioio win 1111 me iuuoactc jod. un me 01fensive front, Pitt returns talent, size and experience. Although only one of last season's starters returns on ^ defense, the Panthers have the strength to recover. The defensive line will be very strong. l/rik 1T"B I iOI/% if fctIN I ULKT ? M OCT. 10 AWAY , i W l BteaaaasrTl i 'i tf'lBiift Wrr***-.. " ^ ^ Inexperience and four final-minutes losses resulted in Kentucky's 3-8 record last season but Wildcat Coach Fran Curci feels that 1981 will be brighter. i uuiii anu inexperience suu snouia De a lactor, Out wiin lb returning starters, things won't be as critical as a year ago. Curci is faced with filling the quarterback and center H positions, but all other offensive slots are taken by returnees. The quarterback task will fall on either Terry Henry or Randy Jenkins, both experienced at the position but weak on passing, plagued by injuries last season, the Wildcat running attack is ready to go. The Kentucky defense could also contain some deep holes. Questionable positions are tackle and noseguard on the line, ll/ith Q (Win /\f ^ 1 ? ? * ? v..... vui ui iiiicuncKt'ib unu a recovering secon1ary. 4 With the absence of top talent, the Wildcats should make some progress from last season, but are still predicted to finish around or below the .500 mark. See Opponent, page 9