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Johnson back at fullback
going gets tough for ^Horse ’
ByGREGORY CLAY
Sports Writer
It seems fitting that a man called
“horse” would come from a country town
and live on a farm. On his farm (in
Buckingham, Virginia), he has ducks,
chickens, pigs, but ironically no horses.
Billy Johnson wears a Carolina Blue
jersey with number 36, showing not his
amount of horsepower but just a randomly
chosen number.
“The nickname came from high school
because I was so big,” Johnson said. But
his enormous size doesn’t mean a thing
only son to play ball. “We get along fine
and I like a big family,” said Johnson.
Johnson chose Carolina because he fell
in love with the campus. “This place
wasn’t so close or too far away from home.
Also “this coach” wanted to talk to me and
“that one” so I just signed a grant-in-aid to
get them off my back.”
The pre-season Playboy football preview
picked Carolina to have a 7-4 season and to
be third in the conference behind
Maryland and N.C. State. “I hope we
prove them wrong. Our biggest problem is
the inexperience on offense. Everybody’s
taking their turn in making mistakes.
Td rather play football than study.
Billy Johnson: Still trying to win back the number one fullback job.
>taff photo by James Parker.
when it comes to speed because Johnson
runs a 4.7 40-yard dash, which is im
pressive for a man 6’lVi” and 245 pounds.
Earlier in the season the “horse” was
tried at tailback to fill the void of the
departed Mike Voight. But the switch
didn’t last long because of its inef
fectiveness and the rapid progression of
“Famous” Amos Lawrence.
“The rest of the tailbacks are faster than
me and are coming around. I can play
either position, but the biggest difference
is that the fullback blocks and the tailback
doesn’t. It doesn’t matter as long as I’m
helping the team out,” he said.
Johnson is tentatively a physical
education major and ultimately wants to
be a coach one day. He is a hunter and a
fisherman in his spare time which
naturally fit the mold of farm life. He is
just one out of nine children and was the
Some guys on the offensive line are new
and are trying to get their confidence.
Once they get their confidence, they are
gonna be hell,” he said.
To on-lookers, being a football player is
a glamorous life. But the reality of the
situation includes the many hours of hard
and sweaty work that are required. The
“Horse” explained, “We practice every
single day and watch films and lift weights
from 3:45 to 6:30. It’s hard, so whenever I
have free time. I’ve got to study.”
So college is not all play ball and forget
studying for athletes, or is it? Johnson
elaborated,“I’d rather play ball, than
study. My primary goals are to play ball
and study. I’m an athlete-student here. I
work in my classes real hard and I study
enough to get my grades. I don’t want to be
heartbroken if I can’t play pro ball. I want
something to fall back on.”
rhe leading Heisman candidates — and the winner is
By ROSALYN TAYLOR
Sports Writer
The Heisman Trophy is annually awarded to the nation’s outstanding
college football player.
Since 1935, no small college player has won the Heisman. In the past 42
years three regional players (from Louisiana State, Florida, and Auburn)
have received the Trophy. All winners were either quarterbacks or running
backs; the exceptions were three wide receivers. Never has a Black
quarterback won the Heisman. Recent Black winners are:
1965 Mike Garrett U.S.C. running back
1968 O.J. Simpson U.S.C. running back
1972 Johnny Rogers Nebraska wide receiver, kick returner
1974 Archie Griffin Ohio State running back
1975 Archie Griffin Ohio State running back
1976 Tony Dorsett Pittsburgh running back
Today, the average Heisman winner—(1) is a member of the NCAA, (2) is
from a North or Western bigtime football school, (3) is either a quarterback
or running back, (4) is extremely talented and productive and (5) is a player
on a winning ball club.
UNC has not produced a Heisman Trophy winner.
Today the four leading contenders for the Heisman trophy, the most
prized individual trophy in college football, are Terry Miller of Oklahoma
State, I.M. Hipp of Nebraska, Earl Campbell of Texas, and Doug Williams
of Grambling, according to “The NFL Today.” Mike Dunn of Duke and
Jack Thompson of Washington State are long shots.
Senior Terry Miller, a six-foot 196 pound half-back placed fourth last year
in the Heisman balloting. This year he is the nation’s leading rusher. He’s
rushed for 100 yards in 15 straight games, and has two 200-yard efforts. Last
year Miller had 173 yards and 4 touchdowns in the Tangerine Bowl. Miller’s
season total of 1,043 yards and career total of 4,117 yards include 23 TD’s.
Miller is the first runner in the Big Eight to gain 1,000 yards in two con
secutive years.
Isaiah Moses Hipp, sometimes known as “Hoppity,” was not recruited by
I any university. A few colleges did show interest until he injured his shoulder
aduring his senior year. Hipp wrote to Nebraska and was asked to come out
jas a walk-on.
Today I. M. Hipp is the fifth leading rusher in the nation averaging 7.8
yards in 101 carries. For five weeks in a row, “Hoppity” Hipp has rushed for
IlOO yards. Against Colorado Hipp gained 171 yards in 31 carries for two
Itouchdowns. Hipp also had two 200-plus games back to back, mostly by
Hogging 82 and 66 yard TD runs against Kansas State. As strong as he is
Sswift, Hipp has leg-lifted 915 pounds a Nebraska record. According to Sports
Ijllustrated, “Hoppity Hipp’s on a Heisman trip.”
Tailback Earl Campbell is 220 pounds of speed and strength. Last year he
Ifrushed for over 1000 yards.. Campbtdt raShed fer,3J3r!i(»r4%.itn:,32 p3pri;p^.v
lagainst S.M.U. '
Doug Williams, quarterback for predominantly Black Grambling may be
the first small-college player to receive the Heisman. At 6’4” and 214
pounds, Williams can run the 40 yard dash in 4.8 seconds. According to
Sports Illustrated Williams has a “3 (rating) arm, a great prospect for NFL
scouts.” Williams leads the Tiger offense to an average of 474.1 yards per
game. He threw for 1,859 yards and 21 TD’s in 6 games; one-third of his TD
throws are for 47 yards, or more and in 35 games Williams has 76 TD’s and
7,000 yards.
Longshots Mike Dunn and Jackie Thompson are both quarterbacks. Dunn
has led Duke to 1,835 yards total offense, 1,078 passing, and 757 running.
Thompson’s 20 TD passes set a Pac Eight record. He has 208 passes with a
58.6 percent completion average. Playing 30 of 40 quarters for Washington
State, Thompson threw for 2,762 yards last year. He may be the first
quarterback to pass for 8,000 yards, says Sports Illustrated.
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