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10 The
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By EDDIE WOOTEN
Staff Writer
Things are looking up at Georgia Tech.
Tech is entering its last season as an out
sider in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In
1983, the Ramblin' Wreck will be officially
eligible for the ACC title.
After going 2-19-1 in the past two seasons,
the Tech program could be in a state of de
pression. But it is far from that
"Our practices have been really good, sur
prisingly good," said head coach Bill Curry.
"The atmosphere is what it should be."
Instead of throwing their arms up in dis
gust Tech alumni and fans have stuck with
the football program. A four-story, $7 mil
lion facility, the Edge Intercollegiate Ath
letic Center, is now complete. The building
has 65,000 square feet of space and houses
administrative offices, locker rooms, training
room, weight room, dining hall and equip
ment room. .
In addition to the new facilities, three new
coaches will be on the sidelines this fall.
Curry has added Dwain Painter, an offensive
coordinator who'll work with quarterbacks
and receivers; Rick Lantz, a defensive coor
dinator who will help the linebackers; and
offensive line coach Dan Dorazio. They are '
expected to ease some of the organizational
problems Tech had last season.
"Our program has improved incredibly,"
said Curry4 "We've improved in basketball
with Bobby Cremins, in baseball and in
women's basketball. Ifs all because of the
enormous things (Athletic Director) Homer
Rice has done."
As for football, Curry is a man who knows
of Tech's winning tradition. He played on
Tech teams which went 21-9-1 in the sixties.
As a professional, Curry played for Green
Bay's NFL champions in 1965 and 1966 and
two Baltimore teams which went to the
Super Bowl. He played on pro teams which
were 91-44-5. .
"We have a good nucleus coming back,"
Curry said of his 1982 team. "We lost ton ly
three starters out of 22. But coming off the
year we had, that doesn't necessarily mean
that's good."
Senior Jim Bob Taylor will take over the
reins as the starting quarterback. He replaces
Tech's all-time leading passer, Mike Kelley.
Taylor played in eight games last season
and he started twice. He was 25 of 58 for 297
yards and one touchdown before suffering a
shoulder injury against Tulane.
"Jim Bob has looked good in practice,"
Curry said. "He had some erratic moments
. last year, but I think he's improved.".
Competing with Taylor for the starting
nod is lefthander Stu Rogers. Rogers saw ac
tion in four games, primarily after Kelley
and Taylor were felled by injuries. Rogers
missed much of spring practice while pitch
ing for Tech's baseball team. -
Talented Robert Lavette will be a key to
the Tech offensive machine. The speedy
sophomore rushed for 866 yards and caught
45 passes last season on" his way to being
named a freshman All-American by Blue ,
Chips Magazine. , .
Lavette led the ACC in kickoff returns,
was third in rushing, third in receiving and .
first in all-purpose running.
"Lavette had his best games against North
Carolina (168 yards) and Navy (197 yards),"
Curry said. But we need depth at that posi
tion. We're searching for a backup tailback."
The leaders for the No. 2 tailback spot are
a pair of freshmen. Cleve Pounds was all
state in Georgia, rushing for 1,150 yards and
scoring 13 touchdowns. The other candidate
is Marvin Carolina, a second-team all-state -pick
from Pittsburgh. ,
All-America candidate David Lutz, 6-foot--7
and 274 pounds, and Ellis Cardner anchor !
the offensive line at tackles. Center Dean I
Waters and guards Ken" Howell and Derek
Gwinn also return, Depth will be provided
by tackles Stan Sparks, Dale Negus and
Brian Yates; guards Mark Morgan. Vince Gar
cia and Joe Montgomery; and centers Andy
Hearn. Tony Blasetti and Greg Hillmeyer. "
At the ends, junior Jeff Keisler and sopho
more Darrell Norton return, but they are be
ing pushed for starting jobs.
"Kris Kentera, who was academically inel
igible last year, should be back," Curry said.
"And junior college transfer Michael Har
rington has been really outstanding."
The defense lost only two starters, end
Mark Bradley and Jinebacker Lance Skele
ton, but this year's unit does not have much
depth. ;. C'V'- ' v '
Marvin Dyett and Bobby Hodge will start
at the ends. Curry said Dyett was hurt much
of last season, but played anyway. Curry hass
moved Tony Kepano from offensive guard to
nose guard on defense.
. Robert Jaracz is a returning starter at out
side linebacker. The fiery Jaracz was fourth
on the team in tackles last season and im
proved enough during spring practice to
make seven tackles in the spring game.
Leading tacklers Rob Horton and Duane
Wood are also back, while freshman Ralph
Malone should see considerable playing
time. '
All four starters in the defensive backfield
return, but like at other positions, their start
ing jobs are not secure. Cornerbacks Ted
Thurson and Paul Menegazzi and safties
Sammy Brown and Mark Sheffield are back,
but recurits Mike Travis and Daryl Wise are
being counted on to give the secondary
much-needed depth.
See OPTIMISM on page 21
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Georgia Tech's Jim Bob Taylor eludes UNO's Aaron Jackson
. . .Yellowjacket QB will lead Tech against Alabama in opener
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