Fppfeair88Ficlay4.September,9, 1 9887
v.
Clemson
IT
3s
...
0
. v ""NX..-. :-x-:-:-. :
Rodney Williams will option Clemson to a New Year's Day bowl
Strong offense coy Id
ead Cav to second
straight bowl same
By BRENDAN MATHEWS
Stafl Writer
When you think about the Univer
sity of Virginia, you think picture
postcard campus, country-club
atmosphere, and enough tradition to
rival UNC. You don't think confer
ence football powerhouse.
But that's just what the Cavaliers
are out to prove they have become.
After stunning the ACC with a 7-4
record last season, the team picked
to finish seventh rolled over BYU in
the All-American Bowl. Virginia
must must now convince everyone,
including themselves, that 1987 was
no fluke.
The key for UVa. will be getting
the ball to All-ACC receiver John
Ford. Ford, who also earned honor
able mention All-American honors,
hauled down 48 passes for 855 yards
and six touchdowns, despite a pulled
hamstring that plagued him through
out the fall.
Already the holder of Virginia's
single-season and career passing
yardage records, Ford looks to be an
all-around threat in opposing secon
daries. "Even when teams do some
thing to take him out of the game,
he has enough talent to overcome
that," said coach George Welsh.
""When he gets double-teamed and
people play deeper against him, it
helps us in other parts of our game.
It takes some people out of run
support arid1 allows some 6'f Hurler
receivers to be one-on-one on many
4
occasions. -
In order for Ford to have an All
American season, and for UVa. to
return to a December bowl game,
there has to be someone who can pass
the ball, someone who can fill the
shoes of Scott Secules, the All-ACC
quarterback who went to the air for
2,311 yards and 12 touchdowns last
year.
The burden falls to sophomore
Shawn Moore, last year's No. 2 man.
Although he saw only limited time
in 7, he was impressive in the team's
21-19 loss to Maryland, completing
eight of nine down the stretch. His
1 3-of-1 7, 22 1 -yard performance in the
Cavaliers spring game proved to
Welsh that Moore was capable of
running the air show.
Moore will have a choice of
throwing to Ford or any of the other
receivers in the team's three-wideout
formation. Ever since the setup
brought Virginia two touchdowns in
the last 2:53 against North Carolina,
it has become an integral part of the
Cavalier offense.
Those receivers should be Tim
Finkelston, the team's leading punt
and kickoff returner in 7, and walk
on Derek Dooley, son of Georgia
coach Vince Dooley. Moore will also
have the option of going to tight ends
Joel Dempsey and Bruce McGonni-
..SeVWC3llsJlARagQ9w.,,
challenge to any defensive lineman.
Alsoat tackle is Ty Granger, a two
time strength All-American.
The guards are a mixture of old
and new. Senior Pat Williams returns
from a 1986 Gator Bowl injury that
sidelined him for a season. Sopho
more Eric Harmon, the first freshman
lineman ever to start all 12 games
under Ford, also returns. Senior Jeff
Bak will keep alive his string of 24
consecutive games at center.
The line should- give Williams
plenty of time to find his receivers,
should he ever want to throw.
Waiting downfield will be junior Gary
Cooper, who lasf year caught 34
passes for 618 yards and four TDs.
Joining him will be senior Keith
Jennings, whose career-high seven
catches for 110 yards in the Citrus
If?
TUT
ITU
: AFGAN
(For Your Bed, Wall, Couch, Car; Tailgate,
as a Stadium Blanket)
OSES ARE LIMITED ONLY BY YOCIR IMAGINATION!
9
SWEATS: Every Style Imaginable Every Weight
Specializing in Tackle Twill
(You Must See It To Believe It!)
155 E. Franklin Stl" " 'VISA; yasterCarif&8ut-6f-VcaieiH ."ggfi544
More important, however, is Clem
son's search for a kicker to replace
graduated All-American David
Treadwell. In his years ,with the
Tigers, Treadwell proved himself to
be one of the top clutch kickers in
football, as Tar Heel fans can attest.
On the whole, the Tigers will field
the most solid and experienced team
x y ;
T"r
Choose from our large selection of karat geld rings - earrings -pendants
or let us help design that unique piece to satisfy that
someone special!
157AE.FmnIdinSt. 929-0330 Next to Rathskeller
F3
TUT.l
OLA
wmm
eMweru fit
f5)
tKBHEELS
2)
1
from page 3
in the ACC. With 18 starters and 51
lettermen returning to Death Valley,
another year of orange dominance is
inevitable.
So is there any doubt about
Clemson? The consensus would say
no. -
MANIRES GOLDSMITHS
JEWELERS GEMOLO GISTS
o o
v. v -
Si
r544)
JJ