Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Sept. 15, 1970, edition 1 / Page 23
Part of Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Odkb D C(D) to w 9 JJjliVvLiiL s Small Consolation Maylbe We by Chris Cobbs Sports Editor "We didn't need him," said the well-placed visitor from Kentucky, where basketball is no joke. "Neither did we," most Carolina fans agreed half-heartedly, since for them Tom McMillen's promise as a basketball player will have no more meaning than what they took to be his promise as a young man. "We're happy anyway," cooed McMillen's parents, who apparently triggered the last- minute change of plans. Obviously, reaction varied to the Mansfield, Pa., basketballer's announcement last week that he would attend Maryland instead of Carolina, as he indicated in late June. Everyone was surprised, however, when the 6-11 freshman told an Elmira, N.Y., reporter that "for personal reasons I have decided to change my original decision." He said the decision to enroll at Maryland was "in no way a reflection on the University of North Carolina" and that he had the utmost regard for Cpach Dean Smith and his program. In a personal telegram to the coach, McMillen apologized to Smith. "Very very sorry," the telegram read. "You know the reasons," for the change of heart, it continued. If Smith, who was in Europe on a state department tour of Air Force bases, was in fact sure of the reasons, he was one of very few. Widely published speculation cited McMillen's parents, who reportedly pressured him constantly from the minute he announced his plan to attend Carolina some two months ago. Dr. and Mrs. McMillen. in fact objected strenuously in print when Tom told a world of reporters after several Inside months of indecision that he would become a Tar Heel. McMillen never signed a letter of intent, however, and his announcement was not officially binding. He was in contact with Smith every three days through the summer as the coach apparently struggled to ease family pressure. It was assumed by most ovservers that members of the Maryland staff continued to talk with McMillen ' after his June announcement, although Coach Lefty Driesell denied that he personally spoke to the boy. Smith told UNC Sports Information Director Jack Williams that he was in touch with McMillen as late as two days before he publicly changed his mind. "McMillen assured Smith that he could withstand the pressure," Williams saidk bv Chris Cobbs Sm t -'Jifnr Concessions dealers were not hawking animal crackers, but Carolina fans were treated to that unusual snack as the Tar Heels defeated Kentucky Saturday. UNC and Don Me Catiley devoured Kentuckians named Hogg, Crowe and Fiih- there was not a Wildcat in the lot. An impressive crowd of 36,000 "just ate it up." The Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year in 1969, McCauley was the chief entree, however, in the 20-10 Tar Heel w in. He accumulated a total of 208 yards and gave Kentucky Coach John Ray a bad case of indigestion. The opening day assemblage, which included a large number of UNC students, many of them freshmen, also delighted in the work of the Tar Heel defense. Kentucky got only 12 first downs out of a total offense of 251 yards, 143 of them coming on the ground. Leading the defensive charge were A1I-ACC guard Bill Richardson and tackle Flip Ray, key figures in the '69 forward wall which limited opponents to an average of 108 yards per game on the ground, best mark in the league. UNC Coach Bill Dooley, noticeably pleased with the play of McCauley, Ray and Richardson, also singled out the entire offensive line and secondary man Rusty Culbreth. "All our linemen blocked well. I thoueht. although 1 would need to look at the film to be more specific," said the coach. "Culbreth did an outstanding job of pass coverage and Ricky Packard came up with a big play in the fourth quarter. "We gave them some transfusions in the first half by making mistakes which Kentucky converted into points, but I was real proud of the way we came back to tie the game and then win it. "Offensively we tried to put pressure on their outside linebackers, who did not have much experience." Dooley said UNC did this with swing passes to McCauley and Lewis Jolley. McCauley scampered 48 yards with one of those aerials in the fourth quarter to clinch the win. "Coach Bobby Collins called the play," Dooley said. "We had been working on it all week." McCauley had had good luck getting open in the flat but he did not tell Collins or quarterback Paul Miller prior to the important touchdown pass that it vvou'd likely work. The Garden City. N.Y.. tailback, coming off a season when he rushed for 1092 yards, most in Carolina history, appejr.-d to be quicker than ever in picking up 160 ground yards in the season opener. "I weigh 208 right now," he said, "after reporting to camp this fall at 214. I would like to gain that weight back. I don't think it would hurt my quickness." Lewis Jolley, McCauley "s backfiek! mate in pressuring Wildcat linebackers, caught three passes for 72 yards, one of the receptions good for a 31-yard score, UNC's first of the year. Junior quarterback Paul Miller completed si of nine passes for 141 yards in his first start ever, after an injury-riddled sophomore year. Miller had one throw intercepted, setting up Kentucky's touchdown in the first quarter, and fumbled in the second period, with the visitors also converting that mistake into points. Dooley said he was pleased with Miller's work, on the whole, however, as the Ayden lefthander kept the offense in high gear. "Paul really won the starter's job in ourgame-tvpe scrimmace of a week prior to the Kentucky game," Dooley said. "We decided then he was No. I for the season opener, ahead of Johnnv Swofford and Mike Mansfield." Miller underwent surgery on his back following the '69 season and missed all ot spring practice. Place kicker Ken Craven made an impressive debut in his effort to replace Don Hartig. Craven, a junior from Winston-Salem, came out for the team on his own and won the job as Hartig's successor with his consistent practice kicking. He toed three pointers of 28 and 44 yards, the latter only four yards shy of Hartig's Carolina record for distance. Dooley said the Tar Heels were prepared for a myriad of Kentucky offensive formations, which the Wildcats employed last year. The UK offense was unimaeinative. however, and except for the steadv running of 220 pounders Cecil Bow ens and Houston Hogg, North Carolina State, which visits Kenan Stadium this week, us"allv fits that erind-it-out. stick to the basics tvoe of attack. Tar Heel fans probably won't mud if there is not too much. variety in the menu, as long as the cookies continue to crumble Carolina's way. oj '"j cT) r (LMU IL Need. r mm "and when Smith volunteered to fly back to the U.S., the boy said that would not be necessary." The Tar Heel coach attempted to call McMillen last Thursday after he learned of his change of heart. He was not successful in reaching him. Terp Coach Driesell expressed elation, naturally enough, following McMillen's decision just one day before he was to arrive in Chapel Hill to enroll at Carolina. After registering at College Park, McMillen told reporters, "I am happy to be here and I can now concentrate on my pre-med courses which will occupy most of my time until basketball season starts." Tom said he was glad the case was finally closed, but Tar Heel fans were not quite -so willing to drop the matter so quickly. They continued to discuss the 6-1 1 forward's decision among themselves and most "blamed" McMillen's parents. Such words as "prima donna" were used in connection with Tom himself, but the more general reaction was to be more harsh on his parents. There was assurance from Norvall Neve, acting commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference, "that as far as I know," McMillen will be eligible to play at Maryland. McMillen recently completed a tour of Europe, along with 1 1 others selected by the U.S. Olympic Committee in preparation for next year's Pan-Am Games and the 1972 Olympics. Among his teammates in Europe was Tar Heel Dennis Wuycik, a fellow Ppnntvlvania nativ from Amhrirlap . . . . . - o- Visions of forwards Wuycik and Bill &. Chamberlain playing alongside McMillen danced in the heads of Carolina fans for two months. All that remains of their great expectations is the false consolation that, maybe, "we didn't need him, anyway." ' i McCauley Finds Daylight Behind Hoolahan Basketball .... ACC Outlook . Writers Choices Rugby Outlook . Page .Page . Page .Pa ue 4 6 N -Jr... sx:. r. : y ' i k ?.m. , W " ii fill '- Ms- 'Jaj Distraught Ray lames Defense Cross Country - - - - -Page S Kentucky's Bowens Is Nailed By Bud Grissom by Howie Carr Sports Writer "Last year after our first football game, I felt hopeless and disgusted. 'This year I can see some bright spots," said Kentucky Coach Johnny .Ray, after his young Wildcat team had just lost its opening game of the season, 20-10, to Carolina. Although Ray conceded that Carolina was a "well-drilled, well-coached football team," he blamed the loss on his defense. "Our defense hurt us today; they cost us the ball game. I was very disappointed," said the disconsolate Ray. "What hurt us most were the two mistakes on pass coverage." He was referring, of course, to Carolina's two touchdowns. The first one came near the end of the opening period, when, on third and fourteen, wingback Lewis Jolley caught a screen pass from quarterback Miller and raced 41 yards to paydirt after Don McCauley cut down the only Wildcat in his path. The other Tar Heel touchdown came in the final quarter on a 48-yard toss from Miller to McCauley. whose fancy footwork left a couple of Kentuckians in the dirt as he reached the end one. "Neither puss was a bomb." remarked Kay. "They, just caught them open. They eot. wluL 70 yanl I on those two plays, and together they were thrown a total of 25 vanls." "1 could see some light on offense," said Ray, changing the subject from defense. He had particular praise for quarterback Stan Forston and sophomore halfback Cecil Bowens. "Forston showed poise, and Bowens gave a good effort for a sophomore. He didn't fumble. But Carolina possessioned' us, and we were usually deep in our own territory." Ray also praised the Tar Heel team for its fine containment of Kentucky's outside running game, and he revealed that Forston's 2 1 -yard option run in the first quarter was called from the bench. "We're a better football team than we showed," said Ray. "We'll have to do better; the schedule doesn't get any easier." The Wildcats return to Lexington to play Kansas State this weekend before traveling to Jackson to lake on Top-Ten rated Ole Miss. Dave Roller, Kentucky's 6-2, 240-pound defensive tackle, concurred with his coach's description of the game. "They're a good running team," commented the Dayton, Tenn. native. "They picked their holes well, ran their basic plays, and we overpursued." Most encouraging to Tar Heel fans, though, was Roller's hopefully expert analysis of the ACC league race. "They'll probably win their conference," he sighed.
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 15, 1970, edition 1
23
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75