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Chapel Hill's Morning Newspaper -Chapel
Hill, North Carolina, Saturday, September 14, 1974
Vol. 83, No. 13
Founded February 23, 1893
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Billy Paschall gets some advice
by Elliott Warnock
Sports Editor
So, it has come down to this.
" This is the toughest season opener we've had since Fve
been here."
All the work-outs, all the practice, all the game films
"People hear too much about the Mid-American
conference ..."
It all boils down to a little football placed on a kicking
tee at 1:30 this afternoon in Kenan Stadium.
"... but just look at the records and you can see what a
tough league it is."
North Carolina's football team will get a chance to
redeem itself after waiting an entire year with a 4-7 season
hanging over the players heads,
"Just about every year, some Mid-American teams
go up and knock off Big Ten teams."
4-7... 4-7?
How in heaven's name did a team which won 15
straight Atlantic Goast Conference games and two league
titles fall to a 4-7 record?
"Miami of Ohio last season whipped South Carolina
then toppled Florida in the Tangerine Bowl."'
As you can tell, there has been a lot of jaw-boning going
on about the North Carolina opener with Ohio
University.
No.. .these guys (dubbed the Bobcats) are not to be
confused with Ohio State's Buckeyes, or even with Miami
of Ohio.
Naw, hell no, these guys are the Mid-American
Conference, Ohio University Bobcats; nice, good, clean
American kids . . . until you get them onto a football field.
They're still good and clean, good and clean hitters.
They like that style of play which Darrell Royal of Texas
says "does your heart good."
Translated into laymen's terms, the Bobcats will be
giving away a lot of size and weight to the hosting Tar
Heels, but still pack enough of a punch to knock your
socks off.
Bill Dooley says they're the toughest home opener he's
faced.
He's probably right.
True, Dooley has done a lot of bad-mouthing during
his tenure as head coach of the Heels; he likes to build up
opponents and lament all the problems facing North
Carolina each week, but he's not kidding when he calls
Ohio ."tough.".
Ohio brings a team loaded with vets to Kenan,
returning 18 of 22 starters from last year's club, which
Avon' four of its last five games. In that winning spree, the
Bobcats lost only to powerful Miami of Ohio, 10-6.
The Heels have a lot of problems to cope with, all bad
mouthing aside. After all, even ardent optimists shouldn't
be too quick to forget that 4-7 record from last year.
With an All-American candidate anchoring the interior
line from his guard spot, the offense has an average
advantage of 20 pounds a man over the Ohio defense.
Ohio does have one major problem: losing senior QB
Rich Bevly to a sprained ankle.
Bevly is the mainstay of the Ohio offense, but is now
listed as a doubtful starter, leaving the ball in the hands of
soph Greg Brooks. Even if Bevly does start, he probably
will be severely handicapped with the injury.
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upec or
Paschall:
yo u guess
by Susan Shackelford
Assistant Sports Editor
The eye of a hurricane is the. calmest part of
the storm.
And at Carolina it's no different. For the past
several weeks and perhaps as early as last
spring, a storm of speculation has surrounded
the central football slot of quarterback.
A former occupant, Nick Vidnovic, is gone
and today's starting honors against Ohio are a
toss-up between junior Billy Paschall and senior
Chris Kupec.
Yes, they make up the storm's eye. But don't
get the situation wrong. Both are anxious to
play, to prove themselves and to substitute a
winning record for last year's 4-7
disappointment. The calmness rests with a
mutual admiration, respect and preparedness.
"It would be nice to start," said Kupec, a
native of Syosset, N.Y. who missed most of the
last two seasons with injuries.
"It would be the first time in a long time. "The
injuries are all behind me. I feel the best I've felt
in a long time. I'd just like to play that would
be nice enough."
Paschall, who did most of the UNC
quart erbacking last season, said, "I never really
thought that much about starting. It's Coach
Dooles decision. It doesn't really matter to me
because we're both going to play a lot during the
game." -
"Chris is a super quarterback," he added. "1
have confidence in him and respect him. Coach
.Dooley's been watching practice and who
moves the ball. I don't talk to him (Dooley)
personally, but 1 really haven't seen that much
difference (between us).
Paschall smiled. " 1 don't know if you're trying
to find a personal conflict between Chris and
I...there isn't any."
Kupec, who also hurt his knee as a
sophomore, is openly nonchalant about the
possibility of usurping Paschall and seeing the
first major start since his freshman season.
"It's just about a debut," the 6-3, 190
performer began with a twinge of sarcasm. "1
hope I'm not coming off too bitter, though 1
guess I am a little. You don't expect people to
thank you for coming back, but it was pretty
tough."
Because of the injuries, some people,
including teammates, have made comments
implying he was soft. "A lot of frustration builds
up," Kupec said, "but if you don't get frustrated
you don't belong here."
Kupec admitted academics have been an
outlet for him at Carolina. Now carrying a "3.6
(4.0 is all A's) point average, he's majoring in
history and seriously considering law school.
Faschall hasn't had the injury problems
plaguing his career. Last year after both
Vidnovic and Kupec were sidelined, the
Virginia Beach, Va. native stepped in to pass for
56.0 per cent, 837 yards and seven touchdowns.
The team, however, finished the season 4-7.
Compared to Kupec,. who is a strong passer,
Paschall said, "I'm more of a runner. I'm not a
great runner, but fairly quick.
After I've gone 20 yards and you see a big
tackle pull me down from behind you'll see
how slow I am. I've got quickness, can throw,
but speed 1 don't have.
"I'm probably a better short passer
(compared to Kupec)," the 6-0, 175-pounder
noted, "but the reason they don't talk about my
passing is is because 1 didn't complete 75 per
cent for 2000 yards. In my opinion, I don't have
a strong arm. I did an adequate job." ;
Paschall doesn't compare style. "Style comes
from play-calling and we don't get to call plays.
So style is basically the same thing for whoever
is out there."
But one yardstick of comparison will be the
veer offense, which, is virtually new to the
Carolina backfield.
"It's a good offense," offered Kupec, who
chalked up a 62.3 per cent passing mark for over
800 yards and nine touchdowns in a five-game
frosh season.
"I'm not the best runner in the world but it
(veer) really doesn't bother me," he continued. '
"It's not ideally suited to me but I can do it." "
Paschall said, "There's better people to run
the veer than me usually someone who is fast.
I don't have speed but I can get 10 or so yards
inside. But we've got speed in the backfield and
it helps us to get outside.
"It (veer) Opens up our offense and makes the
defense think a little more," he analyzed
"...instead of our running so much, 'look here
we come.' "
"Mel Collins will be a different thing for
Carolina," Paschall said concerning the
freshman speedster expected to split time with
backs Mike Voight and James "Boom Boom"
Betterson.
"Don McCauley and Sammy Johnson were
so fast they would run over you. But it looks like
Mel can run just as fast sideways. He's good
laterally...shifty."
Specifically from Ohio, Paschall anticipates a
fast defensive backfield that uses a lot of man-to-man
coverage and lines up close to the line of
scrimmage. From Carolina, he looks for a more
unified confident approach.
Kupec, who thinks the Heels are a little looser
this year, said, "I'm just expecting the basics."
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Chris Kupec