Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Oct. 4, 1979, edition 1 / Page 19
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Weekender Paga 11 Johnson touches down to' hope of comebac Thursday, October 4, 1 979 Dy DILL FIELDS North Carolina fullback Billy Johnson has been called "Freight Train' "The Horse" and "Hoss," but until this past Saturday the 6-foot, 242pounder had spent almost a year away from football. As UNC prepares to meet the Cincinnati Bearcats at 1 p.m. Saturday in Kenan Stadium, Johnson is coming off his first action since he suffered a fractured kneecap nearly a year ago. Johnson rushed for IT yards in two carries against Army last week at West Point, N.Y., in the Tar Heel's easy 41-3 victory. On his first run from scrimmage since the Miami of Ohio game last fall, Johnson, a burrowing, bullish runner, rammed almost 4 t , f ' V f? J A ' i ! V .A rT 21 mm. ; 1 f - m : DTHCthy Robmcon Billy Johnson: Back after touchdown against Army untouched through a porous Cadet defense for a nine-yard touchdown. It was an inauspicious effort, because UNC had already run up the score on Army, and the Cadet defense was worn down from trying to grasp elusive Amos Lawrence. For the Cadets, Johnson's TD burst only added insult to injury, in the figurative sense. In the literal sense, Johnson's effort provided at least a glimpse of the old runner who bowled over opposing tacklers as a freshman and sophomore in Bill Dooley's l-formation. He had once again returned from an injury. "Injuries have thrown me back," Johnson said this week. "I haven't been able to do the things that I am capable of doing." Johnson was very proficient at his job during his first two years, blocking like a lineman and becoming a menace to defenders when he got the ball for blasts up the middle or slants off tackle. In a word, "The Horse" is strong, causing former UNC offensive guard Mike Salzano to say, "He's just a bull. There was one day in practice when he broke out of four tackles. He just runs over everybody." But the crippling blow to his right patella in last fall's loss to Miami interrupted the career of the Buckingham, Va., native, put his right leg in a cast for three months and caused him to miss spring practice. "At first I thought it was just a bruise," Johnson said, recalling the injury. "I didn't realize it was broken until Sunday when the doctor looked at it. One of my friends back home said he saw the hit and it was a helmet on my knee. I didn't know what happened. It happened so fast." Just as fast, Johnson, who has rushed for a 4.8-yard average in his UNC career, was no longer on the field and had to watch the remainder of the Tar Heels' 5-6 1978 season from the sidelines. Johnson worked hard to rehabilitate the knee and was ready for fall practice this year. Fate wasn't going his way, however, when during the first scrimmage at the beginning of two-a-day workouts, he heard the same knee "pop" on a blocking manuver. "It just went," he said. "Dr. Taft (UNC orthopedic surgeon) told me I had rebrbken my patella. "Emotionally it made me feel down, because I had worked so hard all year. It did make me feel really bad. Then I had to take it in stride. It's like riding a horse if you get thrown off once, you just climb back into the saddle and try it again. "The next day they explained I could get back and maybe play. They said there wasn't any way I could hurt it any worse. That brightened me u p." His brief performance against Army didn't hurt his confidence any. "It was kind of like taking a big step on a ladder. I got an opportunity, and I got in there and on the first carry I got a touchdown. It really felt great." Johnson, who did not begin playing organized football until the 11th grade, said he's going to try to persevere and work back into the. lineup. "I think I'll gradually work back in. The only thing I can do is work hard and keep trying. "I came and had a good freshman year. The first two years while I was healthy, I was proud of myself (the way he performed). I'm just going to work hard and improve my skills." Johnson's appraisal of his skills seems accurate. "If I can get rid of some of the injuries, I think I can help this ball club a lot." Tar Heel coach Dick Crum has said likewise of the much-maligned junior. And right now, two carries, 11 yards and one touchdown mark the beginning of "The Horse's" attempt to get back on track. Bill Fields is assistant sports editor for The Daily Tar Heel. .4 I P The Committee for the F.liss Durham Schclcrchlp Pageant Invites all eligible young ladies interested in Participating in the Pageant to a T V Ccmpacs Room j Northwestern Bank, downtown Durham Sunday, October 7 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. it t Applications available at the Reception or write 4711 West Hills Dr. Durham, NC 27705 or call (919) 333-4679. 4 1 . if ft R RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE Fresh Seafood Choice Steaks Fine Drink; j Relax, savor the comfortable rustic atmosphere during a leisurely dinner, or enjoy your favorite beverage in our cozy, separate lounge. Join us for filet mignon, crab imperial, our popular seafood platter or oyster bar selections. Serving fine dinner and drinks from 4pm-Ism Jcnes Ferry Rd., Off 54 Bypass, Carrboro. 929-3404 4 44 "4 -4 Sk 4 Nt
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Oct. 4, 1979, edition 1
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