The Coral Gables Times

Thursday, September 7, 1961, page 8 (of 47)

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They Shall Pass... ...They Shall Receive / But Will They Make the Grade? / Hurricanes Are Loaded with Potential

They Shall Pass... ...They Shall Receive WILL COMBINE CLICK WILL HE RUN THE TEST JOHNS PITTSBURGH NORTH CAROLINA KENTUCKY GEORGIA PENN STATE TULANE NAVY NORTHWESTERN COLORADO FLORIDA George Mira ...he throws well John Bennett ...double duty Bill Miller ...he's All-American Larry Wilson ...local boy makes good But Will They Make the Grade? Hurricanes Are Loaded with Potential It's football time again, and once more the University of Miami Hurricanes are a question mark — a dark horse as the pre-season football prognosticators are forced to dub them. Why so? Coach Andy Gustafson has been forced to switch horses again. Eddie Johns, last year's sophomore quarterback who came up with a mess of personal statistics and a 6-4 record, will not general the team this year. He may not even play because of a leg injury. If Johns gets over his problem, he will be lively at left half. Likely to do the quarterbacking chores this season is a 19-year-old sophomore, George Mira, of the Key West Miras. MIRA PUSHED But Mira may be pushed by another sophomore, John Bennett, also reputedly a good pigskin pusher. Bobby Weaver, who saw limited service last year and a lobber of long ones, may be a dark horse along with Racy Timmons and Al Bruketa. Quarterback should not be in a position at which Gustafson is hurting, but you never know about football. Like combat, the boys who don't become men are soon separated. Mira, a tall quarterback by Miami standards, is advertised as the best bullet passer since Mighty Mouse Jack Hackett, a physical paradox who helped pilot the Canes to an undefeated 1950 season. JOHNS QUESTIONABLE If Johns can't make it, Ron Fritzsche, Nick Spinelli, or John Bahen may turn the trick. Gables Ted Saussele is disenchanted and dropped out. Nick Ryder will probably start at right half, but Bennett may play that spot if not quarterbacking, and Tom Stepanski, Charles Yanda or Dave Zelch may have a say. The Canes should not be hurting for fullbacks with James Vollenweider scheduled to operate from that spot along with another James, Bruno, Sam Fernandez, Don Ploskunak and Van Parsons. MILLER SAFE All-American Bill Miller is not likely to be dislodged from left end. He'll be backed by Frank Reinhard, James Simon, Ed Modzelewski and Bill Sparks. Miami's own Larry Wilson is the pre-season favorite to hold down the right end spot. Ben Rizzo, Bernie Solich, another Wilson, Bobby, and Harvey Foster will share that chore. Stan Maluty, Daniel Conners, Ray Lardani, Vic Savoca and Bud Savini are out-oftowners set to do battle at left tackle. Right tackle will be held by Bill Watts, Joe Smerdel, James Hetrick, Mike Soltis and Donald Carroll. DIAMOND FAVORED Another Miami boy, Bill Diamond, is currently favored at left guard, with Jerry Reynolds, Soltis, Gene Mariutto and Joe LaFleur wielding a helping elbow. Bob Eggert is the early favorite at right guard, but Jim O'Mahony, Bob Streiter, Tampa-bred, Jerry Romano, and Dennis McGroarty are sure to help now and then. Center is not devoid of talent with Bob Dentel an early favorite. Assisting will be Leo Lillimagi, Charles Livingston, Robert Hart and Dick Losego. It is apparent from the advance billing that the Hurricanes will be a new type team this year. Whether they will live up to the advertising that they will be razzle-dazzle remains to be seen. Gustafson-coached teams are more likely to resort to punt and pray tactics after being startled by the success of their derring-dos. STARK REALITY We would prefer to believe that last year's eleven had a couple more victories in them than the 6-4 of reality. The Monday morning, arm-chair and grandstand quarterbacks, are not alone in their belief that Pitt, which opens Sept. 16, and Syracuse were capable of being beaten at the time they were played. Pitt will again be the moment of truth for the home team. As the sun begins to cast long shadows in the Orange Bowl, and the lights get brighter on the scoreboard, it will tell how long the season will be.

Head Profs...

Andy Gustafson ... 13 years at UM Walter Kichefski ... from player to coach

No Substitute for Experience / Kotys Has Big Shoes to Fill

No Substitute for Experience Kotys Has Big Shoes to Fill By BECKY DOYLE-QUINN Times Reporter Coach Nick Kotys of the Coral Gables High School football team won't let you refer to his team as merely "the Cavaliers"—he insists they be called the "Fighting Cavaliers." And fight is exactly what they're doing to overcome several obstacles that stand in the way of the team's enjoying a successful season. Right now their biggest headache is the fact that All-City, All-State, quarterback Bruce Fischer, was graduated last June. Big Shoes to Fill Robby Hasencamp, a returning letterman, is trying to fill Fischer's shoes — "And that's a tremendous job," said Kotys. "We are somewhat despondent over the case of our returnees," he said. "We graduated 40 of our men and although we were expecting them, 40 others didn't come back. But things are looking better than they were." On the first day of practice two weeks ago, the Coach remarked that the boys would have to get rid of some lard before they could play up to their potential. Apparently they've done just that. Slimming Down "They're slimming down and I'm slimming down with them too," said Kotys. "We've had two practices every day, including Labor Day, until today. We are working hard on conditioning in preparation for Palmetto, who I know, are working quite hard to dispose of 'the culprit on Bird and LeJeune'." One-hundred-sixty boys came out for fall practice, but now that school has begun and more families have returned from vacations, they are expecting more players to sign up. Kotys is anticipating a good performance from his returning All-City players, especially Jack Card and Joel Goldman. Others he is hoping to see in fast action are Steve Clifford, a 6'3", 190 lb. end; Mark Castle; guard Dave Lawrence; Bill Mercer; and John Douglas. And Ronnie Panatello, who is described as "real fast." All in all, Kotys and his team are working hard to live up to expectations, but they aren't boasting yet—"It's better to see them in action first," said Kotys. Coach Kotys

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