At Univ. Park, Nov. 10
N.C.State: the revival preacher returns
By KEN LLOYD
Sports Editor
The Technician
RALEIGH, N.C. When Lou Holtz, a
bespectacled and . relatively unassuming
looking young man, arrived on the North
Carolina State football scene last year, he
came on like a revival preacher. While not
guaranteeing a winning season, the coach at
Running back Stan Fritts
An assortment of wooden boxes
least promised an exciting team that would
move the football.
It can now be safely said that Holtz held
good on his promise and also threw in a
winning season, something unusual to
Wolfpack followers in recent years.
After two successive three-win seasons,
the Pack came on strong last year under
Holtz' dynamic leadership to carve out an 8-
The Buckey twins
The
End
Result
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The Daily Collegian Fall Sports Preview Monday, September 10.1973-
3-1 ledger, which included a 49-13 trouncing
of West Virginia in the Peach Bowl. State's
losses came to North Carolina (by one
point), Georgia (by six points) and Penn
State (by 15 points), the latter ending a five
game winning streak by the Wolfpack.
Things look bright for the upcoming
season since 29 lettermen return, but like all
collegiate teams the Wolfpack has some
problems to iron out.
"We have the potential to be a fine
football team," says Holtz. "But whether
we realize this potential or not depends on
four question mark areas defense, depth,
kicking, and pass receiving.
"The defense needs work and we must be
excellent in that area. The offense of a team
can be affected by the weather or by the
other team, but the defense is the key to a
successful season. We really came along
last year and need to this year also."
State's defense was hard hit by
graduation since only five starters from-an
erratic unit return.. There is experience at
every position although depth is a problem
that could cause Holtz many sleepless
nights.
The ones to watch on defense are end
Brian Krueger and a trio of native
Pennsylvanians linebacker Mike Daley
from Easton, tackle John Goeller from
Pittsburgh, and safety Bob Divens from
Trafford.
With nine starters returning, including
five all-conference players, the Wolfpack
should once' again have a good offensive
team. Last year State had one of the most
.rolific offenses in the nation, setting •34
school records and tying and bettering
seven ACC marks.
But two of the missing starters were wide
receivers, so the pass catching corps is a
question mark: "We have to replace Pat
Kenney (an All-ACC performer from
Crabtree, Pa.) with someone to catch those
long passes," says Holtz.
Depth will be the strong suit with regards
to the rest of the offense. With the exception
of the wide receivers, the Pack is two deep
with proven performers at every position.
In senior Bruce Shaw, sophomore Dave
Buckey, and junior transfer John Gargano,
State has three able quarterbacks, all of
whom are capable of starting. Shaw won all
conference honors last season while Buckey
was the MVP in the Peach Bowl as a
freshman.
Holtz calls the Pack's group, of running
hacks as good, collectively, as any in the
nation. All-/WC selections Willie Burden
and Stan Fritts, along with Charley Young
and Roland Hooks, give State a potent
running game that is capable of gaining
ground inside or outside.
For the record
Penn State tailback John Cappelletti had
the second best rushing season in the
school's football history with 1,117 yards in
1972. Lydell Mitchell set the record with
1,567 yards in 1971.
Former Penn State halfback Lydell
Mitchell holds three NCAA individual
records touchdowns in a season (29),
touchdowns rushing in a season (26) and
points in a season( 174).
Penn State's football team will play all
three of the major military academies ►
during the 1973 season. The Nittany Lions
also played Air Force. Army and Navy in
the 1962 and 1974 . seasons
Spearheading the Wolfpack offensive line
will be a pair who hail from the Quaker
State, guard Bill Yoest from Pittsburg and
tackle Rick Druschel from Greensburg,
both of whom are bonafide All-America
candidates.
"If we receive affirmative answers to all
four questionable areas we will have a great
year; and if two are answered in the
affirmative we will have a good year,"
proclaims Holtz. "But our schedule is such
that we cannot afford to be overy optimistic.
With Nebraska, Georgia, North Carolina,
and Penn State all certain to be ranked in
the Top 20 it is surely one of the toughest
schedules a State team has had to face. But
we welcome the challenge."
Kicker Ron Sewell