by the Cardinals and
Both Penn State coach Joe Paterno and
Stanford coach Jack Christiansen are
doing some last minute lint picking in final
preparation for tomorrow's game.
The contest, which kicks off the '73
season for both clubs, will be televised
nationally and the Lions are favored by the
Associated Press to win the contest and
protect their top ten spot.
"With the new free substitution ruling,"
Christiansen said, "we're reviewing
assignments and we're trying to improve
our kicking game by always having the
best people on the field."
Paterno has the Lion offense pretty well
set except at the flanker-slotback position
where , Jimmy Scott and Chuck Herd are
waging a close battle.
"That will be settled before the game,"
Paterno said Wednesday?
As expected, Torn Shuman (6-1,189) will
Nagle nuinber 1
Both try harder
The new word used to describe the
fullback situation this year is HEALTHY.
Both Bob Nagle and Tom Donchez are
free of nagging injuries and are ready to
act as blocking escorts for tailback John
Cappelletti and quarterback Tom Shuman.
In the past, Penn State gave two
uniforms to its fullbacks. One of them was
civilian clothes. Last year Donchez
watched from the sidelines while his knee
recovered from an operation. The year
before Franco Harris sat out a few games
with bruised ribs, something he had for
most of his career at Penn State.
Nagle has managed to escape getting
banged up in two years as a fullback.
"Nothing serious, I've been lucky," the
senior said.
Donchez hasn't been so lucky, His knees
could be the second most important pair on
the team next to Randy Crowders'.
Crowder had to have surgery last winter
for a serious knee injury and. was
questionable starter at one time.
"Both my knee's are in good shape,
they're 100 per cent,! Donchez said earlier
in the week.
When Donchez was redshirted last
season, Nagle moved in and became the
first string fullback. He• - withstood an
attempt by Donchez to regain the position
last, spring and enters tomorrow's game
with Stanford in the backfield - with Cappy
and Shuman.
Nagle carried the ball 57 times last year,
almost a quarter of the times Cappy did.
Mainly he was used to clear the way for
the Lion ground attack.
"I look forward to playing and if playing
calls for bloCking, P 1) do it," Nagle said
call the signals in the offensive huddle for
Penn State. .
"I'm sure Tommy will be our
quarterback," Paterno admitted. "He's
been very sharp in practice the last two
days and has had a fine preseason. I'm
sure he'll do a good job for us."
The Cardinals have been adding some
finishing touches to their offense as
Christiansen put his men through the final
series of two-a-day workouts Tuesday.
"Both parts of the passsing game, both
offense and defense are looking fine,"
Christiansen said, "and today we went live
against the Penn State offense and
defense."
"We're just about ready to break things
up now since the conditioning part of our
program is almost finished."
Paterno indicated Bob Nagle (6-1,1923
will start at fullback but also said Tom
after practice Wednesday. "I don't mind
it:'
Nagle started out as a defensive back his
sophomore year before switching 'to
fullback. "They were wise to put me where
I could play," Nagle
_laughed.
Donchez came to pre-season practice as
the number two fullback and didn't expect
the job handed to him.
"I talked to Coach Paterno and he said,
"'Bob has it and that I have to beat him
out,"' Donchez recalled.
Donchez figures to see plenty of action
behind Nagle. He said he is in good shpae
and playing better than 1971 when hp
started a few games as a sophomore and
gained 5.7 yards per carry on 57 efforts.
"I thought I had a good pre-season," he
admitted. hustled a lot and I didn't get
hurt."
"I'm doing things better now. I think I'm
better now than I was two years ago," he
added.
Donchez started a couple games in place
of Harris in 1971,including the Cotton Bowl
win over Texas. He was all set to bulldoze
linebackers for Cappy last season, but was
injured before the season opener at
Tennessee.
Paterno is still high on - Donchez and
plans to use him a lot. this season. "He
hasn't lost any of his quickness or ability,
he just needs work," Paterno said.
The competition for the starting position
has been good for both, Donchez said, but
added he doesn't like the view from the
second team. "It's not enjoyable being on
Lint picking
the Lions
Donchez (6-2, 210) will see plenty of action
this Fall.
"Bob Nagle will be our starter at
fullback," Paterno said, "although
Donchez will play a lot of football for us.
Bob isn't the biggest fullback we've ever
had but we won 10 games with him last
year and he gives everything he has on
every play."
The rest of the offensive starting lineup
includes John Cappelletti (6-1, 206) at
tailback, Dan Natale (6-3, 220) at tight end,
Charlie Getty (6-4, 260) at right tackle,
either John Nessel (6-5, 247) or Ron Etter
(6-3, 214) at right guard, center Jack
Baiorunos (6-3,225), Mark Markovich (6-5,
240) at left guard, Phil LaParta (6-3, 246)
at left tackle and Gary Haryman (6-2, 200)
at split end.
Defensively, Randy Crowder (6-2, 235)
and Mike Hartenstine (6-3, 235) will be at
by Mark Simenson
,The other end is a junior college transfer
the second team," he said. and little is known about him around these
The biggest obstacle facing the Lion " parts. By tomorrow, presumably, Penn
running game is Stanford's massive State will find out,
_ ..
-4,
defensive end, Roger Stillwell, who at 6- With the fullback assigned a blocking
6 1 / 2 , 250 pounds, is known for disrupting the role, Cappelletti can count on up to eight
blocking patterns of any team. blockers moving opponents around.
Stillwell isn't the only block of granite
the State line will have to control. "They "The blocking potential is excellent,"
have two big, huge ... defensive ends," Donchez noted.
hFISICRLLY
-- Th
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if C:s
Cuffed. Pants-
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by Rick Starr
photos by Ira Joffe
the tackle slots, Dave Graf (6-3, 205) aid
Greg Murphy (6-3, 230) will be at the ends,
Doug Allen (6-2, '220), Ed O'Neil (6-3, =0),
Chris Devlin (6-2, 207) and Tom Hull (6-3,
200) will back up the line, and Buddy Ellis
(6-0, 172), Jim Bradley (6-1, 186) and either
Jack Koniszewski (6-0, 191) or Scott
Mitchell (6-2, 192) round out the defensive
backfield.
The Lions will depart from Harrisbutg
at... 3 p.m. this afternoon for the flight to the
coast.
Donchez number 2
Donehez said after viewing four of
Stanford's 1972 films.