Lions ready for Syracuse sneak attack By RICK WEBER Daily Collegian Sports Writer . Penn State has a goal and an aim —it wants to be the No. 1 college football team in America. But for now, the , Lions are quite content to be No. 2. -; Penn State, which enters Saturday’s traditional clash -against Syracuse with the highest poll ranking in its 'history, failed to take over the top-ranked position this .week despite Oklahoma’s shaky win. But according to .players, the Lions are quite satisfied because they’re right where they want to be. ' “I think almost all the players agree that we’d rather be where we are than No. 1,” center Chuck Correal said. “It puts less pressure on us. This way, we still have a goal to work for. We have to keep improving and improving. If we’d be No. 1, it would be more of a pressure situation to hold our ground, instead of trying to gain. I’m glad it’s worked out this way so far.” -1, The Lions are happy, but they’re very wary of getting caught- up in the whirlwind of optimism. They remember the early season struggle to live up to 1 preseason expectations and they’re determined not to make the same mistake again. “It’s hard to put the ranking out of your head, but it’s something you have to do,” flanker Tom Donovan said. “Otherwise, someone will sneak up on you and beat you a) and then you don’t have anything.” ” , The 1-5 Orangemen, who are giving up an average of 28.5 points per game, don’t appear to be that kind of a team on paper. But the outcome of a game has never been determined by past statistics. “I don’t know if the squad realizes how big a game this is for Syracuse,” Joe Paterno said. “This is their fa big ballgame. They play so well against us all the time * that their 1-5 record doesn’t mean a thing. “We’re trying to make sure the kids understand that this is a big game. I think they will. They didn’t play last Saturday and they’ve had the layoff. Now, knowing they didn’t practice well Tuesday, I think they’ll pick up some things and play a little better.” m Correal doesn’t expect the layoff to adversely affect w the Lions. In fact, he feels it has been beneficialin some ways. ' • “It’s given everybody who was bumped up against Kentucky a chance to heal a little bit,” Correal said. ‘.‘lt’s allowed everybody to keep progressing with the Will Syracuse quarterback Bill Hurley be left home in New York? coach Joe Paterno is taking no chances. '7B season a disaster -Syracuse a different team By GARY SILVERS Daily Collegian Sports Writer They say injuries are part of the game, but for Syracuse coach Frank Maloney, they turned the '7B football season into a major catastrophe. ' The star who holds his troops together, like money holds the Yankees, has played just one full game since Sep tember. And the way it looks right now, quarterback Bill Hurley, cracked ribs and all, may be out the rest of the year. “He got reinjured during the West Virginia game (two weeks ago) and still isn’t close to recovered,” Maloney said. So in place of the Heisman candidate, Maloney will go with Tim Wilson a 6-1 who, at this point in his *areer, is the farthest thing from a legitimate threat. In three previous appearances this season, the Syracuse passer has hit on just six of 20 attempts (30 percent) for 123 yards and a touchdown. His only real claim to fame "m was a 59-yard scoring bomb to running m back Art Monk on the initial pass of his career. .“We’re not the least bit afraid to put the ball in the air,” Maloney said, “but there’s no doubt we need improvement. . Wilson’s got great potential and, * whether you know it or not, his stats are no less impressive than Hurley’s were when he was just a sophomore. A little Collegian sports the daily Dan Riley strength program. We should go into the game a little bit fresher and ready to go. I don’t think we’ll lose any of our sharpness.” Offensively, the Lions are extremely sharp. Their offensive performance against Kentucky 21 first downs, 438 total yards and four touchdowns was especially pleasing because it was the first real ex plosion against a solid defensive team. “Our performance was really big for us,” Correal said. “Everybody expected a close, tough game because of Kentucky’s defense. So our success did give us confidence.” Paterno has never lost confidence in the offense, but the machine-like destruction of the Wildcats’ defense has at least reaffirmed his faith in the Unit’s ability. “We’ve really made great strides and are playing well,” Paterno said. “I think we can develop into an even more explosive offensive football team. We need just a bit more cohesion. Every once in awhile we’re a little bit tentative about some things. If we do things more aggressively, we can develop into an outstanding offensive team.” Quarterback Chuck Fusina has had a lot ot do with the progressing offense. His passing has been nearly pinpoint perfect, but his ability to lead and direct the team has been even more outstanding. “He’s done extremely well and he’s the type of player who could even surpass everything that’s been written about him,” Correal said. “His passing is sharp, but he’s running'the team well, too. I don’t think there’s a better quarterback in the country.” Defensively, Penn State couldn’t be much better. Statistically, the Lions might have the best overall defense in the nation. They’re first in rushing defense (giving up 42.2 yards per game), fifth in total defense (210.7), and fifth in scoring defense (6.3 points per game). “We’ve played well right from the beginning,” Paterno said. “We have had some young people develop who have given us the depth I think we need to make the run. We can get three kids bumped up, stick three young kids in, and still shut out a team like Kentucky.” “It’s just a case of everyone playing defense the way it’s supposed to be played,” tackle Matt Millen said. “I think if we keep our heads on right, we should keep patience is all it’ll take to get Tim going in the right direction. Wilson’s primary receiver if you can call him that is Monk, a 6-2, 205- pound junior who leads the team in pass receptions with 11. Next in line for the Orange are juniors Bruce Semall and Greg Williams, who’ve caught just six and four passes respectively. In total passing yardage, Syracuse trails its opponents by a walloping 633 yards (1,072-439). As I’m sure you’ve figured by now, most of the Orange offense comes by way of the ground. The most heralded Syracuse ground-gainers are Joe Morris (54 carries, 349 yards) and Monk (74 carries, 343 yards), who’ve accounted •for over half the team’s total rushing yardage (1,228 yards). But if they don’t have a field day tomorrow, it’s almost for certain the Orange will be crushed. “I dread that Penn State defense immensely,” Maloney said, referring to the No. 1 team against the rush. “I saw their defense in the films and it seemed almost impregnable to me. ’ ’ But if the Syracuse offense can somehow make its way inside the Penn State 30, the Orange have an excellent chance of scoring. Maloney-just calls on ole reliable placekicker Dave Jacobs. The senior All-America candidate has converted six of li field goals, thus far, There may be no pulp to the Orange By GARY SILVERS Daily Collegian Sports Writer The last time Penn State saw him he put on one of the most spectacular performances in Syracuse football history. He broke five single game records that afternoon most passing ..attempts,-36; most completions, 22; most passing yards, 329; - '• total offense, 384; and total plays, 68 in nearly pulling off the biggest Orange upset of the 1977 season. The final Syracuse 24, Penn State 31. This year things should be different. Due to a painful rib injury, the pulp of the Orange offense will not take the field this time and, because of it, the second-ranked Lions are 24- point favorites. Senior Bill Hurley, the most heralded Syracuse passer of all time will be left behind in New York. “This season has been a bitter disappointment,” Syracuse coach Frank Maloney said of his team’s 1-5 start. “Tomorrow technically marks the sixth game Hurley won’t play this year (played one quarter in opener before getting injured). It’s not' only a physical blow to us, but also a great psychological blow. The impact of him going down was just unbelievable.” And look at the difference Hurley made when he came back to face West Virginia two weeks ago. “It was like night and day,” Maloney said. Instant victory. The Orangemen manhandled the host Mountaineers, 31-15. It marked the fifth straight victory for Hurley and his second straight injury. “He’s not a healthy young man,” Maloney said. “And despite'the fact he’s eligible to be red-shirted this season, we’re still thinking of playing him again. But right now, we’re just looking for him to return to good health.” Whether you believe the Orange coach is up to you. What you should believe, however, is that red-shirt or not, Hurley may be the finest collegiate quarterback in the country, Chuck Fusina included. “We’re kind of partial around here because we don’t think anyone matches up to Hurley’s standards,” Maloney said. “He’s got better feet than most, if not all, the quarterbacks in the country and can just kill you on the ground. He’s also pretty tough in the air. Despite the fact he’s not a picture thrower, he does get the ball there.” along with 10 of 11 extra points, ac counting for 28 Orange payoffs. But that’s not all. In his three previous years at Syracuse, Jacobs has booted 37 field goals (Syracuse record), three of which sailed for distances over 50 yards. He’s also broken Syracuse records for most field goals in a season (16) and most attempts in a career (78). Twenty two of Jacob’s 41 misses prior to this season have come from beyond the 50, while he is 24 of 32 inside the 40. In the extra point department, Jacobs had a string of 54 straight before missing last weekend against Maryland. But even though the Orangemen do have a strong kicking game, they’re still at a disadvantage; the second-ranked Lions are strong everywhere. And it would probably take a minor miracle to stop them. “I think Penn State has an excellent chance to go all the way this year,” Maloney said. “They’re the best team I’ve ever seen since I’ve been here. I am a UPI voting member and I was one of the ones who voted them No. 1 this week. “I always enjoy playing Penn State because they’ve got such a class school, class outfit and class program. I’ve always been an admirer of theirs. They’re well-coached, enthusiastic, everything. They’re "just great for college football.” playing like that. We’re getting confident not in our own abilities but in the abilities of the guys aside of us.” The big mystery Penn State’s defense faces now is whether or not Syracuse quarterback Bill Hurley will start. Hurley cracked three ribs in the opening game and has played only once since then, leading the Orangemen to a 31-15 win over West Virginia two weeks ago. The Syracuse Athletic Department has indicated that Hurley will not play, but Paterno isn’t taking the bait. “We’re planning on him playing,” he said. “We feel we have to be ready for Hurley. They say they’re not ■ gonna play him, but we can’t take any chances. Tim Wilson (Hurley’s replacement) is an up-and-coming quarterback. They’ll still be able to move the ball without Hurley. They have a fine offense.” Paterno, while pleased with the Lions’ progress, has stressed the need for the Lions to maintain their in tensity and drive. “We’re a very good football team right now, but I don’t think we’re anywhere as good as we can be,” he said. “We have to go to practice every day and say, ‘We gotta get better, we gotta get better.’ You either get better or worse. You can’t stay the same.” The Lions know they have to get better they have a goal that still hasn’t been realized. EXTRA POINTS: Penn State is in the midst of three long streaks. The Lions have won 14 consecutive games (longest among major colleges), have clinched their 40th consecutive non-losing season (extending their national record), and have scored in 134 consecutive games .. . The Lions have not given up a point in the first quarter . . . This is the 56th game of the Syracuse- Penn State series. Penn State has won the last seven games to take a 29-21-5 lead in the series that started in 1922. .. Penn State’s junior varsity team opens its four game season today against Rutgers at 2 p.m. The game will be played on the field near East Halls and the Flower Garden ... Junior fullback Matt Suhey is the team’s leading rusher with 114 carries for 477 yards. Suhey ranks sixth on Penn State’s all-time rushing list with 1,602 yards. Only Lydell Mitchell (2,934 yards), John Cappelletti (2,639), Lenny Moore (2,380), Charlie Pittman (3,236), and Franco Harris (2,002) stand ahead of Suhey. “His biggest assets, however, are competitiveness and in telligence. Hurley plays every game like it’s the last of his career. He also has the uncanny ability to recognize opposing defenses., I don’t think there's a smarter quarterback anywhere.” And look what he’s donefor the Orangemen Third in career passing, 2,093 yards. Ninth in rushing, 1,583 yards. Snapped 11 all-time Syracuse records in 1977, including total offense in a career, 3,676 yards; most attempts in a season, 201; most completions, 108; most net yards gained, 1,455; most rushing, passing plays, 401; passing-rushing, 2,080. Success never came easy for Hurley, however. In fact, three years ago he was almost run out of town. A weak week for prognosticators Lucky for Joe Paterno, Chuck Fusina plays football games better than he predicts their results. The Lion quar terback hit just four out of 10 last week as the guest prognosticator in the Collegian’s weekly football predictions. Fusina’s performance was the rule, rather than the exception, as the staff took a collective trouncing. Only Neil Rudel’s 7-3 can be considered respec table. Rudel didn’t have anything to say this week. We’ve already printed his entire vocabulary in previous weeks: “wild, hard-core, radical, psyched and bummed.” As for everyone else, they are planning to' hang in effigy or otherwise Assistant Sports Editor Rick Weber, selects the games, for making the choices too tough. “Nobody is going to hang me,” Weber said angrily Oilers at Steelers Fullback Bob Torrey is part of Penn State’s powerful rushing attack that should test Syracuse’s young defense. The Lions are averaging 201.5 yards per game rushing. when informed of the plan. “If it weren’t for me thinking up this idea of weekly prognostications, none of these egocentric writers would have gotten an extra chance to see their names in print. You just can’t win around here. ’ ’ The other assistant, Gary Silvers, came through with a 6-4 mark, possibly because he made it to synagogue on Yom Kippur. That bodes well for Sports Editor Joyce Tomana, who is rejoicing over the selection of a new pope. “Now I have some leadership, someone to ask for advice,” said Tomana, a Catholic. Whether the new pope knows anything about bookmaking is questionable, but the Collegian’s WATS line log book shows she made numerous calls to a “J.P.” in the Vatican. Ready to sell his soul is Eric Yoder, .!.>>«• Toman.! j(,ckWcbora.rvsllVupA' 1 17 L» I> MU f I<\ In 1 < OfcJfMU uH 1 1 iii iWn .■*?(« j f'em.'Uale mi ./ w ' l - v > e ~ « - f is HI Sir* * ' > 4 +, .„ t % \ t ' f- ' * 4 ' j j inaas / kam»«i'• Arkansas |, Arfeansa-.'l Texas t Texas j »■< -J2l-U' I 420 l 21-18 . i 14-10' \ 21-6 ins / Dolphins | Patriots , Patriots I Dolphins \ Dolphins , / 21 ' 14 ' f 27-21 . 19-17 ’ . 28-21 \ 19-7 '-' ' j \ Cowboys - Cowboys ’{ Cowboys \ '24-20 ' 24-14 1 21-7 \ / Cowboys I 21-13 ' v, •••. i> , * i . ; - , ... - - j j - . Steelers /. Steelers f Steelers 1 Steers \ Steelers 28-10,. ' j 3144 |: 35-10 ,j ' 28-7 \ 21-7, //' : v ' 1 v 1 \ Friday, Oct. 20, 1978—17 “He was horrible back then, absolutely horrible,” Maloney said without hesitation. “He couldn’t throw a pass, nothing. In high school, Hurley was a wishbone quarterback and never had to throw a ball (1,002 yards rushing, 436 yards passing as a senior). “When he came to Syracuse he started out as a running back. We converted him into a quarterback -during his sophomore year and his first few games were just un believable. They were that bad. I knew he had potential, though, and eventually he proved it. Midway through his sophomore year, something happened. The light bulb lit up. ” And if it weren’t for a painful rib cage, the light would still be shining. once the proud possessor of a perfect record, who fell drastically and now owns a ho-hum .783 winning percentage, nevertheless the best on the staff. Yoder climbed down off the Eagles’ band wagon this time around, but is staying with the Vikings. “Some girl named Becky left a note in my mail box and told me she’s keeping an eye on horny guys, so I figured she wanted me to bet on the Vikes,” he explained. Joining the staff for the first time is Ron Wenig, whose regular picks column with A.C. A 1 was terminated by popular demand. Wenig said “You’re lucky to get me. The Dally News was ready to fire Dick Young.’’ Our guest this week is Holmes Cathrall, coach of the Penn State men's tennis team. •ejl Kudcll Ki ic "S oflt*i H*»n Wcim* Htiintrvf .uhr.iil |» S> I <>>U >i;«. ] 7;: 1 on ihni v |M in | *.'rfi ‘ p-' flK&u A*' ' ’ r Cowboys 27-7 Illustration by Della Hoke