THE FLIP-FLOP YEAR—cont. wasn't a center-linebacker?) At the other corner will be H a v e n Kicklighter who started most of last year's games as a safety. H e has given indications of handling the new job very well indeed. B u t the deep backs are something else again. Both T o m m y Jackson a n d all-America Gerry Bussell who played deep last year (Bussell was eventually moved u p to cornerback) are gone. Their experience will be missed. I n their places currently are S a m m y Burke, who played on the second offensive unit some of the 1964 season, and David Barber, a holdout who has a great capacity for knocking people down out in the open, a splendid character reference for a deep back. If they falter, Bill Kinard, a n outstanding runner a n d all-around back for the freshman team last season, and sophomore T i m Woodall, another exceptional sophomore will be asked to step in. T h i s is a dangerous place to p u t rookies, but if they pick u p enough savvy in the first two or three games, they could well make this team's season. Ronnie Newton a n d Bill E a s t m a n are the back-up men on the corners and both looked good for first-year men during the spring. Even D o d d can't remember starting two inexperienced operators a t the vital linebacking posts. After a succession of all-Americas and near allAmericas, Tech is faced with going through a season sans experience from behind the lines. W. J. Blane, last year's starter at offensive center has been moved to defense for a trial, here. H e is a good one and should help. Claude Shook, another fine Mississippi product who missed most of his freshm a n year and was held out last season because of injuries, h a d a good spring a n d is scheduled for the other starting position. Randall E d m u n d s , leading head-hunter of last year's fine freshm a n team, will be the swing m a n as a linebacker. J i m Breland, a Navy transfer, a n d Jeff Davis, last year's offensive fullback, m a y figure in these jobs before the season gets under way. B u t if the linebacking looks- green the middle guard position looks rosy. J o h n Battle, leading candidate for all-America honors this year, is back for his final year. By the end of last season, Battle was Tech's best football player a n d there is no reason why he will not be able to pick u p where h e left off. Tech's opponents a n d the pro scouts were all in agreement last year that Battle m a y be the best T e c h has h a d at this position in a long, long 16
time. Back of Battle is Ike Lassiter, a superior operator as a freshman last season and a future choice for stardom. Billy Schroer, a starter as a sophomore last season, is a solid defensive tackle. B u t back of h i m on the left side are inexperienced Bert Thornton and K e n Mugg. At the right tackle, much depends on the health of M i k e Ashmore, another lineman tagged with future greatness who has no experience as a varsity player. If Ashmore doesn't shake his injuries, B u d d y McCoy, a small but determined junior with some varsity experience, will probably start a t this position. T h e third member in this depth chart is J o h n Lagana, a sophomore of promise. At defensive end, Tech gets back all of last year's veterans but one of them will have to move over for Bill Ellis, who along with Steve Copeland are the scheduled starters. This position should be stronger this year with D a v e Austin, J i m Trapnell, the two veterans a n d Alan Glisson and Chris Denney, two rookies fighting it out for the number two spots. Glisson will also be used a t linebacker a n d h e will play somewhere before the season is over if the spring drills are a n y indication. Overall the defensive coaching staff h a s its work to do this year. Plugging u p the holes at linebacker and at the
deep backs along with the inexperience a t right tackle present more problems t h a n any Tech defensive staff has had to face in a long time. If Carlen, Inman, Woodruff a n d comp a n y turn u p with a good defense this year they will be doing the superior coaching job of the decade. T h e offensive line can field a letterm a n at every position. Split end M i k e Fortier, the late-blooming sensation of 1964, is back and will spend his time fending off first-year man, T o m m y Elliott, track star a n d a former high school back with excellent moves a n d good hands. Tight end belongs to Gary Williams who m a y be the most underrated member of this squad. H e is a good blocker and can catch with the best of them. Back of Williams is another letterman with a small amount of game experience, big T o m m y M u r p h y . At the tackles, the starters are Bill Moorer a n d Lamar Wright, both big and strong a n d fast. B u t Moorer m a y go over to the defensive team to take u p the slack at tackle there. J o h n Douglas, biggest m a n on the squad at 267, m a y be the starter if Moorer defects to the other unit. Guard starters will be Bill M y d d e l t o n a n d J o e Colvin. M y d d e l t o n was a good one last year and should be much improved with the experience h e gained as a sophomore starter. Colvin TECH ALUMNUS