Sports Scene by Jim Schultz
9-3 J- he Pack may not be back, but the football Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech certainly are. They proved it by compiling a highly satisfying 8-3 regular-season record, the second best in the past 14 years, and earning an invitation to play Texas Tech Dec. 19 in the Sun Bowl (see story elsewhere in this issue). The season was capped, of course, with a solid 17-7 victory over Georgia between the hedges of Sanford Stadium. That win on Nov. 28, highlighted by a crackling defense that presented the offense with scoring opportunities, preceded a winter of content among Tech fans everywhere for the second straight year. And maybe, just maybe, the current cold months seem a bit longer once again in Athens town. The Jackets parlayed their quick defense with an offense that featured two quarterbacks and the running of tailback Brent Cunningham to beat everyone except three nationally-ranked opponents (Tennessee, Notre Dame and Auburn). The Engineers' defense, spearheaded by all-America tackle Rock Perdoni, end Smylie Gebhart and linebacker Bill Flowers, was especially stingy against the rush (111 yards a game) and more often than not came up with the big play in critical situations (25 interceptions and 24 fumble recoveries). Perdoni, the modest 5-11, 236-pound senior from Wellesley, Massachusetts, became Tech's first consensus all-America since center Jim Breland in 1966. The Rock, as of this writing, has been named to the United Press International, Football Coaches', Football Writers,' Sporting News, Football News and Walter Camp all-America teams. Gebhart did a consistently outstanding job game after game, 22
while Flowers anchored an exceptional linebacking corps. Cunningham, the junior speedster from Eatonton, Ga., called by Bobby Dodd the finest running back in Tech history after his record-breaking 217 yards against Clemson, came within 21 yards of a Jacket season rushing standard (740 yards in 144 carries) despite missing three games with two shoulder injuries and starting the year at flanker. Somehow (actually because Rob Healy ran the ball right at the Bulldogs for 85 yards in 26 rushes) the Jackets beat Georgia without Cunningham, their only win of the year with the fleet tailback on the sidelines. Coach Bud Carson effectively combined the varied talents of quarterbacks Eddie McAshan and Jack Williams, a potentially great sophomore and a senior who's always been quietly, solidly ready when called upon. McAshan started the year in grand style, faltered slightly and began dividing time with Williams, then went all the way at South Bend. Williams, who completed a record 59 percent of his career passes, directed his second win in a row over Georgia. Both contributed invaluably to the Jackets' success. After beginning with four wins over South Carolina, Florida State, Miami and Clemson, the Engineers ran into some problems with Tennessee and Auburn, namely injuries, too many of their own mistakes, and too much Pat Sullivan and Terry Beasley. The Volunteers traveled to Atlanta for the Jackets' fifth consecutive Grant Field date and returned to Knoxville with a 17-6 triumph. Cunningham dislocated his shoulder on the opening kickoff and spent the rest of the afternoon as a frustrated spectator. It was a
crushing physical and psychological blow. Tech could not overcome seven turnovers, and got its lone score on a pass from McAshan to Chip Pallman. The Jackets ventured to Auburn for the first time in two generations, only to come back from the loveliest village of the plain with a 31-7 setback. The explosive Tigers galloped off to a very early 14-0 lead and it appeared as if they could name the final score. But Tech temporarily settled down and got back in the contest on a Williams-to-Norris touchdown pass in the second quarter. The play fatal to Tech's upset chances occurred in the next period when Sullivan, who passes when it looks as if he's going to run and runs when it looks as if he's going to throw, dropped back, rushed forward to the line of scrimmage and heaved a bomb to Alvin Bresler. The fast back, open when Beasley was covered, went about half the 85-yard play on foot to doom the Jackets. Carson's pupils, down but by no means out, rebounded with three straight wins over Tulane, Duke and Navy. The Engineers dumped Tulane, 20-6, in a weird, muddy Homecoming game that marked the return of Cunningham. Both teams slipped and slid in the quagmire until defensive back Rick Lewis put on a sudden fourth-quarter show that earned him Sports Illustrated back-of-the-week honors. First Lewis recovered a fumble and raced 300 yards for Tech's first score. Twenty-seven seconds later he intercepted a Tulane pass and cruised 56 yards across the goal line. Lewis waited another six minutes before again getting in on the dramatic action—this time his 22-yard pass interception set up the Jackets' The Georgia Tech Alumnus