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éW 1"" ’0" w--" - - But some surprise returnees. the new league ( transfer rule and a handful of CFL castofts have al- tiiiiiii,i Laurier to set up shot with a wealth of experien- _ 'ce as they prepare for their league opener in Guelph , Saturday. _ §y Rick Campbell cutoniclo Sports Editor When Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks take to the football field this fall, don't blame their opposition for shaking their heads and wondering if this is 1978 or Because except for a few key positions. Hawks are very much the same team that went all the way to the Ontario University Athletic Association Western Divi- sion title and the Western Bowl last year. No longer will Hawk fans watch in amazement the running and blocking of gifted fullback Jim Reid, who after setting a handful of league records has graduat- ed to the Hamilton Tiger Cats. Gone also are about half the members of the Hawk offensive line of one year ago, plus a few key defenders. IVSnE'ally. the biggest problem so far in camp has been all those familiar faces, according tn head coach Dave (Taffy) Knight. "No doubt about it, complacency is a major prob- lem right now," said the colorful WLU boss between practices Monday. "A few of our returnees are pretty confident right now and the only tool I know to keep them Jharp is to purthem on the bench or have them get beat out of a job by someone who wants it a little more." There is no denying that Hawks offense in the past couple of years revolved around the rushing and blocking of Reid, and now that he is gone Knight hint- ed that opposing teams might be surprised by the ver- satility of his club's explosive wishbone offence. "I‘ve said it before, but look for us to throw the ball more this year, we're striving for a little more balan- ce. In other years we've had teams key on certain in- dividuals but we want to heep'em guessing. Re- member, everyone says we lost Reid but we also lost three of our six offensive linemen. Those are two of my areas of greatest concern." A total of 90 hopefuls opened camp for Hawks two weeks ago, and 78 were still going stronges of Mon- day, Everyone dressed for Hawks in the 34-6 and 336 wins over McMaster and Waterloo during last Fri- day's Jamboree at Seagram Stadium and the purple and gold left no doubt they will be a power to reckon with in OUAA circles this fall. Experience permeates the backfield highlighted by incumbent quarterbacks Les Protopapas and Scott Leeming Protopapas did most of the signal-calling last year until he suffered severe cartilage and liga- ment damage to his knee against Western which put an abrupt end to his season and brought Leeming to the front. -- 'éutboth are being challengéd by former Bluevale collegiate pivots Stan Chelmecki and Jim Taylor. who looked impressive in Friday? exhibition. “Sure it's a pleasant problem to have that kind of depth at quarterback." said Knight. “What it will amount to is that each quarterback will have to per- form or someone else will be waiting to step in. Right now Proto and Leeming have the edge in experience. but you never know who might play." Accompanying the retuming quarterbacks in the backfield will be Phil Colwell and Billy Burke in the halfback positions: Colwell led the league in rushing last year with 708 yards on 72 carries and is a some- what surprise returnee after an aborted tryout with Montreal Alouettes. Knight IS hopeful of having Ron Archibald and Steve Clark backing up but both have suffered the only really severe injuries in camp so far (Archibald sprained ankle. Clark broken finger). and are definitely doubtful for this week. -iaaio one of the more intense battles for a berth is at fullback between returnees Bernie Pickett and Dave Gram as well as first-year man Mark Campbell. rim}: is probably quicker. and has better lateral movement." outlined Knight. “Gram is more of a power runner, We'll probably dress both of them) Open OUAA title defense Saturday Some familiar names dot the offensive line, but as Knight said, it could be Hawks Achilles Heel this sea- son Wes Woof. a four-year man, seems set at tight end, while returnees Bob Yeomans and Grant Hag- gerty will battle Rod Connop and Steve Heighway for tackle positions Haggerty returns after a two-year absence. while Knight said the play of Connop has been a welmlne surprise Returnees boost WLU’s t1tg1fitgit Billy Burke (19) of Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, races around end against McMaster Marauders dur- ing last Friday's Jamboree at Seegram Stadium. Hawks won both their games while Waterloo Wer- riors split to end up second. Guard lan Troop, who suffered a damaged knee in supporting cast of defensive backs ready to step tn. the first game of the season last year and missed the headed by third-year man Gerry Ruth of St Jemme's rest of 1978, appears ready to challenge for a guard and Paul Falmn. along with a host of zealous rookies spot again along with four-year man John Skeoch and Outside Iinebacking positions have been filled again rookies Greg Newbrough of Forest Heights and Dave by returning Larry Rygus. Terry Martyniuk, Mark McGillis of Burlington Sprage and Frank Chilman. with inside reinforcers -. _ . i.-;_.. nu... r'...,". Dink Donn-Io have Cr,rk and Milo Centre Brian Saville is back for a fourth year and will be backed by St. Jerome's rookie Brian Mallet The wide receivers are returnees Dom Metro, Dan Kirby and Colin Burgess, Owen Sund rookie Todd Mc- Gulley, and Larry Tougous of North Bay. Punterplacekicker Jerry Gulyes, who missed in his second attempt to catch on with a CFL club this year. becomes the elder statesman on the Golden Hawks. returning for his fifth year But perhaps this more than any other year he is receiving a strong challenge from Chelmecki and Kitchener's Ian Dun- bar in both capacities, Looking at the defense. one has to be impressed with the cast of the secondary, where all positions ate taken by veterans Familiar names like Bob Stacey. Jim O‘Keefe. Conrad de Barros and Barry Quarrel] are all present again. The vacancy left by graduating Brent Scott falls nicely in the hands of Mark Forsyth. who missed all of last year due to a broken armhut still impressed Toronto Argos brass enough to make him a draft choice in 1979, There is also an excellent Warriors open - story page 18 impressed Waterloo Chronic“, Wound-v, my»: 5, 1979 - Nit. " Chronicle Sports Line 886-2830 Outside Iinebacking positions have been filled again by returning Larry Rygus. Terry Martyniuk. Mark Sprage and Frank Chilman. with inside reinforcers being Mike Gram. Rich Payne, Dave Cork and Mike Trisch Defensive lineman in the Hawk plans often line up in different sets but no doubt familiar faces are Pete Hepburn and Jack DAvis Also vying are Paul Hether- ingwn. Rick Kaivaitas. Tim Valleau. Fred West and announcer's nightmare Lino Dipierdomenico. hereafter referred to as "Dipper" The WLU coach has only seen Guelph in its 37-25 loss last week to Ottawa, so offered no rating of the league teams - he did say however that Gryphons will offer a lot more than they have in previous years "Guelph‘s hyping this game up as their key game of the year, and it might just be." said Knight "I'll tell you. In this Ieaue. if you lose your first seven. you don't have to worry about the rest or even if you lose the first four .. The Hawk-Guelph game begins at 2 p m Next Sa, turday Laurier travels to Western before returning home for their home debut Friday Sept 21 at 8 p m at Seagram Stadium against McMaster