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Voracious lPucks prime for Arizona State
Enright’s making changes
It’s spring in Autzen stadium, ant?
regardless of the weather around the
rest of Eugene lately, it has Dick
Enright smiling to himself a lot lately.
Actually it’s the Oregon football team
that has produced a smiling Enright,
while spring appears to be still quite
debatable at this point.
Enright, head football coach going
into his second year, likes the way
spring football practice has been
“When they don’t look forward to the
hitting part, they’ll get hurt,” Enright
said. “We make it so they like it. We
alternate the hitting with what we caJ
the slow-teach.” In other words, when
the body isn’t working, the mind is.
“Then when we say go, we work hard,
with a lot of fire and enthusiasm. The
drills are short, but intense.”
Meanwhile Notv Turner was busy
stepping into the shoes of Dan Foiuts. Of
Photo by Matt Me Cor mid
Oregon quarterback Norval Tun
He’s busy filling Dan Fouts’ shoes
progressing out at Autzen (which is
open to the public). “I’m really
pleased. They're looking great,”
Enright said Monday, “for bong out
here just three days.”
Practice started last Friday and the
voraciousness of the hitting forces you
to believe Arizona State is on
everyone’s mind.
Having fun means some contact
“There’s a lot of enthusiasm out here.
By far the most since I've been here,”
Enright said. “There’s a lot of contact,
but tough guys like that. That’s the
name of the game. We want them to
have fun. We believe in having fun and
knocking someone on the seat of his
pants.”
Enright has enforced a philosophy on
his practice field much like that of Dick
Harter’s on the basketball court.
Enright alternates light and heavy
work loads for the players throughout
the practice.
course, that’s a pretty big order, but
Turner’s off to a good start.
Turner is establishing himself
Deftly flipping passes that brought
back reflections of his predecessor,
Turner quickly established his position
at the top of the heap of a number of
untested quarterbacks. Also battling
strongly and currently the leading
contender as back-up behind Turner, is
Lee Huey, a red-shirt sophomore who
lost some weight while retaining the
superb passing touch that earned him
credentials two years ago on the fresh
man squad.
But while Turner and Huey are
throwing in September form, Enright
has already moved to if not de
emphasize the pass, then at least to re
emphasize the run in a new Oregon
offense. Adding a touch of Jerry Frei to
his own game, Enright has come up
with an offensive formation that
combines the I-formation that made
good back when Bobby Moore was
around to help, and Enright’s own in
novation — Che slot back of the “Oregon
option.”
Ducks won’t de-emphasize pass
Last season’s not-so-famous “Oregon
option” (sometimes known as the half
wishbone) produced a slot man
(Maurice Anderson) with a double
threat as either a receiver, or runner in
the triple option.
Basically, the move takes away a
wide receiver and puts him in an I
formation in the back field
Enright insists, however, it isn’t a de
emphasis of the pass. “We’re not going
to be a ‘four years and a cloud of dust’
team,” Enright assured, “but we are
working on the inside stuff now,
because it’s new. We have to con
centrate on what’s new.”
The offensive shift to a formation was
primarily dictated by his personnel.
(6-4, 236) may be one of Oregon’s all
time best offensive linefnfen. Enright
has compared him favorably with
graduated Tim Stokes, a first round pro
draft pick.
Although Hunt isn’t any bigger (6
6,291) from last year, he’s a year older.
As a freshman starter Hunt drew
criticism from opponents last year who
said he leaned in his stance just prior to
the snap of the ball depending on what
play was called. But the critics
eventually shut up when they found out
they couldn’t get around him anyway.
Guy goes.to offensive tackle
Mike Bolliger (6-3,246) also figures in
the plans in the offensive line, although
at present he’s throwing the hammer
'for the track squad. In a move to
further strengthen the offensive line,
which at times last year literally
threatened Dan Fouts’ life by letting sf>
many ODDonents through, defensive end
Tim Guy (6-6, 235) is trying his hand at
offensive tackle.
Enright’s new Mean Green:
‘We believe in having fan and knocking someone
on the seat of his pants. You know what really
makes this team? These guys like each other ...
This is a very close-knit team
“We have to go with the material wp’ve
got. It takes big linemen and it takes a
big, strong fullback to block to run the
USC style erf the I-formation.”
Although Enright won’t have any
Bobby Moore at tailback, he has a long
list of fleet-footed runners. The list,
including some highly rated prep stars,
is headed by Don Reynolds who
averaged over eight yards every time
he touched the ball last year. Making a
strong bid for the spot in spring drills is)
Henderson Martin while Reynolds is'
poking line drives chi Howe Field.
Sophomore George Bennett is also
making his presence known for the first
time, after sitting out last season with
an eligibility problem.
Brown, Herd battle at fullback
A good fullback battle is shaping up
between Greg Herd, a 248-pound senior
and sophomore Eugene Brown who
lettered last year as a freshman.
> The slot back, the key to. Enright’s
new multi-optional offense is held by
Maurice Anderson. Going in motion
Anderson can becgfne either an outside
pass threat, or he can step back into a
running pattern, or he can block ahead
of the play. The evolution of the
position last year saved Oregon’s
running attack which reached minimal
production early last season with the
split back set-up. Anderson was
Oregon’s second-leading ground gainer
last year and also second-leading pass
receiver.
Palm, Lindsey, Anderson retain
Despite the possible de-emphasis of
the pass, Turner will still have Bob
Palm, Greg Lindsey and Anderson to
throw at. Although Oregon lo6t ace
pass catcher Greg Specht, the trio
returning caught 66 passes between
them.
The key to the offense remains in the
offensive line. Enright knows if you
blow a hole wide enough anyone can run
through it. That’s where LeFrancis'
Arnold and Run Hunt come in. Arnold I
“Guy is looking very good at of
fensive tackle,” Enright reported.
“The second group of linemen are also
looking good, including Mike Salcido (6
5, 226) and Jeff Higbee (6-4, 232).”
“The Horse will also help us out,”
Enright nodded as big tight end Russ
Francis walked by, “if we can keep him
healthy.” Last year Francis was
sidelined after only the third game with
a broken ankle. This year, anticipating
a good year from Francis, Enright
moved versatile George Martin (6-4,
218) from tight end to defensive end.
Defense: it looks strong
Martin will join a line that looks solid
with returning veterans Keith Davis (6
4, 220), Art Webb (6-1, 220) and Reggie
Lewis (6-1, 237) for starters. A strong
linebacking corp also returns headlined
by Bobby Green (6-2, 204), Mike Jodoin
(6-2, 225) and Mike Popovich (6-1, 214).
Although talented, the linebacking
ranks are thin and inexperienced
behind the three starters.
The weakest spot in the defense may
be the secondary, because the only two
seniors that graduated from the
defense left vacancies in the secondary.
Steve Donnelly and Jack Conners
return and Mario dark, a freshman
who received the Pacific-8 Defensive
Player of the Week last year as a
reserve (for his performance in helping
Oregon upset Stanford), is ready for a
starting assignment. The other
vacancy may be taken by junior college
transfer Frank Ehret.
These guys like each other’
“But you know what really makes
this team?” Enright asked. And
without bothering to wait for a reply, he
said, “These guys like each other. It’s
as simple as that. This is a very close-t
knit team. Through all of the adversity
last year, this closeness really helped
them come back late in the season. And
that’s the other name of the game.
Besides contact, it’s togetherness. And
* this team has it.”