The War Whoop (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 61, No. 1, Ed. 1, Monday, August 22, 1983 Page: 4 of 4
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WAR WHOOP; August 22 1983
PAGE 4
FOOTBALL 1983
It sounds unusual to say the
very least. But as parity begins to
sweep through the Texas Intercol-
legiate Athletic Association
(TIAA) there are some folks who
are picking the McMurry Indians
to challenge for the conference
football championship.
Yes that's right! The same
McMurry Indians who won only
two of 10 games last season and
the same McMurry team which
will no longer have league door-
mat Lubbock Christian College to
push around. (LCC dropped its
football program last spring after
a winlcss season.)
Odd as it may sound though
McMurry head football coach
Rodney Murphy is among those
touting the Indians as a potential
TIAA champion in 1983.
"We're such an improved team
over last year" Murphy says
"that anything can happen. We
ought to at least have a .SCO
season. And. if you go .500 and
then get a few breaks that puts
right in contention."
Murphy is basing his optimism
on two factors: (1) the vast
improvement in size and experi-
ence on his team and (2) the
apparent balance throughout the
TIAA.
"We've got the nucleus of a
good team just from what we have
leftover from last year" says
Murphy who has as many as 27
returning Icttcrman most of
whom saw a lot of playing time
last fall. "All we need is some of
these people to go out and take
the bull by the horns."
The Indians did only win two
games last fall but what many
people forget is that they did it
with primarily a freshman and
sophomore lineup. While these
players were losing eight games
in 1982 they were also picking up
a complete year of experience
and Murphy believes that will
begin to pay off this fall.
"Not being forced to play fresh-
men is probably our biggest area
of improvement over last year"
he points out. "The players we
have have been in the system for
a year and we have some definite
fixtures on offense and defense."
One of those "definite fixtures"
U sophomore quarterback Clyde
McKcnzie. As a freshman Mc-
Kcnzic worked his way into a
starting role by the s"cund game
and finished the year with 1700
yards worth of passing. That
accomplishment seems even
more impressive when you realize
that he did most of it from a
run-oriented veer offense. Mc
BE
McMURRY STUDENTS!!! YOUR McMURRY I.D. CARD MAKES YOU INSTANTLY ELIGIBLE TO BE
A WINNER THIS FALL AT ALL THE INDIAN HOME FOOTBALL GAMES. LOCAL MERCHANTS HAVE
DONATED A VARIETY OF DOOR PRIZES INCLUDING STEAK DINNERS AND GIFT CERTIFICATES WHICH
WILL BE GIVEN AWAY DURING DRAWINGS AT ALL HOME GAMES. NOW YOUR I.D. CARD WILL NOT
ONLY GET YOU INTO THE STADIUM; YOUR I.D. NUMBER MAY MAKE YOU A WINNER ONCE YOU GET
THERE!! MAKE PLANS NOW TO ATTEND.
DON'T MISS
Indians expect
Kcnzie could be even more
productive this fall with an ofense
which will operate from a Pro set
designed to take advantage of his
arm.
McKcnzie will have a whole
slew of choices when it comes to
receivers. Senior Willie Joe and
sophomore Bob Campbell will be
threats on the outside. Both have
good hands and deceptive moves
as well as the speed to beat
defenders deep. At tight end
newcomer Mike Campbell will
provide a sizable target.
Probably the biggest area of
improvement offensively will
come on the front wall. In 1982
line coach Cliff Odcnwald had so
much trouble finding starters that
there were times when he had
five freshmen on the field.
The most reliable of the bunch
guard Richard Aguirrc should fill
his spot nicely on the left side.
The only other sure bet is tackle
Scott Stubblcficld who returned
to McMurry after a semester at
Texas Tech. Stubblcficld at 6-3
245 "almost single-handedly
makes us 100 percent better in
the line "Murphy claims.
The biggest question mark of-
fensively if the backficld. Only a
couple of running backs with any
prior experience arc back and
Murphy will be looking long and
hard at freshmen to possibly step
in here.
The defense is not without its
weak spots; but overall could be
a strong -point for the team.
"Sure we gave up a lot of points
last year" says Murphy. "But
what a lot of people don't realize
is that a bunch of those came after
turnovers. In general our de-
fense played exceptionally well
last year and kept us in most of
the games."
From that defense the Indians
will have as many as 12 players
returning who saw starting time.
The front line looks fairly solid in
spite of the loss of 6-3 250 Troy
Hiblcr (grades). Massive Marvin
Williams will be in the middle
with quick and strong Kelly
Bonner and Kent Harding at the
ends.
The lincbacking corps will sec
some competition. Jeff Douglas
has forced Dugan Turnbow from
the middle. Toby Gcrhart will be
back at the strongsidc position
with Tony Quitta who missed last
season with an injury on the
other side.
The secondary will look to
safeties Horace Boston and Chuck
Fallon for leadership. There will
be plenty of competition for the
A
40 JgSm
The Indians will be
starting corncrback posts.
But the fact that the Indians will
be improved is not the only basis
for Murphy's optimism. He is
equally as excited about the
prospects that the TIAA's other
three schools have balanced out.
Sul Ross the team which won
the league last year will be trying
to regroup after the graduation of
three-time All-American quarter-
back Larry Hill. "They'll be
strong but not as strong as they
were with Hill back there"
Volleyball team has
McMurry women's volleyball
coach Vcrna Wilson is only hop-
ing for one thing this season -
respect.
Stuck in a Rodney Dangerfield
syndrome Wilson and her Indian
volleyball team members arc only
hoping the 1983 season will not be
any worse than the 1982 cam-
paign. "There's really nowhere
for us to go but up" says Wilson
who can't even remember how
bad the 1982 record was.
Wilson is counting heavily on a
solid group of returners as well as
some promising freshmen to build
her team up.
After joining the McMurry coach-
ing staff just before the 1982
season began Wilson struggled
through the entire scheldule with
THE EXCITEMENT!!
to contend
relying heavily on Clyde McKenzie's (6) arm.
Murphy says.
The team that looks the most
impressive on paper is Austin
College which boasts a large
number of returning lcttcrmcn
and several experienced all-conference
performers.
Taricton is in basically the same
boat as the Indians. The Tcxans
have- a large number of players
back from a team which finished
4-5 last year. "That year of
experience will help them also"
Murphy says.
only nine players. But this fall
with a full season of recruiting
behind her Wilson thinks she
may have as many as 15 or more
players on the squad.
"That in itself will be a big
help" she says. " Wc didn't even
have enough players last year to
field two teams in a workout.
Plus the extra people will provide
more competition on the team for
starting positions."
Among the best of the returners
is sophomore Jcana Barr who
won TIAA Freshman of the Year
honors ip 1982. Another good one
is junior Michelle Bowc back for
her third year on the team.
Other returners arc sophomore
Julie Barry juniors Angela Mer-
rill and Jo Ray and senior Mary
"I really think we're going to be
in a situation where anyone can
win anytime. I don't sec a
dominant team in the league"
the McMurry coach points out.
"What that means is that you'll
have to ready to play every week
or you'll get stuck with some
losses you don't need."
And as anyone knows you can't
challenge for a conference cham-
pionship with too many of those.
big hopes
Kay Ratjc. All have at least one
full season of experience playing
together.
Wilson doesn't want to name
any names yet but she also
thinks her recruiting may be
bringing in some strong help from
the freshman class.
The Indians did not fair well last
year but Wilson is quick to point
out the team did finish third in the
TIAA tournament at the end of
the season this year McMurry
will be hosting the meet giving
the Indians the home court advan-
tage. It won't take them long to find
out if things will be better.
McMurry opens it schedule Sept.
10 at home against Taricton.
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The War Whoop (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 61, No. 1, Ed. 1, Monday, August 22, 1983, newspaper, August 22, 1983; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth104419/m1/4/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting McMurry University Library.