Tigers Prepare for '76 Football Season

TIGERS PREPARE FOR '76 FOOTBALL SEASON Maybe in the old days summer football camp at Towson State was a time for panic. The coaches didn't half know what or who to expect. Well, those days are gone and with them went the uncertainty. Head coach Phil Albert knows he has 14 of 22 starters back from last year's 6-4 Tiger squad. He's also keenly aware of the newcomers who are coming from high schools and junior colleges around this part of the country - - because he recruited them. He knows TSU faces a challenging schedule but with the size, speed, talent and depth of his Tigers he's quite comfortable in the knowledge that they'll do better than just fine. The only way, you've got to figure, that Towson is going to get licked is if the Tigers lie down and let the opposition trample all over them. There are a ton of reasons for this sort of bi talk. One of them is 6-2, 185 pound All America quarterback Dan Dullea who over the past three seasons has completed 338 passes - good for 2.6 miles worth of real estate. "If we can keep Dan in the line up each week," says Albert, "we'll be a much better foot¬ ball team. He's a super quarterback and a person we'll be depending upon a great deal." Trying to hide the fact that Dullea is important to Towson 's success this season would be like trying to cover up Watergate all over again. But Dan isn't the only Tiger the enemy must fear. His favorite targets, tight end Skip Chase and wide receivers Bill McDonald and Mike Hoey, are back again. Chase, a formidable 6-5, 245, caught 22 passes for a season high 404 yards and four touchdowns last year. McDonald and Hoey combined for 53 catches and six touchdowns. The Tigers piled up an all-time single season record 2131 yards rushing last year. Tail¬ backs Mike Maloney and Jeff Herrick plus fullback К. P. Doyle return in an effort to reclaim a lot of that territory. Throw in sophomore Rick Biel ski, a transfer from the University of Maryland, and a couple of hot shot freshmen, and you've got the makings of another potent ground attack. Providing protection and opening up the traffic lanes will be tackle Greg Hendren (230) and guards Jim Holdridge (220) and Ernie Paskoff ( 245 ) — al 1 veterans. Sophomore Leo Winterling (235) is expected to help out at tackle along with Dean Prudhoe (240) and Dennis King (240) who will offer support at guard. Transfer Dan Magruder and sophomore Toby Hasty will wage a civil war of their own at center to decide that issue. Don Redman (215), Eldridge Haley (245) and Joe Waggoner (215) are several familiar names on the defensive line. Filling in the gaps and backing up those vets will be Gabe Moro (230), Mark Averi (220) and Jim Ehler (220). Albert uses a platoon of linebackers in his system and this year he has a whole army of candidates from which to choose. Seniors Joe Kelly and Bud Burner and junior Richard Wheeler head the list of veterans returning. Giving chase are sophomores Don Welsh, Doug Pompa and Brian Brouse. Junior college transfers Kevin Gombieski, Paul Nelson and Ted Pitulski are right in the thick of the race and according to Albert there's going to be a stampede to the finish. Seniors John Rosson and Paul White are back as deans of the secondary. Rosson swiped two passes last season to tie junior Bill Doherty for those honors. Doherty's return gives Albert three of the four with one to replace. Herrick, who punted for a 41.5 average and finished fifth in the nation last year, will punt again. Sophomore Randy Bielski, a soccer style kicker off last year's jayvee squad, will handle the kicking chores. Roland Dobbins, a transfer from UMES where he led the MEAC in returns last year, will hopefully do as well for the Tigers this season.