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Thr lt#*d and Black. Thursday. November h I97H
»’»*r '•
Sports
GEORGIA’S READING RUSHER
Scoreboard
Injury-plagued Simon ready to shine
Ed Legge
I don’t care anymore
I used to take Georgia football seriously. A die-hard fan. I
lived and died by the fortunes of the Bulldogs. When
Georgia beat LSU 24-17 and Kentucky 17-16 last year. 1
reached emotional pinnacles. And when the Dogs tied
Auburn and went on to fall to Stanford in the Bluebonnet
Bowl that same year, real tears filled my eyes.
But all that was before Georgia went 0-3 at the outset of
the 1979 season, a season in which the only big question
concerning the Bulldogs was who they would play in the
Sugar Bowl.
In their first three games of ’79. the Dogs were soundly
beaten by three supposedly inferior teams and played
shoddy football in the process.
After those three losses. 1 took account of my current
Bulldog football philosophy. Either I could keep taking
Georgia's games so seriously and keep getting depressed,
or I could quit worrying about the gridiron battles and not
shed a tear.
I picked the latter and just quit taking Bulldog games so
seriously.
Five games later, it looks like I made the right choice,
because last Saturday the Bulldogs were once again
humiliated by a team picked as the underdog. The loss left
the Dogs with a mediocre 4-4 record.
But with my new attitude, the latest Dog loss just didn’t
bother me.
One reason it’s been easy to shrug off Georgia's record is
the fact that in all of the Bulldog losses this year, the Dogs
played with a seeming lack of intensity and desire. The
players seem to have quit taking the game seriously, much
as I have.
And surely the Bulldogs arc joking when they talk about
winning the SEC and going to the Sugar Bowl, when they
can’t even beat anybody in the ACC.
So can you blame me for taking the Bulldog losses lightly?
How can anybody take Georgia football seriously, when the
Bulldogs themselves don’t take it that way?
Of course winning isn't that big a deal anymore, cither.
The Bulldogs haven’t really beaten any teams that were
very good, but since I'm not serious about it now. winning
doesn’t really affect me one way or another.
I'd rather be stoic about the wins than to have the losses
hurt so bad. however. There have been so many losses, and
a team that doesn't scent to care itself about winning and
losing isn't worth worrying over.
But I do miss those days of living and dying with the
Dogs. Since I quit taking Georgia football seriously, there's
been a noticeable void on Saturdays.
Besides, when 1 did care, win or lose I was proud to be a
Dog.
There is one way. however, that I will again ride the
emotional rollercoaster of being a die-hard Bulldog—when
the Dogs start taking football seriously again.
When the Dogs start playing like they care about winning
and losing, maybe once again I can take Georgia football
seriously.
And maybe once again there will be winning football at
the University of Georgia.
By AMO COOK
Fate is having trouble decid
ing just what to do with Matt
Simon.
The sophomore tailback for
the Georgia Bulldogs was ready
to lead the Georgia rushing
attack through 1979. but ill-
fortune and nagging injuries
have slowed him down.
Running in the shadow of
Willie McClendon, the Bull
dogs' all-time leading rusher.
Simon averaged over five yards
a carry in 1978 and looked to be
ready to become tins year s
breakaway runner.
Simon underwent a vigorous
of I-season training program,
and then had an outstanding ’79
spring practice. He was so
impressive in the drills, the
(ieorgia coaching stall named
him the Most Improved Offen
sive Back and Best All-Around
Runner.
The Statesboro. Ga.. native
reported back to fall practice in
excellent condition and was
ready to assume control of
Georgia's running corps, but in
only the second scrimmage he
went down with an ankle injurs.
Simon missed the remaining
three weeks of fall practice, and
sat out of the Bulldogs' first
three games. He finally fought
back into the line-up for
Georgia's first win at Ole Miss,
and In Ins second game against
LSU. Simon appeared to be in
Ins prime running form, rushing
for 128 in 34 carries.
The sophomore running
back's luck took a turn for the
worse in Georgia's next game
with Vanderbilt, however, when
Simon left the game early in the
first quarter with a hip pointer.
After a week of rest. Simon
recovered enough from his
bruised hip to gain 84 yards .on
19 rushes against Kentucky,
and tally 97 yards on 23 carries
against Virginia.
The slow start has been a
frustrating experience for the
6 0". 197.|b. tailback.
"After 1 got that bad ankle
sprain. I wasn't able to play in
the first three games.’’ Simon
said. "It took a while for my
ankle to reheal, but now it’s
back 100 percent. Then some
how l got hurt again—1 guess
it’s just not my year.**
Even though it may not be
Matt Simon's year, he is still
Georgia's leading rusher behind
Steve Kelly. In the five games
he's seen action. Simon has 362
yards on 93 carries, plus two
pass receptions for 20 yards,
with two touchdowns.
Georgia head coach Vince
Dooley views Simon as a
running back for the future.
"If we can ever keep Matt
healthy, we'll be all right."
Dooley said. "He had one good
game against LSU. but he hurt
his ankle prior to the season,
and that was really the first
game that he was full speed."
"We see the potential in Matt
to be a fine running back. He’s
got good speed, he’s got good
lateral moves, very good quick
ness." Dooley continued, "and
he certainly has the potential to
be a good one. Only the future
will tell just how bad he wants to
be good and how healthy he'll
stay.*'
Simon was an all-purpose
runner at Statesboro High
School, where he gained 1426
\ards and scored 18 touchdowns
in his senior year, but he is now
Irving to change his style of
running past people to one of
running over them.
"I’m more of an outside
runner than I am a power
runner." Simon stated. "But
I’ve been working all year to
become more of a power runner
like Willie McClendon. I want to
try to run over a couple of guys
and knock them out or some
thing."
If he can avoid further injuries
this year. Simon could still lead
the Bulldogs to the South
eastern Conference title. All
Georgia needs now to insure at
least a tic for the championship
is victories over the winless
Florida Gators and offensively-
minded Auburn.
"We have to approach
Florida with our regular game
plan and try to do our best to
defeat them." Simon stated.
"We really have to win this
game in order to be able to have
the chance to go after Auburn
like we want to.
"I think we’ve got a good
chance of going to the Sugar added "Wc vc got to get tired
Bowl, but wc vc got to treat up again like we did against LSI
each team onc-by-one." he and wc can take it
THURSDAY
$1.75 NIGHT
pitcher of beer
ALL NITE
SKI S. Harris St.
"across from Shrimpboa! .
%‘isso’s Gyrff
and Cafe’
vmr:
'■'eitfr-rar Smdwithri
fvm'olCdKnon
Hnnenadt Pssttia
Broad St * College Ave
Downtown Athens
S4J-W71
Open Mon Thur II 00-10 00
Fn & Sat u oo-u oo
Sun 12 00-9 o*i
DEVELOP SOLAR
ENERGY KZi
WILL BE GUEST PICKER
R&B sports quiz winner announced
Willie Harris, a junior management major from Clearwater. Fla.,
is the w inner of the first R\B sports quiz as he w as the lone entrant
lo score a perfect SO points.
Harris, the only entrant among 20 to successfully answer all 23
pans lo the quiz, will be the "Guest Picker" on Nov. 9.
The answer to the first question of who first managed or coached
each of the Atlanta professional teams was Richie Guerin. Hawks:
Bernie Gcoffrion. Flames; Norb Hceker. Falcons, and Bobby
Bragan. Braves. Most entrants had little trouble with this question
although Billy Hilchock was named b\ several as the first Braves
manager. He came along M2 games after Bragan.
Those participants who chose to name the first-ever Hawks and
Braves leaders were given credit lor their correct answers.
Calvin Peete is only the second black to ever quality lor the
Masters. Peete did so by virtue of I lib place finish in the 1979 U.S.
Open. The 36-year-old former trinket salesman went on to win
July’s Milwaukee Open and enjoy his best year on the tour thus fjr
Less than half of all entrants were able to name Peete.
The two Philadelphia Phillies who set Major League home run
records in 1979 are Mike Schmidt and Del Unser. Schmidt was the
first player to hit four consecutive homers on two different occasions
in his career. Unser hit three consecutive pinch-hit homers to set u
new standard in that area. Schmidt also tied a previously set home
run mark as he hit seven round trippers in five games
Tony Cloninger went 24-11 for the 1965 Milwaukee Braces anil
was the answer to question number four All but one entrant were
able to name "Toj» Cat."
The 1968 Detroit Tigers rallied from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the St.
Louis Cardinals in the World Series. Two entrants named the 19" 1
Pittsburgh Pirates, who defeated Baltimore in seven games to win
GATEWAY
mm% & coulisoihuis
North Ave.-Bypass Gateway Shopptng
Athens, Ga Center
404-548-1528 Across from Bilo
Shop Hours:
Mon. - Sat.
8:00 a.m. • 6:00 p.m.
Paying up to
$ 70.00
for Class Rings
Paying top prices for
oil gold jewelry and silver.
Specializing in Choice U.S. coins
Buy-Sell-Trade U.S.Coins.
that crown.
Vancouver’s Whitctaps defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies for the
North American Soccer league championship.
|97() s National Basketball Association draft offered sonic quality
talent. S4i much so that the Atlanta Hawks made Pete Maravich the
third placer chosen. Bob Lanier and Rudy lonijanovich were
selected one-two b\ the Detroit Pistons and old San Diego Rockets,
respectively.
The Hawks had another first-round selection that year and took
UCLA’s John Vallcly. As one entrant so astutely pointed out. the
Hawks must like Bruin guards because they drafted Greg Lee a
couple of years later. Ihc> also gave Andre McCarter a tryout for
the current season.
Jackie Dorsey is hack in the NBA with the Houston Rockets,
loining New Jersey’s I ini Bassett as ihconlv Bulldog alunis in that
league. Bassett has been the quiet captain of the Nets for several
years.
I outline Aaron holds one home run mark that even brother Hank
could not break lonimic hit the first hall over the fence in Atlanta
Stadium li came in the first exhibition game played in the new
ballpark.
(ieorgia has turned out some fine punters over the years. Aiming
the elite have been Bucks Dills. Spike Jones, and Bobby Walden,
sclio have all been on NFL rosters within the past five seasons. This
question is the only one which was answered correctly b\ every
entrant.
Four readers collected 4" points in the quiz. They were Robert
Willingham. Don Maxes. Min Wieezorck. and Charles Kolodkin.
Wiec/orek submitted his entry within 24 hours of publication of the
questions and missed a pcrtcci score only by naming Mack Jones as
the first man to homer in Atlanta Stadium
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Introduces
BUDWEISER
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25° Bud
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