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Respect Returns With New Competitive Atmosphere Competition is much of what makes It seems that the football program is for the betterment of Tech athletics. Tech what it is. During the decades of about to turn the corner. Similarly, the The club sports continued their drive the sixties and seventies, it seemed to 82-83 basketball team could play for excellence highlighted by the only apply to academics. However, against any opponent. They just had Rugby Team's upset of the nationally with the hiring of Homer Rice as problems beating them, that is, until ranked 'dawgs.' Also this past year athletic director in 1981, Ma Tech this year. Bobby Cremins, in just three saw the complete turn around of the decided that she wanted to be com- years at Tech, has built a highly playing ability of the Men's Soccer petitive again in sports. Rice sought respected program that has won the Team. The Sailing Team made its out and hired Jim Morris, Bill Curry, approval of both the students and the move towards a national ranking with and Bobby Cremins to coach baseball, city of Atlanta. strong showings in northern regattas. football and basketball, respectively. These teams aren't the only varsity On the intramural level, the students Each one promised a successful pro- teams that are doing well. The Golf got their chance to shine and took ad- gram sometime down the road. This Team, under the leadership of another vantage of the opportunity. The games year, it appeared that the dividends new coach, Puggy Blackmon, has pull- were very competitive in nature and are about to be paid. In the spring of ed itself out of the laughing stocks of provided the students with a much 1983, Morris' baseball team won more golf into respectability. Women, too, needed break from academics. games than any diamond squad field- are competing on a higher level. The Competition is a basic part of this ed in Tech's history. In fact, one of the Volleyball Team has attained varsity, school. The challenge of better grades, victories came over the then reigning Division I, status, and the Women's a good job offer and athletics, have world champions from Miami. The Basketball Team had their games made the year exciting. football team's season wasn't quite as broadcast on WREK. Cricket Yates successful recordwise as the winning was hired in the spring of 1983 to be TOP, LEFT TO RIGHT: Tech stickman season of last year. However, they the Assistant Sports Information Direc- maneuvers for a steal. Cindy Cochran shoots the hoop. BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT: Rugger drives were more competitive giving highly tor to be in charge of women's sports for a score. Intramural football is as fierce as var- ranked teams a run for the money, publicity. All of these moves have been sity. No `dawgs' allowed here. 126 / Opening Opening / 127 Musical Quarterbacks Acquire Valuable Experience Chances are, as kids, Georgia Tech defenders. Coach Bill Curry once again position against Virginia and Wake quarterbacks Stu Rogers, John called on sophomore transfer Dewberry Forest. He substituted Strom and Gast Dewberry, Darrell Gast and Rick Strom all to take charge: With the exception of his against both teams and Andy Thomas, played the ever popular children's party 66 yard quarterback sneak touchdown the jayvee quarterback, against the game "musical chairs." They would and a late second quarter drive that end- Deacons. It was Thomas' first varsity parade around a circle of chairs and ed in a missed field goal, Dewberry was snap in his four year college career. when mom turned off the music, one per- relatively ineffective against the Clemson The injury of Stu Rogers, although cer- son found himself in the standing posi- defense. Enter freshman Darrell Gast. tainly not a thing to rejoice about, may tions as the others sat. The 1983 football Against a substitute saturated defense, have been a blessing in disguise. The season helped bring back these Gast completed seven of ten passes and rotation of Tech's musical quarterbacks childhood memories. The Tech defense, led the Jackets to their second score of put them in excellent learning positions. instead of mom, was in charge of the the long day. The young quarterbacks matured faster music and when they stopped, one found Dewberry started against the University on the field than they would have sitting himself standing while the others sat on of North Carolina getting the Engineers on the bench. With all of this ac- the bench. off to a strong start. His pace slowed in cumulated experience against the top Stu Rogers was the experienced first the third quarter and both Gast and teams in the nation, the future of Tech stringer who started in the Jackets' first Strom alternated the quarterbacking job quarterbacks looks bright. three games. However, John Dewberry between possessions and even downs. got to play in the second half of the TOP: John Dewberry prepares to hand off as Dewberry played the full game against Kepano blocks out a Georgia defender. BOTTOM, Alabama game as Rogers' "productivity North Carolina State, but the musical LEFT TO RIGHT: Darrell Gast avoids the Clemson faltered." Then, against Clemson, quarterback situation continued in the rush. Rick Strom scans over the Bullpup defensive line for a downfield receiver. Stu Rogers hopes for Rogers' knee was twisted as he was games against Auburn, Tennessee and another big Yellow Jacket gain as he hands off to sandwiched between five Tiger Duke. Curry found himself in an enjoyable tailback Robert Layette. 128 / Football Football / 129 130 / Football First Half Victories Succomb to Second Half Woes It seemed like last year the Jackets ranked North Carolina Tarheels. The rest in both halves. rode a rollercoaster alternating wins and wishful thinking was for naught as the Probably the most exciting game of the losses each week. This theme, in effect, UNC offense scored twenty-eight year came against Georgia. The Jackets, was followed again this year with one ma- unanswered points in the second half. once again, dominated the first half, jor variation — Tech alternated winning The home game against Auburn was the which started with a 72 yard touchdown and losing the first and second halves of same song; Tech won the first half run by Robert Layette. The Dawgs went the game. against the SEC Champions impressively ahead at the half with a field goal in the Against Furman, the Jackets played 10-7. A fumble followed by a Jacket field closing seconds. Coming out of the well enough to dominate the statistics but goal was enough to motivate the Tiger of- lockerroom, the Jackets were fired up for not the score (7-7) at half time. fense: the final score was 31-13. Tech a second half victory. However, only a tie However, in the second half it seemed took a 19-14 lead into the locker room was achieved as a Dewberry pass was that something was missing from the against the winless Duke Blue Devils in picked off six yards from the endzone team. The Palidins took charge and won Durham. Tech got a fast seven at the with a minute remaining. The "sugar the second half 10-7 leaving the final beginning of the third quarter but then sat free" Dawgs escaped with a 27-24 win. score at 17-14. While many saw pro- back and watched Duke's All-American Like last year, it was a season of ups blems in this "one time upset," few ac- quarterback, Ben Bennett, march his and downs. Unfortunately, the ups didn't tually realized the future problems the team up and down the field. The Tech of- last all sixty minutes. Jackets were going to have — problems fense was on the field for only eight of the TOP, LEFT TO RIGHT: Left Guard Derek Gwinn finishing their games at the same pace last thirty minutes. As a possible cure, concentrates on protecting his quarterback. Keith that they began. Curry encouraged his team to have as Glanton makes his move against Auburn. BOTTOM, The next home game, the fans were much fun in the second half as they did in LEFT TO RIGHT: Freshman Cory Collier looks for a hole. Robert Layette outsprints a Tarheel defender. thinking upset as the 0-3 Jackets took a the first. It seemed to have worked as the Anthony Harrison and Rob Horton give Auburn's Bo 21-10 halftime lead against the then fifth Jackets trounced Virginia and Wake For- Jackson a rough time. Football / 131 Injuries Spring Green Substitutes Into Starting Roles IDENTIFICATION PAGE 494 he led the team in yards per rush with 5.6. deal of play in two games following He played in ten of the eleven games but Cone's injury. Behind Collier, he finished With the injuries of preseason starter only saw extensive action in three of second overall in yards per carry with 5.4. Stu Rogers, young quarterbacks John them. Thus, his average yards per game The substitutes were great additions to Dewberry, Darrell Gast and Rick Strom of 44.2 wasn't as high as it would have the team, but this is not to say that the saw much more action on the field than been if he had played full time. Yet, even preseason starters didn't do anything. In they had expected. Similarly, when the with his lack of time on the field, Collier fact, Layette finished the season with 803 top two runningbacks, Robert Layette finished twelfth in the ACC for all purpose yards and five touchdowns even after and Ronny Cone were injured during the running which is tallied by combining missing a good portion of the season.