Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 13

POST-GAZETTE: April 9, 1976 3 No. 1 Surprise Package for Steelers Cunningham a Big Gift Vince Leonard Jt'a Dorsett, of Course OUR NAME SAYS IT ALL: wm Kim-, -JF. -Vf ppNkJL i hit: Twenty-two Just two days ago, Tony Dor-sett couldn't attract more attention tomorrow if he showed up in his birthday suit. Of course, it'll be jersey No. 33 he wears at the Blue-Gold intrasquad game in Pitt Stadium and it'll be jersey No.

33 drawing all eyes left or all eyes right, depending on the direction No. 33 takes a notion to travel in. Even if he doesn't play. "I've had this ankle and I've had this back," Dorsett said, "but it'll be ready if they me." Tony (TD) Dorsett is THE DRAW. Carrying a water bucket along the sidelines tomorrow, he'd still be the feature attraction.

Wearing his credentials on his sleeve, he'd still be the main man. i Lo, such credentials: Third in all-time NCAA rushing with 4,134 yards behind only Archie Griffin and Ed Marinaro; nearly Everyone's All-America; high-ranking Heis-man Trophy candidate. Dorsett, Joe Paterno says, "scares you before the game even starts." Army's Homer Smith says, "I have not seen a running back like Tony Dorsett since O.J. Simpson." What does Tony Dorsett say? "I can play in a pro backfield. Greg Pruitt of Cleveland's smaller than I am," the 5-11, 185-pounder said.

"I hear the word's out on me. Some good people told me I'm going high in the draft." Awaiting a Turn Probably just for practice yesterday, Dorsett paid heed to the college draft. His turn will come. Next year. You can be sur eof it.

Dorsett plays football the way Fred Astaire dances. With consummate skill and grace. His own brand. Steeler Draft Selections 1. Bennie Cunningham, tight end, Clemson 8-4'6, 255...

Despite enormous size has tremendous (4.75 for the 40) speed and agility to turn short passes into long Was consensus Ail-American as a junior but made only two All-American teams after a less spectacular senior year in which the Tigers' record fell from 7-4 to 2-9. 2. Ray Pinney, center, Washington 6-4, 239... All West Coast and honorable mention Needs more weight but has been able to extra poundage the last Excellent pass blocker with quick Very intelligent. 3.

Mike Kruczek, quarterback, Boston College 6-1, 196... Extremely accurate Seldom threw long because of absence of qualified receivers, but impressed Steeler coaches with his ability to do so. in postseason Not a Named top. player in New England last season and ranked 20th nationally in passing but had highest (65.2) percentage of the top 25. 4.

Jim Files, offensive lineman, McNeese 246 versatile played tackle and center but is projected as a Four-year regular with good speed and quickness College Division all-American as a tackle during junior year and second team University Division as a center last year. as effective at 240-245 and I was thinking that way myself. It's not that the weight has been hindrance, I just donT think so much is necessary." Someone on the telephone hookup asked Cunningham if he had hired a lawyer or an agent. "No I haven't. I've talked to a lot, though.

But please don't tell anybody Ihaven't signed with one yet. I don't heed anybody else to come advertising. I'm trying to make up my mind now on who to go with." Last year, the Steelers drafted Marland's Walter White on the thrid round. He was cutat the end of training cmap but he caughton with the Kansas City Chiefs. As it turned out, White was one of the best rookie tight ends in the National Football League.

Was Cunningham aware of White's plight or of Brown or Grossman? "I'm not familiar with the Steelers'personnel at all. I never expected to be going there." Nor did the Steelers. "My body," Dorsett said in the Stadium Bourbon Supreme mixes welU with anything. Like cola, iced tea, ginger ale. Even watir can be improved when mixed with Bourbon Supreme.

It's the smoother-tasting Softer, mellower, lighter thai you think. Bourbon Supreme. A supreme bourbon foi people who love to mix. locker room the other day, his brown, handsome features standing out nobly against a white background, "is put together fairly decent. I can take a pounding.

For how long, I don't know. I don't like to be hit in a crowd. I have this knack of getting my head or leg out of there. "It's not that I'm scared, but I try to limit by head-on tackles. I'm not a Larry Csonka to be run 1976.

The American Distilling N.Y. N.Y. Slr.iiglit Bourbon Whiskey 80" By DAVID FINK PMt-Gozitt Sporlt Wrlttr In their pre-draft calculations, the Steelers expected Clemson tight end Bennie Cunningham to be selected among the first 10 picks. Never in their wildest dreams did they imagine that he would be available when they made the 28th choice in Round One. To their surprise as much as to their pleasure, Cunningham was indeed available.

On a shock-effect scale of one to 10, it rated an 11 or or maybe a 12. It was, you might say, like gazing out the window and discovering Rquel Welch lounging by your neighbor's pool in a bikini. "We didn't think a young man with his kind of talent would be there for us," said Steeler Coach Chuck Noll. "When we saw that he was still available a few choices ahead of ours, we started thinking more seriously about taking him." Apparently, Cunningham was not a unanimous choice. "There are always arguments," admitted Noll, flashing a mischievous smile.

"There was bloodshed. And a broken arm." That is exactly the type of punishment they would like the 6-4V4, 255-ppound Cunninham to dish out in the yerstocome. When the Steelers tried to inform' Cunningham of his selection shortly after 1:30 yesterday afeternoon, he was out to lunch. Which is exactly the way the Clemson football team performed last season. In 1974, the Tigers had won seven of 11 starts.

Going into the '75 season, they had nothing but great expectations. A couple of early-season losses, one of which was a lopsided setback at the hands of Alabama, turned their fantasies to nightmares. They ended with a distressing 2-9 season. With a pair of freshmen alternating at quarterback, Clemson's passing attack suffered heavily. So did Cunninghamjs statistics.

In '74, hemade 24 catches for 396 yards and seven' touchdowns. In '75, he produced only 18 catches for 312 yards and two touchdowns. The sharp decline probably contributed to his availability when the Steelers exercised the fianal first-round pickp. "That's probably what happened," said Die Haley, the Steelers' No. 1 judge of college talent.

"Maybe peo-expecting a bigseason starts collapsing like they did everybody goes down with the ship." Cunningham agreed. "To say what was exactly the matter I just don't know that I could but. we never had a regular quarterback like we did two years ago and that made a big difference," he said. "It was a very disappointing season." While the Steelers anticipated Cunningham being an early first-round choice, he did not. "I jsut didn't expect anybody to take a tight end on the first round.

I had more contact with Cincinnati than anybody else, so Pittsburgh comes as a surprise. But it is lovely. It makes thing i better. "I've never been to Pittsburgh. I didn't watch the Super Bowl because I was in Japan for an All-Star game and, well, I just don't know very much about them except that they've been winning alot lately.

"I preferred to go with a winner. It's always better that way." Cunningham, whomust oust either starter Larry Brown or backup man Randy Grossman unless the Steelers decide to keep three tight ends next fall, doesn't except to play at 255 any more. "A lotof scouts have advised me that I could be just Sound of Musick (Continued from Page 12) scouts call a Tarzan-Jane prospect. Built like Tarzan; hits like Jane. "Is he strong?" "Stronger than train smoke." When the player is a receiver, the question becomes hands.

Are they boards? Do they belong on a clock? Cunningham's belong where they are, at the end of arms no longer than, say, a stepladder. He is a prospect. Each player is assigned a numerical rating by BLESTO-V and here Cunningham fares well. The ratings run from 0.0 (O.J. Simpson was a relative flop at 0.4) to 3.1 (where did this stiff come Cunningham is a 1.2 (some veteran just made the unemployment rolls).

one of the top 16-18 Tony Dorsett ning at somebody. I don't run into people. I mwmi from OMsmeMIe Ml mafic 5-speed transmission extra cnarae. 31EI0 SfiA. Starfire-Oldsmobile's Supercoupe.

High-badc Cnt-'-Sr "3 bucket seats, torque arm suspension and a spirited don try to punish peopia. it not my way. I won't do any unnecessary stuff. I'll go, to the sidelines and see if I can escape." About Pitt's proposed schedule changes, involving a switch with Louisville and Notre Dame and a switch in playing dates with Penn State, Dorsett said, "Both have gone through. We'll play at Notre Dame on open-, ing day and Penn State in Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.

Both will be on television." The Meaning of Notre Dame i Does Dorsett turn on for the big game? "It's only a natural tendency that you're going to be up psychologically against a Notre Dame instead of a Louisville," he said. 'Notre Dame is Football U. S. it always has been, even when I was a kid back in Hopewell." 1 When Dorsett goes against Notre Dame, change the French translation from 'Our Lady to Oh, Uncle. Last time, Dorsett gained 303 yards against the Irish in just 23 carries, eliciting this nave from Coach Dan Devine: "We tried to make normal adjustments, but one guy kind of made them inadequate." Syracuse's Frank Maloney has put it picturesquely, too: "You've got to get him before he gets his motor running, and it doesn't take him long to do "We'd be at an advantage if we played Notre Dame first because we have a lot of seniors," Dorsett said.

Dorsett has an ulterior motive for getting out of the gate fast. "I've been told," he said, "that I'll probably go hig.i in the draft. How high I go depends on! my senior year. What it boils down to is to be as consistent in my senior year as I was the first three. "I consider myself to be competitive.

Ath-; letes strive to be the best there is, but that's true in all walks of life. With the team! we have, if I stay healthy, who knows how high or how far I'll go." Kuzma Comes Homel Watching to Leave v-6 power source make btariire more man jusi a car. It's an experience And now this Supercoupe comes 1.31 with a super deal. If you buy a 1 976 btartirecy April )utn, you cdnidKe ''ittV speed manual transmission at no '-Vmi1 rtiw pyrrH Mini vvnia Licnicia and salesmen are being Your eheiea autemitie er 5-ipl manual transmisiion at no txtra charge (Manuiaetunr iugget4 ntail aiven special incentives to offer you a good deal on '7fi with tVio ctflndflrd 4-sneed stick if vou i Jw flt 'fr 4 -X 'h buy and take delivery between now ana apru 30th. Any way you.

look at it, it's a great oppor- tunity to get into btartire. 'M rhfirlc nut Oldsmobile's SuDer- a. i i nu J1 Rv RflSS RRftTOM Discover the Starfire V4 KYrifirience. players in the country," says Dick Haley, the Steelers' director of player personnel. "I saw him run an end-around in their spring game.

He broke into the secondary and about nine guys hit him. They kept falling off." The ennui lifts momentarily when the Steelers select a quarterback in the second round. 'Ah very interesting," Han-ratty giggles over the phone. "Maybe I better come back in for another workout." I- jjut jft. Jlound by Round Draft Choices Poil-Gontu Spii wntr I If any of those Fifth Avenue superstuds really were considering taking their talents to Schenley out of respect for Suencer Watkins, the Spartans' head coach, they can think again.

Watkins is leaving. The Post-Gazette has learned that Watkins, who coached Schenley to state championships In 1971 and 1975, hits accepted a job as head basketball coach at Santa Barbara Junior College, although he hasn't of-ficilly announced his acceptance. Watkins reportedly received a strong recommendation from Jerry Tarkanian, head coach at the University of Las Vegas-Nevada. If there was any residue of doubt, Watkins' departure should insure Fifth's trio of talented juniors-Sam Clancy, Warner Macklin and David Kennedy-will peddle their wares to Brashear, the new merger which has engulfed Fifth Avenue. Elmer Guckert, who coached Fifth to this year's PIAA Class AAA championship, supposedly has a lock on the Brashear job.

Among the candidates fo rthe Schenley post are Jarrett a former star forward at Duquesne who previously had been listed among the leading contenders to fill the vacancy at Aliquippa. Durham is no longer In the running at Aliquippa because the vacancy already has been filled by a name familiar to district basketball fans. Hank Kuzma, who coached the Midland team with Sammy Hill and Norm Van Lier to the state title in 1965, will return to the coaching ranks at Aliquippa. Kuzma has been working as the principal of Hers-hey High School. Pitt Football Clinic FIRST ROUND 1.

Tamoa Bay, Lwov ftimm. Oklahoma. 1, Seattle, Strt otrt Dame, 3 New norr uame, new Sienaus, ai, rleon. Chuck Muncle, rb. Cailfor- nlo.

4, San Dltoo, Jot Woihinptorv wfke Havnes, db, Arliona N.Y. Jeti, Rlefiard Todd, ab, Alabama. 1, Cleveland, Mike Pruln, a inrouon a I ngr ana lAtrnll. nnnl I Irk. fit.

ICOftS fl. i. Atlanta. Bubba Inn, rb, Texai mam Can we build one for you? IS. Denver.

Tom Gtosslc, oa, Vlrelnla. 1 6 Detroit, Lawrence Golnes, rt, Wvomlno, 17, Miami from Washington. 16, Detroit, Lawrence Gaines, rb, Wyoming, 17, Miami from Washington, Lqrry Gordon, I Arizona State. 1 1 Buffalo, Mario Llnrk, db, 19, Miami, Kim Bokamper, lb, Son Jose 7 0 Baltimore, Ken Novak, dt, Purdue. 21, New Eng.

land from Houslon through San Francisco, I Fox, Ohio Stale. 72, St. Louis, Mike Dawson, dt, 23, Green Bay from Oakland, Mark koncar, ot, Colorado. 24, Cincinnati, Archie Griffin, Ohio State. 5 Minnesota, James White, dt, Oklahoma State.

26, Los Angeles, Kevin Me La In, lb, Colorado 5tote. 77, Datlis, Aaron Kvle, db, Wvomlno. 78, Pittsburgh. Bennli Cunningham. Clemson.

0 Purdue, 7 RuHato, Ken Jones, og, Arkansas State. IS, Detroit from Washington throuah San Francisco. David Hill, ti. from Baltimore, Mike Kruciek, ab, Boiion College. 20, Houston, Mike Bar-br, Louisiana Tech.

2 1 Miami, Loalrd McCreary, te( Tennessee State. 72, Oakinnd, Jeb Blount, ob, Tulsa. 23, Cincinnati, Chris Bnhr, Penn Stnte. 24, Buffalo from St. Louis, Joe Dev.

Iln, ot, Iowa. 25, Los Angeles, Ron McCartney, lb, Tennessee. 24, Minnesota, Snmmie White, wr, Grombilng. 27, Dallas, Jim Eld-son, Misslssiool Stnte. 21, PITTSBURGH, Jim McNeese State.

29, Son Francisco from Tnmoa Bay, Eddie Lewis, db, Kansas. 30, Seattle, Sherman Smith, wr, Miami, Ohio. 31, Seattle, Steve Rnible, wr, Georgia Tech, 32, Tompa Bay, Dtwey Stl-man, dt. Oklahoma. James Hunter, db, Gramblina.

Jl, Clnclnnnatl Philadelphia, Billy Brook, wr, Oklahoma. 17, New Enoiond from San rrmcM, Pete Brock, e. Colorado. Jh NJ fcionti, Trov Archer, de, Colorado. 14, Kansas Cltv, Rod Walters.

Iowa. SECOND ROUND Seattle, Sammy Green, lb, Florida. 7, Tamoa Bay, Jimmy DuBort, rb, Florida. San filtoo. Don Mocek, oo, Boston Colltgi.

4, New Orleans, Tony Oolbreath, rb, Mlsiourl, 5, N.Y. Jets, Shafer Supos, db, Boll State. Oakland 0 Cleveland, Charles PhMvaw, de, Texos South-ern. 7, New Enoland, Ike Forte, rb, Arkansas. Atlanta, Sonny iotllns, rb, Kentucky.

PITTSBURGH from Cm caw, Ray Pinney, Wash I no ton. 10, Cincinnati from Phi i ad ohta, Glenn ft I-noch, oo, Texas 11, Los Anoeles from Green Bay, a Thomas, db, Texas 17, Oaiio from N.Y. Giants, I Jensen, rh, Iowa. 13, Kansas City, CUM Frailer, dt, UCLA. 14, San Francisco, Randy Cross, UCLA.

1 Denver, Kurt Knotf, Kansas. IS, Detroit, Ken Long Seethe Grand Olds Gang, your Pittsburgh Area Oldsmobile Dealers The Fourth Annual Pitt Football Clinic gels underway in the Pitt Field House at 1 p. m. today. Bcgistra-, Hon fee Is $10.

The demonstration clinic will feature all of the Pitt coaches and numerous Pitt football players. It will run all day with a smoker in the evening and culminate at the Blue-Gold game Saturday afternoon in Pitt Stadium. Over 400 area High School coaches attended last year. Registration will begin in the Field House at 10.30 a. m..