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Show T-Bird Gridders Should Be Tough The early-season sparring is over; now its down to business for SUSC's football team. "Business" means getting into the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship race. The first hurdle to clear on that road comes October 5 at Silver City, New Mexico. From that game on, the T-Birds will go at a conference opponent every week except Nov. 2 when non-league Chico State comes to town. Blue Ribbon Transfers A couple of dozen lettermen together with a blue ribbon crop of transfers should put the 'Birds right in the thick of the chase for the RMAC title. Around the conference, con-ference, however, everyone else is also talking big. Odds-on favorite is defending champ Western State from Gunnison, Gun-nison, Colo. The Mountaineers return almost everyone from a fensive halfback Leonard Walter-scheid Walter-scheid for the season. The Supreme Test The October 5 test at Western New Mexico may provide the T-Bird T-Bird defense its toughest test a-gainst a-gainst the rush. The Mustangs have a powerful twin-barrelled attack in Ray Jones and Charles Coleman. First home action of the year comes October 12 when much-tougher:than-expected Fort Lewis comes to town. The T-Bird fans will have a football fiesta October 26 through November 9 with three consecutive consecu-tive home games at Thunderbird Stadium. The 1974 football schedule: Sept. 14 Cal Poly at Pomona . Sept. 21 L. A. State at Los Angeles. An-geles. Oct. 5-Western N.M. at Silver City. Oct. 12-Ft. Lewis at Cedar City Oct. 19-Western State at Gunnison. Gun-nison. Oct. 26 Colorado Mines at Cedar City. Nov. 2-Chico State at Cedar City. Nov. 9 Adams State at Cedar City. (Homecoming). Nov. 16 Westminster at Salt Lake City. All Home Games start at 1:30 P.M. strong squad a year ago. A cluster of top challengers will be trying to dethrone the Colorado crew. Along with SUSC, Adams State, Western New Mexico Mex-ico and Fort Lewis are all given -a chance to dump the '73 champs. Parson Rumbles Westminster, not expected to be a serious title contender in early season predictions, is making mak-ing rumbling threats from Salt Lake City, and New Mexico Highlands, High-lands, back in the conference this year after dropping conference affiliation several years ago, is an unknown factor in the race. It will take some surprises if Colorado Colo-rado Mines moves into the title picture. There have been some damaging damag-ing losses to the squad since Coach Tom Kingsford's lofty early fall hopes. Injuries and some new found ineligibilities have trimmed trim-med the squad somewhat, but plenty of talent returns. Old Favorites Back Opening the conference warfare war-fare for the T-Birds will be such fun "old favorites" as punt return and free safety specialist Tom Martin, pass snagger Stan Jones, giant offensive tackle Frank La- ' Russa, defensive demon Ray Newbury, New-bury, quarterback Lyle Anderson and running back Reese Griffiths. And there are many others: punter-linebacker Ken Acquista-pace, Acquista-pace, immoveable defensive tackle Dave Cullimore, sophomore sensation sen-sation linebacker Tim Eckroth, big Arnie Francis, sticky fingered Drew Hansen, tackle Terry Lund-berg, Lund-berg, fullback Dave Nelson, tough-to-block Ted Pritchett, corner-back corner-back Lon Sanders, flashy running Willard Urie, and defensive back Tim Gauthier. Flamethrowing Passer Jerry Dyer, a 6-5 flamethrowing flamethrow-ing quarterback, should add passing pass-ing polish to the T-Bird attack. Vet Lyle Anderson will share duty with Dyer. "Our offense this year is vastly improved. This will be a very fun team to watch on offense. Tough. They should be tough,". one former for-mer T-Bird football player observed ob-served after sitting through early fall scrimmage sessions. Defensively there may be some questions. It was the defensive unit that was hit hardest by the injury jinx, including a summer accident that has sidelined de- |