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Show From fullback to safety m aa 'Pass stealer' leading WAL current leader in WAC pass interceptions. in-terceptions. At 6 a and 190 lbs., Larry sands out as the heftiest player in the Ute's defensive back-field. back-field. The Fairfax, Va. native was moved from the defensive fullback spot last spring to safety, a position more suited to a pass stealer because of its deep pass responsibility. The move looks like a good one, and Eldracher agrees, "it's not only a position of great 'i by NICKCASHION Chronicle Staff It would be absurd to suggest that one position in a defensive football alignment is more critical than another, but often the last man between the goal line and an opposing ball carrier is the safety man. Fortunately for the University football squad, this space is occupied oc-cupied by junior Larry Eldracher, I if . ": : v responsibility, if s where the action is." 'Lucky tips' Eldracher has wasted no time establishing himself at the new position with 4 interceptions in the first 4 games. "I'd have to attribute my recent success to a couple lucky tips and a fine pass rush he added, "and you have to be at tne right place at the right time. Defensive coordinator Jim LaRue describes Larry as intelligent, in-telligent, mature, responsible and enthusiastic." These traits are apparent off the field as well as on. "We're going to be a winning team this year," he said, recalling last year's disastrous 3-8 season. "We have more experience and a tighter bond between the players than we had last year. This is the greatest group I've ever associated with in-any in-any capacity." Players vs. press "El," as he is called by his teammates, is aware of a void that exists between the football team and the student community. "The press has a tendency to paint the football players as steak-eating ogres, and that's just not so. I think the image of the football players is damaged by this publicity. I don't want to be put into a general category, I want people to meet me and judge me as an individual." This sentiment is shared by others apparently, as it received candid .. Utah safetyman Larry Eldracher psychs himself for icj0fl drinking a glass of Pat Boone's favorite during a pre-gam,,, Larry leads the WAC in pass interceptions. approval from an eavesdropper, junior defensive end Jeff Nichols. . Playing football at the university level requires a lot of discipline and sacrifices of the players. "I don't necessarily agree with sacrificing individual freedoms, but for the sake of squad membership I think it's worth it. I think I can safely say that most of the players feel the same." Larry is a rabid music fer would probably make a gooc: jockey for an underground station. This however, does rr into his future plans. 7m get an education and play ball," and he added, "aftertr.-probably "aftertr.-probably go out and dig someday." ! |