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Show Turnout expected high for SUSC grid season California freshmen will include tight end Jim Davidson and split receiver Pat Rice from Bolsa Grande High (which sent former T-Bird T-Bird John Pensis to SUSC ) in Garden Grove, and Richard Urie, a defensive back from Woodland Hills. Urie is a cousin to Willard Urie who palyed split receiver for the T-Birds several seasons baThe Thunderbirds will run three-a-day drills (8 a.m., 3:30 p.m., and 7 p.m.) for two weeks. The largest turnout in years and perhaps the best group of freshman hopefuls ever is expected to turn out for season opening football practices Monday at Southern Utah State College. First drills begin at 8 a.m. on the new practice field east of Thunderbird Stadium. Coach Tom Kingsford expects over 65 prospective players to show up. "Overall, we should be stronger than last year," - Kingsford says. "While we aren't super-deep, we do have better depth at some .. positions than any other year since I came here in 1967." position. Strong areas should include in-clude running backs, quarterback, and split receivers. "For once, we can pick and choose running backs to fit the game situation; I have never had as many backs to select from at SUSC," Kingsford said. The freshman crop includes in-cludes three former Cedar City High School players: linebacker Monte Sorensen, running back Alan Moss, and offensive lineman Joe Wells. "We feel especially good about the freshmen who will be coming in from Utah and Las Vegas area high schools," Kingsford ex-nlains First competiton comes September 17 at Los Angeles against Cal State - LA. Conference games start September 24 at Grand Junction, Colorado, against Mesa College's Mavericks. The first home game is October 1 when the T-Birds host Adams State. Homecoming will be October Oc-tober 29. The 1977 schedule: September 17, Cal State-Los State-Los Angeles, 7:30 (PDT) p.m. Los Angeles, CA. September 24, Mesa College, 8 p.m., Grand Junction, CO. October 1, Adams State College, 1:30 p.m., Cedar City. October 8, Westminster College 1:30 p.m., Cedar City. October 15, Fort Lewis College, 1:30 p.m. Durango, CO. October 21, New Mexico Highlands U. 1:30 p.m., Cedar City. October 29, Western New Mexico U., 1:30 p.m., Cedar City. November 5, U. of Southern Colorado, 1:30 p.m. Pueblo, CO. November 12, Western State College, 1 p.m., Cedar City. November 19, Colorado School of Mines 1:30 p.m., Golden, CO. The Thunderbirds will : return 24 lettermen from a ; young team which finished fourth (4-5) in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Con-; Con-; ference last year. The T-Birds T-Birds came on strong late in the season to finish with five wins and five losses overall. Kingsford is generally :. optimistic about his team's cpances, but he isn't ex-'; ex-'; pecting miracles. "The RMAC is tougher this year : than it has been in years. Western State is still the ' team to beat, but Southern Colorado and Mesa are , sleeping giants," Kingsford : said. "Mines and Fort Lewis :' will be very strong again this ' year, and Western New : Mexico brings back almost : its entire squad. West- minster is talking about having its toughest team since it revived its football : program." Kingsford figrues his '.. biggest question marks are . the defensive down linemen and the offensive center. The : defensive linemen are smaller than the veteran head coach would like, and the experience is almost " nonexistent at the center Among the freshmen expected to boost the T-Bird hopes are linebacker Dave Maass and offensive tackle Tony Ketterling, Cottonwood High; running back Mike Mills and center Russ Morgan, Cyprus; and defensive back Larry Pubmore, Bountiful. Three players will report from the Nevada state championship team from Western High in Las Vegas. They include tight end Todd Marrs, running back Tim Donohue (a brother to T-Bird T-Bird Steve Donohue), and dfeensive back Kelly Deverell. Coming from Las Vegas High will be nose guard Mel Sanders, defensive end Jeff Thompson, Thomp-son, and wide receiver Mark Milford. Defensive back Tom Rodrigues will come from Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas. Keith Richard, a 1976 all-stater all-stater from Opelousas, Louisiana, will be a quarterback quar-terback prospect. Burley, Idaho, will send split receiver-quarterback David Brown and running back defensive back Gary Gee. |