Spider Basketeers Scare Wildcats
RookieCoach Mills Makes ImpressiveDebut BY WALT DREWRY There's a bright future for University of Richmond basketball for youthful coaches Lewis Mills and Gale Catlett are doing exceptional jobs and have laid a solid foundation for years to come. The Spider varsity, picked by the critics to finish at the bottom in the Southern Conference race, had captured five games ( the Spiders won only seven all last season) and lost nine at the break for examinations. The Richmond freshmen won their first 11 games before suffering a defeat. With only three lettermen, a lack of height and speed and a weak bench ( the squad numbers only nine players), Mills faced a task few rookie varsity cage coaches would tackle. Yet, this scrappy squad holds a pair of upset victories over The Citadel and single triumphs over William and Mary, Florida State and East Carolina. Furthermore, Davidson's fifth ranked Wildcats had all they could handle to prevail, 52-49. Senior Forward John Telepo, co-captain with Buddy Enck, has developed into a fine all-round player. He's third among Southern Conference scorers with an 18.4 average. Junior Tom Tenwick, who teams with Telepo at forward, is averaging 16.1 points and the pair are averaging better than 18 rebounds. Enck (9.6) has developed into a fine playmaker. Sophomore Spike Welsh (9.3) is improving rapidly as is George Atwell, non-lettering 6-8 junior center. Larry Weathers, a junior college transfer, is the
only other man to see much service. After dropping a 77-53 decision to Virginia Tech at Blacksburg, the Spiders upset East Carolina, 71-67, in their home debut. Richmond bowed to Virginia, 91-71, and West Virginia, 79-71, on the road, but Enck ta1lied 20 points as the Spiders upset The Citadel, 77-73, at the Arena. Tenwick missed the second half with a hip injury as George Washington edged the Spiders, 6057, at the Arena. Mills' lads bowed to Ea!>t Tennessee, 83-79, and to Eastern Kentucky, 77-62, on the road but returned to the Arena to upset Fforida State, 69-65. Tenwick and Telepo tallied 22 each as
Richmond edged The Citadel, 67-65, at Charleston but lost to poised Furman, 74-63, at home . Richmond, which never trai~ed, controlled the ball most of the second half and edged rallying William and Mary, 53-52, at the Arena. A standing-room crowd of 4,500 watched in amazement as the Spiders twice rolled up seven-point leads (20-13 and 2821) over unbeaten Davidson. The Wildcats managed to take a 4 7 -44 lead in the second half and then went into a 10:45 freeze. However, a layup by Telepo put Richmond within two points with 49 seconds to go. (Continued
on page 37)
BRUTAL SCHEDULE TRIPS GRIDMEN
The 1963 University of Richmond football being a five-yarder to Emelianchik. In their squad, called upon to play the strongest futile bid for victory the Spiders moved from schedule in the school's history, did a credita- their 20 to the VMI 10, chiefly on the tosses ble job, finishing the year with three victor- of Smith to Stoudt, Emelianchik and Kirk ies, six losses and one tie. With a break or Kressler, but Keydet end Dan Phlegar's two along the way, the record could have interception halted the advance. Stoudt's 72-yard run gave Richmond a 7-0 been much better. The Spiders defeated East Carolina, 10-7, lead over Virginia Tech, but the Gobblers, in the season's opener and the Pirates didn't paced by brilliant Quarterback Bob Schweilose another game all season. Davidson ckert, stormed 80 and 78 yards for scores bowed to Richmond , 21-13, and the Spiders and a 14-7 lead. A fumble, recovered by won an impressive 26-6 victory over The Kressler, a 23-yard run by Stoudt and a Citadel. A pass interception forced the Smith pass to Stoudt which carried to the Spiders to settle for a 7-7 deadlock with two set up the Spiders' touchdown by Ken V.M.I. after Richmond had driven to the Wilbourne. Going for the win rather than Keydet 10-yard marker in the fourth period. the tie, Richmond faked a kick. Bill Silvi Coach Ed Merrick's team, which had rolled out and passed but Tech's Mike Cahill bowed to Tennessee, 34-6, put up a brilliant intercepted to preserve Tech's one-point · battle before losing to Florida, 35-28, and victory. lost a hard fought 7 -0 decision to rugged Playing fine offensive ball, the Spiders Southern Mississippi, gambled on a two- easily defeated The Citadel as Smith threw point conversion pass against Virginia Tech, two touchdown passes and Wilbourne tallied the team which captured the Southern Con- twice. Syracuse, however, intercepted five ference title, and had it intercepted. As a Spider aerials and scored three of its touchresult, Tech won a 14-13 thriller . The brutal downs via the air lanes. schedule and a breakdown in the defensive A 12-yard Smith to 'Emelianchik pass gave secondary finally caught up with the Spiders Richmond a 7 -0 lead over William and Mary in their final two games and they were de- in the Thanksgiving Festival Elash, but it was feated by powerful Syracuse, 50-0, and arch the Indians' day. Tribe quarterback Dan rival William and Marv, 20-6. Henning tossed two touchdown passes and Halfback Kenny Stoudt and end Pete set up another score with his aerials as W&M Emelianchik, both juniors, were named on defeated the Spiders for the first time since the All-Southern team and Senior Guard Joe 1958. Kessel was chosen on the second team . Stoudt averaged 5.7 yards a carry and caught 20 passes for three touchdowns. EmelianCoach Joe Downing's University of Richc\1ik caught 21 passes, four of them for mond freshman eleven completed a highly touchdowns. successful campaign. After an opening 6-0 In the VMI game the Keydets scored first loss to Bullis Prep, the Baby Spiders deRichmond's John Telepo (50) leaps to launch a jump shot as Davidson's Fred Hetzel (44) on a one-yard plunge set up by Andy feated the VMI Rats, 24-7; the William and and Dick Snyder offer resistanc e. Spider Tom Tucker's 29-yard punt return, but Richmond Mary Papooses, 9-0; the East Carolina freshTenwick is at right. The Wildcats won, 52-49, evened the score at 7-7 on the passing of men, 36-6, and a strong Chowan Junior ColQuarterback Ronnie Smith, the payoff pitch lege team, 20-13. at the Arena . [ 13
J
