College Football

SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT

Before last Saturday, the Gamecocks of South Carolina were busy proving that no one in the Carolinas could beat them. North, Western and East Carolina fell in succession before the Cocks by a combined score of 86-10. Now, with their 23-10 victory over Georgia, the Gamecocks may be looking to extend their dominance to other regions of the South. "They took us to the woodshed," was about all Georgia coach Vince Dooley could say afterward.

South Carolina's defense stopped Georgia's dazzling quartet of running backs, who were averaging between 5.5 and 7.6 yards per carry. Tailback Tim Worley, who entered the game averaging 145 yards a game, got only 45 on 12 carries.

The most impressive Gamecock was junior quarterback Todd Ellis, who completed 28 of 43 passes for 321 yards and a touchdown—a wonderful acrobatic end zone catch by freshman Robert Brooks. In four games Ellis is 78 of 124 for six touchdowns and 1,033 yards. During his first two seasons, Ellis had been plagued by interceptions—46—while trying to master coach Joe Morrison's complicated run-and-shoot offense. But operating a more conservative multiple set this season, Ellis hadn't thrown an interception until his 36th pass against Georgia.

Behind Ellis, and with the nation's third-best defense (five points per game), the Gamecocks could eventually rule the roost clear to, say, Tallahassee; Florida State invades Columbia on Nov. 5. Then the campaign gets downright provincial again, in the battle for the home-state title against Clemson in the regular-season finale.

THE TOAST OF DURHAM

Duke is also 4-0—its best start since 1971—and has a quarterback, 6'4", 215-pound Anthony Dilweg, whose statistics are as gaudy as Ellis's. On Saturday, Dilweg led the Blue Devils to a 38-34 victory over Virginia by completing 24 of 47 passes for 391 yards, with but one interception. He also threw for three TDs, giving him 11 for the season, best in the nation.

After understudying Steve Slayden for three years, Dilweg is finally enjoying center stage. He should: He's a drama and psychology major who apparently doesn't know the meaning of stage fright. "It amazes me how relaxed he is," says Blue Devil offensive guard Ted McNairy, "but sometimes he gets kind of weird." For instance? Well, against Northwestern, which Duke beat 31-21 three weeks ago, Dilweg came into the huddle and started singing 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall. A voice exercise, perhaps?

VOLUNTEERISM

After getting bombed 38-6 by Auburn, Tennessee, at 0-4, is off to its worst start in 26 years. If the Volunteers continue to lose—they host 2-1 Washington State this Saturday—Nashville radio sports talk host Duncan Stewart will get plenty of exposure. Last week, Stewart, a 42-year-old bachelor, set up housekeeping on the platform of a "Go Big Orange!" billboard located above Interstate 40 and vowed to stay there until the Vols win a game.