ORANGE BOWL
LSU still uses three teams—the starting White team, the offensive Go team and the defensive Chinese Bandits. Coach Paul Dietzel tries to divide the playing time evenly, so LSU's depth could be a factor if the day is hot. The Chinese Bandits are especially strong this year. Two of their backs, Dwight Robinson and Tommy Neck, tied for the conference leadership in pass interceptions—which means trouble for Colorado's passing. LSU's offense is conservative, with fads and fancy stuff kept to a minimum. Using what amounts to a slot T, the team relies on counterplays and traps designed to slip its fast backs—Wendell Harris (crashing line, above) and Jerry Stovall—inside the tackles. Although running is stressed, the team has been successful on sprint-out passes, where Quarterbacks Jimmy Field and Lynn Amedee follow the man in motion as if to sweep end, pass to him as he cuts downfield. When LSU reaches the goal line, look for a trick play. The fullback may hurtle over the line, without the ball, as the quarterback skirts end or flips a quick pass. LSU strategy will be to play a cautious game, wait for Colorado to make a mistake and then move in.
Colorado has a balanced team. Its passing attack, with Quarterback Gale Weidner throwing primarily to End Jerry Hillebrand, can break open a game. Against Kansas, behind 19-0 in the fourth quarter, Colorado scored three times to win, all on long passes. Weidner is especially effective on the roll-out, which Coach Sonny Grandelius calls "the action pass." Colorado has a good running attack too, which makes the team difficult to defend against. The team uses the standard sweeps, counters and traps, with Halfbacks Teddy Woods and Buffalo Bill Harris doing most of the carrying. Colorado's line is led by All-America Joe Romig, who plays middle linebacker on defense. Generally the team uses a four-man line and three linebackers—the 4-3 defense—with four safety men. Should Colorado score first, it will probably stick to running, and if it should go ahead by more, it will turn ultraconservative, even kicking on third down. But if LSU takes the lead, Weidner will throw a lot. This will be a chessman's game, cautious, strategic and perhaps dull. There shouldn't be much scoring, three touchdowns at most. LSU should win.
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ILLUSTRATION
SAUL LAMBERT