Gary Who from C.W. Where?

Quarterback Pat Sullivan of Auburn had a lot to be thankful for on Thanksgiving Day. The most explosive passer in the history of the Southeastern Conference was named winner of the 1971 Heisman Trophy by a 152-vote margin over Cornell's hard-running tailback, Ed Marinaro. Sullivan, who guided Auburn to a 9-1 season and a berth in the Sugar Bowl, is regarded as a fine pro prospect. That does not necessarily mean that he will make it in the big league. In the past 20 seasons, such celebrated Heisman heroes as Notre Dame's Johnny Lattner (1953). Navy's Joe Bellino (1960). Oregon State's Terry Baker (1962) and U.C.L.A.'s Gary Beban (1967) all failed to flourish in the pros. And good as Sullivan is, a few scouts feel that he does not rate as high as a much less heralded passer: Gary Wichard of C.W. Post College.

When the scouts began beating a path to the Brookville, Long Island, campus this fall to see Wichard, the reaction of most fans was "Gary who from C.W. where?" "That's been the story of my life," sighs Wichard (pronounced Wish-hard). His final season at nearby Glen Cove High School was so undistinguished (passing rarely, he led the team to a mediocre 4-4 record) that Post Coach Dom Anile had to be talked into giving Wichard a second look. He eventually won a tuition scholarship to Post. After adding 30 Ibs. through weight lifting--6 ft. 2 in., he is now 217 Ibs.--he also earned the job of starting quarterback.

The Best Arm. This year, while holding their summer training camp at the Post campus, it was the New York Giants who were asking "Gary who?" Taking a job as a security guard at the camp, Wichard spent much of his time shagging footballs booted by Giant Place Kicker Pete Gogolak. Soon people were asking about the kid in the blue uniform who was throwing the ball back farther than Gogolak was kicking it. Backfield Coach Y.A. Tittle, the former Giant All-Pro quarterback, decided to find out. After watching Wichard wing a few 60-yd. passes to Giant receivers, Tittle concluded: "That may be the best arm I've ever seen."

C.W. Post opponents do not have to be told. To be sure, the Ithaca Bombers, Gettysburg Bullets and Kings Point Mariners are not the Minnesota Vikings, but Wichard's passing average of 228 yds. a game this season is impressive in any league. Ending the regular season with an 8-2 record, Wichard & Co. next week take on the Delaware Blue Hens, the top running team among small colleges, in the Boardwalk Bowl in Atlantic City.

Short Bullet. Scouts are impressed by the way Wichard runs the Pioneers' pro-style offense. Calling all of his plays at the line of scrimmage, he has developed the kind of radar-like sense for reading defenses that the pro teams prize. A classic drop-back passer, he is as accurate with the short bullet as he is with the long bomb. "If I need improvement in anything," says Wichard, "it would be in my ball handling. I can't spot anything I have to work on in my passing."

Neither can Jack Gotta, coach of the Ottawa Rough Riders in the Canadian Football League, who would like to draft Wichard but admits that "we'd have to offer him everything short of the Houses of Parliament and the Bank of Canada." The Baltimore Colts, eager to groom a replacement for Johnny Unitas and Earl Morrail, are also interested. For Gary, who once worried that the pros "wouldn't find me," the attention is reassuring. Now, all but certain of being snapped up in the first or second round of the pro draft, he says: "If they want you, they find you, wherever you are." Even at C.W. where.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.