Bill Cappleman: Born to Stardom

Fifty college stars, from nearly every one of the 50 states will enter professional football's "battle of the purse strings" before Bill Cappleman.

The former Florida State star, however, may be one of the first players to win the individual war with professional football.

Cappleman, 22, was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round: He was teh 51st collegian to go in the annual draft.

Though he hesitated to discuss financail matters because, as he said, "Even I don't know anything at the moment," the Dunedin native who broke nearly every passing record is confident he'' have no trouble financially with the Vikings.

Cappleman's price tag, thought not as hight as it might have been because of the late choice, should nevertheless be substantial.

He has the credentials while present Viking quarterbacks have, at any rate, experience.

Joe Kapp, 32, is a former Canadian football quarterback who spent many of his productive years north of the border. Gary Cuazzo, on the other hand, has had the distinction of playing behind, among others, Johnny Unitas, Earl Morall and, most recently, Kapp. That just about constitutes the 28-year-old's only distinction.

While Cappleman might have found easier sledding with such teams as the Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, or Boston Patriots, the former Dunedin High Start sshould make it with the Vikings, both at the bank and on the playing field.

Here's why. Cappleman's attitude is good. "I can take anybody's job away in time," said Bill. "It's only a matter of how long it takes for me to prepare for the job."

Cappleman took precious little time preparing to take Gary Pajcic's job, an inheritance from Kim Hammond. In fact, he was abruptly called into Florida State history during the second game of the 1968 season - against FLorida - and instantly won the job. Cappleman-led teams won 14 of 18 games for Coach Bill Peterson.

Secondly, he's a quarterback of the new generation. Cappleman stands 6-foot-3, weighs 215 pounds and can throw the ball almost the length of the field. He once said that his height and his arm would help him through pro football. And that's exactly two of the three ingredients quarterbacks need in pro ball.

Cappleman, in addition, has courage.

He proved it his past season while calling signals behind one of the most porous offensive lines in Seminole history. Time and again he'd be caught behind the line of scrimmage, but time and time again he'd perform in the classing style -- "eating" the football in lieu of throwing it away.

The young man, however, battled back just as many times to lead FSU to another successful season. Without first-rate receivers and offensive linemen his senior year, the personable young man and Pinellas County's most successful player in recent history, supported last summer's post-season theories that he'd be one of the finest quarterbacks in the nation in 1969. He was.

Now he looks towards the future with the same open mind he had before Tuesday's draft.

"I have a learning process to go through," said Cappleman, referring to his role with the Vikings in 1970, "But, it should be smooth.

"The Viking receivers ae young and anxious, as I am. Together we have an opportunity to set the world on fire. Minnesota's a winner -- they've proved that in the past. My job is to make them a winner in the future. And that's exactly what I plan on doing."