News Argus, December 2001
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HEARTBREAKER
WSSU loses CIAA championship game to VU
By Donutea Johnson
Argus Reporter
The Rams (8-3) were looking to
become only the fifth different
school in CIAA history to three-
peat as champs last month, but
failed as Virginia Union claimed
the championship, 31-24.
Expectations were high
because the Rams have dominat
ed the CIAA the past three years
and had the home-field advan
tage at Bowman Gray Stadium.
Only one thing stood in the way:
Virginia Union (8-2) came into
the championship with a
renewed confidence. They upset
the Rams in a seesaw wacky fin
ish at VU early in September,
beating the Rams by only one
point. That was the Panthers'
first win over the Rams in 11
years, and they were looking to
prove their win wasn't a fluke.
Both teams were predicted to
finish first in their divisions, so
it's no surprisethat they met in
the championship game. The
Rams came in with a six-game
winning streak, and VU came in
with a five-game winning streak.
Expectations were high as this
was a rematch of last year's
CIAA championship game,
where the Rams came away with
the victory.
The Rams were able to take an
early lead from an Ashton
Oakley field goal early in the first
quarter to make it 3-0. However,
momentum was sapped from the
two-time defending champs
when quarterback Josh McGee
went down with a thumb injury
early in the first quarter. He
returned but was not able to go
for the second half. Virginia
Union took a 7-3 lead with a 47-
yard touchdown pass to Jerome
Haskett. The Rams rallied late in
the second quarter with a 2-ynrd
touchdown run from Nathan
Swindell that cut into VU's lead,
and the Rams went into the half
down 13-10.
in the third, the Panthers
jumped all over the injury-rid
dled Rams and scored 18 points
in under three minutes. The
Rams were able to rally in the
fourth with two key drives to cut
the lead to 31-24 but fell one
touchdown short of breaking
even with the Panthers.
Quarterback Jasun Thompson
finished as Coca-Cola MVP for
Virginia Union. He guided
Virginia Union to 328 offensive
yards in the victory over WSSU.
Thomas Coleman led all receivers
with five receptions for 105
yards. Ralph I lunter made two
critical interceptions to disrupt
the Rams' offense.
Standouts for the Rams
include quarterback Josh McGee
who gave a gutsy performance
leading the Rams in the first half
of the game before a game-end
ing injury.
1 le finished the half with an
injury to his left thumb. I lis per
formance in the red zone and
leadership on the field gained
him Coca-Cola MVI’ for Winston-
Salem State. Calvin Bryant led
the Rams' defense with 16 tack
les.
Women’s volleyball made
great strides this season
By Donutea Johnson
Argus Reporter
The CIAA recently
held its 47th Volleyball
Championship Tourn
ament in Winston-
Salem on Nov. 2 -3.
The Winston-Salem
State Lady Rams quali
fied for the champi
onship for the first time
since 1988, but lost their
last three games of the
season, finishing with a
record of 10-13.
The Lady Rams
improved dramatically
from last year's team,
which finished 3-23.
This year's record is a
considerable improve
ment because this
year's team included
eight freshmen. The
Lady Rams look for
ward to big things from
their young team in the
future.
The two dominating
forces in the tourna
ment were top-seeded
Shaw University and St.
Augustine's College.
The two finished the
regular season unde
feated in their division
as Eastern and Western
division champions.
In the end, the Lady
Falcons won their
astonishing 19th cham
pionship, also winning
the right to go the
NCAA Division II
Regionals.
St. Augustine's
Karina Soto was named
MVP
Several Rams receive CIAA awards,
including Defensive Player of the Year
By Andre’ Chinn
Special to the Argus
Answers to November’s sports trivia
1. C. Pete Richardson was head coach of WSSU's
football team before Kermit Blount.
2. A. Richard Huntley is the all time leading rusher
in WSSU's history - 6,286 yards.
3. C. Eleven Rams have gone on to play professional
football in the NFL.
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic
Association hosted a banquet to tip-off
the CIAA championship between
Virginia Union University and Winston-
Salem State University.
The Winston-Salem State football
players entered the banquet flashing
their two rings from the 1999 and 2000
championships, while the Panthers
entered with their heads high after beat
ing the Rams 24-22 in the first meeting
between the two.
Jeremy Strayhorne, a freshman defen
sive back for WSSU said, "It was kind of
funny peacefully breaking bread with
the enemy that you are going to battle
against on Saturday, but I had a nice
meal."
Ralph Hunter, a free safety for
Virginia Union said, "It's nice coming to
Winston-Salem and eating with the
defending champions that you upset,
and holding your head high because you
knocked them off their pedestal."
Jeffrey W. McLeod, an assistant to the
commissioner of the CIAA, introduced
guest speaker Mel Blount with a football
Hall of Fame video about his career.
Blount, one of the greatest players in
black college sports, was drafted from
Southern University in 1970 by the
Pittsburgh Steelers. He earned five Super
Bowl rings and finished his career hold
ing the Steelers' record as all-time inter
ception leader at 57. In his speech, he
talked about living in a changing world
and giving thanks to God for all accom
plishments.
Yancey Thigpen, a former WSSU foot
ball star who also played for the Steelers,
attended the banquet as well.
After dinner, WSSU Athletic Director
Percy Caldwell presented DeAngelo
Bridges with the Courage Award.
Bridges suffered a mild stroke in the
middle of the 2000 season and with hard
work he returned to play again for
Fayetteville State University during the
2001 season.
Edward McLean, CIAA president,
presented the 2001 All-Conference
Awards to players from various CIAA
schools. Six WSSU players were among
the awardees. Tight end Arnell Wooten;
Center Marcus McNair; Guard Ronald
Pegues; and Place Kicker Ashton Oakley
were awarded first team offense honors.
Defensive end Robert Mackey and
Safety Stephen Kelly were awarded first
team defense honors. Kelly was also
named the CIAA "Defensive Player of
the Year."