It’s Time To Put Money Into Football Program
Stajf Report
Congratulations to Coach
Kenny Phillips and the Fayette\ille
State Universit> football team.
They finished with the school's
first winning season and 3 ears and
brought respectabilit}’ back to a
program that was going nowhere
fast. They finished with a 6-4
record and for the first time in
ions. FSU was a legitimate
contender for the Central
Intercollegiate Athletic title.
After weeks on the gridiron
Phillips and his warriors desene
a much needed break. They ha\e
pro^ en to the rest of the Central
Intercollegiate Athletic Association
that they are a force to be
reckoned with in the future.
Looking at this year's roster of
young players, it's clear that this
is no flash-in-the-pan team.
Phillips has the team moving
forward and that's great.
Phillips has done what he has
been charged to do. now it’s time
for the imiversit\' to join Philhps
in his program-building efforts.
First and foremost, the
uni\ ersit>- should do whatever it
takes to keep Phillips on the job.
It's a known fact that coaches at
FSU come and go like game show
contestants, so to ensure the fiiture
of FSU football, it is imperative that
there is some stability.
Players like playing for
coaches and programs that are
proven winners. Phillips has
proA en himself in just two years
on the job. Although last season s
record was not indicative of
Phillips' capabilities, he did
something no other football coach
has been able to do for a long,
long time — instill confidence in
his young players. He did that by
hiring a supporting staff who
Intramural
Sports A Hit
By Cordny Gilchrist
Stajf Writer
Intramiu-al sports are designed
for FSU students to display tlieir
talent and good sportsmanship in
flag football, basketball. \ olle>t)all.
soccer, and softball. Flag Football,
which consisted of a group of
tough, dedicated males, had about
se\ en teams that competed against
each other from October 1 through
No\ ember 12. Out of all of the teams,
the Hea^y Hitters were the champs
of the OA erall season with a score
of 6-0. Volleyball games are held
e\ er> Wednesday at 6:00 pm in the
Lilly Gymnasium. The season is not
o\ er. so it isn't too late to attend.
Men and women basketball is
ha\ing registration through Friday
December 14. The registration forms
can be picked up from donn RA's.
the student center, or Room 206 in
the Lilly G\in. The confirmation of
the teams will be made on Monday.
December 17,2001. The first game
will begin January 14,2002. For more
information Contact Tim Heath.
Director of Intramural Sports. Room
206 Lill\ Gv-m or caU 672-1188.
The FSU Football Team had one of its best seasons ever.
believed in his philosophy or hard
work, and he let his players know
from the first day of practice that
he w ould not settle for mediocrity.
Prior to Phillips's arrival.
FSU's football players's moral
was almost shattered beyond
repair. Double digit losses were
as predictable as fiied chicken on
Sundays in the university
cafeteria. Students went to the
game to socialize and watch the
marching bands instead of rooting
on their team.
This year was completely
different. For the first time in a long
time, students, aliunni, faculty and
staff game out in big numbers to
cheer on their gridiron gladiators.
Credit, without a doubt, goes
to Phillips. Now it's time for the
university to pay up. Not only
should the} reward him for what
he has done, but his players need
a pat-on-the-back as well.
At one point coaches at FSU
operated on a year-to-year basis.
It's not know if that practice is
still in operation, but if it is, it
should be tossed out the w indow,
especially when it comes to
Phillips. Other than actually
bringing a CIAA titie to FSU. w hat
more proof does FSU need in
order to determine if Phillips is the
right man for the job or not?
Let's be realistic. Phillips is
making himself a commodity in
coaching. Just like Rick} Duckett
who left FSU for Winston-Salem
State and e\ entuaUy the UniA ersit}'
of South Carolina, Phillips will
soon be courted by other high-
profile football teams to rebuild
their programs. FSU doesn't need
to wait until someone comes
knocking on Phillips' door to
realize the caliber of coach they
have. That may be too late. They
need to realize it now and reward
him for what he has done.
Here is what the Broncos'
'Voice proposes to Athletic
Director William Carver. If the
university still offers one-year
contracts to its coaches, it's time
to rethink that issue. Gi\ e Phillips
what he rightfully deser\ es. Gi\ e
the man a contract that not only
guarantees job security, but will
keep Miltures from other schools
hovering overhead for his
ser\ices. Give him the opportunity
to build the football program into
one similar to riA al Winston-Salem
State. It will be money well-spent.
Secondly, it's time to reward
Phillips' players with facilities of
w hich they can be proud. Luther
“Nick" Jeralds Stadium is an
eyesore. Recruiting is seriously
hindered by the lack of a quality
playing field. Phillips and his
players have to be embarrassed
when recruits visit and take a tour.
They can only show recruits the
weight room for so long before
they eventually will want to see
the football stadiiun.
Yes, renovating Jeralds
Stadium is a big task, but it's one
that must be undertaken to ensure
the longevity of the football
program. Unfortunately,
Fayetteville doesn't enjoy the
luxury of other metro cities. It
doesn't have a municipal or
Photo by Kantrell Shelton
county stadiiun in which to play-
big football games. Winston-
Salem has Bowman-Gray. NCCU
has it's own stadium in addition
to Durham County Stadium.
Johnson t. Smith has Memorial
Stadium and recently played a
game against NCCU in Panther
Stadium. FSU has nothing e.xcept
Jeralds. Big games with rival
WSSU and homecoming make
attending almost unbearable.
Crowds are huge. People are
walking shoulder-to-shoulder.
Finding a place to sit is almost
impossible. Cheerleaders find
themselves having to fight off
crowds just to do a routine.
It's time for a change, and
what better time than now.
The football team is on the
rise. We have a quality coach who
knows what it takes to win. but
most importantly, we ha\ e a team
whose confidence is riding high.
The talk about rebuilding is
o\er. It's time to create a dvnastv.
Men’s, Women’s Teams Predicted To Fare Well
Don't think because the
Fayetteville State women's
basketball team lost key
players from its 2001 CIAA
title team it is not thinking
about repeating or getting
another title in a y ear or two.
The Broncos lost their top
defensive play er and scorer in
Shaunici Morgan. Morgan w as
the MVP of the CIAA
tournament as well. They also
lost versatile forward Marion
Moore, reserve center
Stephanie Barksdale and 3-
point shooter Michelle Dent.
It's a lot to replace, so
coach Eric Tucker went and
found replacements. CIAA
coaches believe that, too,
because they picked the
Broncos to finish second in
the West at the CIAA media
luncheon in Raleigh on
Thursday. N.C. Central is the
favorite in the West. Virginia
State was selected to w in the
East.
‘Talent-wise, I think we're
OK,” Tucker said. “I don't see
any glaring weaknesses accept
oiu" post play. We don't haA e that
much depth in the post position.
Last year nobody was tall, but
we had enough of them. But
we’ve got some new talent.
We're just going to have to stay-
healthy at the end because we
are not as deep.”
Winston-Salem State men's
team returns five starters and
three key reser\ es from a team
that went 25-5 last season, yet
the CIAA coaches picked the
Fayetteville State men s
basketball team to w in the West
Division.
The Rams (13-3 CIAA, 8-2
West) also advanced to the
second round of the NCAA
tournament and could be one of
the best Division II schools in
the country-.
But the Broncos’ late-season
surge, including its runner-up
finish in the CIAA tournament,
left a more lasting impression on
the \ oters. The Broncos edged
out the Rams as the No. 1 team
in the West, while Shaw
University w as picked to w in the
East Division at the CIAA media
day- in Raleigh on Thursday.
“It’s surprising on one hand
and then on the other hand it’s
not surprising,” said FSU
basketball coach Mike Bernard
about his team's first-place
selection. “We had a great
showing in the tournament.
Because of the way w e play ed
in that tournament and with a
lot of people back, some people
assumed we would be on the
top. I w elcome the opportunity
and the challenge.”
Urban Sports &
Entertainment Group also
released its TV schedule. The
FSU-WSSU game will be
televised Saturday, Feb. 16 at
Capel Arena.
The Broncos beat WSSU in
the CIAA semifinals in Februars-.
Story courtesy of The
Fayetteville Observer