Aggies top Howa Eg^Bg FBB^&Yal 9pi>4^''?^PH^-'^|mJP 3SHKBBVV *f?-i5?^ 1S2V. J ' !. ?j*$?.. : ' ry j? j^|W"r*~ ' F%/ ^3 Btoi# i . yraf*JBl Hp "j' "^j^^HHtafjE^i^ HcL -. 1BNVNS i!P. >;;: -v A Htt^ Joe Binion retrieves the ball as Howard's Davie James Parker). Black College Sports Life after the ME Rattlers plot new c By BARRY COOPER Syndicated Columnist Never in its long and illustrious athletic history ha; Florida A&M been embroiled in so much controversy. The Rattlers have dominated the black college sport; headlines the last two years, thanks to a lengthy schedul ing dispute with archrival Bethune-Cookman College anc the Rattlers' subsequent decision to withdraw from th< Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. So much negative publicity has been associated witt FAMU's name lately that you'd think the Rattlers hac traded in their orange and green uniforms for black hat; and commie flags. The truth is that Florida A&M is not the evil, pompou; institution that some would have you to believe. Certain ly, when it comes to looking out for No.l, FAMU has n peers. But to dump on the Rattlers for exercising sucl prudence is ridiculous and uncalled for. Interestingly, FAMU's stock in the public opinioi polls began to plummet just after Bethune-Cookmai went on a media tirade, suggesting the Rattlers were try ing to squash B-CC like a size-16 sneaker clamping dowi on a waterbug. While Bethune's tactics did not pay off as expected ii the form of a football game, it did increase FAMU' resolve to make what it felt were the best decisions despite the wishes of the marketplace. FAMU's fan warrtcd- the Rattlers to continue the popular series wit ^B^CC^aud to stay in a * league. None of that was to be, though, and now the Rattler are wading through uncharted waters, trying to navigat a npw direction. The outlook is good, even rosy. i One reason FAMU was able to make such bold move is that the school is still a hot property. When thinking c black college teams to telecast, network officials seem t consider the Rattlers first, and FAMU's name in footba usually is worth'an extra 5,000 tickets when the Rattlei are on the road. Because of that, the line of teams willing to play froi FAMU stretches far and wide. Now, FAMU must decic whether it wants to continue as an independent or ever tually join a conference. The feeling here, determined after gathering inform; tion from several well-placed sources, is that the Rattle will do one of three things: Remain independent for the 1984-85 athletic seasc and then immediately rejoin the MEAC. Remain independent for the next two years and r join the MEAC. Remain independent for the next two years and th( join forces with several predominantly white schools Florida, Georgia and Alabama toTorm a new Divisic I-AA conference. The best indications are that FAMU will not seek enter the Southwestern Athletic Conference, whi< already is top-heavy with powerhouse football clubs at also has its fill of decent basketball clubs. This is no knock against FAMU, but competing in t! SWAC is like playing in the Super Bowl every Sunda I I 1 rd, return to playo v X By ROBERT ELLER I Chronicle Sports Editor I A few years back, one C his team lose in the league toi R State Rams, remarked, MT tourney the 'Bighouse' Gainc . That was b&W in the late team has not won a CIAA tc coach were in the MEAC tot league's young tourney "Th vitational." Especially after watching their third straight tournamer the Greensboro Coliseum. The win earned A&T yet a SI some of the Division I heav league's automatic NCAA pc straight year. And, as has been the cas k seasons, Howard was the vie In making the Bison the 1 Ik Ft season, the Aggies trailed o given some anxious moment! experienced team, which stai overtime winner over Bethu W round. 73-59. A&T got to ?knocking off Delaware State Maryland Eastern Shore 6" round. After grabbing a 19-9 lead the contest, the Aggies mair tage until the Bison scored ei a two-minute stretch to pull the The Aggies then outscorec four minutes to regain the able to close the gap to 35-2 In the second half, tfte Bi point at 59-58 with four m the An ecstatic Don Corbett, called this one the mo titles, this one is special," "With the kids we lost from 1 Wynn defends (photo by ticipated our having a chan Please se i,Ar? Florida A&M's course in athletics * "Who needs that?" the Rattlers have got to figure No one knows which direction the Rattlers will take, 5 but the third choice seems intriguing. If FAMU did help start such a new league, it would be the first mixed I-AA > conference in the country. And, with each of the teams located within a five-hour drive of the other, travel costs 1 would be slashed. i Among the teams thinking of participating in such a venture are FAMU, Georgia Southern, Troy (Ala.) State i and the University of Central Florida, j If that league did get off the ground, the chance to 5 develop some natural rivalries and reduce travel costs would be so great that even Bethune-Cookman would s have to think of joining. Nfiw wouldn't that he something? ri BUILDING ON i L J YOUR ROOTS n ? _m_? j # * jt] || iiKj h B *10/900 ptMTl s3995 I - < cAtTo***^ '799T m***** " *3955 I S :"*?"TI SQMC '10 CNKVI01IT I1QQC CASIO ***** Monza Hatchback **** Bonne BrgM 4-5AQS (w | I y*mom,?Z. UMTtN JUQC IMS *5695 ";y? I e I '4995 I n I VJZIZ *4695 SSTSffi '4695 I in I $Lop '3995 2.VJR '29951 |^Mt *3995 2J?r#UT '2495| o l&Sm" *3995 ag '1895| PP^RRTTTF?FHPF2T^??frTfl2 BHBBIHIibSIIIHBMBB \ The C i ffs Give com p DKHUm supp firm s |?i|DA drive, save I Sf*ii_ IAA coach, after watching jrney to the Winston-Satem hey ought to rename this ?s Invitational/' p???m??? 70s, and a Gaines-coached >urnament since. But if that Jfc Jw^k i9JL J iay, he'd probably call that e North Carolina A&T In- ij the Aggies walk away with Saturday ^BHH^HBBP^^ mother chance to knock off yweights by picking up the A >st-season berth for the third M e in each of the past three ^^^^B m ^^^^B I bridesmaids for yet another nly once -- 2-1 -- but were B s by A.B. Williamson's less- B rted three freshmen. B f received a first-round bye, B ing South Carolina State, an ne-Cookman in the opening the championship game by 70-62. Delaware had beaten ___ '-52 in Thursday's opening |Fl0 Pepsi Cold ii ,u u. Salem salutes Will I less than eight minutes into ^ . u T. _ itained that 10-point advan- helped the C ght points in succession over vvnii? noipea . . I to within 23-21 at the 8:07 ChaiTiplOnSftJp lOST t dividual state title ir I thp Ricrtn 1H-? nvpr thp npvt ^ 10-point bulge. Howard was IN honor of Reyi 18 at the half. White, The Pepsi CC ison edged to within a single Sdlem Will make O < inutes remaining before the dthlotlC program. A{ st six points. Will White of Reyhol who won his third straight ti- Week, st satisfying. "Of the three said the hoarse a&t coach. Listen each Wednesday last year's team nobody an- SPORTS where ce of winning 20 games, the Week )e page B4 I????i TERRY Discoun ' i ii 1'it i t >'' ' t & Service ^^L^ufetiiie^on ?ra',e ^?">S As DUVljWwj Front or Rear I HIGH ' [_Jr OuaiiTY * ? _ R A ^ kk? \J^ RECAPS * $1995 Wup * , WE CARRY UL THESE WHEEL SHIES AND MANY WORE! L | SERVICE SPE( la ROTATE m l8R 19 ALL 4 TIRES i N?-UP !rat 1131 ** *" * 1 mco E3 mmo 4-Cyi. '32" I II $095 i'35WrwJ. ?34?|S 4 WINSTON-SALEM I THCAI'S ONE MEJ MM MV WillllTSWV It AS I MS NOSTIIIBIITT STOUT 74S-04M 721*Offi MwijirPAVB WEAVES | AMWfwTOOO ALLEN hronicle, Thursday, March 8, 1984-Page B3 American oany blood drives a^e a Red Cross art of our nation's blood >ly. So please have your tart planning for a blood today And you can help ? many lives tomorrow WUHelpWill^bu? REP ATHLETE I 'HE WEEK |_1 V ^ Bottling Company of WinstonWhite of Reynolds Senior High epsi Prep Athlete of the Week, lemons win the state swimming weekend. He also claimed an ini the lOO meters competition. nolds Senior High swimmer Will tla Bottling Company of Winston :ash contribution to tno Reynolds gain, congratulations to swimmer Ids, The Pepsi Prep Athlete of the y r _ at 8 p.m. on WSJS for Gene Overby he highlights Pepsi's Prep Athlete of the KING t Tire Centers CONTINUES THE BIGGEST 7 TIRE AND WHEEL ^ SALE ^ IN OUR HISTORY! ^ CHOOSE FROM 5 STYLES OF ^ WHEELS AND 28 SIZES OF TIRES. ^ FOUR TIRES AND FOUR CUSTOM WHEELS ALL FOR ... 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