Black'College Sporis RevieW SEES Alcorn: A vi By DAVID BULLA Review Staff Writer Alcorn State's rise to the top in the Southwestern Athletic Conference last year had its ramifications, one of which was to make recruiting easier for Coach Marino Casern and his staff. **This year recruiting was far better than last year/' said Casern, whose 1984 team posted a 9-1 record. 41 We were better able to meet our needs. 4 The increased exposure we received, coupled with a successful program (16 winning seasons in the last 19 years), made us more attractive. So we were able to recruit that player with great size and good speed." Casern's greatest needs were defensive linemen, defensive backs and running backs. Three of his top recruits were linemen, including Anthony Wood, Sterling Garman and Cecil Trotter. Running backs Ezra Thomas and Cedric Bush are expected to see more than a little playing time this season. Elliott Smith was the top secondary recruit. "You hope a few in each class witt help immediately," Casern said. w7p/i?tiuj/i IC* f s jiz %s& &^I^3K .si H> Utr j?r .- . , K^A| ' jpj^M v ^^K. Va > * -i^H ' u " iil^l Waverty Martin Store Manager Food Lion, Inc. fog* lO-Septemtoer, 1985 3SSS5ESSS5 m } SBHHESbSBSBBtfeBa finning year "We've got about a half dozen this year. But you also know about 90 percent won't, so you just hope they contribute eventually." Mississippi Valley State's top losses included all-America wide receiver Jerry Rice and defensive linemen Lloyd Mumphrey and Robert Sanders. Yet Coach Archie "Gunslinger" Cooley believes he can find adequate replacements. 4'No one can replace Jerry Rice," he said. "But our new crop will make "The increased exposure we re program, made us more attracti player with great size and good names for themselves. Without Mumphrey and Sanders, the defensive line will be watched closely. But I think we have quality talent there.*' One of the Delta Devils' best recruits is robust Ryan Burgess of Eudora, Ark. Burrell stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 290 pounds. Cooley and his staff recruited another giant in 6-5, 295-pound Ronnie Webster of Chicago rk keeps pric p P.O < S ail bbbbbbb begets a hef and a talented defensive back in Mar- a l/in Praun AAA A IVWl p Cooley said successful 1983 and '84 n seasons put some additional money in the athletic department's coffers, giv- c ing the MSVU staff the luxury to li recruit more extensively. The sixth- 2 year Delta Devil coach was 14-16-1 in F his first three years at the Itta Bena, (< Miss., school, compared to a 16-4-1 showing the last two seasons. That in- J dudes a 9-2 ledger last year. 1 4n store as it is on a basketl lalified, hardworking peopl< management mean lower p: od Lion store. And teamw< ibled us to become thj fasti jermarket chain in America s to find out more about th am and how you might pla; >id growth, contact us soon lartment of Human Resources >d Lion, Inc. Box 1330 . sbury, NC 28144 ty haul nd defensive linemen, and we got the 'iijrsikoi piaycrs wno won ficip lmlediately." The Jaguars recruited 22 players, inluding 15 linemen. Among the best ine recruits are brothers Calvin (6-3, 40) and Carl Milligan (6-3, 250), Ken louse (6-4, 270) and Darry Brooks 5-3, 220). Southern also landed a transfer in eff Alexander, who had played at 'ulane. Alexander should see time at tinning back. Grambling State's Eddie Robinson. oming off a 7-4 season, likes to conentrate on the long term. He prefers 3 minimize the role of freshmen and, fter losing only six lettermen, Robinon expected only one newcomer to lake a contribution this season in corerharlf Rirlrv RronpK .W T ? ? amavn T WIMllVllt Jackson State's W.C. Gorden refers to work for the long term, too. iven though Jackson returns just nine tarters, Gorden will find replacements mong his returning players. "None of this year's crop will con ibute right away," said Gorden, 'hose 1984 team posted the first losing Please See Page 27 J r ?I a xv iun: t in a Food sail court. i at all levels rices in every >rk has 5st growing i. If you would e Food Lion y a part in our \.*A