Cage Squad Not "Rebuilding”, But "Regrouping” By Harry Pickett Jerry Smith says he’s not rebuilding, “just regroup ing.” Regrouping, rebuilding, what ever one wants to caU it, Smith has his work cut out, if he expects to duplicate two back-to-back banner seasons, in which Chowan College dominated the Eastern Tarheel Conference, winning two undefeated conference championships. Smith realizes that having a successful campaign depends on the maturity of his players, particularly since only five of his 17 have any college experience, and only two are lettermen. But it is with these youngsters which Smith will have The Braves for 1979-80 The Broves posed for a photograph prior to a recent proctice session. Kneeling, left to right, are Chuck Maness, Elton Mosley, Haywood Evans, Mark Murdock, Floyd Fortune, Mark Hunter. Standing, Scott Colclough, assistant coach, Andre Cobb, Gene Earl Williams, Mark Moore, Larry Canaday, William Barnes, Johnny Johnson, Paul Owen, Douglas Stephenson, Kim Griffin and Coach Jerry Smith. Outstanding Football, Volleyball Players Honored to depend on this season, after finishing in the runner- up spot in Region 10 play a year ago with a predominantly sophomore team. “Last year we knew we had a shot of the champion ship,” Smith siad.” This year we don’t. It’s just like my first year here, but we know there’s no name on it (the 1979-1980 championship trophy). Gone from last year’s team are seven sophomores, which included five starters and four all-conference performers. Six are now attending four-year univer sities and colleges. William Bames, a 6-8 sophomore returns to hold down the pivot position. “We’re going to be young and inex perienced,” Smith noted. “Bames is the only person (returning) who got any time last year.” Johnny Johnson (6-6),a power forward from Tar^ro, lettered but saw limited action. Barnes started several games for the Braves after coming over from Greenville Rose High School and participating in the N.C. East-West All-Star game. A chronic back ail ment hampered his performance. “Barnes is the man,” Smith boasted. “I think everybody looks for him to take charge. “He was unanimus choice for captain. The players are expecting a lot from him and I am too. ” Others who have impressed Smith this fall include Kim Griffin, a freshman out of Durham who Smith labels “gutsy.” “Kim is an excellent shooter,” Smith smiled. “He’s not very big (6-4) but can get some rebounds. He’s going to be fun to watch.” Griffin has nailed down the small forward position, according to the coach. Another freshman player who’ll start for Smith’s five will be Hoke High School standout Andre Cobb. At a slender fr4. Smith describes this 18 year-old as “smooth”and “exciting” to watch. Cobb, who hails from Raeford, was courted by Outstanding players on Chowan College’s football and volleyball teams recently received awards at a banquet in the school cafeteria. Letters, certificates and other awards were also given out by the coaches. Also honored were Chowan’s cheerleaders with Mrs. Vann, sponsor, handing out let ters, certificates and pins. The featured speaker was Dennis Hagland, linebacker coach at Wake Forest University. He listed the carryover values of athletic competition as selflessness or teamwork, self discipline, and loyalty. He said these virtues, learned on the court or field, will aid the student-athletes throughout life. Speaking about the Demon Decons’ 8-3 season and invitation to play in the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, Fla.,Hagland said Wake’s final record came as no sur prise to the “insiders,” the players and coaches. “Even though we had a 1-10 record in 1978, we had played some close games against tough teams. Purdue only beat us 14-7. But some of the pollsters failed to check anything but our final record.One major magazine picked us as one of the two worst football teams in the nation. If they had done their homework, they would have known we had the nucleus for a very good team,” Hagland said. The volleyball awards were presented by Coach Janet Collins. Wanda Bacote of Charlotte was named the outstanding offen-. sive player, while Terri Tyler, freshman co captain from Raeford, earned the honor from the defense. Sophomore co-captain Georgia Ross of Charlotte was named the team’s most valuable player. Mrs. Collins said the team accomplished two of its three goals for the season. Chowan bettered last season’s 7-17 mark by winning 10 and losing 13. Chowan also improved its regional tournament finish from third last year to second this year. She said the players had given Chowan one of its best seasons ever including a record four-game winning streak. “Two of the four wins were against senior colleges that had beaten us soundly earlier on their own courts,” Mrs. Collins noted. Five members of the football team receiv ed outstanding player honors as chosen by the players and presented by Head Coach Jim Garrison and assistant coaches Jerry Hawkins, Dan Surface and Scott Colclough. Named co-winners as the outstanding defensive linemen were Robert Brown of Edenton and Hal Henderson of Charleston, S.C., all-American nominees. Mike Shep pard of Alexandria, Va., also an aU- American candidate, received the honor as top defensive back. many colleges. “He’s going to score on fast breaks,” Smith declared. “It could be that he’ll end up at point guard, and that would be a very large team.” Possible sophomore starters in clude: Hajnvood Evans (5-9) of Tarboro; Mark Murdock (5-8) of China Grove; and Jean Earl Williams (6-6) of Lewiston. SUPPORT THE BRAVES and THE LADY BRAVES ... attend the Games! For December, 1979 PAGE FIFTEEN