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