12/THE BLUE BANNER/December 4, 1986
Sports
Sportsbeat
By Chris Allison
Sports Editor
Trying is all that matters
It really doesn’t matter that UNCA didn’t pull off a miracle
against Clemson University last night. It was the first game for
UNCA as a Division I team, and it was against a tough ACC
team that was hot off victories over Georgia State and Boston.
The Bulldogs had nothing to lose in this game and everything
to gain. If the Bulldogs accomplished their goals and came out
feeling positive about the way they played, the trip to Clemson
was a success.
Several of the Big South Conference teams have also faced
the strong challenge of powerhouse Division I teams. Although
this may not exactly add to an impressive record, it does say a
lot about the attitude behind the conference.
Most of the Big South Conference is comprised of first year
Division I teams who will struggle during the transition stage.
Many teams would be content to square off against weak
Division I teams to accumulate a winning record.
Apparently, the Big South Conference isn’t satisfied to go via
the weaker route, but is willing to face the strong teams early
so that the teams and the conference can grow as a result.
Armstrong State faced an Auburn team that is ranked
seventh by the Associated Press. The Pirates lost by forty
points, and then played Georgia only to lose by 25. Other
opponents that Big South teams have faced so far are Depaul,
Wake For^t and the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.
UNCA^ is also following the tougher route to success. Of the
Bulldogs first six games, they will face Clemson, N.C. State,
Western' Carolina, East Tennessee State University and Furman.
The Bulldogs will have plenty of chances to pull off the big
upset. The Bulldogs surprised Qemson in 1980 by using a stall
g^e to almost pull off an upset. It was a different game last
night however. Now there is a shot clock and a deadly three
point shot which the Tigers love to use.
Despite the loss, the Bulldogs should be proud of their
progr^. They have come from a NAIA school to a NCAA
Division I team in a few years and I’m sure they can go a lot
f^her still. There haven’t been any major upsets yet but in
time there will be.
Intramural badminton
championship finals held
The first intramural badminton
finals at UNCA were recently
completed with Apurba Khadli
defeating Kim Groendal 11-5, 11-7
for the title.
The competition consisted of 16
participants. "It was a good
turnout,” coordinator Suzanne
Patterson said. "Next year we’ll run
singles and doubles."
One of best things about the sport
is its uniqueness. "It was new and
different," Patterson said. "We had a
different target audience."
Because of participants’ schedule
conflicts, the competition was held
in the morning. Patterson hopes to
make it an evening event next year.
Intramural ping pong, the latest
sport offered, will be held in the
spring.
J * * J ^
J
Staff photo-Sarah Gottfried
Field dedicated
Asheville Mayor Louis Bissetfe (L), UNCA Chancellor David
iirown (C) and North Carolina legislator Gordon Greenwood
participated in the dedication of the new athletic fields.
CINCA^s new athletic fields are
dedicated; named for Greenwood
iJy Geoff Cabe
Assistant Sports Editor
UNCA athletes and students will
have new athletic fields to use by
next summer, completing one of the
most important phases in the growth
of the athletic department.
The new fields were dedicated to
Gordon Greenwood in a ceremony on
Nov. 24. Greenwood, a state
legislator recently reelected to
office, was responsible for pa^ng
the way for UNCA to become a fo
ur-year university.
As a state fepreisentative in 1963,
Greenwood sponsored the Higher
Education Act that made Asheville-
Biltmore College (the forerunner of
UNCA) a four-year school.
Greenwood graduated from Asheville-
Biltmore College in 1930.
"Gordon Greenwood seems to be
one of, if not the most important
person in the development of the
university and getting the money
appropriated for the fields," said
UNCA Athletic Director Ed Farrell
during the ceremony.
"Athletically, the fields saved our
life," said Farrell. "With the
additional students enrolling and the
addition of new intercollegiate teams
there was no place for us to go."
The new athletic fields, which
cost approximately $897,000, were
recently seeded. The complex inc
ludes a baseball field, a soccer field,
roads, parking lots and the
resurfacing of the track. Having
the^ fields on hand will also open
up the current soccer field for
intramural competition.
*We have quadrupled what we had
available." Farrell said. He said that
there was also enough funding on
hand to add lights to the intramural
and recreation field.
One person that is glad to see the
fields nearing completion is UNCA
baseball Coach Ken Bagwell, whose
teain had to use McCormick field
during its first two seasons.
"The last two years have been
awfiilly tough having to play and
practice off campus, and with little
cooperation from the Parks and
Recreation Department or the
general manager of the Tourists," he
said. 'Having the new fields will be
a shot in the arm."