Black athlete takes bitter with sweet
Allen Johnson
Sports Editor
Although it seems decades ago,
it was only exactly 10 years ago
that the first Black athlete
enrolled as a scholarship athlete
at Carolina.
His name was Charles Scott.
Since that time, Black athletes
have made a profound impression
in a number of sports at the
institution.
Yet, the road for Black athletes
m Chapel Hill has often been a
rocky one.
Aside from catching passes,
stealing bases and dribbling
basketballs, the Black athlete has
waged other struggles as well.
In February 1969, Scott and
teammate Bill Chamberlain were
the focal points of a controversy
involving the BSM and the
university administration. At the
Bill Chamberlain
time, the BSM had levied
demands which included the
active recruitment of Black
freshmen and the establishment
of an Afro-American studies
department. Chamberlain had
stated, "I feel that if I'm going to
represent the university on the
basketball court, they (the
administration) should represent
me and my Black brothers.
Three years later, 6'9” Robert
McAdoo, a Greensboro native,
was instrumental in the Heels
29-5 season and third-place
national finish. McAdoo had fond
memories of Chapel Hill, and
intense pride in North Carolina,
reminiscing in a recent Sports
Illustrated cover story, "You
Charles Waddell
know, along about 40 games into
the season, all I'm thinking about
is getting back home. I really do
love North Carolina." Bitter
memories also linger for Mac,
who expressed disappointment at
being overlooked in the balloting
for ACC Player-of-the-Year and
an all-time ACC team.
Frustrating
Around the same time, Charles
Baggett, a quarterback from
Fayetteville, played on an
undefeated freshman snuad, then
found himself red-shirted by
Coach Bill Dooley during his
sophomore year. Disillusioned,
Baggett transferred to Michigan
State and became one of the
premiere signal callers in the Big
Ten and the nation.
Similarly, Charles Waddell,
vyho achieved notoriety in
football, basketball and track, was
perhaps one of the most versatile
athletes in Carolina history.
Waddell earned credentials an
All-ACC and All-American
performer, but had his brilliant
collegiate career somewhat
dimmed by a frustrating senior
year in which the Southern Pines
native was not only hampered by
injuries, but found his playing
time gradually decreasing.
"It was a very disappointing
season for me (in 1 974)," Waddell
said. "I didn't get to play as much
as 1 wanted to."
Although blacks have received
increased exposure at Carolina
and other ACC schools, exposure
of another sort can also be
achieved.
Senior centerf ielder Early
Jones recalled in an interview a
number of spectators who would
sneer and shout out derogatory
remarks concerning his race.
Press criticized
Moreover, the press itself has
been criticized for often snubbing
Blacks in terms of awards and
recognition.
Charlie Scott voiced
disapproval of the selection of
John Roche as Player-of-the-Year
and immediately drew the ire of
sportswriters. Wrote former UNC
Sports Information Director Jack
Williams; "Say the shoe was on
the other foot. Suppose Scott had
been named Player-of-tne-Year
and Roche had disagreed publicly,
i believe some newsmen would
have supported Roche in his view.
But, it was different with Charlie.
It was almost as though they were
saying, "the Black man isn't
supposed to speak his mind."
Somewhat conversely, the
special treatment afforded Black
athletes as compared to average
Black students has also disturbed
many of these athletes—in the
past and in the present.
Said Charlie Scott in a 1969
interview. "Accepted? What is
acceptance? Being invited to
Russ Conley, football standout—victories and defeats.
parties? Being invited to join a
fraternity? 1 didn't because 1 didn't
think I'd enjoy being the only
Black in it."
"It hurts me that other Blacks
who make better grades than 1 do
and who have better personalities
aren't invited to join because they
aren't athletes. I didn't want to
take advantage of some things
open to me only because 1 play
basketball."
In 1975 Carolina senior
player Walter Davis said, "It's
Robert McAdoo
better for me than the average
Black student who is not playing a
sport. 1 don"t dig that much. 1 wish
everybody would be treated the
same, but it so happens that we
find things like this in the world
today."
The history of Black athletes at
Carolina has been a history of
victories and defeats, and gains
and losses. Black athletes have
both praised and criticized the
university. The Scotts, Waddell's
and Fords have remained while
the Baggett's, McAdoo's and
Crompton's have left. Black
athletes are becoming more
commonplace at Carolina, in the
ACC, and indeed in
predominantly white institutions
across the country.
Still it seems, the sweet has
always been accompanied by the
bitter.
—With Michelle Allison, Skip Foreman,
Lonza Hardy and Gwen Wallace
Scott
stands up
for Blacks
(cont. from p. 6j
were also seeking official
university recognition of the
BSM. It was implied that part of
the "tactics" would be the
resignation of junior Charlie Scott
and freshman Bill Chamberlain
from their respective basketball
teams.
In the end neither quit. But,
both let the administration know
where they stood. Speaking
nervously for himself and Scott,
Chamberlain said, "1 feel that if
I'm going to represent the
University on the basketball court,
they (the administration) should
represent me and my Black
brothers."
Amid all this pressure Scott
went on to establish himself as
the best Carolina athlete and
one of the best college basketball
players of all times. From 1968-
70 he was an All-American in
eight different polls. Eastern
Regionals MVP ('69), ACC
Tournament MVP (69), ACC
Athlete of the Year ("70), and the
winner of the Patterson Medal as
top Carolina athlete in 1970.
Charlie Scott was amazing. He
warded off the forces of pressure
and the cries of racists. He fought
a great battle. He won.