6 BI^CK INK February 22, 1977
FUTURES
‘Sweet Carolines’ — hostesses, not bait
by Gregory day
If you have ever noticed the pages near
the back of a football program, you will
find a picture of fourteen attractive ladies
snuling straight at you. But wait, who are
these ladies and what are women doing in
a college football magazine? Well, if you
don’t already know, they are the
“sweethearts” of UNC football, called the
“Sweet Carolines.”
Now look a bit closer and you will see
four “fine” Black ladies in the picture.
They are Vivian Lucas, Denise Crisp, Rita
Todd and Amy Mittman. And now, believe
it or not, we can go inside this strictly
volunteer organization and learn first
hand what the girls think about themselves
and the group.
To become a “Sweet Caroline”, a young
lady must submit an application and have
an inter\iew at the Sports Information
'The recruita say this must
be a very friendly
university ivith all this
intermingling between
Blacks and nhites.'
Office. She is later notified by phone as to
whether or not she has been selected.
"It gives me something to do and I like
meeting people. Also, I enjoy meeting
recruits because I keep up with high school
football and I’ve learned a lot about
football from talking to the players,” notes
Rita, a sophomore zoology major from
Wilmington.
The “Sweet Carolines” meet and learn
about these prospective football players on
fall football Saturdays. Vi\ian, a senior
psychology major from Louisburg
elaborates, “We would go to upstairs
Chase and have a reception-type meeting
with recruits and their parents. It’s like
being a hostess and you have to enjoy
carrying on conversations with them.”
Denise, a sophomore psychology major
from Morganton comments, “I talk to the
players about their positions, their high
schools, the colleges they’re interested in,
their horoscopes, and things like that. I
really enjoy talking to their parents
because I have more things in common
with them and it relieves the monotony of
speaking about the same things with the
football players.”
The “Sweet Carolines” try to present a
friendly and pleasant atmosphere for the
football players. “The recruits sometimes
say this must be a very friendly university
with all this intermingling between Blacks
and whites,” says Amy, a fourth year
pharmacy student from Mount Airy.
But as far as advantages and rewards
Hostesses or halt? (from left to right) Rita Todd, Denise Crisp, and Amy Mittman. Not
pictured Is Vivian Lucas.
for being “Sweet Carolines” are con
cerned the girls don’t seem to have many.
They are assured of going to at least one
away game during the football season with
the opportunity of taking guests. They also
get passes to football games at home.
Any organization has a reputation or a
public image and the “Sweet Carolines”
as much as possible. The coaches point
them out and give us their profiles so we
can gather around them. Nine times out of
ten the best player is Black and he already
has six or seven white girls around him.”
Denise has the impression “that coaches
want us to tell football recruits that
Carolina academics are no problem and
'The coaches sometimes tell us to try to get to see the
best players as much as possible. They point them out
so ue can gather around them. \ine times out of ten
the best player is Black and he already has six or
seven uhite girls around him.’
are no exception, often drawing criticism
as “human bait” used to reel in choice
recruits. “I refuse to be cast in that
category,” Vi\ian says. “I resent being
known in that manner. I’m supposed to be
an instrument to persuade a player to
come here, but personally I define my role
as a “Sweet Caroline” as an advisor
concerning the academic and social en
vironment at UNC.”
Rita adds, “The biggest problem I an
ticipated concerning “Sweet Carolines”
was that the public would think I was going
out with the recruits, which isn’t so.
Yet, sometimes the “Sweet Carolines”
run into undesirable situations, not with
the general public, but with the coaches.
Amy explains, “The coaches sometimes
tell us to try to get to see the best players
football is first. I don’t know whether the
coaches consider a football player’s
academic ability,” she says.
“Also I have the impression from talking
to the coaches that they expect us to be
more actively involved on a deep social
level with the players. I disagree with this
idea, so I don’t do it.”
One big problem about the group, Amy
notes, is that "because so many Blacks are
recruited, there should be more Black
girls to greet them,” she says.
“Also many times the recruits bring
their girlfriends and you have to talk to
both of them instead of just him. So if you
appear to talk to only him, his girlfriend
may become disturbed.”
What do the football players think about
the “Sweet Carolines?” Ken Mack, a
sophomore strong safety from Goldsboro,
says, “All schools have a ‘Sweet Caroline’
type organization. Clemson, for instance,
'I'm supposed to be an
instrument to persuade
a player to come here,
but I personally define
niv role as an advisor.'
has the ‘Bengal Babes’ and other schools
have girls present to lure players to a
particular school. But the ‘Sweet
Carolines’ did not approach me in that
manner.”
Middle guard Dave Simmons, a
sophomore from Goldsboro, contends
“The ‘Sweet Carolines’ didn’t affect my
decision in coming here at all. All schools
that I visited had their girls such as at
Tennessee where they are called
‘Volerrettes.’ I’ve never heard of a player
coming to a school because of the girls.”
Mack adds, “If a recruit came to UNC
because of a ‘Sweet Caroline’, he’d be
crazy to let her be the biggest factor in his
decision. Chances are he’ll never see her
again. Therfe are other factors such as
academics, playing time, the dormitories,
and other things he must consider.”
“To the average football player, if he
has his head straight,” says Simmons,
“those girls won’t make any difference
where he goes. But, I do think the ‘Sweet
Carolines’ should be around the football
players more than they are. It makes you
feel good to have someone talking to you to
make you comfortable. They really don’t
do that much as compared to other
schools.”
“I’m sure the publi& sees them in a
negative way such as to lure the recruits
here,” says Mack,“but that is contrary to
what they really do.”
And like the other Black members of the
“Sweet Carolines,” Vivian Lucas makes
the point “that the ‘Sweet Carolines’ do not
want to be a big factor in drawing recruits.
The players should come because of the
quality of the school and because they
want a good education.”
%biilinjihxL
Dealers of Funky Music
Duane Miller
and his
Disco Machine
s. LaSalle St., Apt. 26 D
Durham, N. C.
Telephone: 383-5148
Entertainment for all parties, dances, etc.
Disco Lounge
107 N. Graham St.
Chapel HiN, N. C.
Phone: 9294877
Membership Cards
*5.00*10.00
Your Favorite Beer & Music
in A Friendly Atniosphere
> V V "Gettin' Off" Moiu-Sun.