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SPORTS Fans are also a big problem for UNC gridders The college football season is about to wind down now, and most of the hundreds of college foottull squads across the nation will hang up the cleats and clean out the lockers until spring practice. The teams that win their conferences and prove themselves as powerful foes will only take a short break before venturing into the second and most important part of the college grid season, the bowl season. However, the Carolina Tarheels, par ticipants in bowl contests 6 of the last 8 years wiU be in the majority, that being the group hanging up the cleats until spring practice. Hie beginning of the season saw the Tarheels as a favorite among many avid college grid fans to repeat as the ACC champions, or at least make a bowl ap pearance, but all that is now highly unlikely. Carolina has had to deal with a new coaching staff along with an entirely new system, and the adjustment has been strained on both sides of the coin. Most of the players on this season’s squad were recruited by the now departed BUI Dooley, and for many seniors, it has been hard to play under a set system for three years and end up having to learn a whole new staff and a whole new way the final year. Pre-season polls, fan talk and player attitudes prior to the opening game against East Carolina had steered all thoughts toward another ACC title and an even bigger bowl bid. New coach Dick Crum raved about his newly-installed veer offense that would prove potentially-dangerous to many defenses, especially with a healthy Amos Lawrence, who Crum thought would be more "suited” for the veer. In addition, the graduation loss of Alan Caldwell, Rod Broadway and Dee Har dison was to t>e only a minor problem, since the Heels were blessed with several young talented players Jockeying to fill those positions. The crop of freshman signees was rated overall as a talented group, with the likes of Darrell Nicholson and highly-regarded placekicker Jeff Hayes leading the way. Also, this was to be the year of the pass, and the slow boring football of former coach Dooley was to metamorphosize into the highpowered exciting attack engineered by Dick Crum to delight the fans. But after eight contests and five disappointing, tough defeats, things have not looked nearly as good as was projected and many of coach Crum’s pre-season hopes and plans have fallen through. He has already gone back to the power I as the primary offense, switched signal- callers umpteen times, and has constantly defended his team's problems as being n.ore of a mental nature rather than poor coaching and lack of talent. "Famous Amoe” Lawrence started early in the season oi of the veer as Amos who’ and has only recently beg\m to show his true form as he has now eclipsed the 600 yeard mark and still has a good chance of gaining 1,000 yards on the season. The defense that lead the nation in scoring and cuased headaches for op ponents last season seenu to have wither«d away like a once sweet rose, and opposing offenses have had littk trouble cToaatng the goal Un« against the Hwls. B.n ^nothrr rrDbktn aurtw rhU Vnn and fateful season has been that of the fan reaction. When the weather is good, everybody is smiling and happy, but when the thunder rolls and the li^tning strikes the people find it fit to complain. Of course, the object in all sports is winning and nothing else, but in some situations, winning may come a bit harder and may take a while longer. Here at Carolina, the grid program is undergoing a complete face-lift operation with nothing but good intentions, and once coach Crum and his staff realizes their faults and learn the personnel, things may take a positive course. The coaching staff has been rather disappointing and so have some of the players, but Tarheel fans and students have go to realize that this is their school, their team and they need to give their support and most of all . . . keep the faith because things will get better somehow, whether that necessitates another coaching change or not. Carolina is known for sending many quality basketball players to the pros, and the tradition has continued in the names of Phil Ford and Geff Crompton, who are 1978 graduates of the Tarheel roundball squad. Ford and All-American performer and National Player of the Year in his four year stint at Carolina is now the starting playmaking guard for the NBA’s rebuilding Kansas City Kings. When first chosen by the Kings, Ford caused many hearts to stop in Kansas City by denouncing the Kings’ franchise as having a non-winning tradition and by saying that Kansas City was not his ideal place to live and work. However, after threats of going to Italy to play and of returning to school. Ford finally came to his senses and signed with the Kings for a lucrative multi-year pact. He is now teaming with second-year man Otis Birdsong in the Kings’ back- court, and is among the NBA’s leaders in assists. He is averaging around 15 points per game and is a major factor along with Birdsong in Kansas City’s respectable early season performace at around the .500 mark. The King’s front office obviously has confidence that FMl will be the final (and main) ingredient in their quest to become highly competitive, because he as been assisted jersey number "one”. On the other hand, the 6-11 now 250 lb. Crompton has been a pleasant surprise for the Denver Nuggets. He is the third-string center behind superstar Dan Issel and little-used Kim Hughes. He has been hitting around 4 or 5 points and has grabbed some important rebounds for the Nuggets. Ironically, the Nuggets decided to hold on to Crompton while cutting former Wake Forest standoiM Rod Griffin, who was late to camp and very off with his game until recently. Ford is now playing on the same team •?*th.?om»er T'toiut J8uc?»^ (N.C. State), and Crompton is playing with N.C. State’s all-time great David Thcmip- son, former UNC alumnus Charlie Scott and is being coadied by Larry Brown, who was also a standout in his playing days at Carolina. When Clemson and Maryland collide in tomorrow’s ACC “game of the season,” you might as well throw away all the records and statistics. This is going to be the game between two of the conference’s best teams and some heads are going to get knocked around. Both squads have talented quar terbacks, capable runningbacks, potent receivers, deadly defenses, winning traditions, national recognition, good solid coaching staffs and other desired characteristics. The major difference in the game will probably be in who makes the least mistakes. Maryland has been strong throughout the season until the Penn State game when turnovers and a tumuitous Nittany Lion defense turned them back and spoiled their chances for a jump from the 5th spot in the national polls. We must also remember that our own Tarheels were only beaten by a single point at the hands of the Terps in the early going. In addition, Clemson’s Steve Fuller to Jerry Butler connection and the tough Tiger defense will just be a little too much for Maryland, despite the Terps’ pride and joy runner Steve Atkins and new marvel signal-caller Tim O’Hare. Speaking of quarterbacks, that will also be a major difference in tomorrow’s en counter. Maryland’s O’Hare is great, but so is the Tigers’ Fuller (who is probably better) and Fuller’s experience will no doubt weigh heavily in a game of such magnitude. So, with all these factors in mind, look for Clemson to send the Terrapins down in defeat by a score of 17-14 tomorrow in a hardly-contested defensive battle in College Park, Md. Despite the slowness and sadness of the Carolina football season, something good for the future has apparently beamed through the dark tunnd. Freshmen linebacker Darrell Nicholson, who was the most highly sought prep school prospect in the state last year, ha.s been playing a major defensive role for the Heels ever since Lawrence Taylor’s early season injury that hasn’t gotten him back to full strength yet. Nicholson, a 6-3 220 lb. Winston-Salem native, has recently been starting at the inside linebacker spot and has been per forming excellently for the defense. Intramurals are a form of leisure for Stanley Reid By THERESA WILLIAMS and PATRICIA RUSHING Staff Writers He excels on the volleyball court. He excels at the bowling lanes. He excels in a life which he has dedicated to Jesus Christ. He says that he owes it to his body. He owes it to himself. Who is this in dividual? Stanley Myron Reid, an all round sports athlete and Christian student here at UNC. Reid, a senior Sociology major, admits that volleyball is the sport which he is best at. Football is the sport which he prefers to watch most. He has actively participated in sports since he was 8. He is one of seven children and he admits that his whole family is athletically inclined. Reid, a graduate of Episcopal High School in Washington, D.C. received sports awards in track and football. Here at UNC he has participated in several intramural sports. In 1977, he won an award in track and volleyball. This semester he is a member of a bowling team, The Ebony Rollers, and a volleyteam, The Soul Patrol. Reid feels that there is a sport for everyone. “Not everyone can be a pro,” he states, “but there is a sport that each person can enjoy and develop skills in, He advises all aspiring athletes to maintain discijriine and to do things re^arly to keep physically fit. "One can be fit at age 2 and 82 depending on how he cares for his body. One does not have to compete in order to stay fit.” The Fayetteville native says that Muhammed Ali is his favorite sports figure. Reid says, “I like the way he dealt with the setbacks. He dedicated himself to his career and overcame setbacks. He feels that in all aspects of life one encounters setbacks. He advises, "but by dealing with these setbacks effectively, one is able to grow. Reid views life as a gift from God. “What I do with my bfe is my gift to Him. He’s the factor in everything I do.” Reid ac^its that he was bom healthy and that he owes it to himself to keep it physically fit. mentally alert, and spiritually strong. If I’m good to my body now. he sUtes. "then it vnll be good to me when I’m older.” INSIDE SPORTS with James Alexander, Jr.
Black Ink (Black Student Movement, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
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Dec. 6, 1978, edition 1
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