Page 3, THE PILOT, Tuesday. December 12, 1972
BULLDOG
SPORTSW}
By CARROL GARRETT
Young Cagers Excite Fans
Basketball is in the air for the 1972-73 season. The Bulldogs are
off and running toward another great season, despite youth and lack
of experience.
Winning the first three out of four games of the year, the Bulldogs
are looking for another trip to the Nationals in March. But hard work
and much desire will have to be displayed before then.
The ’Dogs defeated Pikeville of Kentucky 99-79 in their opener
with Sophomore transfer Jim Blanks netting 32 points and 15 rebounds.
Freshman John Drew scored 23 to lead the scoring. Tennessee Wes
leyan visited Best Gym and were upended 91-75 with Senior A1 Graves
pumping in 25 points. Blanks had 19 and Drew put in 17.
Placing second in the Asheville Tournament, the men of Coach
Eddie Holbrook lost a 93-80 decision to highly-regarded Carson-New-
man. GW was hurt by fouls in the firsl( half with Blanks and Drew
remaining on the bench most of the halt. The ’Dogs defeated the Uni
versity of North Carolina at Asheville 87-86 in a thriller with Jim
Blanks hitting a 15-footer with 18 seconds left and then Blanks pull
ing down an important rebound moments later for the win. Blanks
also made the All-Tournament Team.
The Bulldogs have four players in double figures through four
games. Blanks is the leading scorer with a 25.3 average. Drew is aver
aging 24 a game with Speedster Billy Ellis at 12 and A1 Graves at 10
* Blanks is also the leading rebounder at 9.5 with Drew 8.0 and
Graves at five.
With Blanks, Drew, Graves, and Ellis, Ken Napier is the other
starter for the ’Dogs. Denn's Botts, Alvin Jones, Len Dugger, and
Kenny Henry are seeing a great amount of action so far in the young
season. .
Freshman Walt Biggs has been out with a injury, but is expected
to be ready for the Holiday Tournament.
A Bulldog Doubleheader and the Holiday Tournament are sched
uled during the holidays with the Doubleheader this weekend when
Shaw University, Elon, and St. Augustine comes to Bost Gymnasium.
The Holiday Tournament on December 29-30 when Carson-Newman
will face the Bulldogs and Western Carolina University takes Fort
Hays of Kansas.
Bulldog Basketball is very interesting and exciting m 1972. Support
the DOGS!
‘^Lament To A
Bulldog Senior”
George Adams, now with San Diego visits Gardner-Wcbb( before the
encounter with the Carolina Cougars.
Bulldogs End
Grid Season
•When I look back at this football
season,
I think...What went wrong?
What was the reason?
Was it the coaching staff—our
quarterback?
Was it the referees
or our running attack?
Were we out of our class? Was
the schedule too rough?
Or did we fail to fight
and get scrappy enough?
My very last game; off the field
I raced.
I think of the last four years;
Has it all been a waste?
Relief! It was all over.
Behind me all those years.
But there, in self-realization, I
cried half a lifetime full of
tears.
And what about those who re
main?
Will they do it next year,
or will it still be the same?
Have I helped them to be better
or just wasted their time?
Was it worth it to fight through
the grass, the mud, and the
lime?
The ball bounced the wrong way
too many times.
Yes, for the most part, that’s what
went wrong.
But my teammates, they’re
young and still very strong.
They learned their lessons well.
On that you can depend.
And you can bet your life—
what happened.
Won’t happen again.
Respect for each other
Love like a brother
These are the things they learn
ed this season.
The ’Dogs will be back and this
More physically ready and mental
ly clever.
They will be back and better
than ever.
So if you like your football, then
be here next year.
Sit in the grandstands with me.
We’ll have plenty to cheer.
—Senior, John Byrd
All-American
Adams Performs
Gardner-Webb former All-Amer
ican George Adams returned home
recently to perform against the
Carolina Cougars. Adams is now
with the San Diego Conquistadors.
Adams, who is only playing in
a reserve role, said that he was
pleased with his play of the last
five or six games. He stated, “My
biggest thrill came when we play
ed Utah and I scored eight crucial
points. After the game I was se
lected star of the game.”
Adams said that professional
ball was more physical than col
lege ball and every game seemed
to be more physical than the oth-
The two-time NAIA All-Ameri
can while at Gardner-Webb,
Adams, said that it felt real good
to return home to play in front
of his friends.
Against Carolina, Adams scored
four points and had five rebounds
and received great ■ support from
GW students and area fans.
The Kings Mountain native is a
man with a goal that tells much
about his future. “I am deter
mined to become the best for
ward in pro basketball.”
Adams will return to the area
on December 16 and again in
Charlotte Coliseum against the
Cougars.
Gymnastics
Team
Gymnastics is a new and grow
ing sport on the Gardner-Webb
campus. Under the direction of
Coach Ken Daves the gymnastics
team perform for local junior and
senior high schools. They do not
participate in collegiate compe-
The team performs in all areas
of gymnastics such as: the rings,
trampoline, parallel and uneven
parallel bars, vaulting, side horse,
balance beam and floor exercises.
There is no special requirements
for being on the team. Practice is
nightly and there are tene members
on the team presently. The team
has presented programs in past
years.
Gymnastics can become a very
exciting sport at Gardner-Webb
and anyone is invited to partici
pate by contacting Coach Daves.
A very disappointing season for
Head Coach George Litton has
finally came to a close. The Bull-
dops finished 2-9, dropping the
final seven.
It was a very hard year with
tough and rugged opponents for
the ’Dogs each week. Losses to
top notch schools such as Elon,
Lenoir-Rhyne, Catawba, Presby
terian, and Carson-Newman. Pres
byterian finished with the best
record in South Carolina and
Carson Newman is now playing in
the National Association of Inter
collegiate Athletics Championship
in Texas.
The Bulldogs had some mo
ments of glory gaining victories
over Guilford 10-0, and George
town 35-0. GW also displayed ex
cellent effort against Newberry
and Mars Hill losing 14-8 and
18-17 respectively.
Leading the Offense in his sen
ior year was Ray Hannon. Han
non passed for 1327 yards and
five touchdowns. Hannon also
rushed for 133 yards and four
touchdowns.
The leading individual rusher
was Sophomore John Mallory.
Mallory gained 453 yards and
four touchdowns. George Gilliam
rushed for 373 yards and Scott
Thompson 289 yards.
Junior Ken Reid was the lead
ing receiver with 45 receptions and
two touchdowns and 784 yards.
Reid broke the record for pass re-
Freshman — Robert Bolick,
George Gilliam, Wayne Hender
son, William Peppers.
Sophomore—John Mallory, Ar
nold Smith, Greg Taylor, Richard
ceptions which he set in 1970 of
37 completions and 732 yards.
John Mallory had 18 receptions
for 213 yards.
Other individual leaders this
season were Ricjiard Wofford in
punt returns. Wofford returned 12
punts for 118 and 9.9 average.
Eddie McKinney was the leading
Kickoff returner with 16 returns
and 270 yards with a 16.9 aver
age.
The punters were Guy Ecken-
roth with 55 punts and 1963 yards
and an average of 35.7. Rick
Chapman had 28 for 930 yards
with a 33.2 average.
Mallory was the leading scorer
with 36 points and Hannon had
24 points. Kicking Specialist Mike
Stephens had three field goals and
13 extra points for 22 points.
Defensively, the leaders were
Rick Wofford who lead in inter
ceptions. Woody Fish, George
Foster, Coleman Hunt, Richard
Grissom were the key men on the
Key personnel for the offense
including Hannon, Reid, Mallory,
and Gilliam were Mike Cherry,
Robert Bolick, Heath Livingston,
and Greg Taylor. Tim Livingston
was injured in the second game
of the season and missed the re
mainder of the year.
Injuries to key personnel and
inexperience was the result of the
1972 Football season. Support
Coach Litton and Staff for best
results in ’73.
Wofford.
Junior—Mike Godfrey, Richard
Grissom, Ken Reid, Mike Stokes.
Senior — Mike Cherry, Woody
Fish, George Foster, Ray Hannon.
PILOT PICKS 72
For Football Class Players of Year