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SPOR TS
Pre Season Peek:
The New Vikings
Practice Makes Perfect
by Zelene Bunch
It’s 96 degrees. It’s the first
day of equipment practice.
A middle-aged fan leans on
his car watching the players
run sprints.
“The first few days of
practice, the boys are a little
stiff. They need to get the
kinks out. They’ll be okay
once they do that.”
An ineligible player looks
on as the others run,
remembering his own
sweltering practices.
Waterboys lug cartons of
paper cups and squeeze
water-bottles. A player has to
nm laps as payment for some
infraction. Others do extra
push-ups or leg lifts.
With a sharp blast of a
whistle, a surge toward the
center of the practice field,
and a team chant, the session
ends. The coaches remain in
a tight knot poring over
clipboards.
This is the first year as
head coach for Thurlis
“Moose” Little, who sees a
winning season coming.
“We’re farther along in
practice than at this time last
year or than I expected to be
this year. Experience is in
our favor. We have most of
last year’s veterans back.
The freshmen play smart.
That means that we don’t
have to spend as much time
on basics. We can get down to
team play and not have to
take time with every in
dividual player.”
When asked about last
season’s bitter start, he was
philosophical. “Playing all
the opening games in front of
— let’s call them unfriendly
— crowds takes its toll. We
got into a hole. The first game
that we had any real number
of home fans was the Fish
Bowl. By that game, we had
lost four.”
He reflected on the 1982
Bowl loss.“There was no
single factor in the loss. The
score showed how well we did
play. We just made a couple
of mistakes at crucial times.”
The change of defensive
tackle Howard Oglesby to the
offensive line has caused
much speculation among
Viking followers. “The
defense won’t suffer too
much,” Little comments.
“I’m not belittling Oglesby by
saying that. We need his
ability on offense.
“I’m also trying to look at
the young man’s future as a
possible professional player.
He looks good on the offensive
line.”
Coach Little hopes that with
football being played on
campus for the first time in
over 15 years, that the spirit
of newness will last. “This
group of players is starting a
new tradition. I want the
students and community to
help regain the winning
spirit.”
Invasion Will
Conquer
All
Viking Spotlight:
DARRYL BROWN
by
Algie H. Mabry, Jr.
Behind every football there
is a player. Often times news
reporters tend to overlook the
ones who do all the dirty and
messy work and go straight to
the coaches. This year, it is
the intention of the COMPASS
to bring to you what the
players have to say and how
they feel on issues that
concern them.
This season our team is
faced with several new dif
ferent aspects. Among the
many are a new head football
coach and a long-awaited
stadium.
This first Athletic Spotlight
features Darryl Brown, a
senior Criminal Justice
Major. Very active both on
and off the field. Darryl is a
member of Kappa Alpha Psi
Fraternity Incorporated and
presently holds the title as
“Mr. Senior 1983-84.”
In a brief interview, Darryl
congratulates those
responsible for the selection
of the new head football
coach.
“Coach Little was an ex
cellent choice. He will
maintain respect from the
players because of the
technique in which he
stresses discipline.”
Brown, being positive about
the selection of Coach Lit-
tle,is also saddened by the
vacancy leftby Coach Kelly.
At the same time he is elated
over the presence of three
student coaches.
“The new stadium is a
great advancement for
ECSU.” Anxious about the
first home game which is
September 10, 1983 that is
scheduled to be in the new
stadium. Brown commented
that the location should draw
more fans around the
Albemarle area.
In closing remarks. Brown
encourages all to exemplify
more support and morale
than last year. “The team
and myself are expecting
110% from everyone.”
The next Athletic Spotlight
will feature the “Big 0”
★★★★★★★★
Algie H. Mabry, Jr.
On Tuesday, August 16,
1983, new and returning
members of the Marching
Viking Band gathered to hear
words of welcome from Mr.
Henry A. Duncombe,
Director of University Bands.
Mr. Duncombe stressed that
with discipline and unity the
year for the band will be a
successful one.
Wednesday morning,
August 17th, proved to be a
morning of hard work and
pain. Excercising, running,
and more excercising, the
Viking Band began practicing
for the upcoming football
season. Daily, new and
returning bandsmen
straggled in taking their
positions among others who
intend to step high with
Viking pride.
At the helm of this year’s
Viking Invasion are Donald
Clark, a junior from
Baltimore,Maryland, and
Vincent Preister, a returning
student from Norfolk,
Virginia. These two will be
replacing Timothy Rodgers,
former drum major of the
band.
Diligently they, along with
the assistance of Mr. Dun
combe and a few students,
have been preparing drills.
music, and routines to kick
the year off right.
Yes, the ECSU Marching
Viking Band is guaranteed to
bring many fans to theirfeet
and leave many speechless.
As in the past, they will
captivate, dazzle, and en
chant those who partake of
any of their performances.
As far as the new uniforms
are concerned, THAT’S
ANOTHERSTORY!!!!