Friday, October 14, 1988
THE COMPASS
Page 11
Vikings travel to NCCU
Team hoping to get back on track
l^y Mark Morris
' Hoping to get back on track af-
%r a three-game skid, ECSU’s
head football coach Thurlis
Xittle says his team has a game
plan for tomorrow’s game in
Durham against North Carolina
Central and that team’s star
quarterback Earl “Air” Har-
vey.Harvey led the NCAA in
pass yardage last year with
2,355 yards and is averaging
over 225 yards offense per game
so far this season.
“We have a plan of attack,”
said Little. “We’ve just got to
execute that plan.”
•*> Photo courtesy of Holly-Fonville Photography
Ifiking Quarterback Bill Wilde tries to elude a Spartan for extra yardage at this year’s Fish Bowl, held at Foreman Field in Norfolk, Va.
ECSU’s attack will include
last year’s second-ranked quar
terback Bill Wilde and All-CIAA
preseason selection widere-
ceiver Rob Tiller. And while that
combination has put together
some strong statistics in the
past, things have not been as
spectacular this season.
After six games Wilde has 524
yards, with 63 completions in 96
attempts, while Tiller has just 17
catches for 186 yards.
According to Little his team is
having some difficulty execut
ing this season, and he blames
part of the problem on the fact
that his team can not practice
together as a unit.
“We don’t have the entire
team on the field at any one
practice session,” Little said.
He explained that due to the
way classes are scheduled there
are always players who are not
able to attend practice. “We’ve
got between four and six players
who can not help but take
classes that meet during prac
tice. These are classes they
must have in order to meet grad
uation requirements and until
the university decides to rectify
the scheduling problem there’s
not much we can do.
“It’s just a problem we have
to live with,” he added, “af-
terall, getting an education is
their primary reason for being
here. But then again, before
classes started, when were able
to practice together as a team,
we played much better.”
In fact, the Vikings began the
season with a 19-15 win over
Johnson C. Smith followed by a
6-6 tie with Fayetteville State in
the Port City Classic. By week
three of the 1988 season ECSU
had picked up a second win with
a 26-0 romp over the University
of the District of Columbia.
State dealt the ECSU its second
loss with a 33-0 pounding, and
The Vikings woes began with
the Fish Bowl and a 20-6 loss to
Norfolk State. South Carolina
Virginia Union proved to be too
powerful for the Vikings as the
Panthers defeated ECSU 48-0 in
the first home game of the year.
“We started out well,” Little
said, “but we’ve taken a nose
dive in the last three games.”
While Little says he is not
looking for excuses, he points
out that his team has had diffi
culty executing because of the
lack of constructive practice
time.
“Football is a precision sport.
If you can’t practice, then you
can’t execute,” he said.
Little said that he has been re
viewing films of N.C. Central
since last Saturday and has been
able to map out a defensive
strategy that should help to con
tain the NCAA’s all-time leading
scorer. However, the inability to
make adjustments to the de
fense during practice may once
again play a factor in how well
the Vikings do against the N.C.
Central.
“Defensively you need to be
able to make adjustments from
week to week, but once again,
it’s difficult when you don’t have
all of your players together,” he
said.
N.C. Central is currently
ranked ninth in the Sheridan
Poll of black college football
teams. Also ranked in the Sheri-
day Top Ten is Winston-Salem
State and Bowie State, while
Virginia Union, Virginia State,
and Hampton University have
all been ranked nationally dur
ing the 1988 season.
Little added that his team’s
record of 2-3-1 may not be indic
ative of the kind of teams in the
league this year.
“The (CIAA) conference is
really loaded this year,” Little
said. “I think there is more par
ity in the conference this year
than in any other year.”
Photo courtesy of Holly-Fonville Photography
! receiver Rodney McNeil gets cut down by a Fayettville State Bronco at the Second Annual Port City Classic held in Wilmington, N.C.
he Vikings tied the Broncos in that game.
New band boss: ‘Music is my life’
iv Leamon Pearce
R
J. Johnson has
faith in the power of
I belief.
“I try to instill in my students
lot to have the attitude of ‘I
;an’t.’ says Johnson, ECSU’s
lew Band Director, “Because I
4How a student can do anything
xhat he or she wants to do. The
irst step is trying. If you don’t
^y, you never will.”
/ Johnson, a native of Baton
Rouge, Louisiana, assumed his
iiew position at ECSU August 1.
|He has a bachelor’s degree in in
strumental music from South-
srn University, and a master’s
degree in musical education.
He comes to ECSU from Lib-
^erty, Mississippi, where he was
band director of Liberty High
School for the past seven years.
Music, Johnson says, is his
:fife.
“It’s a pleasure for me to work
and get paid for a job that I en-
ioy doing. At an early age, I de
cided to get my act together with
^nusic, because I enjoyed it so
much, to make that my career
instead of being someone who
wakes up every morning, hating
io go to his job.
“I love every aspect of it, even
problems. I enjoy solving prob
lems. That’s what makes things
exciting. If everything was laid
out perfect, it would be boring.”
While a student at Baton
Rouge, Johnson was section
leader for trumpets in the
Bchool’s marching band. “The
^umpet got me through college.
We played in two Superbowls,
four Sugar Bowls, Mardi Gras,
and a presidential inaugura
tion.”
Johnson’s mother and older
brother are musicians, and he
recalls that “music was around
,ine quite a bit,” when he was
growing up.
“My brother, Roy Johnson, is
Band Director at Southern Uni-
ve>^ity. He taught me that the
goal is to
make ECSU’s hand
the most outstand
ing band in the
U.S. It’s that sim
ple.
R.J. Johnson
Photo courtesy of HoUy-FonvUle Photography
R.L Johnson with members of the ECSU marching band.
only way to get better on an in
strument is by practice. He used
to take up time with me at an
early age.”
Johnson says his older brother
served as a role model. “He
played behind some of the big
stars. I said, ‘Hey, I’d like to do
the same thing.’”
Johnson also credits his high
school band director as having a
been a major influence on his ca
reer choice.
“My high school band direc
tor, Oliver Humbles, helped to
guide me in the right direction.
He saw some potential in me,
took up a little time with me, to
show me a better way to do
things.
“Some of the same guys I was
hanging out with before he
helped me are either dead, in
prison, or about to get out of
prison, or about to go back in
prison. My senior year, two of
the guys I used to hang out with
were shot: One of them shot four
times, one of them shot twice.
Luckily, they survived, but if I
hadn’t have been' influenced by
Mr. Humbles, I might have been
with them.”
Today, Johnson spends much
of his free time “writing music,
learning, and practicing on the
“Students are here to get
something in their heads. If your
grades are not up to par, I’m
doing you an injustice by letting
you participate in band. In the
too many black schools have
been used. Athletes have been
able to play sports, but when
many of them get out of school,
they haven’t developed their
minds to do anything. This has
happened in band, too. Students
should be coming to college to
get something in their heads, so
that when they leave they will be
in a better position to be success
ful in life.”
“We have been used by other
people, and we have been used
by each other. I don’t want to be
one of the users. I want to be one
of the helpers. That’s what we’re
trying to do with the program
here.”
Johnson has high hopes for
ECSU’s band. “My goal is to
make ECSU’s band the most
outstanding band in the U.S. It’s
that simple. That might seem
like a big statement, but I be
lieve that it can develop to that
point.”
Johnson envisions ECSU’s
band playing for pro football
games, presidential inaugura
tions, and representing the
school to the state. “I want to
open people’s eyes, and hear
them say, ‘Man, where is this
place, Elizabeth City. That band
is cooking.”
Johnson is married to the for
mer Diana Williams of Liberty,
Mississippi. Their son, Kevin, is
19.
Sports agents indicted
for payments to athletes
(CPS) — Three sports agents
and a pro football player were
recently indicted for allegedly
using lucrative but illegal pay
ments and threats to coerce col
lege athletes into signing rep
resentation contracts.
New York agents Norby Wal
ters and Lloyd Bloom are ac
cused of offering student-ath-
letes cash, cars, trips and
clothing if they signed —
agreements allowing Walters
and Bloom to represent them in
professional contract negotia
tions.
If the offer of cash or cars
didn’t work, U.S. Attorney An
ton Valukas said, Walters and
Bloom threatened to break their
legs and harm their families.
Bloom and Walters are
charged with racketeering, mail
fraud, wire fraud and extortion.
The payments and contracts vio
lated National Collegiate Ath
letic Association (NCAA) rules.
Also indicted was California
agent Dave Lueddeke and Cris
Carter of the National Football
League’s Philadelphia Eagles.
The indictment named re
puted mobster Miachael Fran-
zese as an unindicted co-conspir
ator. Franzese financed the
agents’ efforts, and Walters and
Bloom used Franzese’s reputa
tion to coerce athletes into sign
ing contracts, Valukas said.
Franzese is serving a 10-year
prison term in California for
racketeering and tax violations.
Walters also allegedly used
threats to sign acts in the music
business, including the Jackson
Five, according to the indict
ment.
Prosecutors say Walters and
Bloom induced athletes to de
fraud their schools by accepting
cash and signing contracts in vi
olation of NCAA rules, and then
signing affidavits saying they
had not broken any rules.
SPORTSLINE
FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Oct. 15 North Carolina Central 7;30
Oct. 22 ‘Virginia State University 7:30
(EC Community Business
Night)
Oct. 29 ‘Hampton University 2:00
(Homecoming)
No». 5 Morgan State University 1:30
•Home Games
ECSU Ifldhridual Statistics
Offense
flijti —
Brian B^iwm—
Randatl iackson...
e» Wilde
..m COHP MG WT
3 1 17.0 1
45 10 8,1 4
96 63 8-3 3
fttnlHiil
Plifr
ntfv _
A»G
GAINED TROS
Williani
Rodn^ McNeil....
58 2,9
298 3.7
70 3.5 '
Reccfving
m YROS AtfG ’
_ 10 155 155
12 gC 5.5 >
17 m 10.9
Defense
Player.
iKkitS
Ull AS "
Paul Brrd
Mtchael Mabreji.™
Lee Macon
Y\m\'t Smith
- -
^3 16
-..-42 22
... J51 20
30 13 ^
Sacks
„. .. fto YDS '•
Mfdiad Mabrey...
lee Macoft.
5 50 ■■
Interca^OBS
.319 r
, nn YDS
Curtis Perkins
Jimmy Smitfe
3 50
...-3 47
Sheridan Poll
The t(9 10 teans m tite ol blick college
football teams, with rtcords aod total poiots through Oct. 1.
lK«d ftL
1. Centra State.. Ohio - -.5-04 140
2. Vfiftstofi'SaJem State*-- — WW) il$
3. Howard U.™ 3-1-0 88
4. iKteon St..—,.,— 87
5. 6wie St.*^.,.., 64
6. Grambling St.... ^...3-1^ H
7. mwy St.. Ga..„ -4-(WJ 55
«. ftorida 1-2-1 44
9. N.C. Centra!^ ^4-1-0 43
10. Southern U.™ 38
NCM News
Football Statistics
fkough fame of October 1
Division II Individual Leaders
inwrrmG
★ Rodney Wlomon, ECSU
Walljf Missiswppi Col..-
Tim Bafir, Cotora^ Mines..
Erl Bnont, Swannah St
Tferrt Morgan. Cal St Nwthfidge.,.^.
Fredfith Vftttte.
jOfiatbsn McSteftus. UC Dim
fodd McNamee, East Ifoudsbwj.....
FR 25 43.4
..-JR 31 -43i
—26 42.8
40 42.8
SR 27 42.5
SR 26 41.1
-....Sa 26 40.8
31 40.8
niNT RCniRNS
✓Paul Det>efTy, Va, ynion SO
KenjSimien,TXA&¥ JS
liark Steinmeifer, Kut2tfwn~ ^..FR
Chris -fR
Carl Jotwsan, £al St Hayward— JR
Stoe Caisra. Swtheast MO St...... FR
Qmi HiittOfi, IftdiaBafKtfis. SR
Ruaefi Cambwdge, ^
WHIte Deloach. Satannah St
7 146 20-9
8 161 20.1
; 133 19.0
5 78 15.6
15 m 14.5
fi 8? 14.5
12 in 14.3
12 167 13-9
10 132 13.2
mTEJKXfDOMS
PassKs — a G SO m
StoySafKjers.H8mptofi- ...^ 5 8 84
Joe Waskiewttz. Calff. (PA) iR 4 5 117
»^lar^ Bryant Norfolh SL...™ — iS 5 5 106
To(« Zabei, Noith Dat St -..Jfi 3 3 6
Rod Pattwson, Hittsdaie.^..,. 4 4
SteyeC^oun, MorrisBR’a.....^ JR 5 5
Pete King. SUIlersrilk-.,™ 4 4
Kenfty Hdmwth. lndan3polia.__ 4 4
Anthony P«tt!e, Eastwn H. Itex 4 4
IPG
1.6
1.3
i.fi
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
(Playes) ....^PLAYS
YDS
YDSPG
Jofrnj Compton, ftorth Ala...^
173
1143
285.8 .
Mark Sedii^. Sorthern Colo..,—...144
1123
280 8 *
Ffost ftotfteast MO St
-i09
1332
266.4 ;
S6aM Willis, Ceetralfia,
„.,.204
1311
2U2
ietf MHcbell IndimpoHs..
. 95
764
2547
Alan Brown. MO Soatftera.
224
1249
249.8 ;
Barry Griffiths, Washbera -
118
922
zm *
»^£afJ Harvey, SO CeirtiaJ
_iso
1120
224.0 •
Mfke HortOT, flew Hai«fl_
149
876
219,6 '
iackHu«, Grand Vatleya
.162
1036
207.2 ;
Willtam Wi«tams, Humbott St.,
168
822
205.5 '
Sam Vanaer. BerRidji St
135
801
200J '
Chfis Stmdorn, llorth
85
789
197.3 ;
y Ott Pl^
CIM STMDIH6S
in M(hm
mtftmiDN ^WIT ffomil Tt »
«r»iaState i 0 » 81 2* 5 U 139 73
2 2 0 IM 7S 4 2 e 1S5 8S
»lU(Iioil_ 2 2 0 119 8? 4 2 S HO 121
»orto» Stitt. __1 2 e 41 47 3 3 0 128 80
Oiabett C%_ _1 2 1 31 89 2 3 1 51 i2S
SirtwuMi «IT TPOPWIT TF »
tame State 4 0 0 97 66 6 fl 0 124 73
«Sn..SriBn 0 0 90 19 6 0 « 1*0 67
M. CmW _2 i 0 1 09 6 7 5 I 0 137 86
f^*tt»«e 0 3 1 47 SO 0 5 1 74 162
J.tSBith JOZd 13 60 1 5 0 75 149
_0 5 0 33 162 1 5 S 54 174
miEYBAU SCHEDULE
Oct. 17 Shaw University 6:00 pm
Oct. 19 ’Hampton University 6:00 pm
Oct. 25 U. Maryland-E-Shore 6:00 pm
Oct. 31 *CIAA Tournameot
■Nov. 1