Thursday, October 19,1989
SPORTS
Viking
PflIN
Despite bruising losses
fans' support is high
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Viking defensive backPaul Byrd had the wind knocked out of him during the battle between Elizabeth City and Winston-Salem
could be compared to that of the Viking win-loss record of 2 and 5.
Photo by Richard MdnUn
. His condition
By Jody Riddick
and Mark Morris
The ECSU Vikings began the 1989
season in championship form, taking
out Livingstone College 16-8 in their
opener and defeating Fayettville
Statel4-7 in the Port City Classic on
September 9.
The fiery spirit generated by new
head coach, Johnnie Walton, was
spearheaded by junior running back.
Nelson Welch, who rushed for 116
yards in the first game, and defensive
back, Curtis Perkins, who registered
an incredible five interceptions in the
two contests.
On September 16, however, the
Vikings returned to Roebuck Stadium
only to watch the bottom drop out
against Winston-Salem State. Welch,
after scoring on a 10-yard touchdown
run went out with an rib injury. Vi
king problems increased with the loss
of Curtis Perkins in the same game.
The Rams of Winston-Salem rushed
for 316 yards (194 of which came
from Junior Broderick Graves) and
went on to a 27-13 victory over Eliza
beth City.
That loss, followed by an embar
rassing 57-0 route by Norfolk State in
the Fish Bowl, still left Coach Walton
speaking with guarded optimism.
“We’re doing well with a .500 season
so far,” said Walton, “Our main goal
More than 13,000 people showed up
on October 14, hoping to see the Vikings
knock off the toughest team in the
conference. The homecoming crowd was
treated to a classic battle.
is to win a CIAA championship.”
The next week, the Vikings were
back at home to host the Thorogh-
breds of Kentucky State. Before the
game, Walton spoke of the benefits of
playing the non-conference team. “ It
will help the publicity of the team and
the school....it will be a special night.”
It was indeed a special night for
Kentucky State as the 0-4 Thorogh-
breds recorded their first victory of
the season, capitalizing on a couple of
blunders by Vikings special teams
and stealing a 32-20 win over the
disgusted home team.
The following matchup promised
no light at the end of the tunnel as the
Vikings traveled to Richmond, Vir
ginia to take on traditionally tough,
Virginia Union. The Vikings came
out swinging, scoring the first and
only touchdown of the first quarter on
a 1-yard run by Rodney McNeil, and
maintaining a 7-7 deadlock at the half.
In the second half, however, they fell
victim to the passing arm of Union
quarterback, Carl Wright who com
pleted 18 of 29 attempts for 259 yards
and led the Panthers on three touch
down drives in the second half to give
Va. Union a 27-15 win. It was the
Vikings’ fourth consecutive loss.
Back to the drawing board went
the Vikings. Desperate for a confer
ence win. Coach Walton inserted a
new passing scheme into the offense
to surprise CIAA powerhouse, Bowie
State.
More than 13,000 people showed
up at Roebuck Stadium on October
14, hoping to see the Vikings knock
off the toughest team in the confer
ence. The homecoming crowd was
treated to a classic battle. The under
dog Vikings practically extinguished
the high-powered Bulldog offense,
holding them to a mere seven points
and shined offensively, on the wings
of an excellent passing performance
despite four interceptions, by quater-
back, Juan Langford.
The 5’10" Sophomore out of Lau
rel Hill, N.C. completed 14 of 25
attempts through the air for 158 yards,
twice as many completions as Bowie’s
quaterback, Henry Frazier. Langford’s
passing effort almost won the game
for the Vikings as a last second toss
into the end zone, intended for re
ceiver, James Brown, was tipped out
of bounds by a Bulldog defender.
Although the Vikings lost their fifth
straight, they were still impressive in
holding their own against the team
that manhandled the same Norfolk
State team that defeated the Vikings
in the Fish Bowl.
In light of some of the problems
that may be affecting the teams play.
Coach Walton was asked how he felt
about the fan support this season. “The
fan support has been tremendous.”
said Wdton, “Attendance has been
good as well.”
Walton also commented on the
differences between this years’ team
and the team he coach^ in 1982.
“The team in ’82 was larger. Recruit-
mentishardernowthanin ’82...propo-
sition 48 has been a large factor in
this.’
Proposal to cut season makes tempers flare
By Mark Morris
Since the 80’s began, the NCAA
Presidents’ Commission has not come
closc to winning any popularity con
tests. In fact, rulings such the infa
mous Proposition 48, which placed
restrictions on player eligibility ac
cording to SAT scores, and the recent
rulings forcing players to sit out an
entire season after transferring across
division boundaries, have set off new
protests every season.
The commission has generated
another wave of controversy with its
proposal to shorten the basketball
season by a month and cut spring
football practice in half. The proposal
is planned to limit basketball and
football to one semester each, and
cause the athletes to spend more time
in the classroom.
Football and basketball players
spend an average of 30 hours a week
on their sports, according to an NCAA
survey.
Already, tempers have flared
among head coaches throughout the
NCAA.
Michigan University’s’ head foot
ball coach. Bo Shembechler was
quoted by The Washington Post as
calling the proposed legislation “ri
diculous and unbelievable.”
Added an irate Shembechler,
’’When you get these ‘academicians’
into things, they have no idea what it ’ s
all about. That’s what happens when
you turn these people loose with no
Lady Vikings: morale is up
By Mike Stone and Jody Riddick
On September 8, 1989 the ECSU
volleyball team opened their season at
home in impressive form by defeating
the University of Maryland Eastern
Shore and Shaw University.
“Teamwork and overall attitude
have greatly improved since last sea
son”, said volleyball coach Debbie
Lynch. On September 15 the Lady
Vikings collected another win by
defeating Fayetteville State Univer
sity. Teamwork and attitudes have
been the team’s strong points this
season.
This year’s team has five new play
ers: JeanaGordon, Dee Soriano, Nikki
Wells, Terri James, and Heidi Man-
aganliL The three returning Lady
Vikings are Swanola Chance, Erika
Ruffin, and Karen Pope.
On September 18, the Lady Vi
kings suffered their first loss to Lady
Falcons of St. Augustines College.
“The team’s weaknesses are
mental errors and that we do not take
advantage of the other team’s mis
takes, said Coach Lynch.
On September 19, ECSU experi
enced their second loss to the Lady
Eagles of N. C. Central University.
On September 20, the Lady Vikings
redeemed themselves by recording
two wins in a double match with Sl
Paul and Bowie State .
The Lady Vikings suffered their
third loss of the season the following
night to Virginia State.
After a five day break between
games the Lady Vikings traveled to
Hampton University to face St. Paul
again and the Lady Pirates of Hamp
ton in a double match. The Lady
Vikngs won their first match over St.
Paul but lost the second match to
Hampton, marking their fourth loss of
the season.
On September 28, ECSU traveled
to Richmond, Va. to face Virginia
Union and Bowie State and again
walked away with two victories in a
double match.
On September 30, the Lady Vi
kings were on the road again, travel
ing to Durham to meetNorth Carolina
Central for the third time. They were
looking to avenge two earlier losses to
the Lady Eagles but Central, once
again, proved to be too strong.
On October 2, the team returned
home, hosting and defeating Virginia
State boosting their record to 9-5
overall and 6-2 in the conference.
Coach Lynch feels that the team has a
strong chance at winning the confer
ence tournament this year.
The CIAA volleyball tournament
will be held in Durham October 29,
30,and31. The top four teams of both
the northern and southern divisions
will participate in the tournament
Coach Lynch said she would like
to thank the student body, faculity,
and the community for supporting the
Lady Vikings so far this year.
information.”
Duke basketball coach Mike
Krzyzewski also spoke to The Wash
ington Post on the matter, calling the
idea bold and impractical. He said the
new season would conflict with many
school’s exam periods, and end up
costing athletic departments money.
“It makes no sense,” he said. “In
this case they end up hurting the kids.”
There will be a conference to dis
cuss the possible amendment in Janu
ary.
Where
it
counts
in
THE
COMPASS
for
additional information
call
335-3711
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Photo by Richard Mdntln
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Viking spider Dee Soriano sets up a Shaw University Bear during
recent CIAA volleyball action in the Vaughan center. Sorviano and her
teammates currently possess a 9 and 5 record and hopefully will be
one of the four teams that will participate in the Cl AA volleyball tourney
to be held in Durham the 29th through the 31st of this month.