Newspapers / Elizabeth City State University … / Feb. 19, 1992, edition 1 / Page 18
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18 The Compass Wednesday, February 19, 1992 Sports Vike's pin hopes on beating Virginia, Norfolk By James Sims Coach Claudie Mackey and the Viking basketball team hope to keep their num ber 4 spot in the Northern Division of the CIAA by beating the Virginia Union Panthers Feb. 19 and rival Norfolk State Spartans Feb. 22. "We're running neck in neck with Hampton, St. Paul's and Bov^ie," said Mackey, "If we want to keep our spot we have to beat Va. Union or Norfolk." In the game against St. Paul's college on February 5, what seemed to be an other disapointment turned out to be a Cinderella game. Down by 2 with only a few seconds remaining in the game, senior guard Mike Williams hit the game-tying points which sent the Vikings in to over time. The Vikings romped over St. Paul's College 97-95 in overtime. But the next two games weren't so promising. The Vikings lost to Bowie 82- 70 and Virginia State 86-83. With a big win over N.C. Central University 90-79 Feb. 15, the Vikes' im proved their record to 8-15. The Vikes' 33% season is the result of the absence of the leading rebounder and scorer for a couple of games, and the relatively small players on the team, according to Coach Mackey. "We got caught without big guys this year," said Mackey. "I think we're going to have a much better team next year because we'll be able to get people we want." Mackey added that the conditions he's working under today are not the same as they were 10-15 years ago when the Vi kings didn't lose a single home game. "We will be big enough next year to have Martin Lacewell play guard," he said. Martin Lacewell, a freshman forward from Brooklyn NY, averages 14.8 ppg (points per game) and 5.3 rpg. "I feel that I can improve my game even more by working on my attitude and a little harder on my defense," Lacew ell said. One obstacle that's preventing Mackey from recruiting players that he's inter ested in is the prop 48 rule, which re quires an entering athlete to have taken the required general course of study in high school such as 2 years of math and science and 4 years of English. The rule also requires entering students to score at least 700 on the SAT. "High school coaches put easy courses on athletes just so they'll be able to play, but when they get to college they end up sitting out a year and going to junior college," said Mackey. "It's not like we didn't go after big people, I couldn't get a lot of them admit ted because of course work. We have other kids on the list that we're recruiting that will make a difference next year." Nate Higgs, a junior fromTarboro, NC, is the team leader, averaging 20.5 points andlO.5 rpg. "I'm happy with my performance but I still ha ve a lot of room for improvement," said Higgs, also team captain. Even though the Vikings don't possess an impressive win-loss record,Higgsand Lacewell aren't the only ones in double figures. Other standoutVikings are John McNeil,18.8 ppg 3.7 rpg; and Shawn Walker, 13.2 ppg and 1.7 rpg. "If our reruitment works out next yeai we'll have a heck of a team, if it doesn't then we're back to looking again," said Mackey. PhetobfJi ECSU’s men’s basketball coach Claudie Mackey (right) and players along the bencli celebrate after their 77-74 victory over the Hampton University Pirates Jan. 14. Coach Vaughan 'ecstatic' by Hall of Fame award By Eric Skinner Bobby Vaughan doesn't walk down the road of life. He runs. In addition to teaching classes at ECSU, Vaughan, the most winning coach in the school's history, bicycles 75 miles per week, swims 50 laps a week, plays tennis and still finds time to fly an airplane. "I don't believe in destiny," says Vaughan. "I believe that each man makes his own the way." Vaughan's positive attitude is no doubt an important factor in his record of 502 certified victories since he first began coaching at ECSU in 1949. His teams advanced to the national play-offs seven times, winning three district champion ships in the NAI A. He has also advanced to the NAIA National Championship Final four twice and won the NCAA Division 11 South Atlantic Champion ship once, advancing to the final eight. But Vaughan's most recent award, his induction into the NC Sports Hall of Fame, is his crowning achievement. "I wasecstaticwhenlfound outi would be one of the new inductees into the N.C. Hall of Fame," says Vaughan, whose rholo I Coach Bobbie Vaughan, the winningest coach in ECSU's history, stands outside the Vaughan Center, which bears his name. Vaughan was recently elected to the NC Sports Hall of Fame office is full of trophies and photographs tracking his career. "I'm really proud of this award. There are only eight or nine other coaches in NC that have won this award. Dean Smith being one of them." Vaughan is quick to praise the Univer sity for his accomplishment, adding that "ECSU was the vehicle that made it pos sible for me to be on the ballot for the award." Vaughan has also been inducted into the National Collegiate Directors of Ath letic Association Hall of Fame, the Hall of Fame of Elizabeth City State University, Virginia State University Hall of Fame and Central Intercollegiate Athletic As sociation Hall of Fame. Vaughan has scored awards throughout his career and has been honored by groups and organi zations all over the United States. Vaughan is one of the three living col lege coaches in North Carolina to have a building—ECSU's Robert L. Vaughan Center—named after him. "1 feel forever proud that a multi modem sports center carries my name," he says. When I am no more, may those who play competitively here remember that winning, especially when done hon orably, is certainly something to be proud Vaughan describes himself as "an over all family man," with his family occupy ing center stage in his already busy life. He and his wife have two daughters, a son and a new grandson, Robert L. Vaughan III. "Above all I am for my family," he j says. "My wife and I wanted ten kids. Vaughan served as Athletic Directorof ECSU from 1957 to 1985. A native of Petersburg, Va., he gradu ated from Virginia Union University the age of 19. He received his master's degree in physical education from Co lombia University at the age of 20. When Vaughan was hired as basket ball coach at ECSU in 1949, the school, then known as Elizabeth City State Teacher's College, had "no gym, no team and no players." The school had 300 female students and 109 male students. , In the first five years of Vaughans coaching career, he won 95 games. Vaughan said he takes great joy i” teaching and working with yoimg p«op ® "Our children are bom to whatever they become. If my existence can help one person better themseWfiSi then my life's work as a mentor, educatof and friend has not been in vain. ECSU'* equipped with thesteps thatallowonc® achieve anything. The North Carol'i'* Sports Hall of Fame is a clear, inspif*' tional example," said Vaughn.
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