April 23, 2007
The News Argus
Sports
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Two WSSU students make history
— first to play in Division 1 All-Star
DA drops charges in Duke lacrosse case
On April 7, two Winston-Salem
State University football players,
Michael Champaign and Jonathan
Wedlock, made history by being the
first players from WSSU to compete
in a Division 1 All-Star Game.
Champaign and Wedlock compet
ed for the Blue Team in the 2007
National All-Stars Bowl College
Football Classic in Louisville,
Kentucky. Both athletes are gradu
ating seniors. Champaign plays
right offensive tackle and Wedlock
plays fullback.
The National All-Stars Bowl is
held throughout the nation, and it
provides athletes tremendous expo
sure to professional football. The
games are regionalized so that
prospects are showcased in each
area of the nation. This allows pro
fessional football teams to take a
closer look at players in each area
or region of the country.
Players in the National All-Stars
Bowl are always incredible athletes,
and Champaign and Wedlock are
no exception. Both players had
remarkable games, with each player starting
in his respective position.
Champaign played both left and right
tackle, and did not give up any sacks to his
opponents who were all potential draft
picks.
Wedlock did not lag behind in effort, with
four receptions for 50 yards, 2 carries for 10
yards, and a kick return for 9 yards. In one
magical moment the WSSU star athletes
Photo by Sharrod Patterson
Jonathan Wedlock and Michael Champaign
played in the National All-Stars Bowl College
Football Classic in Louisville, Ky.
combined to produce the longest run of the
day, which came off of a toss to the left side
where Wedlock and Champaign opened up
the flood gates for a run of over 80 yards by
Anthony Ash of Tennessee State.
Both Wedlock and Champaign said that
the game was a wonderful experience and
that they hope as Winston Salem State's
football team grows, the participation in
other all star games grows, as well.
Photo courtesy of MCT Wire Service
The three exonerated former Duke lacrosse players are congratulated by current
members of the team after a press conference addressing the dismissal of charges
stemming from last year's team party in Durham on Wednesday, April 11.
Shooting Stars
The News Argus honors
WSSU legends:
Clarence “Big House”
Gaines, Earl Monroe and
the 1967 Division I!
Champions
Photos courtesy of WSSU Archives
The ‘67 Rams, coached by “Big House” Gaines (far right) and led by Earl Monroe (second from left
bottom) won the College Division (Division II) National Championship. Rams went 31-1 that year.
i
The ‘64 Rams, led by Ted Blunt (center) and Earl Monroe (bottom
right) pose after winning CIAA Tournament Championship.
ABOVE: Monroe launches a jumper over Long Island.
BELOW: Ted Blunt weaves past two Prairie View defenders in
Whitaker Gym. Blunt, a three-time All-CIAA performer, is cur
rently running for lieutenant governor in Delaware.
Bill English (above) and
Monroe go for two against the
Rams’ then-CIAA rivals. North
Carolina A&T.
ABOVE: English scored a WSSU
record 77 points against FSU.
RIGHT: Earl “The Pearl” averaged 41.5
points per game in his senior season.