Welcome to Chowan's 132nd Year
Volume 11
Number 1
Chowan College, Murfreesboro, NC
August 27, 1979
Tailback Percy Godette, the Coastal Conference's leading ground-gainer in 1978, shakes off a Ferrum tackier
on the way to more yardage against the Braves' traditional rival.
Replacing All-American Mungin
Biggest Problem on Gridiron
By HARRY PICKETT
When Chowan’s football team takes
the field against Atlantic Coast Con
ference member North Carolina State
September 1, at Kenan Stadium in
Raleigh, Coach Jim Garrison’s
primary concern will be — can this
edition of the Braves football team
come close to duplicating last season’s
super showing?
In edition to playing State’s junior
varsity squad, which is a non
conference opponent, the Braves have
added two games with East Carolina’s
junior varsity. Last season Chowan
opened the season with a 28-26 thriller
over the Baby Pirates to begin what
Garrison calls “one of the best
seasons we’ve had yet. ’ ’
The Braves concluded the season
with a 50-6 drubbing over conference
rival Nassau of New York to finish
with a 7-2 mark, standing second in
the “strongest conference” in junior
college with a 5-2 loop record behind
champion Ferrum. Chowan was rank
ed twelth nationally, marking the se
cond straight season the club wore
that ranking.
The Braves, who lost 20 sophomores,
return 38 players — 24 of whom are
lettermen — and lose eight starters
which include Junior College All-
Americans in strong safety Rick Stot-
tlemyer now at the Uniyersity ot Rich
mond, and quarterback Ben Mungin,
the recepient of a South Carolina State
scholarship. Nine other Braves also
signed with four-year schools.
With 14 starters returning, Garrison
says, “We should have one of the best
nuclei that we’ve had in several years
coming back.” And heading that list
will be All-American defensive end
Hal Henderson of Charleston, S.C.,
who at 6-2, 210, terrorized opposing
quarterbacks with his vicious tackling,
as did teaimnate and defensive end
Robert Brown, an All-Coastal Con
ference selection at 6-4,220.
Henderson, who was runner-up for
the Region 10 Defensive Player of the
Year Award, is described by Garrison
as being “a fine, intelligent young
man.” With Brown and Henderson
playing the bookends on the defensive
side. Garrison offers with a wide grin,
“We’ve got the best defensive end
tandem that we’ve ever had. I feel
we’ve got two super defensive ends
returning.”
The defensive side will inevitablely
be strong around the end position, but
the Braves also return Ail-Region 10
choices in tackle Keith McFadden
(6-0, 280), linebacker Donnie Jones
(6-1, 210) and defensive back Jack
Cerone (5-11,160).
Garrison, whose defense was ranked
tenth nationally a year ago, said that
his defense looked sharp last spring
during drills, and “had it been any dif
ferent, 1 would have been surprised.”
All totaled, the Braves had 60 players
at spring drills.
Offensively
The loss of All-American Mungin at
quarterback depleted what was a most
dynamic and explosive Brave team.
Chowan averaged 35.9 points an outing
under Mungin’s signal calling. The big
quarterback heaved a school-record 18
touchdowns and led the Coastal Con
ference in total offensive yardage.
“He is one of the greatest quarter
backs we’ve ever had,” Garrison said
of the Charleston S.C. resident, “and
will be harder to replace than any
other position where we’ve lost
starters. Quite frankly, 1 feel that the
success of our team will be how we
replace that position.”
Four players vied for the quarter
back job in the spring, and according
to the veteran coach of 22 years, only
two have showed any promise.
“Neither one of them has developed
enough poise.”
Garrison noted, however, that
Mungin, during spring drills his
freshman year, looked a little shaky
himself, but last season, “he seemed
to get better as the season went on. He
had the confidence of a rattlesnake.
“He had the confidence to strike the
defense with his passing and runn
ing.” Perhaps, thinks the coach (in his
appraisal last May), these two players
can develop the needed poise by Sept.
1, but “the way it looks now, I
wouldn’t want to open the season with
any of them.”
Offensively, the strength should lie
in the backfield, where tailback Percy
Godette and fullback Tommy Jones
return. Godette, who led the Coastal
Conference in rushing yards (702),
scored 13 touchdowns last fall. The
5-11, 190-pounder not only made the
all-conference team, but was also
selected All-Region 10. “By statistics
we had the best tailback in the con
ference.”
Jones, at 6-0, 210, was used primari
ly for his blocking last season, but
rushed for over five yards a tote. His
finest game came against Nassau in
College President,
Deans Extend Welcome
the season's finale, when the bruising
runner banged out 84 yards and a
touchdown.
“Those two should be a great one-
two punch as far as the backfield is
concerned,” Garrison declared.
Weaknesses
During the spring. Garrison’s big
gest concern was the team’s lack of
depth from the offensive troop. He
said after the final scrimmage that it
showed “one good offensive unit.”
“When you lose your first three split
ends, your first three flankers, you
aren’t expected to have great talent
there,” he noted, “and that’s the posi
tion we’re in now.”
“We need an awful lot of work offen
sively. We don’t have any wide
receivers, spht ends or flankers who
can catch the ball consistently. ’’
Eric Nelson, the 190-pound tight end
who was third on the team in the
receiving department, could very easi
ly move into a split end slot, according
to Garrison.
“Nelson can catch the ball. If we get
a big tight end in here, Eric could
very well move out to split end.
“He’s a guy who can certainly catch
that football.”
The offensive line looks to be
another place Garrison must make
compensation for. The hne returns two
starters in Tim Sechrest, a 5-11, 235-
pound guard, and Steve Knowles, a
tackle at 5-11,225.
At press time. Smoke Signals was
unable to have the names of the
freshmen recruits. We understand,
however, that this summer as many
as 200 tried out for the team.
Throughout a very busy summer, we
have been actively making prepara
tions for a new academic year. It is now
a real pleasure to welcome back on
campus those students who are retur
ning to continue their studies at
Chowan. Of course, a special word of
welcome goes to those students who are
new to the campus and who are at the
beginning of their college career.
Whether you are a new student or a
returning student, I would assure you
that Chowan College is interested in you
as an individual personality, with in
dividual goals, aspirations, and needs.
Further, it is our desire for each of you
that your experience at Chowan will be
one of physical, spiritual, social, and in
tellectual growth. We are concerned for
your total development.
Having said this, however, I would
emphasize that Chowan is first and
foremost an academic institution.
While we want you to have an adequate
amount of time for your social life, for
intramurals, for athletics, for concerts,
and the Uke, I would encourage you not
to sell yourself short with respect to
your studies. When all is said and done,
your primary purpose for being at this
institution is to achieve an academic
goal, whether it be to acquire those
skills that will prepare you for employ
ment upon completion of your program
of study at Chowan, or whether it is to
complete the first two years of study
leading eventually to the bac
calaureate.
I would mention briefly some of the
provisions made by the college for the
enhancement of your educational ex
perience and, at the same time, I would
urge you to take full advantage of what
has been provided for you.
Our faculty is exceptionally well
qualified, possessing academic creden
tials far in excess of the minimum re
quirements of our accrediting agency,
the Southern Association of Colleges
(Continued on Page 2)
LOWE
WHITAKER
As we begin the 131st year in the life
and service of Chowan College, we
genuinely welcome each of you to the
campus. We anticipate a good year of
work and growth, as well as fellowship,
in association with you.
This is a special edition of “Smoke
Signals”, our campus newspaper. It
has been prepared for you, especially
those of you who are new to the Chowan
campus.
Through the pages of this newspaper
and in every way possible, we want you
to know that your faculty and staff are
interested in you and dedicated to
helping you succeed in college. We
believe that this special issue of
“Smoke Signals” and the Student
Handbook will assist you im
measurably, as will your Residence
Hall Counselors and all the people in
Student Development.
Chowan is an institution of Christian
higher education. It is related to the
Baptist State Convention of North
Carolina. This is a guiding principle in
all of our work and relationships, and it
determines to a great extent the work
and functions of all of us who are a part
of the college community. The interest,
love and support of the North Carolina
Baptists have helped to make Chowan
one of the top two-year independent
colleges in the United States.
I challenge you to make an effort,
early, to catch the “Chowan spirit.”
Learn to speak to fellow students,
faculty and staff as you meet them
throughout the campus. A friendly and
open spirit makes for communication
and wholesomeness of living.
Have a good year at Chowan.
Bruce E. Whitaker
President
Since Chowan is primarily a residen
tial college, you will be interested in
knowing that leaving home and hving in
a residence hall enhances one’s college
experience. Residential students, ac
cording to surveys conducted across
the nation, express more satisfaction
than commuting students with student
friendships, faculty-student relations
and social life.
At Chowan we regard residential liv
ing as an essential part of one’s educa
tion. Behavior controls are emphasized
through residence directors, resident
assistants and residence hall councils.
Chowan has not eliminated policies
which regulate behavior in residence
halls. We seek ways to maintain a
wholesome environment that is
regulated through guidance and super
vision from peers and staff members.
Hedonism, or devotion to pleasure as
a life style is not promoted at Chowan.
Chowan is concerned with the total
development of students. Clhowan
respects the rights of students. Chowan
also exercises its rights as a private in
stitution. Chowan adheres to its pur
pose as a church-related college.
Members of the faculty and staff work
to help students gain a philosophy of life
which leads to their development into
responsible leaders and citizens.
One of Chowan’s strengths is its size.
Numerous studies show that students at
large institutions are less likely to in
teract with faculty members, to
become involved in campus govern
ment, to participate in athletics and to
achieve in leadership, drama and jour
nalism. Research also indicates that
students vary in their satisfaction with
large and small institutions. Students at
large institutions are more satisfied
with their social life than students in
small schools. Students at universities
are not as happy with their relation
ships with faculty members and with
classroom instruction as are students in
(Continued on Page 3)
LEWIS
Interesting People on Campus
Chaplain Adds Strength to Basketball Team
By HARRY PICKETT
A smallish man opened the door to
Chowan’s gymnasium, and with a white
styrofoam cup containing piping hot
coffee in his hand, gingerly toed in,
wearing a grayish vested suit and a
pair of shoes — bearing a glaring new
TAYLOR
wax job.
Before he could take a fourth step,
he was swarmed on by a small army
of sweat-drenched basketball players,
who towered over him by a foot and
more.
He smiled at them, and teasingly
told one, “Have I got to show you how
to dunk the basketball, Dawson.”
Laughter filled the antiquated building
loudly after the 5-foot-4 Chaplain mus
ed, and the player retorted gigglingly,
“C’monChap.”
It’s not often that you find chaplains
in gymnasiums. It’s even less common
for one to offer a 6-foot-5 basketball
player the secret of dunking a basket
ball through the hoop. But at Chowan,
Dr. Raymond Hargus Taylor, the
school’s chaplain, is a jack-of-all
trades.
Says Chowan basketball coach Jerry
Smi^ of his close friend, “He does so
many little things, and those things
mean so much.”
Taylor, a simple man who likes it
that way, hails from a once thriving
mining community in Colmar, Ky.
There, brought up in a very religious
setting, young Taylor had aspirations
of becoming a lawyer. But during his
first year of college, he decided that
the ministry was to be his calling.
At Chowan, Chaplain Taylor has a
close rapport with the Braves basket
ball team. He could possibly be the
number one fan. He travels with the
team, chats and discusses academic
subjects with the players; and leads
prayer before and after every game,
win or lose.
“He’s in charge, during the course
of a game, to take care of all close
games,” Smith says jokingly.
The Braves lost their hopes of going
to the national playoffs when they
blew a 10-point lead in the second half
of the Region 10 finals against
Brevard College.
“Evidently, he went to sleep, or
didn’t pay his dues or something,”
Smith chuckled.
When Smith or any of the players
speak of Taylor, you can sense, at an
instance, the love and respect they
share for the little man from Ken
tucky.
“We feel,” says 6-8 sophomore
center William Barnes, “that he’s just
as important as any member of the
team, and may be just as important.
“Chap does things that so many peo
ple are unaware of,” Barnes went on.
“As far as I’m concerned, he’s the
most important person on campus.”
Taylor is an important man on cam
pus, and during the course of a day,
he is setting up religious activities for
the college community. He was
acknowledged for his unselfishness
last spring at Honors Day, when the
staff of the yearbook, CHOWANOKA,
dedicated the annual to the chaplain.
An exerpt of the dedication reads;
“... Faculty, students, staff and ad
ministrators respect him, for his life
portrays a loyal friendship enveloped
in peace and good will which has
endeared him to many. ’ ’
The dedication came as a complete
shock to the chaplain, and he says in a
shaky and emotional voice, “It was a
good feeling — a feeling of njaybe
you’re appreciated; happy . . . emo
tional ... just a good feeling.”
Asked how he became so closely
associated with the basketball pro-
gra.Ti, the chaplain of 16 years ex
plained; “Coach Smith came to
Chowan three years ago, and just
before the first home basketball game,
he asked me if I would come to the
dressing room and help in prayer with
the players before the game, and I
said‘sure’.”
“Just before the second game, I saw
him on campus again, and I didn’t
know whether he wanted me to do this
regularly or not, so I asked him if he
expected it, and he said, ‘of course I
do’. ’
“So, I went back to the second game
and we had prayer before and after
the game, and the team happened to
win the first few games. ”
Since those early days of Smith’s
first year at Chowan, Taylor hasn’t
missed a game, and rarely misses
practice sessions.
“I don’t think he's ever been involv
ed in athletics,” Smith stated, “but he
fell head over heels in love with the
situation here.
“He fell in love with the players,
and they fell in love with him.
“When he speaks,” says Smith,
“they listen. When they speak, he
listens. He fitted in so perfect.”
Chaplain Taylor says he gets excited
at the games, and worries a little, too.
He says he wakes up during the night
after the team has lost, “and I think
about what might have been done.”
How long will the chaplain continue
working with the team? “As long as
Coach Smith and the team want me
to.”
That’ll certainly be forever.