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Page 16 AC Phoenix, June/July 1994 Letters To The Editor This letter addresses Wilt Browning's April 28th column, "A&T's first sign of storm was a whitecap;" and Langston Wertz Jr.'s column- "and like Hammer says, it's all good." To the Editor. After much thought and some hesitation, I am compelled to address your recent coverage of the Jeff Capel "cap" issue. (For those who missed the column, much ado was made about Coach Capel's choice of headgear- a Duke cap- when watching his son play in the NCAA Tournament and some A&T fan's objections to it). As an alumnus, a former student-athlete and head coach, and the father of a son who as an athlete, I believe that I am particularly qualified to address the issue and put it in proper perspective. Also I elected to address the belated "Hammer says" story that appeared in the Sports Review long after Coach Capel resigned-from his position at A&T and after his appointment to the position of head basketball coach at Old Dominion. First, I was hesitant to re- "cap" -itulate the matter because it does not warrant the attention it has already received. All of us should understand and respect Jeff Capel's love for his son and his pride in his son's performance as a basketball player for Duke University. However, as media played or want to do from time to time, you expanded your discussion to imply that the "cap" issue was symptomatic of a greater problem— a lack of support for the coach and the A&T basketball program by the University and the fans. Worse yet, you drew a thoroughly illogical parallel between Capel's one- year coaching stint and the long term records of some of A&T's most distinguished coaches. Cal Irvin and Warren Reynolds had outstanding years as coaches at A&T. Arguably, Don Corbett's 14 year record is the best in history at A&T. Also, Corbett's record paved the way for Jeff Capel. In fact, Capel inherited a superior team from Coach Corbett, a team whose aceomplishments are attributable- at least in part- to the recruitment and coaching skills of Capel's predecessor. It would seem that one year is really too short a period on which to evaluate Capel's true ability as a head coaeh. The proof is in the pudding. Coach Capel's "step up" to A&T State University Division 1, from Fayetteville State University college division was evident that he was not prepared for the rigors of a successful coach. More often than not, it takes years of blood, sweat and tears to become an established winning coach and gain the loyal support of your constituents. Additional commentary about why coaches have left A&T and the University's prospects for providing such amenities as air travel to road games have no basis in fact. Good journalism demands that writers exercise sound investigative practices and use reliable— and official— sources of information. Without dispute, the A&T basketball program can best be served without the presence of Jeff Capel and his one assistant Mark Cline. The athletics director of A&T recently stated in a news article that Capel was "good" for A&T and A&T was "good" for Capel. From my perspective. Coach Capel was "good" for A&T for only one year. It was "good" that he inherited Don Corbett's team. Capel did a "good" job of coaching the team against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the first round of the 1)1CAA tournament. He did a "good" job of deceiving the administration that he was offered and signed a lucrative five year contraet that paid him substantially more money than he was paid by Fayetteville State. A&T was "good" to Capel because he was allowed by the administration to serve for only one year of a five year contract without paying amiis restitution to the University. A&T was "good" to coach Capel because he was allowed by the administration to serve for only one year of a five year contract without paying restitution to the University. .4&T was "good" to coach Capel because he was allowed to use A&T as a "spring board" for a "step up" coaching position at Old Dominion University. Lastly, A&T was "good" to Capel because his one year tenure of coaching at the University positioned him for the head coaching position at Old Dominion. Jeff Capel and North Carolina A&T both benefitted from his year as head basketball coaeh, but I would venture to say that Capel's benefits far outweigh those that accrued to the University. "discriminated" eolleges/universities are superior to Black "segregated" colleges/universities simply because they have more money to pay their basketball eoaches. Also the contracts offered to eoaches are more lucrative which include television shows, radio shows, and shoe contracts. There are some important facts that you people failed to mention in the Capel article, namely, that Old Dominion does not have a Division I football program, the athleties budgets and the enrollment of the two schools. This was a mystery to me because your readers were not given the basic facts upon which an objective conclusion could have been made. Let's put the Jeff Capel- A&T issue to rest and move on to more meaningful contributions that historically Black colleges have made and are making to society in general and to athletics in particular. Joseph D. Wiliams, Sr. Aggie Warrior The Uprising prostitution). What are we to seek on our young sisters and brothers' behalf? How do they fit in? Young adults (14-19) are at vulnerable stage in life where they are subject to come under pressure, and easy to fall vietim to the so-called trend. Guns and Roses are the trend of the '90's. Some may ask. Guns and Roses, what similarities do they have? If you lie by the power of the gun, by that power you will fall victim and only roses shall bid you farewell. Every young man that straps himself adds to the problem. If guns an your strength, then roses will bid you farewell SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERSI -CHILDREN'S ART LESSONS- (NO CRAFTS!!) Drawing, Shading, Perspective, Color Mixing, etc. ALL MATERIALS SUPPLIED Ages: 8-12; 6-week sessions, 2 classss/week (Palii P/slml ~ Sudhiocl/yv (910)784-1759 (W-S) URBAN CORPORATION REAL ESTATE 1600 E. Wendover Ave. Greensboro, NC 27405 LETITA L. CROOM Sales Manager lOOO E. Wendover Aveni'e Greensboro, NC 27405 Officc-(910) 273-2707 Home (910) 855-6989 (910)273-2707 Hc.me: 855-6989
The AC Phoenix News (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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June 1, 1994, edition 1
16
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