Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Oct. 24, 1985, edition 2 / Page 9
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??g That blur y< By CRAIG T. GREENLEE Review Staft Writer xxr 1 ? ' wnoooosm That's a typical sound coming from the Morehouse backfield as a human blur finds a slight opening in the line and dashes downfield in overdrive. The blur is Elvernie McGee, the senior tailback for the Maroon Tigers with the high cheekbones. They call him "Cheeks." And he's known to cunsisienuy reel on 4.4s in the 40. Last year, all McGee did was lead the team in rushing yardage despite getting his first start four games into the season. He totaled 673 yards in only 96 carries for a hefty seven-yard average. McGee was also the team's second-leading receiver. Morehouse has no designated runner in Coach Maurice Hunt's offense. Hunt prefers "to keep fresh horses in the stable." So McGee shares the running chores. Defenses don't get many chances to see the 5-9, 185-pounder face to face. "I like being at tailback again. Ig to score more. I love to score. A. chance to run much after you 've A bulldozer he is not. His game is speed and finesse. And because he's equally valuable as a receiver and punt/kickoff return specialist, McGee's speed can give opponents fits. "Cheeks" is a converted wide receiver who moved to tailback last year. He enjoyed the move, he says, because he relishes the challenge of running with the football. "I like being at tailback again," he admits. "I get the ball more and get the chance to score more. I love to score. As a wide receiver you don't get the chance to run much after you've made the catch." McGee opted to play wide receiver when he came to Morehouse in 1982. He didn't feel he would get much playing time then because Hewritt Dixon Jr. was the resident running back (Dix on Jr. is the son of Florida a&m aiumnus and Oakland Raiders great Hewritt Dixon Sr.). Looking back on that year, Coach Hunt says it may have been a mistake to play McGee at wide receiver instead of letting him run the ball. "He did OK at wide receiver," Hunt says. "But when McGee came here, we figured he would be more productive at wide receiver because that's where he >u just saw vi wanted to play at that time." Despite not being a running back for iwo years, McUee had little trouble readjusting. Picking up a few pointers from Dixon helped make the transition easier for him. "The ability was already there; all I had to do was just go out and do it," McGee explains. "So 1 watched Hewritt's techniques on how to elude defenses and avoid hard hits." McGee's winding up at Morehouse is somewhat surprising when you consider that he was an all-state running back in Saginaw, Mich. Michigan State was interested. So were Pennsylvania and Central, Eastern and Western KA ITllVUIgCUl. But most schools wanted to redshirt him as a freshman. 4'Plus they were more interested in big backs,'* he says. "I wanted to go where 1 knew I had a chance of playing my first year." The elementary education major decided to attend Morehouse after hearing a friend always speak highly of et the ball more and get the chance s a wide receiver you don 7 get the made the catch. " the school. The fact that he had the opportunity to play coupled with the chance to escape Michigan's big chill made Atlanta the place for him to be. Morehouse led the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in team rushing last season with 1,663 yards. The Maroon Tigers figure to be even stronger this season because of more talent and deptn on the offensive line. McGee's face lights up at the thought of running behind a line that many feel will be better than last year's. Even though he won't be the team's exclusive rusher, "Cheeks' " personal goal is to gain 1,500 yards this year. He doesn't hesitate when asked about that figure. He also doesn't hesitate when he says that the Maroon Tigers should be among the top three teams in the Conference by the end of this season. But whether or not McGee reaches his nerannal vardfiee vnal d?*nd* on Hunt's offensive scheme as the season progresses. "I know it sounds like a cliche," the coach points out, "but McGee is just one part of our offense because we don't highlight him." McGee's years spent at wide receiver proved to be a great help in him sfiassssssssaaassssaa&sfiaa BBBSBBBBaBSBBBE fas a Maroc ^ i _ ,^^|B j W i *^l v^S^jPI^:^ : *ga^L# 'T^^lPiB <$JR S? P^^.^3mk ^ t n \! dXyf :?JlA ~ iBL* i /iSBPi 3SL K*>~ -9*r- ^ J*?. Oft <'>vl-'<*- "^090 ^ Morehouse running back Elvernie N becoming a more versatile performer. He caught few passes as a high school m WAAU ?AA* . -i i uiuuiig UOWK. tJU U 9 guuig IU DC DttU dreams for opposing linebackers who will be forced to cover the blur. Though Hunt says that McGee isn't a "featured" player, Morehouse rivals will see enough of him, as a runner, receiver and return specialist. Those multiple talents have the pro scouts taking an interest even though he's considered small for a running mSSSSm Black College Sports Review >n Tiger * -,'v'38v - S *sf'?fr?.w<* ?rs ,W CTrA**^^ ''?"-? ' "">- v. > Ssmz.-*?- . *r*v-?-- ;* -v ***: , Mr t j *"' k ^ 'i.4.? :? . . ' .<*V^ .:? W " r> - - v?, ? ,,.?r IcGee (photo by Craig T. Greenlee). beck by NFL standards. In an era where little guys are playing big, it's not an unreasonable assumption that he could make some pro team. When you combine speed with his traits, vou iust never know what miaht happen. That's what being a gamebreaking roadster is all about. Whoooosh! Craig T. Greenlee is the editor of Sports Express in Atlanta and a frequent contributor to the Review. 2S2SBSS553S October, 1985-Page d
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Oct. 24, 1985, edition 2
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