Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Oct. 22, 1992, edition 1 / Page 19
Part of Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Coach Willie Ashford An Integral Part Of The Tiny Viking Organization BY SAMUEL G. PL'RYEAR JR. Chronicle Sportswriter To say that Coach Willie Ash ford Jr. hasn't become an integral part of the Tiny Viking organization and local little league sports, would be like saying the Republicans haven't placed America in the crunch during the last 12 years. Danny Kaye, a noted comedian once said, "The greatest natural resource that any country can have is its children." Ashford adheres to this provident philosophy and has done so since he first began coach ing as an assistant to James'^keet" Williams and John Isabelle in 1977. Sanguine, amiable and jovial are three simple terms often tossed around when describing this 15 year veteran of the Pop Warner league. "I had a lot of help when I was grow ing up playing sports. This is my way to give something back," said Ashford. Ashford. a native of Winston Salem and graduate of Atkins High, developed into a shrine bowl caliber football player while playing with the likes of Hubert'Twitt"Alexan der and Carl Eller. After high school, Ashford stayed around the city and was hired at R J.Reynolds where he has been employed for 34 years. Ashford works an eight hour job, five days a week but still man ages to schedule three team prac tices during the week. "My wife has been very sup portive. The day that I can't put togeth er something special for the kids will be the day I give it up," said Ashford. Earlier this week, while visiting a Viking practice, the milieu sur rounding Ashford was one of belief, Savannah State College Plays At Home Savannah State will be playing in Ted Wright Stadium for the first time this season on Saturday. ThA Tigers opponent for this sold oif| contest will be Livingstone College (2-4; 1-2 CIAA) from Salisbury, North Carolina. Livingstone has the CIAA's leading rusher in its back field. Rob Clodfelter. Clodfelter has gained 803 yards on 152 carries in six games for an average of 133.8 yards per game. Savannah State, on the other hand, has the SIAC's top t ground gainer (Lucius Cole) in its ! backfield. Cole has carried the ball ? t 114 times in?seven games and picked up 850 yards for an average of 121.4 yards per game. The Tigers, ranked 16th in the nation (NCAA Division II), are 1-1 this season against non-conference opponents. Alabama A&M University (1-6; 1-3 SIAC) travels to the land of the unbeaten (Fort Valley) with the intentions of playing the spoiler role. THe Bulldogs have not beaten Fort Valley State College (4-3; 3-0 SIAC) since 1988 and will definite ly have their work cut out for them. Fort Valley has not lost to an SI AC opponent in its last six outings. A victory will put the Wildcats one step closer to putting their paws on the 1992 SI AC Football Crown. Albany State COllege (3 2-1; 3-1-1 SIAC) has rebounded from a dismal 1-2-1 start and will put their two-game winning streak on the line Saturday in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Rams will be the homecoming opponent for the winless Wildcats have struggled ever since former heat coachvh. Larry Little left at the end of the season to take the same position with the Ohio Glory of the now defunct World League of American Football Clark Atlanta University (4-2; 2-2 SIAC) hopes to stay in the thick of the conference race with a victory over College (0-7; 0 3SIAC). The Panthers have won two games in a row and another victory will give them their best start since 178. The Golden Bears of Miles College are trying to snap an eight-game losing streak, dating back to last season. Hampton University (6-0 1; 5-0-1 CIAA), ranked #2 in sever al black college football polls and #7 in NCAA Division II, brings its fine tuned offensive scoring machine to the deep south (Alaba ma) to take on Tuskegee University (2-4-2" 2-3-1 SIAC). The Pirates average average margin of victory is 50.6 points per game (51.3-10.7). Golden Tigers are 2-0 at home this season. Morris BroWrV'College (3 4; J 1-4 SIAC) will be. playing at Morehouse College (4-3; 2-1 SIAC)in a newly renewed rivalry. These two teams are doing battle on the gridiron for the first time since 1989. Craig Cason is 5-2 at home since taking over the Maroon tiger program a year ago and Greg Thompson of Morris Brown has only lost to Morehouse once in this career. The year was 1986 and Morehouse beat Morris Brown 19 0. WEST@N TRAVEL P) M ri OF THE WEEK Weston Travel is pleased to recog nize Rodney Witherspoon as our Ram of the Week. Rodney is a 6'2", 265 lbs. junior defensive tackle from Newport News, VA. Rodney was very instrumental in the Rams 48-30 victory over NCCU. This season, Rodney has accounted for 30 tackles including one for a loss, 1 pass break-up and 3 sacks. Weston Travels salutes Rodney for his outstanding performance on the field and in the classroom at Winston-Salem State University. The Rams are now 5-2 overall for the season. WSSU faces Bowie State at home on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at Bowman Gray Sta dium. J Rodney Witherspoon WEST0N TRAVEL (919) 721-9000 122-A Reynold* VUlag* Win?ton-S?l?m NC 27106 FAX (919) 721-4877 FOR ALL YOUR TRAVEL NEEDS concern and support. Ashford used selective acrimony while discussing last weekends 12-0 lost to the Fal cons but also mixed his message being sure to placate the feelings of his young team in preparing for this week's contest against the Rams. "You can't fool these kids, you have to give them what you've got." said Ashford. Ashford first got into little league coaching when his oldest son, Willie Ashford III. who is cur rently assisting his father coach the team, became involved with the Pop Warner Organization. "I became involved at first as a supportive par ent. "said Ashford. Since Willie 111. Ashford has seen his three other kids, including his only daughter, who was a cheer leader. participate in the Pop Warn er program. Ashford doesn't profess to have any ?outre coaching meth ods, just simple love for the kids. "My approach to the kids is the same regardless of the sport because I try to be as fair and sincere as pos sible to the kids," said Ashford. "I treat them the way that I would like to be treated." If noted comedian Kaye could perform one great pantomime, in one last act, for one good man , he would act out a figurative man of grand stature, not a loner but a real ist, not insouciant but concerned, not captious but understanding and most of all it would describe a hor tatory individual trying to develop more out of his kids than merely turning them into professional ath letes. MM (SI It all starts with an education. Take Hiawatha Northington. Because of his hard work, Hiawatha received a full, four-year scholarship from the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund. And with the education he's getting at Jackson State Univer sity, Hiawatha is well on. his way to becoming a lawyer. The Miller Brewing Company is committed to helping young men and women fulfill their dreams through thelnurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund. Its the only national program which awards lour-year scholarships to students attending historically black public colleges and universities. These thirty-six schools don't receive the same kind of financial backing given to black private colleges and universities. Yet, they represent over 76 percent of the students enrolled in historically black colleges and universities. So if we don't give them a hand, who will? ' Give to the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund, and help more youths realize the power of an education. - I'm tumii aiMni!pti>isian> mloi mat kui. call 61 2-8.^5-78^8 Or write tn HiuiuixKi Marshall S*. Imlui ?hip I uml, Pi i messing Center. HO Box .W2, Washington, DC 200.V? Save A Dreamer. Founding Sponsor of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund. ft 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ri 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 m ii 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ? 1 1 1 1 1 1 , 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 n COUGAR XR7 Come see yours-come drive yours at LIBERTY LINCOLN'MERCURY With these features: t ? Automatic ? Power Windows ? Power Driver's Seat with Power Lumbar ? AM/FM MSRP 517 j431 Stereo with Cassette ? Power Locks ? Cast Aluminum wheels ? Cloth and Leather FACTORY DISC. . 513?? Luxury Interior ?Tilt Steering Wheel ? Speed Control ? Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel 4 flOCLOO ? Rear Window Defroster ? Light Group ? Front Carpet Floor Mats ? 3.8 V-6 ? LIBERTY DISC IjUm Instrument Cluster ? Interval Wipers YOU PAY JUST $15,893?? ?REBATE TO DEALER *There are just 14 Cougar XR7's to be sold at this price! **6.5 A.P.R. Is only available October 15 thru 26. **6.5% AVAILABLE FOR 48 MONTHS ? 7.5% AVAILABLE FOR 60 MONTHS . . . WITH APPROVED CREDIT. COME IN TODAY! LIBERTY LINCOLN MERCURY COME IN TODAY PETERS CREEK PARKWAY ? 725-0411
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 22, 1992, edition 1
19
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75