Former CIA A Running Back
Reflects On "Politics" In NFL Camp
By John Β Henderson.
Special To The Host
FAY ETTE VILLE-· ' Only
Ihe Strong Survive"..."It's a -
L)og Eat Dog World". ."Gt>od
Guys Always Finish Last"...
"It's Hard to Beat the Sys
tem."
Anyone of these platitudes
may well fit the mood, think
ing, and philosophy of former
Fayetteville State University
(N.C.) All-American star run
ning back James Godwin.
Godwin recently got a dose
of the National Football Lea
gue and the many "systems"
in rookie camp which quickly
work you out of the camp just
as fast as you came in.
Godwin, a superstar run
ning back f(>r Ray McDougal's
FSU Bronco football squad,
who ammased over one thou
sand yards his junior year and
nearly the same amount in his
senior year, was drafted by
the New York Jets.
To make a long story short,
he was cut by new Jets' Coach,
Lou Holtz, after being told he
had "questionable hands'' and
a few other technical profes
sional pointers Godwin just
refuses to believe about him
self.
Béing a 16th round draft
pick by the Jets did not
dampen his spirit in the rookie
camp tryouts this summer. He
just honestly feels he was not
given a fair shake. And he
understands why and is not
bitter.
"I feel that the Jets didn't
really give me a fair chance," .
began the serious talking
North Carolinian.
"I feel very sincerely that I
am a good athelete and I do
not have any reservations a
bout having attended a small
black college."
Godwin said that the issue of
him coming from a small
black college was brought up
by Holtz. The former N.C.
VICTIM OF NFL POLITICS- Former Fayetteville State
University (N.C.) running back James Godwin recently
reflected on his experiences in the New York Jets rookie
camp this summer. (FSU PHOTO--John B. Henderson)
"**"·*· ww*.v.. ·ν·», "UIU VIWU
win, that coming from a small
black school might have af
fected his inability to adjust
quickly to the pro system.
bure, ι Know mat we αοη ι
(small black schools) have as
many coaches as say the Big
Ten or the ACC schools, but is
this right to compare indivi
ual black athletes to them
the big white schools) when
his has always been the
ase.?"
"In other words, 1 feel that
:oach Holtz was not being
ompletely honest in his ap
iraisal of my abilities but had
ο do something to get rid of
ne because of the politics and
he system in pro sports,''
ïodwin continued. '
Godwin says that he has not
[iven up hope of playing pro
essionaliy some day but also
vants to get a Master's De:
;ree in business education.
Godwin, a 200-pound 6-foot
>r. realizes that what he is
laying will be considered
'sour grapes" by some but he
ioes feel that what he's saying
s vital and necessary.
"Small black schools which
produce outstanding athletes
:an no longer take a back seat
to just any explanation given
t>y pro officials about their
inference (such as the CIAA)
and say nothing in return,"
[iodwin replied.
"We have outstanding 'and
iedicated coaches and schools
and I would go to Fayetteville
State University all over again
if I had to do so. I'm proud of
the fact that I attended a
"small black college"."
Well, Mr. Godwin has spok
en his piece.
He feels that there really is
not such a "Bi^ ' deal about
the so-called adjustment peri
id between college and the
pros.
If anything, it's probably
Godwin's feeling that all black
players should have a good
background in Political
Science before going to rookie
camp next year.
S.C State
Swimmer Named
All-American
ORANGEBURG, S.C.—South
Carolina State College sopho
more swimmer and diver Dar
rell Moore has been chosen an
NAIA Ail-American for the
1975-76 year. Moore, a native
of Detroit, was listed among
the NAIA All-Americans in the
July issue of "Swimming
Sgj^dandJkjnio^
îeckth^a^înïï^HÎârlotte
Post each week for outstand
'Όϊι μι] ir uu η
Defense Could Win Μ Ε AC
Championship F or A&T State
□y joe r ausi
A&T Sports Bureau
Over the years it has been
the defense at North Carolina
A&T State University that has
lifted the team into the nation
al spotlight as a football po
wer.
As the Aggies enter the 1976
season in defense of their
Mid-Eastern Athletic Confer-,
ence championship, the defen
sive unit once again will be the
focus of attention.
The ΑΛΤ philosophy on de
fense is speed, quickness, and
agility rather than just size
and weight.
"Weight is important but
the big thing in the college or
pro game is lateral move
ment on the defensive line,"
said 6-3, 233 pounds Greg
Smith, who* is trying for a
i prominent role on the Aggie
defensive unit this season.
"Our defense is setup so that
; each player is responsible for
•j' a certain area. The basic skills
• needed to cover these areas
' are speed and mobility. Don't
ι get me wrong, weight is im
j portant especially when you
; get down in the trenches."
Smrth. a defensive (ackle,
/ feels that the Aggie line will be
ΐ . especially strong against the
I ι ι
run ana me pass uiis season.
"Last season we had a good
pass rush but were not as
strong as we would have liked
to have been against the run,"
said Smith, a product of Doug
lass High in Atlanta, Georgia"
A lot of people think that
defensive line play is just-a
matter of putting your head
down and driving ahead but
we have assignments to carry
out just like the linebackers
and the backs. One missed
assignment can throw every
thing off.
"My responsibility as a tac
kle is to cover from the inside
shoulder of the tackle field to
the middle of the center. My
chief concerns are the draw
play and inside screen. We
rarely got fooled on that type
of play last season."
Although Smith believes in
off season training and condi
uumiig, |ic la αϊ») cunstiuu!) ui
overtaxing himself.
"The real pressure this sea
son will not come from our
opponents but from ourselves
to keep our stamina and to
peak at the proper time. .
Greater Griertown Open Set For September 11-12
ine ureuier uriciiuou u·
pen Golf Tournament, spon
sored by the Par Busters Golf
Group, will be played this year
at the Crystal Springs Golf
Club, off highway 51 at the
South Carolina line, south of
Pineville, N.C.
According to Carl Love,
Chairman of the Promotional
Committee, qualifying for ihe
popular 36-hole tournament
will be held Saturday, Septem
Latta, Falls
Named To NBC
All-StarTeam
The Morris Field Rangers
who have been receiving great
recognition all season long
were made to feel happiet
here last week with the excep
tional news that two of their
players were named to the
National Baseball Congress
annual All-Star team.
Shortstop Randy Falls and
pitcher Melvin Latta were
singled out for their sparkling
play in five games during the
tournament held last month in
Hickory, N.C.
A pitcher on loan from the
Charlotte Bummers, Latta
sparked the Rangers to their
first win in the double elimina
tion tournament with a 3-hit
pitching performance that
saw him fanned 12 and walkec
six. He also drove in the tying
run to set up Morris Field's 4-3
victory over Kennersville.
In addition to driving in the
winning run against Kenners
ville, Falls played-great de
fense. He started two of th<
four Ranger double plays ir
the meet, in addition to gar
nering six hits in 19 at bats anc
stealing three bases.
"It's a tremendous honor t<
have our pjayers so recog
nized by the selection commit
tee," manager Herman Tho
mas said Tuesday, adding tha
"in view of the large numbei
of outstanding players in th<
tournament, I consider it i
special honor to have two ο
our team members named ti
the all-star team.'' f
œr il. Deginning ai io:3Ua.m.
The final 18 holes will be
played Sunday. September 12.
Love explained that "in ad
dition to determining the
flights for play on Sunday.
Saturday's qualifying round
would also count in the final
tournament total scoring "
£
'The tournament will have
seven flights, including the
championship flight.with me
dal play. Three trophies will
be awarded in each flight, ose
each to the first, second and
third place finishers. The a
wards ceremony will be held
at the Excelsior Club follow
ing play on Sunday.
Love said invitations have
been sent to more than 100
local masters, in addition to
those sent to such places as
Greenville and Columbia in
I , ~
South Carolina and Greens
boro, N.C.
The $30 entry fee includes
green fees. Cart fees are not
included. Entry fees can be
mailed to Mr. Carl Love, 525
Royal Court, Apt. 4, Charlotte.
N.C. 28202 - or call 332-2919.
■ ■■Ρ·········"·
No entry fees will be accepiea
after 9:31) a m Saturday, Sep
tember 11. Love said.
In addition to the Par Bus
ters, Midway Lounge and
Grier Funeral Home are as
sisting with the sponsorship of
the tournament.
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USE IT
y ALL-STAK BASEBALL GAME
SUNDA y, SEPTEMBER 5,1976
HARDING HIGH SCHOOL'S
Athletic Field
\ Game - Time 3:30 P.M.
I CHARLOTTE ALL-STARS
Ι! ν*
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SEE ALL THE
EXCITING ACTION
GOLDEN Β
Johnson
i.
C. Smith
University
Wilbert Greenfield
President of Johnson C. Smith
University
Exciting
half time
Number 2 In 75 Number 1 In 76
Final Standings 1975
Conference Pet. Overall Pet.
61 ■».·>? S·* ™
Eddie McGirt
Head Football Coach
Athletic Director
Charlie R. Cox
Associate Head Coach
entertainment
featuring
the "beet little
band in '
the land".
All home games
will be played in
Charlotte
Memorial Stadium.
Season books on
sale at 120.00
For tickets call or write: j 3
Mr F J Armstead
Office of Financial Affairs
Johnson C. Smith University «(>
100 Beatties Ford Road
Charlotte, North Carolina
October
11
18
25
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J
November
6
l,enoir-Rhyne College mm Churlolte 8:00
Virginia Union University Richmond, Va. 7:30
Hampton Instite Institutpe· Charlotte 8:00
έ . 9
i
A& Τ State University mhm Charlotte 8:00
South Carolina State College Orangeburg, S.C. 7:30
Livingstone College ·μμ Charlotte 1:30
"Bieen ten niai Football Classic"
Shaw University ■■■" (.harlotte 8:00
Winston - Salem Statei^""""»Charlotte
University 8:00
N.C. Centeral UniversityDurham 1:30
ι
Fayetteville State University m Charlotte ®
""Homecoming"
Virginia State C-ollege ' m—mam Petersburg, Va. 1:30