About The Red and Black (Athens, Ga.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 1996)
■ Tubby’s Dogs have first road win - 6 The Red & Black An independent student newspaper serving the University of Georgia community ■ INSIDE • Check out the new SGA Website • NYPD Blue 1 shines despite controversy of first season THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1996 • ATHENS, GEORGIA • VOLUME 103, ISSUE 75 Stroud gives Donnan signing day treat By NORM WOOD Staff Writer For the throng of fans outside Butts- Mehre Heritage Hall early Wednesday, it was like any other crisp morning of prepa ration for a day of football madness. Armed with the standard tailgate fare, including chips, sandwiches, southern fried morsels and beer, even the most rabid of Bulldog fans could not have expected the day of treats that lay ahead. Georgia received confirmation from 22 recruits on national signing day. However, the “surprise" recruit that Georgia had been waiting for came in the form of a hulk ing defensive lineman from Quitman, Ga Marcus Stroud, a 6-foot-6-inch, 266-pound defensive end from Brooks County High School, reneged on his earlier commitment to Florida and signed with Georgia about noon Wednesday. “The opportunity for me to play early and get a quality education at the same time brought me to Georgia,” said Stroud, who became the first recruit in the history of Brooks County to sign a commitment to a Division I-A school. “I was impressed by the staff and everything about the campus at Georgia.” Stroud actually made his decision to come to Georgia two days ago, but wanted to add to the suspense of national signing day. He was rumored to be headed to Florida due to pressure from his mother, who admittedly wanted to see her son play for the Gators. “I wanted him to go to Florida, but I told him I would stand by him with whatever decision he made," said Stroud's mother, Thelma McDonald. The Bulldogs signed all but one of the recruits who had given earlier oral commit ments to play for Georgia. Ernest Ross, a 5- 11, 182-pound quarterback from Columbia High School in Decatur, Ga., signed a com mitment with the University of Alabama- Birmingham. He wanted the opportunity to play quarterback and wasn’t sure if he would be given that opportunity at Georgia. Georgia head coach Jim Donnan sat in a press conference Wednesday looking as if he had just coached the game of his life. His expression was one of exhaustion, but relief, that his first recruiting period in the Southeastern Conference had finally come to a conclusion. “We’ve all created a monster here (with the recruiting hoopla),” Donnan said. “They (recruits) spend more time speaking to the press and recruiting gurus than the coaches.” Donnan and his stafT were saddled with the task of shoring up a Georgia team which finished its 1995 campaign with a 6- 6 record. But the Georgia staff had to start almost from scratch relatively late in the recruiting period. “We took the approach that if we could get any athlete who met our standards, we would take him," Donnan said. “Next sea son, we’ll be more specific-need based. “We didn’t recruit any kids who were still interested in Marshall. I don’t believe that is ethical." Georgia received commitments from sev eral highly coveted national and in-state recruits, highlighted by two Tucker High School players, running back Patrick Pass and defensive back Cory Robinson, Charlton County High School defensive back Champ Bailey, and JUCO recruits Cletidus Hunt and Rich Robich on defense “I’m extremely proud of our staff,” Donnan said. “I think we’ve established a great reputation with high school coaches in the state.” Please see related story on Recruiting, page 8 r Georgia Signees by Position A Offense: Quarterbacks (1) Running Backs (3) Tight Ends (1) Wide Receivers (5) Offensive Linemen (3) Defense: Defensive Linemen (2) Linebackers (3) Defensive Backs (3) Kickers (1) J CHAO HANQEN/Tne Red and Black Lady Bulldogs survive Rebels’ attack in Oxford By C. TRENT ROSECRANS and MARC LANCASTER Staff Writers OXFORD, Miss. — The Georgia Lady Bulldogs basketball team survived a scare from a red-hot Ole Miss team en route to a 90-85 victory here last night. Georgia (19-2, 7-0 SEC) won its 17th straight game behind a powerful perfor mance from post players Tracy Henderson and La’Keshia Frett. Henderson poured in 16 second-half points on the way to a season-high 25. Frett chipped in 23, scoring 15 of those points in the second half, and also added nine rebounds and seven assists. The Lady Bulldogs shot an amazing 62 percent (38-of-61) from the field on the evening, offsetting the 17th-ranked Lady Rebels’ ll-of-20 shooting from three- point range. Georgia held its own from long range, getting a pair of three-point ers from Saudia Roundtree and three from Kedra Holland. Ole Miss (15-6, 4-3) held a 49-42 lead at the half after nailing seven three- pointers, but the Lady Bulldogs pounded the ball inside relentlessly in the second half against the undersized Lady Rebels. Henderson and Frett had their way against Ole Miss center Yolanda Moore, who stands just 6 feet tall. “At halftime. I thought we needed to go out and play hard and I think we did that,"said Georgia head coach Andy Landers. “Henderson car ried us inside and she played great defense." Georgia was trailing 76-75 with 4:41 to play when Latrese Bush pulled up for a jump shot. As the ball was in the air, Mississippi’s Regan Seybert was whistled for pushing Signe Antvorskov under the basket. Bush’s shot went in. and Antvorskov hit both ends of the one-and- one opportunity for a four-point play and a 79-76 Georgia lead. The Lady Rebels kept the game close until a crucial sequence with less than two minutes to play. Down 84-81. Ole Miss point guard Lisa Miller stepped out of bounds. The crowd of 2,474 expressed its displeasure with the call by bombard ing the floor with cups and other items. After the debris was removed, Georgia worked the ball in to Henderson, who scored a layup with 56 seconds to play. The shot gave the Lady Bulldogs an 86- 81 lead and appeared to take the life out of the Lady Rebels. Moore led Ole Miss with 23 points, while Seybert added 19 and Miller 17. Roundtree had 17 and Holland 12 for Georgia. THE SCORECARD No. 1 Georgia 90 No. 17 Ole Miss 85 Georgia improves winning streak to 17 games behind 25 points and eight rebounds from Tracy Henderson. Andy Landers Whistler’s work expected to draw crowd at Museum of Art By NICOLE TRAYCOFF Contributing Writer Attention art lovers: The Georgia Museum of Art is offering the rare opportunity to glimpse into the world of American artist James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903) with a traveling exhibit of his works, “Whistler: Prosaic Views, Poetic Vision; Works on Paper from the University of Michigan Museum of Art." “Whistler is considered to be one of the all time greatest print makers of the world," said Professor S. William Pelletier, the Alumni Foundation Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and a noted art collector. “He had a tremendous eye for beauty and could convert it into something of lasting value. Few artists can do that.” Pelletier is familiar with the late 19th- century artist because he has a Whistler col lection of his own. “I bought my first Whistler print in 1969 from a New York gallery," Pelletier said. “They are very expensive and are hard to find. In fact, many museums don’t have the prints." However, from now until March 24, the work of Whistler won’t be so elusive. The exhibit features 83 of the artist’s most exquisite etchings and lithographs, including his “French Set" and “The Thames." ‘“He had a tremendous eye for beauty and could convert It Into something of lasting value.’ - Professor S. William Pelletier “His works take you to London in the late 1850s, to Venice in the late 1870s and early 1880s, to Paris in the 1890s, and back to London in 1894," said Patricia Phagan, in- house curator for the Georgia Museum of Art. “They are a view into another time." Fite “Arthur Haden is a James McNeill Whistler print and will be exhibited in the Georgia Museum of Art. In addition to the Michigan collection is a small alcove, “Another View: Prints by Whistler from the Collection of Dr. and Mrs. S. William Pelletier.” This display features 11 of Pelletier’s prints, including such well- known images as “The Lime Burner” and “The Garden." “Recently, Whistler’s work was on exhibit in Washington, D.C. and London,” Phagan said. “So this is really a great opportunity." THE LOWDOWN The Georgia Museum of Art hosts a travel ing exhibit of James McNeill Whistler's most exquisite etchings end lithographs through March 24. The exhibit Is open and free to the public. ACC still needs position filled By LEA LEVINE Staff Writer With one offer already made and turned down, the Athens-Clarke County Downtown Development Authority is once again looking for someone to fill its head position. Art Jackson was offered the Athens job in late January, but declined it early this week. He was asked to step down from a similar post in Raleigh, N.C. after three major businesses relo cated to the suburbs. Jackson said he would have loved to come to Athens and his alma mater, but it just didn't seem like a real good fit. “My selection had become too polit ical and too controversial," he said. Jackson said he declined the Athens position because he wanted to enter the job in a neutral situation. “It seemed there were some people who didn't want me to come in," Jackson said. “I have applied and interviewed for other jobs." Barton Middleton, president of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce and downtown authority board mem ber, was the only member to vote against Jackson and in favor of Navy Supply Corps School Capt. George Huban. “The vote was a very close call for me," Middleton said. “I just thought Huban was the best candidate.” Middleton said he supported the majority’s decision to offer Jackson the job. “Jackson had the credentials, but Huban was also very qualified,” he said. “His experience running the Navy Supply School is just like a city in a city." Middleton added that Jackson's record in Raleigh was not the reason for his vote. “I think Jackson had a very good record in Raleigh,” Middleton said. “He came highly recommended by both the Chamber of Commerce in Raleigh and the Athens Chamber of Commerce." Middleton said the steering com mittee. who will pick the next head of the downtown development authority, will reopen applications for one month. According to Middleton, Huban will be considered for the job along with other applicants. Huban refused to comment on his status as an appli cant. John Padgett, chairman of the down town authority board, said the applica tion process is open to anyone. He said the final decision will be made two to three weeks after applications close. Students invited to share a night with the Hawks By ROB KITCHEL Sports Editor The Atlanta Hawks have been playing well lately and they want you to know about it. Tonight the Hawks are offering college students the opportunity to come see them play the Washington Bullets at 7:30 at the Omni for half-price. Students interested in buying half-priced tickets must bring a student I D to the Omni ticket window after 10 a m Thursday to purchase tickets. Each student can buy up to four tickets with a valid I D. But the fun won’t stop with half-priced tickets. Some lucky students will receive prizes from the Hawks and WKLS 96 Rock. The prizes include: V.I.P. tickets to a future Hawks' game, a limo ride to the game, an autographed game ball, a tour of the Hawks' locker room, a Kuppenheimer gift certificate, a Hard Rock Cafe gift certificate and a six-pack of CDs Atlanta is 25-20 and has been playing very well. The Hawks had a 10-game winning streak in January and have managed to climb into fourth place in the Central Division. Steve Smith leads the Hawks, averaging 17.7 points per game. The Bullets are 22-22 and vying for their first playoff berth in years. Washington is led by All-Star forward Juwan Howard, who is averaging 20.2 points per game in only his second year in the league. Howard’s Michigan teammate, Chris Webber, is also a Bullet, but has been sidelined for the rest of the year with a shoulder ipjury. Special to The Red and Black The Hawks and Stacey Augmon, who is known to his fans as “plas tic man," will enter tain the Washing ton Bullets tonight at the Hawks’ college night at the Omni in Atlanta.
