Newspaper Page Text
SEPTEMBER 18, 1972
Braves Are Taller,
But Can They Win ?
BY BILL HARPER
Intercollegiate basketball at West Georgia has come a long way in
the past two years, and that is quite an understatement. Until the 1970-
71 season, the Braves had been the doormat of the South for other
teams. With the arrival of former Georgia Tech All-American Roger
Kaiser as head coach and super recruiter Jerry Reynolds, West
Georgia has become one of the top small college squads in the
country.
At home games where the huge
arena once held meager crowds
of less than 500, the place is now
jam packed with nearly 3,000
screaming students when the
Braves are in town. An example
of the new spirit and enthusiasm
came last year. when hundreds of
students and local fans journeyed
more than 100 miles to see West
Georgia play in the conference
playoffs.
The highlight of Braves
basketball history also came last
year when WGC stunned favored
Albany State for the District 25
title and a trip to the national
finals in Kansas City.
Will the war cry of “Kansas
City, here we come!” fill the air
as the Braves celebrate the end of
their 1972-73 hunting season? It is
debatable whether or not the
Braves basketball team will give
a repeat performance of last
year. With the loss of Charlie
Hamilton, Bobby York, and
Harley Stewart there is some
doubt of the 28-6 record of last
year being improved or even
equaled.
First, a look at the recruiting
that was was done this year is in
order. Eight ballplayers from
TEKE RUSH ACTIVITIES
Sept. 20 - Open Band Party.. Teke Lodge
"KUDZU"
Sept. 23 - Open Party Teke Lodge
Sept. 24 - Cookout & Folksinger ... .Teke
Lodge
Sept. 27 - Cabin Smoker —Teke Lodge
Sept. 29 - Jazz Band Party ... Teke Lodge
Oct. 2 - Invitational Cocktail Party . Back
Door Rib-1
Oct. 4 - Stag Smoker Teke Lodge
Kansas City, Here We Come?
junior colleges and high schools
were brought to West Georgia
College, and out of this group
WGC signed five. The recruiting
of these players was termed as
the best recruiting year in the
history of West Georgia College
basketball. “Foots” Walker,
Jerry Faulkner, Pat Magley,
Randy Roundtree, and Kevin
Price round out this year’s ad
ditions to the Braves Basketball
fold.
These young men will bring in
outstanding credentials and a
strong desire to play a lot of ball
for West Georgia College, ac
cording Roger Kaiser, head
basketball coach.
Returning lettermen from last
year’s District 25 champions are
Greg and Barry Allen, Tom
Turner, Alan Gustavel, Whit
Mathews and Willie Joe Lewis.
These six gave the Braves an
exciting year and brand of
basketball in 1971-72. The ver
satility of the returning lettermen
and the new recruits according to
Roger Kaiser, “will provide an
exciting ball team.” Their record
may not be as good as last year’s,
but they’ll provide many exciting
moments for the fans.”
THE WEST GEORGIAN
" W \ it®?'
This was the scene last March when the West
Georgia Braves defeated Albany State for the
NAIA District 25 championship and secured a
berth in the NAIA National Tournament in
Looking at possible weaknesses
in the ball club, the coaches see
only one. Rebounding holds the
only question mark. Otherwise,
the Braves will have excellent
depth, sharp shooting ,
quickness, and a lethal defense.
With the overall height of
Magley(6-7,) Gustavel (6-7),)
Roundtree (6-8), Lewis (6-4), and
Turner (6-4), the question of
rebounding may not be a
problem.
How would this sound as a
starting line up? At guards, Greg
Allen s’B” and “Foots” Walker
6’o”, forwards Gustavel 6’7” and
Magley 67”, and Roundtree 6’B”
at center.
“The competition for starting
berths will be extremely keen,”
TKE
WELCOMES
NEW STUDENTS
Scj^—.To Atl.
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Oak Mt. \ 16
A fraternity is only as good A \
as its members. The Teke’s, Mcaaemy t
need new members to make \ \
our fraternity even better. \
We offer a living ex-
perience not found in any
other phase of college life s^\
good times and good friends. TKE yf
What more can you ask? ' \
Lodge \
“WHEN CHAMPAGNE FLOWED”
said Kaiser, “and there is no way
to tell who the starters will be.”
The West Georgia Braves will
play 23 regular season games,
plus two holiday tournaments.
The season will start with the
annual Thanksgiving Tourney at
Tennessee Temple in Chat
tanooga. On December 2,
Georgia College, anew addition
to the GIAC, will invade West
Georgia for the first home game
of the season. Come December 4
the Braves hit the road and take
on powerful Western Kentucky,
the toughest foe ever to be on a
West Georgia basketball
schedule.
During the Christmas holidays
(December 15-16) West Georgia
will be defending Hubbard
Kansas City. The question in most students'
minds is, Will the West Georgia Braves give a
repeat performance in 1972-73?
Classic title in Bremen. This
year’s classic will be exactly
that, for West Georgia’s bitter
rival, LaGrange College, will
also, be in the tournament.
The toughest competition for
the Braves this year will come
Western Kentucky, Carson
Newman, Valdosta State,
LaGrange, and Augusta College,
according to Coach Kaiser.
When asked about any goals for
next year, Roger Kaiser stated,
“The number one goal will be to
win the GIAC Championship.”
This will be West Georgia’s last
year as a member of the GIAC.
A small college National
Collegiate Athletic Association
has been formed in the state of
Georgia for the 1973-74 season.
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