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A New Beginning: _ Braves Football *Bl
Braves Might
'Baptize' Eagles
This Saturday night finds the West
Georgia Braves football squad playing
; their first home game of the season
against Baptist University of America
I from Decatur, Ga The Braves will
' carry their unblemished record of 1-0 to
take on the Eagles who will be attemp
ting to improve their 1-1 record
Baptist is coming off a rather dismal
season finished 1-7-1 in 1980 The Eagles
have been a team for five years, but
i West Georgia coach Bobby Pate said
; they have not had a very successful pro
gram
Braves vs.
Baptist University
Baptist is ah NCAA Div. II affiliate,
has an enrollment of 300 students, and
is coached by second-year man Robert
Rapson who has compiled a 5-10-2
record while with the Eagles The
Eagles run a Multiple T offense and
return with 10 starters from last
season’s squad, Tom Moffet directs the
Eagle offense at the quarterback posi
tion while Baptist's top defensive
leader is David McCoy at defensive
end The Eagles use a 5-Multiple
defense and return with five starters
The Eagles will be going for their se
cond straight win after defeating
another school comparable to its size
from Louisiana 28-8 last weekend
Maryville College, a team which West
Georgia will face later on in the season,
beat Baptist earlierthis season Baptist
will also face a future opponent of West
Georgia who has an excellent program
- College which Comes to Car
rollton next week
Although the Eagles return with ex
perienced players, expect the Braves to
give them a lot of trouble Last year,
with the exception of their first game in
which they scored 34 points, Baptist had
trouble in getting points on the board as
they were held to an average of one
touchdown per game
If Brave fans like to see plenty of
scoring, they will in this game as there
will be plenty Don't forget, game time
is7:3op m
The House Rules
If you go to any one of the five Braves
home football games at Grisham
Stadium, you may see both Carrollton
police and Public Safety officers there
According to Chief William Tuttle of
Public Safety, agreements have been
made between the two departments for
parking and security at these games
Security or parking problems can be
handled by officers from either force,
according to Tuttle
Students, faculty, staff and faculty
and staff dependents will be eligible for
GRISHAM
STADIUM
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The Great American Classic
• Dine in Or Take Out !■
• orders Ready in 20 Minutes 25
•Famous Original Thin Crust
• Great Sicilian Topper™ • Salad Bar
•Sandwiches -Beverages
Pizza inxil
admission into all home games free of l
charge, but no one will be admitted free
without a validated ID. ‘‘No exceptions
can be made to this rule," Tuttle said
Tuttle also stressed the tact that no
alcoholic beverages will be allowed in
side the stadium. “I personally ask for
the cooperation of all students in adher
ing to this rule," Tuttle said. All
alcoholic beverages will be confiscated
at the gate and inside the stadium
Braves Sc hedule
OATI OPPONENT LOCATION PREDICTION
S.pt, 19 37-14 at Milas College Birmingham, Ala. _
Sept. 26 Baptist University of America Heme Win
Oct. 3 Millsaps College Home loos
Oct. 10 Homden-Sydeney College lynchbarg, Va. Win
Oct. 17 Centre College Danville, By. Win
Oct. 24 Randolph-Mocon College Home loss
Oct. 31 University of Central Florida Home loos
Nov. 7 Morehouse College Atlanta Win
Nov. 14 Moryville College Alcoa, Term. Win
Nov. 21 Knoxville College Home Win
No Marching Band This Year
There will be no West Georgia Mar
ching Band this year, but half-time
entertainment at the football games
will be provided
The Carrollton High School Band
under the directin of Don Hall will fie
performing at the first home game on
Sept 26 against Baptist University of
America On Oct. 3, the Spray berry
High School Band will perform at the
Milsaps College Game under the direc
tion of Don Martin.
The Stephens County High School
|
Buy one pie ea, get the next a mailer
alee free. Buy any jlanl, targe or medium size Original
Thin Crust or Sicilian Topper pizza and get the next smaller
■ same style pizza with equal number of toppings. Free
[ Present this coupon with guest check Not valid with any
I other offer
I Expiration date 10-8-11
L, BLzzaixtnl.
J *3.00. *3 JOO or UjOOeff. Buy any Original
i Thin Crust or Sicilian Topper pizza and get J3 00 off a
i giant J 2 00 off a large or $1 00 off a medium size pizza
I Presem ihis coupon with guest check Not valid with any
g other offer
p Kxpiration dale 18*1*11
j Pizza ion 1.
Band will perform under the direction
of Archie Sherritts on Oct. 24. The
Newnan High School Band will perform
on Oct. 21 and for the final regular
season game against Knoxville College,
the Hardaway High School Band will be
conducted by Bill Pharris.
David McCullough will be in charge
of developing the new band program.
McCullough grew up in Montgomery,
Ala and received his bachelors and
masters in French Horn performance
from Florida State University.
819 BANKHEAD HIGHWAY
THE WEST GEORGIAN, WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 1981
Braves Combine Raw
Talent With Enthusiasm
By MIKE MEAD
Head Coach: Bobby Pate
Assistant Coaches: Jack Brinkley Defensive Coordinator and Linebacker
Coach, Mike Earwood - Offensive Line, Chuck Taylor Quarterbacks and Wide
Receivers, Jimmy Stokes Defensive Line, Allen Gaston Defensive Secondary
Stadium : Grisham Stadium (5,000), Carrollton High Stadium
Nickname: Braves
Colors: Red and Blue
Offense: Pro-I
Defense: 50Shade
Team Size: Offensive line will average 225, and defensive line will average 230;
offensive backfield will average 170 and the defensive backfield will average 185;
overall, WGC should be larger than the average Division 111 team.
Team Speed: Excellent speed on offense and defense with the backfield averag
ing about 4.5—4.6 and the secondary around 4.6; very good speed on both lines as
well
Overall Strengths: Better than average size and very good speed; good depth at
such positions as offensive line, linebacker, and defensive line; tremendous en
thusiasm and intensity.
Overall Weaknesses: Tremendous lack of experience at nearly every position;
lack of depth at tight end and quarterback.
The Braves opened their football
season with impressive style with a win
last Saturday night beating Miles Col
lege 37-14 in Birmingham, Ala. For
head coach Bobby Pate, it was an op
portunity to have many questions
answered that were puzzling him for
the past 14 months.
Some may wonder if the Braves are
for real. On paper, the team may look
mismatched. But Pate is quite op
timistic on how the team will fare
against future opponents. “Every game
will be a classic study of a team with
raw talent and great enthusiasm going
against a team with proven ability and
college experience,” said Pate.
If one really looks close at the team’s
talent, one would be quite impressed at
what talent West Georgia possesses.
"We have some players whom I would
have done my best to sign if I had still
been at Western,” he said.
Looking at the team’s size, the
Braves should be larger than the
average Division 111 team. The offen
sive line will average 225 pounds while
the offensive backfield will average 170
pounds. The defensive line will average
230 pounds and the backfield will weigh
in at an average of 175.
The team has excellent speed on of
fense and defense as evident in their
opening game. The backfield has been
averaging 4.5-4.6 for the 40 yard dash
while the secondary has an average
clocking of 4.6
The team’s overall strengths are:
better than average size and speed;
good depth at such positions as offen
sive line, linebacker and defensive line;
experienced quarterbacks and tremen
dous enthusiasm and intensity.
The Braves’ weak points arc that
nearly every position lacks players
with college experience. Another
weakness is not being able to stop the
big play that comes with experience.
Miles’ scoring came on plays covering
more than 60 yards each.
The Braves run their offense out of
the Pro-1 formation while using a 50
Shade defense. The offense loves those
option plays and fans can expect to see
them run and gun at every game.
THE BACKFIELD
At present, the battle for West
Georgia’s No. 1 quarterback exists
between David Archer and Marshall
University transfer Jon Sharretts. Ar
cher returns from last year as the top
QB, but Sharretts received plenty of
signal calling experience while at Mar
shall. Both have good throwing arms
while after the first game, Archer pass
ed for the most yards (77), but Shar
retts has the best passing percentage
(4-8, .500).
The running backs will also be battl
ing it out to see who is the top back.
David Phillips, a 26-year-old freshman,
is presently the leading team rusher
with 58 yards. Last season’s top back,
Larry Crowder, is coming off an injury,
but is expected to contribute greatly
ivgfe - •*s!§ Jv ■
HLj* j, _ *
An era gone by is once again alive at West Georgia as Braves football got started
off on the right foot beating Miles 37-14. Too bad these fellows didn’t get to ex
perience the thrill of victory in their heyday.
while Cling Long proves to be an ex
citing runner to watch. Harold Long,
one of the fastest runners on the
Braves’ squad, is also nursing an injury
and will make his presence known once
he is healthy. Todd Clifton is another
who could surprise people
OFFENSIVE LINE
Terry Canup was the No. 1 center last
fall but he’ll be pushed by top recruit
Mike Shackleford. Last year’s top
guard who started against Miles are
Charlie Whitlock and Harry Boughton
and should be solid starters unless
challenged later by second stringers.
Returnees at tackles include Bruce
Pritchett and Mark Stout. The line
averages six feet and 230 pounds. They
did a good job of protecting their
quarterback while opening up running
room for the backs in Saturday’s game
against Miles.
RECEIVERS
Mike McConnell finds himself as the
Braves’ leading receiver with 99 yards
and a touchdown to his credit. Mean
while, Bucky Bartles returns from last
year as the top wide receiver and Rusty
Whaley Is a starter at split end. The
tight end position is held down by Brian
McCormick who before the season was
the only man at that spot.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Mac McCoy and Mark Williamson
return as the top tacklers while
noseguard Phillip Davis had a good
night Saturday at that spot. Angelo
Snipes, one of two newcomers to start
(the other being running back Phillips),
i handles defensive left end and was able
i to score a touchdown when he picked off
a pass for 30 yards to show his finese.
The right defensive end is covered by
Ken Terry. Newcomers Ricky Hill,
Derek Landstrom and John Bazemore
are expected to add depth to the line.
LINEBACKERS
Returnees Lawrence Erwin and Der
rick Germaine continue to be the top
middle linebackers as they were last
year. Keith Maloof, along with Creflo
Dollar provide depth in these positions.
SECONDARY
Free safety Steve South and strong
safety Keith Harrison lead the Braves
in this area while Bubba O’Brien
handles the right comerback spot. The
left comerback position was vacated
last Saturday when Ken Revels was in
volved on a play that resulted in a
broken leg and will sideline him for
about two months. This vacancy will
have to be filled quickly, if the Braves
are going to be able to stop the big
plays.
KICKEKS
Rob Rice finds himself as the man to
handle the field goals and PAT’s when
the situation calls for him. Against
Miles he was four-for-five in PAT’s and
hit a 27-yard field goal. The punting
duties for the time being are handled by
David Noe who averaged 39.6 yards a
punt against the Golden Bears with his
longest being a 43-yarder.
9A