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12 MARCH-APRIL, 1968
The Panther
A DAY AT THE DESK WITH THE COACH
by Rubye Jean Jackson
On February 20, 1967 I had the pleasure of interviewing our
coach. As you all know this is coach Leonidas S. Epps. This is
his 19th season as head basketball coach at Clark and each year
has been a significant one for him. It is significant to note that
our coach and Clark basketball teams have competed in 13
GIT tournaments missing only the 1960 round. For the last seven
years, Clark has played in either the championship round or the
consolation game of the annual tournament (SIAC). This is truly
history making for coach Epps and Clark College.
Through all of the previous statements
one cannot deny such a being as
“COACH” dignity, praise, and honor. His
days as well as nights are spent training
his men how to be great sportsmen.
Presently I shall begin my escapade,
”A Day At The Desk With The Coach.”
This is how he feels about the basketball
season. He is very direct and to the point
with his analizations. From the small
length of time I was in his presence, I
conclude that he had a basis for every
decision he makes. The coming para
graphs are direct quotations from the
coach.
“Now that the basketball season is over and the Panthers are
not able to attend the Conference Tournament, we view the season
under the circumstances are being successful. Especially since it
ended above 500, the injuries we’ve had and with 11 freshmen
on the squad team.”
“We would like to state we are very proud of the accomplish
ments made by this group. We feel we have several very good
basketball players. For instance, James Walls, Sonny Epps, and
Morris Stroud. A group of freshmen will eventually be heard from.
Fellows like Hurley Harris, Roger Elston, Anthony Taylor, Efrain
Rosado (who was ineligible), Norris Clements, and O’Neal Banks.
This team has played against some of the best Negro basketball
teams in the country and held their own. It is unfortunate that they
are not able to go to the SIAC. We feel that they can hold their
own against anybody. We are sorry for them especially since sev
eral have shown so much courage and determination and have
had so much bad luck. These fellows have played with injuries that
have benched the ordinary ball player. To cite examples—
Charles Bryd broke an ankle and a bone in his leg in August get
ting ready for the season. Sonny Epps has played with Bursitis
in both knees and a pulled tendon in his thigh. James Wall has
had ten stitches in his toe after an operation. These fellows have
given beyond the call of duty. Yet they have not complained and
satisfies will show they have performed comparable to the best.
To cite what we mean we feel James Wall is one of the best shots
in this area and Sonny is the best all-around big man in this area.
In fact, we have very few big men able to do the things he’s able
to do. Some are able to jump higher or shoot with more accuracy.
However, we’ve seen none or no one who is able to rebound, shoot,
feed, play defense, set up plays, and “pick” as he can. We’re
sorry to see him go.”
“Toward the latter part of the season the freshmen begin to
grasp our system and thus were able to give us a hand. Hurley
Harris and Roger Elston are going to be good ball players. Henry
Earl did a good job toward the latter part of the season.”
“Most of the ball games we have lost have been in the last
minutes or last seconds of the game. We lost to Berry with 9
seconds on the clock; welost to Tuskeegee with 9 seconds on the
clock; we lost to S. C. State with 23 seconds on the clock, and
Morris Brown the last seconds of overtime. We lost to Lemoyne
at Memphis the last 3 minutes and we’ve been in most ball games
to the last 3 or 4 minutes. But, that’s the way the ball bounces.
We might add however, that we’ll be back.”
This was my day at the desk with coach. I found him to be
very intriguing and as most of you how intrigument is my middle
name. See you next time. Take care and keep the ball rolling.
P.S.—As I looked through the coaches office I found trophies
won by our athletic department stored in closets, under the sofa,
behind the door, and not to mention the many in the storage room
with a foot of dust collected on them. This is ridiculous. We do
not have a trophy case to show our awards. Oh yes, we can raise
funds to support our queens and enable a program to be carried
out, but we cannot get the adequate amount of money for a trophy
case. I am sure if you bring some visitors or friends to your col
lege, you would certainly enjoy showing them your school trophies
and what better way is there to view a trophy than through # a
trophy case. Let’s get it together and please help in acquiring a
trophy case for Clark College. Anything worth having is worth
working for. Right? Right.
NEGRO ATHLETE
(Continued from Page 11)
away,” Wooten said. “But then
they always ask, ‘What do you
do, are you a halfback?’ ”
“Taxicab drivers never stop
on the street for me,” Wooten
said. “They always think I’m
going to the Hill or to Home-
wood.”
“But then one day a cabbie
did stop,” Garnett said, con
tinuing the story.
“Remember what he said,
Carl? He asked us if we went
to Pitt and I told him yes. And
the next thing he asked was,
‘Are you a football player?’ ”
Wooten told how Hubie
White, Negro basketball player
who brought fame to Villanova
(Pa.) University, was exploited.
“He never received his degree.
They gave him a certificate of
attendance.”
“Do you know what he’s
doing now?” Wooten asked.
“He sweeps out the Villanova
gym.”
“When everyone learned
there were five Negroes on the
freshman football team,” Ste
venson related, “the first thing
everyone said was, ‘We gotta
keep them in school.’ ”
“One other freshman football
player came up to me,” Wat
kins said, “ and said ‘It’s good
to see colored guys on the
team. Now jwe’ll have some
speed and we’ll win.’ ”
Watkins told of his father’s
advice to him. “Get in sports.
That’s where you have to make
it,” he always said.
“Why do you think all the top
fighters are Negroes?” Wooten
asked. “They’re hungry. They
started fighting as an outlet,
but then they learned it was the
only way to get out of the
ghettos.”
Stevenson supported Wooten,
saying, “I’ll have to keep at
this. It’s th eonly way I can
make it.”
“Some people ask me why I
get angry,” Wooten said. “Well,
I’ll tell you. I don’t like being
called ‘boy’ anymore. And I
want the best. If a white doesn’t
want it, I don’t want it. I’m
tired of getting the crumbs.”
“We’re proud,” he said,
“probably the proudest.” Woot
en is one of eleven Negro ath
letes at Pittsburgh — eleven
Negro athletes at a “cosmo
politan” university.
A Proud Athlete
Sonny Epps and Mother.
YOUR HOROSCOPE
by Desdimonia Jones
Pices (February 20 -
March 20) Your stars indicate
a defintie step forward in your
relationship with your old
friends. You will also have
improvements of your emo
tionally trying atmosphere you
may recently have encountered
at home. Your love-life will be
very fruitful in the near future.
Your days of waiting and
patience will be rewarding in
the end.
Aries (March 21 - April
20) The stars indicate that you
are on the right road to suc
cess in your relationship with
the opposite sex. A romantic
cycle is here, and you may
make important decisions con
cerning your future. Do not
let others hold you back on
projects which you feel you
will be successful. Stay as cir
cumspect and patient as your
energetic nature allows, for
you may encounter jealousies
or some trouble-making indi
viduals. Remmeber and cher
ish the past, but live for the
present and the future.
Taurus (April 21 -May
21) The stars are favorable to
you this month. You will have
personal satisfaction in your
personal relationships, and a
rise in popularity. Concentrate
more on your students. Seek
help, if needed. Enjoy your
favorable signs with caution for
you may lose someone dear and
close to you.
Gemini (May 22 - June
21) You are now entering a
period of important decision
making. Two of your earlier de
cisions will take satisfactory' ef
fect. Take a second look at
your self-esteem. Although you
are flexible and easily led, you
also enjoy leading. You will
make use of any point to win an
argument. You will be success
ful in most of your future un
dertakings.
Cancer (June 22 - June
23) Your stars indicate signs of
worries about people who are
close to you. May may find
complications in your personal
and romantic life. You feel (and
this is a good sign) that devo
tion should make up for any de
fects in technique. Take caution
in choosing new friends.
Leo (July 24 - August 23)
Take fullest advantage of new
opportunities that may open
for you. Your unsureness of
your future will soon pass. Your
stars indicate that you have a
deep sense of responsibility to
ward what you do, but you are
not happy taking orders from
others. You now enter a period
of quick improvement in your
social, academic and personal
life.
Virgo (August 24 - Sep
tember 23) This period shows
that the general atmosphere of
your social and personal life will
remain harmonous. You will re
ceive profitable advice and as
sistance from a reliable friend.
Libra (September 24 - Oc
tober 23) Your stars indicate
that you will have eventful
changes in your emotional and
public life. This is a good period
to stabilize your relationship
with your partner and contem
plate marriage.
Scorpio (October 24 - No
vember 22) The stars indicate
that most of your serious prob
lems are about to be solved.
Any seemingly insurmountable
problems that face you will be
resolve due to your own aggres
siveness. The stars are so favor
able to you this time that you
can take trips, invest in money
making ventures and be more
confident in your social con
tacts.
Saggitarius (November 23-
December 21) The stars indi
cate that your financial situa
tion will improve, but be care
ful of foolish speculations. In
vest in only that which you are
reasonable sure will pay-off in
the near future. It is also a good
time for you to stand back and
take a long, hard and objective
look at your social life.
Capricorn (December 22-
January 20) The stars indicate
for this period in your life a
new and interesting contact with
someone who will have a great
bearing on your social life. You
may receive something valuable
from an old and dear friend.
Aquarius (January 21-
February 19) You will find spe
cial delight in good news con
cerning an arrival home of a
very special and dear friend.
There are also signs of a great
flouish in your social life if your
attitude toward your closet
friend change.
CAREER WEEK—Right of Picture: Alan James and Elijah Solomon.