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The Panther
November 3, 1978
Phillip McCrary (21) races past Savannah State defense. (Photo by Jerome Gwinn)
McCrary Ignites Panthers Fuse
By Charles Anderson
Panther Sports Editor
and
Thomas Torrence
PANTHER Staff Writer
Most people would think
that a 5-8, 170 pound running
back who spends most of his
time avoiding giant linemen in
that No Man’s Land known as
the line of scrimmage would
run into all kinds of problems.
But not Phillip McCrary.
McCrary, Clark’s speedy
tailback and kick returner,
believes being small has some
good points.
“In a way it’s an advantage
to be small, mainly because I
can hid behind the big (offen
sive) linemen. I try never to
give anyone a good shot at me.
I turn my body and twist a
certain way.’’
Indeed, this twisting and
turning has led to many long
gains for the Griffin native,
who last year led the nation
Division II') in punt returns
with a 27.8 average and kickoff
returns with a 29.8 average.
This season, however,
McCrary is not limited to
special team duty. Due to a
lack of depth in the offensive
backfield, McCrary was asked
to play tailback by his coach,
Jesse McClardy in the Fort
Valley game.
“The coach asked me to play
tailback, and I did,” said the
soft-spoken McCrary. “It’s the
first time I’ve played tailback.
I’m used to running to the out
side. It was a little different
running up the middle.”
McCrary seems to have
taken the conversion in stride.
So much so, in fact that he has
attracted the attention of
many professional scouts: the
Cincinnati Benegals, San
Diego Chargers, New York
Giants and the Wahsington
Redskins.
And McCrary is quite
interested in joining his
brother, Greg, a tight end for
the San Diego Chargers, ip the
professional ranks.
Ten additional years in
school? Can such a thing be
possible for someone who
spent as much time cutting
classes in elementary school
as he attended them?
“If I don’t get selected in the
draft, I will still go as a free
agent. Scouts 5 try and catch
you by surprise, off guard. I
know they’re watching.
“If I don’t go pro I’ll
probably go to cosmotology
school. From there I would like
to go to grad school and then
dental school. I plan to be in
school for the next ten years.
“I didn’t start liking school
until sixth grade,” admitted
McCrary, an elementary
education and physical
therapy major. “I hated
school. I realized the value and
importance (of school).”
McCrary also discovered that
playing football could be fun.
With a little prodding from
brother Greg, Phillip reluc
tantly learned the game.
“I used to have a lot of
friends running around play
ing football,” recalled
McCrary. My brother used to
wonder why I never would
play. He used to see me with a
(baseball) bat all the time. So
he used to give me bumps and
bruises and tell me to get out
there (and play).”
Well, McCrary “got out
there” and picked up the
nuances of football and
baseball so well that he was an
all star player at both sports at
Griffin High School, and
received an offer to play profes-
sional baseball for the
Philadelphia Phillies. Instead,
McClardy opted to play foot
ball for Clark, and Panther
coach McClardy realizes the
tailback’s value.
“On the field,” says
McClardy, ‘‘he’s like
dynamite. He knows how to
control his fuse.”
Panthers Clinche SIAC Title
By FLETCHER PEACOCK
The Clark College Panthers
edged to win their first SIAC
title since 1974, after a trium
phant 7-6 defeat over AUC
rivals, the Maroon Tigers of
Morehouse College.
The Panther’s defeat over
the Tigers clinches the SIAC
Division B championship for
Clark.
After four minutes of play in
the second quarter, a turn over
by Morehouse, after a bad
snap from center on a punting
attempt, set up Clark’s win
ning touchdown.
From the 19 yard line of
Morehouse, Panther
quarterback Kenny Standifer
hit wide receiver Phillip
McCrary for the TD pass.
With less than six minutes
left in the game, Morehouse
scored on a 48 yard run by
quarterback Arthur Williams,
but was unable to tie the game
after missing the extra point
conversion.
The Panther victory pushes
their overall record to 6-1 and
their SIAC record to 6-0. The
victory also gives the Panthers
their sixth straight win over
the Tigers.
Panther Scoreboard
8 Miles 14
Clark
Clark 23
Lane 6
Clark 14
Fort Valley 0
Clark 21
Fisk 6
Clark 23
Knoxville 0
Savannah State 29
Clark 31
Morehouse 6
Clark
Panther Co-captain Lemar Smith (74) presents
Homecoming Queen Catherine Edward with game ball
during Clark vs. Savannah State half-time activities.
Ms. Catherine Edwards, Miss Clark College 1978.