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Clark Atlanta University Panther
October 4, 1990
Tigers Pose Homecoming Threat
By ANTHONY GEORGE
Staff Writer
Clark Atlanta University
will try to win its first home
coming game, as the Panthers
face the unbeaten Tuskegee
Golden Tigers at Lakewood
Stadium Saturday.
First year head coach Willie
Hunter said he is not very
optimistic about playing
Tuskegee on homecoming.
“Tuskegee probably has the
best all-around team in the
conference. Without injuries,
I’m sure they will win the
conference. They graduated
only three players from last
year’s good team.”
The athletic director and the
head coach decide the schedule
of the team. This year, coach
Hunter did not take part of the
scheduling due to prior con
tractual agreements between
CAU and other schools. The
homecoming committee
decides the homecoming game.
“I wouldn’t have chosen
Tuskegee,” said Hunter.
Hunter said he is laying
down a strong foundation this
season. Despite the Panthers
1-2 record he said the team is
on course.
“My kids are getting
stronger, disciplined, and play
hard. We don’t have many
seniors, but if everyone
returns, we will have a team
like Tuskegee. If alumni and
fans don’t have patience with
us this season, there is nothing
I can do. Even though we are
building a foundation this
season, we will win some
games,” said Hunter.
Hunter said without several
key mistakes, the Panthers
could be undefeated. The
biggest mistake that plagued
the Panthers were dropped
passes and during practice
sessions coaches drilled the
receivers extensively. Despite
losing to University of
Arkansas at Pine Pluff 45-2,
Hunter said that the game
proved to him his team had
heart.
“People look at the score and
think it was a blow out. We had
55 players, and they had 90
players, most were much
bigger than ours. In the first
half we had four drives deep
inside their territory, but
mistakes killed us. We
surprised them with our
intensity. I’m not saying we
wouldn’t have lost, but if we
had scored, it would have put a
lot of pressure on them,” said
Hunter.
“I Wouldn't
have chosen
Tuskegee ”
— Hunter
Hunter said this season the
school seemed more enthused
about Panther football. For
homecoming, Hunter expects
a very spirited week.
“If the school shows a lot of
support with pep rallies, bon
fires, and other activities, this
would be a great morale
builder,” said Hunter. “If we
pack the stadium, that will
make our team play harder. It
will be extremely hard to lose
with a lot of support. The guys
would hate to lose because they
would feel they let the school
down,” added Hunter.
Hunter: 'PanthersBetter Team 9
By SETH COLEMAN
Contributing Writer
According to Clark Atlanta
University first year head
football coach Willie Hunter,
the 1990 Panthers are bigger,
stronger, and faster. But are
they better?
“We are definitely a better
conditioned team this season,
because we stressed more
weights and conditioning,”
said the former defensive
coordinator. And the proof is
in the pudding, as all of the
Panthers’ down linemen on
both sides of the ball bench
press over 300 pounds.
After last season’s finish (3-
7), one might think that taking
over a team with no place to go
but up, shouldn’t be too tough.
However, Hunter begs to differ.
“Being head coach, I have
much more responsibility. I
have to have an understanding
of all the positions on the field
and it’s all very time
consuming.”
Part of Hunter’s time has
been spent putting some new
wrinkles into the Panther’s
much maligned offense.
The entire offensive line as
well as the backfield will return
with junior running backs
Charles Evans and Leo Barr
leading the charge. The line
will be anchored by sophomore
center Tommy Buckson, and
j uniors Fred Williams and Tim
Crowder at guard and tackle
respectively. Tight end Chris
Hudson will return as well.
The majority of the defensive
unit will be back in 1991 led by
280 pound sophomore tackle
Alex Cottman. “Alex has a
chance to be an outstanding
player for us because of his
strength (450 pound bench
press),” said Hunter.
However, next year is just
that, next year, and not unlike
many first year head coaches,
Hunter is under the pressure of
producing an instand winner.
People don’t understand that
new coaches need a grace
period so that they can install
their philosophy and the
players and coaches that they
need to execute their game
plan. We play a lot of young
sters, and as they come around
we will get better.”
Quarterback Marlow Roberson takes a snap during practice.
PHOTO BY RODNEY MATHEWS
Roberson No Longer On The Run
By PIERCE W. HUFF
Sports Editor
Even as a child growing up
in southwest Atlanta, Clark
Atlanta University senior
starting quarterback Marlow
Roberson knew that being a
quarterback was his calling.
“I’ve always wanted to be a
quarterback,” Roberson said.
“I like being in charge and
feeling the pressure.”
Everyday during the school
year, he and his friends used to
run home after school, watch
cartoons for an hour and meet
on the fields of William Finch
Elementary School. There they
would select teams of 12 and
play football until dark.
“When we came home after
school, we never did our
homework, we-always watched
cartoons because we usually
did our homework during
school,” Roberson said.
It was there, running an
offense that consisted of pass
routes diagrammed on the
grass with sticks, that
Roberson had his first favorite
receiver, Gerald Lester. Back
then he and Lester never had a
favorite route, because they
seldom needed one. But when
the games got close and his
team needed a touchdown, he
could always manage to throw
a bomb to Lester to win the
game.
“I guess you could say that
we kind of dominated,”
Roberson said.
Three games into his fourth
season as the Panthers
starting quarterback,
Roberson reflects upon his
collegiate career and smiles.
In his four years he has had to
adjust to the different offensive
philosophies of former Panther
head coaches Jesse McClardy
and William Spencer, and
current first-year head coach
Willie Hunter.
“Under Coach McClardy I
was taught to try to find the
weakside of the defense and
throw to the open receiver.
Under Coach Spencer I was
taught to look to the middle,
then over to the right sidelines
and then out to the left side
lines. Under Coach Hunter I’m
being taught to pick up the free
safety to find the coverage of
the defense, and then throw
the ball to the primary
receiver,” Roberson said.
Statistically, the change in
offensive philosophies has
worked. Last season, playing
in only eight games due to
injuries, Roberson completed
69 of 178 passes for 956 yards
and three touchdowns. This
season after the games he has
completed 28 of 61 passes for
428 yards and one touchdown.
“Marlow is having an
average season, but he can
definitely play better,” said
Hunter. “He’s got all of the
physical tools a quarterback
needs. He just has to settle
down.”
According to Panther’s
offensive coordinator Robert
Haygood, Roberson’s greatest
asset is his experience.
“The thing that sets Marlow
apart is that he’s a four-year
starter and he can do things
that other quarterbacks can’t
do and knows what is
going on on the field,”
Haygood said.
This season Roberson has
been victimized by dropped
passes. In the Panther’s 13-9
loss to Morris Brown College
in the Labor Day Classic, he
had six passes dropped, includ
ing one pass in the end zone
late in the fourth quarter.
“It’s tough, because in games
if I throw a pass and a receiver
drops it I know that he didn’t
mean it, but it makes me try to
pinpoint and place the balls in
their hands and I wind up
throwing a bad pass,”
Roberson said.
Having spent his freshman
year as the Panthers starting
quarterback, Roberson said he
now appreciates the play of his
current offensive line.
“Being a freshman quarter
back on a team that didn’t
i*ve good offensive line, I used
to be on the run a lot, and
throw a lot of passes while
getting hit, but this is the best
offensive line I’ve had since
I’ve been here,” Roberson said.
As a child Roberson used to
dream of being the quarterback
of the Dallas Cowboys, but
that dream is in jeopardy. No
National Football League
team has expressed an interest
in drafting him or sent a
representative to scout his
games. Despite that, he said he
doesn’t let it affect him.
“I just try to give it 100
percent and play my best,”
Roberson said. “Good things
always come to those who work
hard.”