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Clark Atlanta University Panther
December 4, 1990
Panthers Finish Season A t 4-6
By ANTHONY GEORGE III
Sports Editor
Clark Atlanta University under the wings of
first-year head coach Willie Hunter won more
games than any Clark team since 1978. The
Panthers finished 4-6, one win better than last
season.
Many things changed this season, as well as
others stayed the same. CAU kept several losing
streak alive against Morris Brown (15 years),
Albany State and Alabama A&M(8 years), and
Savannah State and Tuskegee (7 years). CAU
was able to break a 10-year losing streak against
Fort Valley, and a 5-year losing streak against
Morehouse.
The Panthers also had a different look on the
field. This season, the Panthers wore new
uniforms after the first two games. They wore
all-black uniforms for the first'time since 1963.
Also, the Panthers moved all home games from
Herndon Stadium to Lakewood Stadium.
As far as the players on the team, three seniors
lead the Panthers. Quarterback Marlow
Roberson, wide receiver Millard Hamilton and
linebacker Richard Sibert all had their best
performances in their four years at CAU.
Roberson, a four-year starter, finished his
career with 5,123 passing yards. This season,
Roberson threw for 2,045 yards and rushed for
259 yards.
Hamilton, who has many accolades during his
tenure at CAU, finished as the Southern
Intercollegiate Athletic Association top
all-purpose yard leader for the second
consecutive season. He finished with 1,890
yards, a career best.
Sibert finished the season with 101 tackles,
ranking him fifth in the SIAC. He was also
awarded defensive player of the week for his
effort against Albany State, and had several
honorable mentions throughout the duration of
the season.
Hunter said his team came close to meeting
most of the goals he set for the team before the
season began.
“Our goal was to finish 5-5, but realistically we
should have finished 7-3,” Hunter said. “I was a
little disappointed in our record because we
worked extremely hard in the off-season. I do
feel we established a foundation here that the
guys know they can win games. We also set a
goal to develop our student athletes into
gentlemen, ar.d to a degree I think we reached
that goal. We want them to be all-around
people, not just athletes.”
Next season. Hunter sid he expects a
improved team. He said the off-season training
program will make his athletes stronger, quicker
and faster. The major area of improvement is to
focus on recruiting more lineman, both offensive
and defensive. Hunter said his team lacks depth
in both areas.
SIAC FINAL FOOTBALL STANDINGS
CONFERENCE OVERALL
W L TW L 1
School
Alabama A&M University 6 1 0 6 5 0
Tuskegee University 6 2 0 8 3 0
Savannah State College 5 2 0 7 4 0
A Ibany State College 4 3 0 6 4 0
Morris Brown College 4 3 0 4 6 0
Clark Atlanta University 2 5 0 4 6 0
Fort Valley College 2 5 0 4 7 0
Morehouse College 16 0 1 7 1
Miles College 0 6 0 1 9 0
c
B-
B
C
D
C
C
REPORT CARD
RUSHING OFFENSE: The Panthers displayed in some
games the danger of a wishbone offense. Leo Barr and
Charles Evans were the top runningbacks. Yet, in certain
games during critical situations, the Panther wishbone was
not effective. Next season, this will be the team’s strong point
with both men returning.
PASSING OFFENSE: After the first few games,
quarterback Marlow Roberson developed into the player
that former Panthers’ coach Jesse McClardy recruited out of
Archer High School in Atlanta. Millard Hamilton, Felix
Lewis and Kermit Williams comprised on of the best
receiving trio in the SIAC. Next season, offense coordinator
Robert Haygood will have to determine who will replace
Hamilton and Roberson.
OFFENSIVE LINE: This may be the most improved area
of the Panthers this season. Veterans Fred Williams and Tim
Crowder led the offensive line ‘move the crowd.' Freshman
Emmit Walker, Berwin Sheppard and John Rich should
benefit from the off-season program. Every lineman barring
academic problems should return.
RUSHING DEFENSE: This was probably the most
inconsistent variable of the Panthers defense. Some games
they could stop the run, and others the run would hurt them.
Defensive tackle Steve McClardy was a leader for the down
lineman and Richard Sibert led the linebackers. Coach
Willie Hunter must recruit more defensive lineman for the
Panthers will improve. Another problem facing the coahing
staff is who will fill Sibert’s shoes.
PASSING DEFENSE: Can you say get burned’’ Well,
many of the Panthers secondary people are very familiar
with that saying. The undersized and inexperienced
secondary fell victim to some of the SlAC’s best
quarterbacks. This is another area that must be greatly
improved if CAU wants to be competitive this season.
COACHING: Some questionable call on both sides of the
ball could have also cost the Panthers a few games. Against
Savannah State, CAU held a 28-22 lead late in the fourth
quarter. The Panthers failed on a two-point attempt.
Savannah State tied the score with a touchdown minutes
later, and their kicker made the extra-point attempt, giving
the Wildcats a 29-28 victory. Against Tuskegee, the coaching
staff was unable to figure out the Tuskegee offense, and the
Panthers suffered their worst loss of the season 61-22. On the
positive side, the Panthers did win four games.
OVERALL: This was one of the best seasons in a long
time. The team got support from fans, alumni and students
who filled Lakewood Stadium. Next season, the Panthers
should be greatly improved with experience.
Tim Crowder
“1-2-3 ,0 Line. 1-2-3 Pride. 1-2-3
PHOTOS BY ANTHONY GEORGE III
Move the crowd, ” is the motto the offensive lineman use when the situation gets rough in the trenchs.
Offensive Line Gains Respect This Season
By ANTHONY GEORGE III
Sports Editor
The snap. The quarterback hands off the ball to the:
running back. The running back darts through a hole:
created by the offense line so large that you could drive
a truck through it. The fans scream, “Did you see that
great blocking?”
The running back is hit, and he fumbles the ball on
the 50-yard line. An alert offensive lineman pick the
ball up, and dashes 50 yards for a touchdown. The
crowd stands up and chants, “Oh how we love our
offensive lineman.”
“It’s an offensive lineman’s dream,” said Fred
Williams, offensive right guard for Clark Atlanta
University. “That’s the only way I’d score a
touchdown, and that’s on a fumble recovery.”
“That’s the only way you would make the statistic
book,” interrupts Alex Cottman, the Panthers left
offensive guard.
Without an offensive line, there would probably be
very few scores in a football game. The offensive line
may be one of the toughest and least glorified positions
on the football field. A team without a good offensive
line is a team in trouble. Despite the importance of
lineman, it is the only position were no statistics are
recorded. You never read or hear about how many
times the offense lineman succesful in his blocking.
“But people notice if you are not doing a good job
blocking,” said Tommy Buckson, Panthers’ starting
center.
This season, the Panthers did respond to a improved
offensive line. The Panthers finished their season 4-6,
the most wins since winning six games in 1978. You
may attribute the Panthers moderate success to
first-year coach Willie Hunter. Or you may look at
offensive cordinator Robert Haygood’s new and
innovative plays. Maybe some key players were major
factors like quarterback Marlow Roberson,
all-purpose man Millard Hamilton or linebacker
Richard Sibert, all who posted career best season at
CAU this season. But many of the coaches and players
attribute the success of the team largely because of the
offensive line.
“Those guy did an excellent job,” said Earl Wilson,
offensive line coach. “They worked hard all year and
they deserve some credit.”
“We improved in a lot of area this season, but we
improved a great deal in the offensive line,” Haygood
said. “With the way these guys played, we knew we
could move the football.’
“Being a former offensive lineman, I will admit it is
the most difficult positions to play,” Hunter said.
“You make plays happen on offense by battling in the
treches, but you never get any ink.”
Despite remaining mostly unknown for there
accolades on the field, the five men said they are happy
in what they do. They say an unselfish attitude and
togetherness helps them become more effective on the
field. They said get pride from doing a job well done,
and they don’t need a lot of hype.
“It really doesn’t matter to me,” Buckson said. “I
know we have a job to do. Every game we go out and
do what we have to do, that’s blocking.”
Despite molding into one if the best offensive lines
at Clark in a few years, only Williams and Crowder are
members of last season’s team. Cottman switched
from defensive nose quard to offensive guard. Chris
Hudson moved from tight end to tackle, and Buckson
transferred from junior college.
Being together for only a year did not stop the
Panthers’ from rolling up points. The Panthers
averaged 22.7 points a game, 10.5 more than they
averaged last season.
Continued On Page 12
