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Clark Atlanta University Panther
Pritchett Visits Congo
By MARJORIE MOORE
Contributing Writer
When the Africans were
captured and forced to leave
their country to become
enslaved in America, they lost
their relations with their
people. Some never returned
to their native land.
Today, some African
Americans feel that the African
people are their brothers and
sisters. Some African Ameri
cans are returning to their
forefathers land and they are
teaching them what they have
learned in America.
Clark Atlanta University's
Basketball Coach, Robert
Pritchett, visited the People’s
Republic of the Congo. He had
the opportunity to conduct a
month long basketball clinic
recently. Also, he developed a
special relationship with the
African people and he learned
more about them.
“Dr. Stanley Rubin from the
U.S. Information Agency
(US1A), a state department
which has the responsiblity for
coordinating international
sports program activities,
asked the basketball coach at
Morris Brown to recommend a
coach to teach the players in the
Congo about basketball,"said
Pritchett.
According to Pritchett, he
was qualified because he has
coached basketball for 23
years. Pritchett has previously
taught a basketball clinic at a
local YMCA in Atlanta. Also,
Pritchett has been coaching at
Clark Atlanta University for
nine years.
The Atlanta Organizing
Committee (AOC), who
organized the Olympics to
come to Atlanta in 1996,
welcomed Pritchett to the
Congo along with USIA.
“It all began when Mayor
Maynard Jackson visited the
Congo last spring. Some
officalsrequested that a
basketball specialist come to
their country to train a team.
The Minster of Sports in the
Congo was a chairperson on
the Olympic Committee for
Africa. Mayor Jackson visited
the Congo to get their vote so
that the Olympics could be held
in Atlanta,"said Pritchett. “It
was a good way to establish a
good relationship with the
Congo.”
According to Pritchett, he
enjoyed learning about the
people of the Congo while he
taught basketball.
“1 taught a group of kids
from the ages 16 to 21. The guys
had a natural ability to play the
game of basketball. 1 was
fascinated at their skill level
but, they needed assistance in
the technical side of the
game,"said Pritchett.
Pritchett said that basketball
is a new sport to the people of
the Congo but, soccer is the
common sport. He too became
involved in the game.
“1 got involved in soccer and
it made me proud to see a
soccer team with all Africans
play the game so well. At the
same time they all worked so
hard to reach a common goal.”
Pritchett said he that he
worked well with the players.
“1 had an assistant to help me
with the language. One day the
assistant was late and 1 started
the clinic without him. He
found it hard to believe that I
was able to communicate. It
was my whistle that did the
communicating."
According to Pritchett, he
saw that the players did not
have discipline in the game of
basketball. “They did not
expect anything from the kids
but, I had expectations.
Pritchett said his guys played
a team and the outcome was
successful. “The guys wanted
to come to America to play
basketball without going to
college. 1 told them in America
you must have an education.”
Also, Pritchett said he can
relate with kids because he has
always wanted to become a pro
player, like they do.
Being involved with basket
ball has given Pritchett the
opportunity to see the world.
Pritchett said the highlight of
his trip to the Congo was an
evening ceremony. He wrote a
poem named, “My Brother My
Brother", which was read at the
ceremony. Pritchett said he
wrote the poem because he
wanted to express his feelings
toward the people in the
Congo.
Pritchett said that he hope
the CAU basketball team can
one day travel to the Congo
and experience what he had
experienced.
Panther’s Mascot Rallies
PHOTO BY DERWIN ROSS
Men's Basketball
Preview
By ANTHONY GEORGE III
Sports Editor
The “TIC” that men’s basketball coach
Robert Pritchett refers to is not the sound of his
watch. It stands for “togetherness, intensity and
concentration.”
He said if the Panthers are to do well this
season, the must have togetherness, intensity
and concentration at all times.
This season, the Panthers will be led by senior
James “Bull” Martin. Martin, an All-American
Candidate, will try to fill the scoring void for the
Panthers left by Elgin Pritchett. Pritchett led the
Panthers in scoring last season.
“James will definitely be the team leader,”
coach Pritchett said. “Because of the make-up of
our team, he may not be the top scorer every
night, but 1 assure you he will have some great
nights.”
Martin will be joined in the starting lineup by
junior Fred Roberts. Panther starting center.
Junior Dalton Green is expected to start at
guard along side sophomore Argent Steele.
Edward Ward is expected to start along side
Martin at forward.
Pritchett said he expects his three transfer
students to make an impact on the team. 6-foot-5
point guard Jimmy Smith could push Steele for
a starting position. Shane Johnson and Dwight
Huggett are the other transfer players.
Tito Parker is the only freshman on the team.
Last year at Columbia High School in Decatur,
Ga., he led his team to the state championship.
Other members of the 1990-91 Panthers are
sophomore Mike Nowell, Dexter Brown and
Toney Witherspoon.
Before the Christmas Holidays, the Panthers
will face three nationally ranked teams. They
also will play three Great Northwest Conference
opponents in Alaska at Anchorage, Alaska at
Fairbanks and Seattle Pacific.
“We scheduled this trip to the West Coast to
get more national exposure,” Pritchett said. “In
the next few years if we remain healthy, we
should be one of the best teams in the nation. We
will be the first predominately Black school to
play in Alaska. This is good exposure for the
school and it will be an educational experience
for the players.”
Pritchett said he expects his team to be very
competitive in the conference,finishing amoung
Volleyball Team Ends Season
By ANTHONY GEORGE III
Sports Editor
Despite losing five of their first eight matches,
Clark Atlanta University’s volleyball team won
five of their last seven matches to earn them a
fourth place finish in the S1AC, and a playoff
berth.
In the playoffs, the Pantherettes lost both
matches 15-5, 15-10 to Alabama A&M and
15-12, 16-14 to Tuskegee.
“We definitely improved from the first game
to the last,” said team captain K. Ceakou
Howell. “Next season I expect them to have a
good season because they should have many
players returning.”
Valerie Belt-Jones, volleyball coach for the
Pantherettes, said her team struggled early losses
because of the lack of conditiong and not being
to begin practice until school began.
Belt-Jones said she expects to have a good
season next year. One of the problems she has
faced at CAU is a problem of retaining players.
Recruitment is a major area that she emphasized
needing improvement. The problem is further
compounded by the fact many high schools
don’t offer volleyball teams. Belt-Jones said she
has to depend on enough walk-ons showing
interest.
“I’m sure there are a lot of good volleyball
players at CAU, but many are not interested in
playing,” Belt-Jones said. “Next season, I plan
to focus on recruiting some players primarily out
of the Southeast.”
Other problems that Belt-Jones cited were the
lack of publicity for the games and attendence
during games. Volleyball was created at CAU to
meet the requirements of the NCAA rule that
stipulates men and women athletic programs
offered by an institution must be equal. She said
very little emphasis is placed on volleyball
because it is not considered a major sport in
college athletics.
NOTES
The Panthers men’s team spit their first four
games of the season. In the Coca Cola Classic in
Birmingham, the Panthers defeated Loyola
University 118-34. The Panthers lost their
second game 92-88 to St. Andrews College. In
the Ricky Williams Classic at Clark Atlanta
University, the Panthers defeated Auburn-
Montgomery 108-93. The Panthers lost to
Georgia Southwest 82-76. James Martin leads
the team in scoring, averaging 27.7 points a
game. He scored a season’s best 45 points against
Auburn-Montgomery.
The women’s teams have dropped their first
two games. They lost 52-46 to Dillard University
Nov. 16. The Pantherettes also lost 62-60 to
Kentucky State. Both games were at CAU.
Kellie Wyatt and Sharon Guilford both are the
teams leading scorers. Guilford averaged 15.1
and Wyatt 14 points in the first two games.
Next issue: WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
PREVIEW.
Offensive Line —
Continued From Page 11
Roberson may have been the greatest benefactor
from the new lineman. Having the reputation ol being
the most sacked quarterback in the country, Roberson
passed for a career best 2,045 yards. In three years
prior to this season, he only averaged 1,026 passing
yards a season.
“My budget doesn’t allow me to take the guys out
like the professional quarterbacks do, but 1 still
appreciate the fine job they did this season,” Roberson
said. “During the first few practices, I knew we had a
good line. I just wasn't sure on how good they really
were. Buckson turned out to be the biggest surprise
because I was used to Fred being the center. As it
turned out, Buckson developed into one of the best
centers I’ve played with.”
Despite all the praise, there wasn’t all happy times
playing on the line. Roberson was still one of the most
sacked quarterbacks in the conference. The line was
also riddled by several times by opponents blitzing
defenses. There was also a problem with nagging
injuries that plagued some of the lineman.
The Panthers had very few substitutions lor injured
or tired lineman. Many times if a lineman would be
slightly injured, they would continue to play and rely
on fellow lineman to help with the blocking. During
the latter part of the season when nagging injuries
slowed down Buckson, Cottman and Williams, teams
began to blitz more, exposing the Panthers’
weaknesses. Against Alabama A&M, the Bulldogs
recorded seven sacks, and stopped the Panthers on the
goal line, the Panthers lost that game 50-39.
“As the season progressed, teams realized we had a
strong passing attack,” Williams said. “They would
blitz eight guys and you just can’t block them all. I
think overall we did well, as it reflects in our offensive
output.”
Overall, the coaches said they were pleased with the
performance of the line. The players saidthey were
successful this season because of the preparation by
the coaches. A stringent off-season program
implemented by Hunter helpd the lineman to become
stronger, both mentally and physically.
To further the family concept, the offensive lineman
became good friends. Any time the lineman get a
chance, they all go places together. They family
concept could be seen on the field because during
huddles, they would all hold hands in critical
situations.
“You’re only as strong as your weakest link,”
Cottman said.