Newspaper Page Text
PANTHER
page 11 September 25, 1991
Allen, King Return to Panthers After War
By Anthony George m
Sports Editior
Kelvin Allen will not admit it,
but according to Anterius King, his
friend since the ninth grade, it was
Allen's idea to join the United States
Army Reserve on the buddy system to
earn extra money.
The bright idea of earning
pocket change became hazardous for
both young men on Sept 12, 1990, as
they were mobilized and sent to Saudi
Arabia Nov. 1, ending their football
season after two games, to fight in
Desert Storm.
One year later, both are part of
the Panthers football team,
contributing on the offensive and
defensive line. King, an offensive
lineman, is fighting to attain his
starting posititon lost during his
absence. Allen is adjusting to
changing from defensive end to
defensive tackle. Both agreed that they
were happy to be home and playing
football again.
"The way our offense and
defense is set up, we both get a lot of
playing time," Allen said. "We both
play in certain situation downs."
The situation for both was
more hazardous earlier this year.
King, a track vehicle mechanic and
Allen, a supply specialist, said they did
an assortment of duties while in Saudi
Arabia. Their duties included
supporting regular army units. King
repaired track vehicles, cooked,
cleaned and moved supplies. Allen's
duties were to help supply other units,
repair weapons and run support
missions into Kuwait. Both said they
did not fight in any direct conflicts.
"The only real danger were
those scud missiles," Allen said. "Our
unit was positioned in an area were
they were trying to hit."
King and Allen were surprised
when their unit was mobilized, but the
fear of death was in the back of their
minds. In Saudi Arabia, the major
concern was getting back home.
'When we first got there, they
told us we would be leaving in three
months," Allen said. "Then we got
extended another three months.
Everyone was getting restless. Then we
kept getting missions that kept us in
the country longer. Once the war was
over, we were responsible for
repairing, washing and inspecting
equipment of deploying units."
During the war, both men
sacrificed the comforts of hot water
and a soft bed, to living in tents, trucks
and trailers.
'Where you lived depended on
where you were for the paricular
mission," King said. "Since we
supported other units, you went where
need. Sometimes, you slept in a truck,
but other times you had an
opportunity to sleep in a tent."
During the war, both said they
had very little spare time. No
weekends, no holidays. Everyday was
a Monday. After the war, on occassion
they had a free moment.
On July 13, both traded the
open sandy plains of Saudi Arabia, for
the hills and trees of Atlanta. Allen
and King felt lost upon their arrival
home.
"I felt as though I was in
another world," King said. "No more
"The only real danger
were those scud missiles,"
Kelvin Allen.
camels or sand. I wasn't used to seeing
trees. Nobody really had immediate
plans when they got home. The main
concern was to get home."
One of the things both young
men did was to buy cars. King bought a
1988 Ford Mustang LX and Allen a
1987 Ford Mustang LX.
"Most people did by cars when
they got home," King said. "The pay
was good because it was tax-free. Also,
we got additional money for being in a
war."
Both said they were happy to be
home, and said they did not regret
going to Saudi Arabia. They agreed
that they would do it again if they had
to.
"While you are over there, you
are always thinking about being home,
” Allen said. "Now that I am here, I
realize it wasn't that bad. I miss that
tax free money, free gas, and those
Editorial: Come On, Join the
Bandwagon
By Anthony George XZT
Sports Editor
Imagine this, the
Clark Atlanta University
football team wins their
first two games of the
season. Yes, I did say the
football team.
Even more
amazing, they beat Morris
Brown, breaking a 16-year
losing streak to the
Wolverines, and trampled
over Livingstone College.
Hence, before Halloween,
the Panthers have won
two games.
This must be a
unique year, the Atlanta
Braves leading the
National League West in
September, and the
Panthers leading the SLAC
after two games.
What makes it
more amazing is the
Braves have not had a
winning season since
1983, and the Panthers
since 1978. The Panthers
are also a team that did
not win over 15 games in
the 80's. Now a possible
pennant and a 2-0 start.
Now I have called
them wrong before, but I
thought winning was
contagious? Just look at
the Braves, last season
when I wanted to go to a
nice quiet place to study, I
often bought a ticket to a
Braves game. This year,
you cannot get in.
Yet, in the
1991
FOR THI
:RECORD
FOOTBALL
SCHEDULE
SIAC FOOTBALL STANDINGS AS OF 14
SEPTEMBER
HATE
OPPONENT
PLACE
TIME
1991
August
INSTITUTION
CONFERENCE
OVERALL
31
‘Morris Brown College
Atlanta, Ga (A)
1:30 p.m.
w l per
W
L
PCT
September
Fort Valley State College
2
0 1.000
2
0
1.000
7
Open
Clark Atlanta University
1
0 1.000
2
0
1.000
14
Livingstone College
Hemdon Stadium
7:00p.m.
Albany State College
1
0 1.000
1
0
1.000
21
J.C. Smith University
Charlotte, N.C.
1:30p.m.
Alabama A&M University
1
0 1.000
1
2
.333
28
West Georgia College
Carrollton, Ga.
7:30p.m.
Savannah State College
1
0 1.000
2
1
.667
October
Miles College
0
3 .000
0
3
.000
5
‘Fort Valley State
Fort Valley, Ga.
1:30p.m.
Morris Brown College
0
1 .000
1
1
.500
12
‘Tuskegee University
Tuskegee, Al.
1:00p.m.
Morehouse College
0
1 .000
0
3
.000
19
Open
Tuskegee University
0
1 .000
0
2
.000
26
*@Miles College
Lakewood Stadium
6:00p.m.
November
WEEKEND RESULTS
AS OF
14 SEPTEMBER 1991
2
‘Albany State College
Hemdon Stadium
1:30p.m.
Clark Atlanta University
33
Livingstone College
14
9
‘Alabama A&M
Hemdon Stadium
1:30p.m.
Morris Brown College
21
Cheyney State
14
16
‘Morehouse College
B.T. Harvey Stadium
1:30p.m.
Fort Valley State
20
Morehouse College
17
Alcom State
38
Alabama A&M
0
* Required SIAC game
Albany State
16
Miles College
12
@ Homecoming
Savannah State
43
Tuskegee
38
against Livingstone, only
3,200 patrons came out,
with only four sections of
Herndon Stadium filled,
with two sections reserved
for the bands. Hardly a
sell-out.
It has come to my
attention that the
University is committed
to having successful
athletic programs. More
money has been allocated
to the athletic department.
Never before in the
history of Clark have
players been awarded
athletic scholarships.
They also have uniforms
for both home and away
games. There was a time
when the team would wear
the hand-me-downs from
the Atlanta Falcons. Even
the band has new
uniforms.
In addition to
external overhauls,
internal changes within
the athletic department
have occurred. In two
years, every sport with the
exception of the tennis
team has gotten a new
coach. Changes have also
been made as the athletic
director and sports
information director. The
only mainstay in the
athletic department is
Betty White, the secretary.
Dr. Thomas Cole,
president of CAU, stated
that he is committed to
having a successful
athletic program at CAU.
The administration is
currently making some
changes that will promote-
improvement. Yet, why
aren't some of the student
body, faculty and staff not
supporting the CAU
athletic teams? Changing
a losing program to a
winner takes time, and in
time, I imagine more fans
will support the Panthers.
Win or lose, every
time the Panthers suit up,
they represent themselves,
alumni, students, faculty
and administration. In
return, they expect
support from the CAU
family.