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Clark Atlanta University Panther
May 1, 1992
Spring Practice: Panther defense should be the Key to Success
Nine starters from 91-92 squad return with a season of experience
PHOTO BY ANTHONY GEORGE
The Panther defense could be the spark for next year's squad.
By Tareion Fluker
Contributing Writer
Clark Atlanta University’s foot
ball team is on their way to what
they hope will be another winning
season returning with a host of
players from the stingy defensive
squad from last season.
Last year’s 5-5 record was the
beginning of their quest for the
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference championship title.
However, this year’s 6-3-1 record
gave them a share of a five way tie
for the conference title. The coach
ing staff says that great efforts have
been made to change CAU's repu
tation as a losing team. The two
consecutive winning seasons have
alleviated that reputation.
A large portion of the team’s suc
cess has been attributed to its de
fense. The team’s defense finished
second in the SIAC.
Spring practice for the Panthers
began March 31. Defensive coordi
nator, Dave Edwards, said that this
spring the coaching staff will con
centrate on teaching and refining
more than they have in the past.
He said that in order to create a
winning team, there has to be a total
commitment from all aspects of the
team, and there must be a great deal
of motivation.
The Panthers have nine return
ing starters from defense for next
season, two of which, Edwards said,
have proven to be leaders on the
field.
The Panther's defensive line for
next year will be headed by
noseguard Steve McClardy.
Edwards said that McClardy has
improved 100 percent since his
freshman year, and his 6'2", 285
pound, frame has become a great
asset for the team. The rest of the
defensive line, however, is suspect,
because of the loss of senior line
men Dale Dixon, Anthony
Henderson and Rodney Morris. The
coaching staff has recruited ath
letes to fill those positions. “If those
young men come in and hold their
own. defense should really be stron
ger.” said Edwards.
Linebacker Eric Wilson has been
labeled as another leader by
Edwards. Wilson was a SIAC All-
Conference honoree last season, and
has start ed since his freshman year.
Wilson’s athletic ability and deter
mination have made him a defen
sive captain. Edwards said that
other linebackers to watch are:
Craig DuBose, Cedric Scott, Rodney
Hackney and Xavier Wyatt. The
Panthers will also have the talents
of walk-on linebackers, Andre
Morris and Shannon Moses.
The Panther's secondary defense
lost the talent of comerback Terry'
Beckham. He moved to offense to
utilize his talents as a receiver.
Replacing Beckham will be Kareem
Bacon. He is also, a returning
starter and second time All-Confer
ence honoree. Jamie Freeman,
Mark Howard, and Carlos Jeff will
compliment Bacon's talent next
season. Edwards said that the
secondary defense is the most ex
perienced group of athletes on de
fense.
“The team has taken a lot of criti
cism, because they were young,
but they’ve matured and they are at
a competitive stage,” said Edwards.
'This makes coaching much easier. ”
He says that CAU can look for
ward to an exciting football season
next year, especially from the de
fensive unit.
Panthers face Fort Valley State in "Sunshine Classic"
CAU to play in
Ft. Lauderdale on
Oct. 3
By Lewis Pryor
Sports Editor
The Clark Atlanta University Pan
thers will face Fort Valley State
College on Oct. 3 in Fort
Lauderdale’s first ever “Sunshine
Classic” in Lockhart Stadium.
According the CAU President Dr.
Thomas W. Cole Jr., the game will
be considered a home game for
CAU. “We felt that it was impor
tant to choose this site because of
our strong ties to South Florida,"
added Cole.
Although this game pits the two
Georgia schools it will be a home
coming for five CAU players who
reside in the Fort Lauderdale area.
Fred Williams and Quincy
Woodard are graduates of Broward
County’s Nova High School. Lon
don Bolden, Kenneth Scott Jr. and
Cedric Scott who all completed their
freshmanyearatCAU are all gradu
ates of Dilliard High School.
Kickoff time for the Southern
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
(SIAC) matchup is 1 p.m.
CAU and Fort Valley State each
won a share of the 1991 SLAC
Championship, in five-way tie. CAU
finished 6-3-1 overall and 5-2 in
conference play, while Fort Valley
State concluded with a 7-3 overall
record, and a 5-2 conference record.
The two schools first met in 1950,
when CAU was Clark College, with
the Panthers winning 12-0. How
ever, from 1952-58 Fort Valley State
defeated the Panthers sLx straight
times. After that point the Pan
thers have defeated Wildcats six
straight times.
"We felt it was important
to chose this site because
of our strong ties to South
Florida"
-Dr. Thomas W. Cole, Jr.
The last two seasons CAU has
defeated Fort Valley State to bring
the series record to 24-14-4, in the
Wildcats favor.
The coaches from both teams
said that they were looking forward
to playing in an area which breeds
stand-out athletes. ‘This is also a
wonderful opportunity to give CAU
some exposure and opportunities
to recruit players that we once had
a harder time recruiting,” said CAU
head coach Willie Hunter.
Fort Valley State also have play
ers of their own who hail from the
popular area. Fred Sams, from
Killian High School, Kenneth
McGuire, from South Miami High,
and Tshombe Hughes, from Pasco
High School, are all from that area.
According to Fort Valley State
College head coach Douglas Porter
it's indeed a great opportunity to
play a fine institution such as Clark
Atlanta University in Florida. "It
brings the exciting action of SIAC
football to another part of the coun
try," added Porter.
"This indeed will be a battle since
you do have reigning SIAC Champi
ons," said Hunter.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL
GRADUATING SENIOR ATHLETES!!!