Newspaper Page Text
The Wolverine Observer
Page 16
May/June 1985
A
Wolverine
Sports
WADE RESIGNS
AS MBC COACH
by Michael Phillips
Head Basketball Coach Billy
Wade has resigned after four
season's at the helm. According
to Wade, the main reason
behind his resignation was a
heavy teaching load during the
season.
"I started to do it a couple of
times during the season, but
after talking to my assistant (Ken
Jones) each time, I decided to
stick it out," Wade said. “I had
two full-time priority jobs, and it
was impossible to give my best to
both of them.”
Wade who played at Morris
Brown (1975-79) under Charles
Hardnett, who he replaced as
coach prior to the 1981-82
season, said he was teaching six
days a week and coaching seven
days. That’s a little too much."
According to sources close to
the athletic program, athletic
director and head football coach
Greg Thomson asked Wade to
resign.
Thompson had no comment
about the resignation but added,
"I will say that we want to
upgrade our basketball program,
even though we made no
judgements on (Wade) based on
won-lost record."
Thompson also said that the
person that succeeds Wade will
by Carlius Mapo
At the beginning of the season
the future of theTennisteam was
uncertain and its future ex
istence depended on how much
could be achieved with a new
coach and several young players.
The Wolverines went into the
Clark College Invitational with a
dismal record of 1-4 but provid
ed the surprise of the tourna
ment as they took third place in a
field of eight.
After the CIT, the Wolverines
readied for the SIAC conference
championships that were played
in Albany, GA. Despite an under
dog status, Morris Brown came
away with an impressive show
ing. The most impressive show
was put on by Todd "Bookman”
Foster. Foster (5-2) reached the
finals fo the singles before losing
have to teach “several classes.”
"It's a dual position,” said
Thompson. "But what we’re
talking about is teaching a total
of four classes — one, no more
than two one-hour classes a day.
That’s all Wade had to teach.”
"Of course, we're going to try
to cut down during the season.
You’ve got to remember that
we’re not talking about a Divi
sion I program.”
Wade, who was a three-year
starter and graduated in 1979,
attended Grambling University,
where he earned his master’s
degree in health and physical
education. Despite the objection
of some MBC athletic officials,
Wade was hired by president
Robert Threatt, even though he
had little previous experience as
a coach.
During his four year tenure as
coach, Wade never had a win
ning season. Morris Brown's 14-
15 record last season was its best
under Wade. However, Wade
did coach the Wolverines to the
SIAC Conference title in 1982.
This was Morris Brown’s first
conference title in basketball
since the 1950’s.
Wade will remain as a full-time
instructor of Physical Education.
He joined the staff in 1980.
to Michael Pugh of Morehouse
6-2, 6-1 to finish second in the
conference.
In the doubles, Foster and
partner Corlius Mapp reached
the semi-finals before being
beaten by Morehouse 6-2,6-2.
Foster was responsible for 5 of
the 10 points scored by MBC.
MBC finished fourth in a nine
team field and brought a pleased
reaction from Coach Evans. “We
finished fourth with no facilities,
just think what we would do if we
had facilities," said the coach.
Other good performances
were turned by Travis Rodgers
and Lawrence Flournoy. As the
Wolverines close out the 1984-85
Tennis season with a fourth place
finish in the SIAC, Coach Evans
and his young team look forward
to better days ahead in 1985-86.
Winfrey
Signs With
NFL's
Seahawks
According to Head Football
Coach and Atheletic Director
Greg Thompson, All-SIAC Run
ning Back Leon Winfrey has
signed a free agent contract with
the Seattle Sea Hawks of the
National Football League.
Winfrey is a native of Thom
son, Georgia, a Therapeutic
Recreation major and an honor
student. He led the Wolverines
in rushing this season with 1,076
yards and 6 touchdowns becom
ing the first Brownite to gain over
1,000 yards since Cecil Williams
in 1977.
Winfrey was signed to return
punts and kicks.
A
t.
Leon Winfrey has signed with
Seattle of the NFL.
Tay Club
Hosts MBC
Athletic
Banquet
by Andrew Lockett
On May 2, the TAY Club held
the annual Morris Brown
College All Sports Banquet at
Paschal’s Motor Hotel. The occa
sion was to honor outstanding
atheletes of the 1984-85 season.
The guest speaker for the occa
sion was Dr. George McCalep,
Director of the American
Coaching Effectiveness Program
for the State of Georgia.
After Dr. McCalep's remarks,
Head Basketball Coach Billy
Wade started the presentation of
MBC Tennis Team
Finishes Fourth In SIAC
the awards as Jeff Brown receiv
ed the award for leading
rebounder of the SIAC con
ference and for the third con
secutive year Bernard Tittle was
named the Most Valuable Player.
For the women, Lynetta Dority
received the MVP award, the
Fanta Award, and the President's
Award for scholastic achieve
ment. Stephanie Bonds and Cora
Burnett got senior awards and
Bods also won the "MostDepen-
dable Player" award.
Mr. Cedric Evans, coach of the
tennis team presented the next
set of awards. The first award
went to Lawrence Flounroy, the
only senior on the team. Jorge
"Chico" Rodriguez won the
outstanding hustle award and
the most improved player award
went to Neil Weston who had
the best record on the team.
Track Coach Sol Brannan
awarded Victor Scott and Kelvin
Love as co-outstanding per
formers in the sprints. Keesa
Ambler won an award for out
standing sprinter for the women
in track.
Head Football Coach and
Athletic Director, Greg Thomp
son then stepped to the podium
and presented the awards for a
very productive season. Senior
awards went to: Kent Brooks,
Anthony Clayton, John Freeman,
Kevin Gibbs (who also won the
Louis English Award for outstan
ding Offensive Lineman and
Fanta Award), Melvin Gordon,
and Leon Winfrey (who also won
the Golden Helmet Award).
After the presentations, Mr.
Norris Long, President of the
TAY Club and college president
Calvert Smith gave remarks.
The following list of atheletes
lettered in 1984-85:
Cheerleaders
Dawn Anderson
Rosetta Bailey
Leonard Harris
Crystal Jackson
Chrystal Jones
Marchantina Jones
Nadine Maddox
Valerie Sanctiouns
Michael Stovall
Fawn Whitaker
Men’s Basketball
Reginald Bivins
Jeff Brown
Raymond Chambers
Earl Dinkins
Alvin George
Jeff Lewis
Paul McClary
Vincent Ross
Mark Ruffins
Bernard Tittle
Levoyd Wardlow
Women’s Basketball
Stephanie Bonds
Allison Bryant
Cora Burnett
Patricia Cain
Lynetta Dority
Bernita Hart
Stephanie Lewis
Valerie Thomas
Ronetta Turner
Michelle Barnes
Track and Field (Women)
Kisca Ambler
Connie Carter
Jocelyn Christie
Joyce Hall
Samantha Hester
Mary Loptien
Ellen O’Neal
Betty Perkins
Track and Field (Men)
Patrick Byrd
Ian Dube
Kelvin Foster
Tony Griffin
Lorenzo Jenderson
Alton Johnson
Jamie Lock
Kelvin Love
Victor Scott
John Williams
Thomas Williams
Willie Williams
Leon Winfrey
Frank Wesley
Football
Alonzo Allen
Clemmie Blackman
Kent Brooks
Leonard Camel
Anthony Clayton
Leonardo Dismukes
Ernest Echols
Yohan Felder
Kevin Foster
John Freeman
Kevin Gibbs
Melvin Gordon
Alton Johnson
Phillip Johnson
Scott Kimble
David Kinchen
Raynard Layman
James Liverpool
Chris Mainor
Warren McFadden
John Morgan
Walter Pless
Vincent Price
Tony Robinson
William Russell
Victor Scott
William Scott
Dexter Simon
Wardell Sims
Marvin Smith
Paul Smith
Steven Tollerson
Titus Turner
Anthony Welch
Frank Wesley
Todd Wilcher
David Williams
Armondo Wilson
Leon Winfrey
Grey Wise
Tennis
Lawrence Flouenoy
Todd Foster
Andrew Lockett
Carlius Mapp
Morris Thomas
Jorge Rodriguez
Travis Rogers
Neil Weston
Student Trainers
Deangela James
Thelma Crawford
Rooszon Reed
Craig Boyd
Student Equipment Managers
Sheldon Holloway
Walter Hood
Kenny Brannan
Student Statistician
Kim Becton
Leslie Foster
Cecil McKay