The Football Team, Hopes for. a Better Season Next Year

Transcription

1 The Football Team,,, Hopes for a Better Season Next Year

2 Coach Epps Had Busy Season, Coach Epps While Clark's team in 1955 was spotted with several fast backs and as many good linesmen, it was not a real problem for the football dopesters to say what fortunes would befall the team in the past season. Experience, weight, and good coaching usually combine to make winning teams. Clark had only the advantage of the latter, and it would have been rare indeed for a primarily freshman- sophomore team such as Clark's with hardly a handfull of 200-pounders, to make a better record than their The hopes for a successful campaign in 1955 rested on speed and deception, and these hopes lived only until the third game, for a series of injuries to key players-a broken leg, a fractured ankle, a sprained back, and several other injuries-quickly dissipated team strength. This year's squad has been called by the coach "one of the most enthusiastic and hard-working teams to take the field for at least the past five years." The record shows what the team actually did, and nobody doubts that that's what counts, but sportsmanship, hard-work, and enthusiasm are three virtues of the 1955 team which are not to be disregarded. The vital force behind the Panthers is Coach Leonidas "Sonny" Epps, a very likable chap who hails from East St. Louis, Indiana. Epps came to Clark in 1950 and assumed full responsibility for the football, basketball, and track teams the following year. A graduate of Xavier University where he excelled in football and basketball he started his coaching career at Gilbert Academy in New Orleans where he headed a consistently winning Epps team. has truly had his share of heartbreak in football during the past five years. He is a good loser, but also a hard loser. He takes the game seriously and is just as serious in his interest of the welfare of his players. While the Panthers finished with only two victories, there were many indications of the learn' potentialities. In the backfield several men can be out for out ingled standing performances: Algia Barnett, J a per K mp, James Touchtone, William Richard on, Robert Thoma, Yodell Winborn, Emerson Packer, General Brown, and Leon Carlton. Take for example, Barnett' 286 yards in three plays in three time carrying the ball, and hi record breaking 103 yard touchdown again t Morris Brown. There was also, for another example, the run of everal of the backs again t Tu kegee, and Richard on' passes in the early game. Barnett' run tand out a the long et run ever made in Herndon Stadium and wa only two yards shorter than the national record. Two seniors ended their collegiale careers on Thanksgiving: Thomas Lofton, and Ivan Mullin. The loss of these men represents a erious depletion in the 200-pound. ers department.' They have contributed greatly to the team in the pa t four seasons, and will certainly be missed next year. The Panthers began the easo n by up-setting Fort Valley State at Fort Valley, 12-7 and in doing 0 avenged losses at the hands of the Wildcats for two conescutive years. With hopes high they met Tuskegee in Birmingham for the second game. There they played with a slippery ball on a muddy, rain-swept field to win a 13-6 victory on the strength of a last minute touchdown. Returning home to meet South Carolina Slate, the now overconfident Panthers fell to State and gave the Bulldogs their first taste of victory after tw defeats. After this it was downhill all the way. They lost to Alabama State, 13-6; to Morehouse, 28-7; and lo Xavier, ]50

3 FORT MOREHOUSE - CLARK 6... S. C. STATE 26 CLARK 0... MORRIS BROWN 21 South Carolina State dumped Clark College from the list of the nations unbeaten teams 26-13, October 14 in Herndon Memorial Stadium. The fir t quarter of the game was played without either team bi ting pay dirt. The S. C. State team drew first blood with a pas completion to the Clark College 9-yard line which led to the first score of the game. The Panthers came lo life late in the second quarter and time ran out with the Panthers scoring their first TD of the game. The core was 26-7 at the half. In the second half it was mostly dog bite dog until quarterback William Richardson, beating the clock, posted Clark' econd and final TD_ The Panthers had lost their first game of the sea on CL RK VALLEY 7 The Clark and Morris Brown football teams clashed for their annual meet. This was the 27th at Herndon Stadium. Thanksgiving annual classic to be played The Panthers were seeking their first victory since 1948 and were determined to turn back to the years of '46 and '47 when they won two games in a series from the neighborhood rivals. The Morris Brown Wolverines scored early period to pull out in front of the Panthers 7-0. in the first Clark's Algia Barnett, the wonderful "scatback" that made splendid runs against the Wolverines last year, was hurt on the first play of the game. He came back into the game and with the aid of the team managed to stop the Morris Brown squad cold. James Touchstone broke loose for yardage in the later half of the game. coring twice on pa splay, Clark College squeezed a 12-7 win al Fort Valley, aturday night in a game which hewed a great deal of the strength and weaknesses of both team. Clark howed con iderable line trength during the entire game and e pecially in the second half when the Panthers were hardly able to retain the ball for more than four down _ CLARK The Clark Red & Black Panthers played a lop-sided game with the Maroon & White Tiger of Morehouse. The Panther, having dropped two out of four games and winning [rom teams that the Tigers had tied or lost to, were a anticipating win to add to their victories. The Tiger, deciding this was it, struck back with both Ieet and gained another victory for them by beating Clark The Panthers uffering a 6-0 lead from the Tigers came to life with Algia Barnette making a run 102-yard back to put the Panthers out in front 7-6. While the Red & Black Panther were still rejoicing over Barnette's splendid run, Morehouse pulled a few strings and ran back a kicko ff to Clark's 9-yard line and later scored leading the Panthers Light deceptive back, Algia Barnett 151

4 ' BENEDICT Jasper Kemp, H. B..Tames Touchstone, F. B. Robert Thomas, Q. B. Algia Barnett, H. B. CLARK 6... ALABAMA STATE 13 Clark College Alabama State's Hornets eased by the Panthers here on Friday night two touchdowns and one successful conversion which came within eight minutes after the opening kick-off. The beginning of the Panthers downfall came when they fumbled on their own 10-yard line and an alert Alabama State player recovered the errant pigskin in the end zone for the touchdown. The other Alabama score came on a pass to Henry Carnegie. All of this happened in the first period. Clark's only score was made by Halfback Algia Barnette, who snatched a 'Barna State pass deep in the Panthers' territory and scampered 85 yards for the tally. Guard Raymond mention on the All-City team. Harris won honorable CLARK The Clark College Panthers, celebrating their Homecoming classic, batted to a tie with the Benedict on Tigers November 19. The Panthers scored first in the cla sic to take the lead. The Pant Both teams showed tremendous line strength. hers, figuring that they had won the game, apparently weakened and the Tigers came thundering back to tie the game. Clark, realizing that they were about to lose their Homecoming game, came back to core and again regained the lead. After a few exchange of punt, the Panthers scored again. The score now tood In the last quarter, the Tigers struck pay dirl and ucceeded in the try for the extra poi nt making the score As time was running out the Benedict Tigers again found a hole in the Panther' line and galloped to score the last and deciding touchdown of the game. The Tigers in the Home had come from behind to tie the Panther coming Classic, CLARK 6... XAVIER 38 The Clark College Panther, who put up a virtual "knock 'em down, drag 'em out" fight, eventually bowed to the Gold Rush of Xavier Univer ity by a score of Algia Barnett, fast stepping halfback of the Panthers, made the longest run seen here this easo n when he received a XU kickoff on his own 2 yard line and behind very good blocking took to the east side line and went all the way to score the visitors only touchdown. Xavier's initial score came early in the first quarter when Clark's quarterback, William Richard on, fumbled the ball attempting to pass. After movi ng the ball to Clark's 5 yard line, Creer crashed off right tackle to pay dirt. Twenty points in the third quarter with two touchdowns by Carter, and one by Edward Sutton, substitute fullback placed the game well out of reach for the Panthers, thereby eliminating Clark's threat to spoil Xavier's homecoming game. Raymond Harris

5 The Basketball Team Finished Co-Captain Leon-Carlton LEON CARLTON Leon Carlton came back to Clark this season after a two-year absence while in the armed service-and played perhaps his hest season with the team. His scoring power from a guard position has increased considerably since his freshman and sophomore years. Carlton was perhaps the most underrated player of the team early in the season, but in late games his sparkling performances proved him to be one of the most valuahle players and won for him a position on the "All-City" team. JULIUS BUNN Julius Bunn was the team's playmaker. His speed and deception made him a key figure in the Clark fastbreaking attack. Although injuries benched him for nearly half of the season, Burin's total scores were among the highest of the entire team. He was named to the "All-City" team, Julius Bunn, Guard Eugene Walker EUGENE WALKER Eugene Walker usually dominated backboards, and his effective work in taking rebounds enabled frequent fast-break plays and provided openings for scores. Walker bas tremendous drive and the height and weight necessary to make it effective. He should be an important man in his junior year next season. in Top Ten

6 . JAMES COHEN James Cohen was a consistent forward this year, scoring regularly and playing good defensive ball. He is one of four New Yorkers on the squad. While turning in good scores in many games, Cohen's high scoring mark came against Xavier when he added twentythree points to the, Panthers' total. "Although Clark had a losing season, the Panthers still show promise of being a winning team next year." These words taken from the 1955 Yearbook might be used again here: for the Clark team, a homeless squad of nevertheless determined players, had too many obstacles thrown in their path to finish anywhere except the SIAC cellar this year. But even with the combination of injuries and ineligibilities to plague them, and the lack of a home court, they managed to salvage a position in the top ten in the conference and win a bid to the league's tournament. Starting with a checker-board pattern of wins and losses, the Panthers opened on Robert Phillips Day with their now traditional ice-breaker foe, Savannah State. On their "adopted" Morris Brown court the Clarkites edged State behind the heavy coring of Threat and Fields. The combination of Walker, Cohen, Branch, Threat, and Bunn was effective in "outdi tancing" South Carolina in the next enconter, but an air-borne desperation toss at the final whistle gave South Carolina its first win of the season and Clark it fir t los. Local Clark alumni ponsored the next game. This time the opponent wa Morri Brown, and after trailing throughout the contest, the Panther ea ed ahead by four points at the game's end and won a victory. Savannah State evened the score in their econd meeting with the Panthers at Savannah. That conte t ended with the Clarkites losing their second game, MILTON FIELDS Milton Fields did a good job at guard this year. He played It hard game, contributed fairly good core, and et up numerou Iast-breaks for Panther scores. One of four player from ew York State, Fields is a sophomore. Milton Fields, Guard CONNIE SWINIER Connie Swiner showed considerable improvement late in the season, and he may he in line for more work during the next season in a guard position. He is a good ball-handler who neeeded only a little experience to bring out the marks of a polished player. Connie Swiner (

7 BASKETEERS. First row (1. to r.) : Julius Bunn, Johnny Leon Carlton, Milton Fields, Perry Hardeman, Connie Swiner, Albert Beard. Second row (1. to r.) : James Cohen, Charlie Branch, Eugene Walker, Nudie Williams, Charlie Tinsley, Gerald Tate, James Robinson. Bethune-Cookman trailed by one or two points most of their game with the Clarkites on December 16th, but they never recovered from the scoring blows dealt them in the final five minutes of the tight match, and the Panthers rolled on to their second conference win in three SIAC matches. In the Bethune-Cookman game the Clarkites showed vast improvement in passing and ball-handling. They took an early lead and held it throughout the game. Fast breaks by Bunn, Carlton, and Fields were the big weapons in this contest. While they had shown potentialities for speed in previous games, the squad that night showed near-perfection against Bethune with a display of teamwork reminiscent of the squad. Willie Martin and Albert Beard, alternating in the left guard spot; and Charles Tinsley, at center, played more against Allen in the next game than they had in all previous games. And they turned in performances which indicated their readiness for regular play. Tinsley was the most effective weapon unveiled by Epps against Allen, and his 14 points was a big boost as Clark turned back Allen, In the Allen game, the Panthers reached their peak of performance and scoring. The remaining 13 games held only four victories for the Clarkites. The loss of Bunn for five games; then the loss of Threat, Martin, and Sheppard shaped events for remaining encounters. After Allen came a loss to Morehouse; a victory over Fort a Valley; defeat at the hands of Morris Brown in the second meeting; and another win from Fort Valley. Losses to Alabama State, Jackson College, and Xavier were interrupted by a close victory over Benedict. Morehouse, Bethune-Cookman, and Morris Brown added the last three regular season defeats. And in between the Clarkites edged Benedict, In tournament play at the SIAC meet and to Morris Brown in the Georgia State Invitational after defeating Albany State in this tournament. the Clarkites lost to Morehouse While injuries and ineligibilities provided overwhelming obstacles all season, the major factor perhaps in the team's ineffectiveness was lack of a home gymnasiu>m for practice. Frequent interruptions and insufficient time on a foreign court provided the forces to weaken an otherwise strong team. In the past Clark has had some strong football teams, but the records show that basketball teams have been winners far more frequently than gridiron teams. Through the years Clark basketball teams have had seasons of brilliance, and others of mediocrity-such as the past season. Clark's first basketball came championship in Since then the teams have won four SIAC championships: they have won four second places since 1936, and third place> twice since This record of ten times in the top three in the past 16 seasons clearly demonstrates that Clark's basketball fortunes have not always been as dark as they are today, and "although Clark had a losing season, the Panthers still show promise of being a winning team next year." ( 155

8 Clarks Best Performance Came from the Track Team. When the track season opened this year Roman Turmon, Senior Shot-Put Champion had left the Cardinal and Black Panthers via the graduation route, so had the five points that he had won for four consecutive years. To fill his shoes is Howard a Tyler, freshman from Indiana who has done a comparable job. Along with Tyler on the Shot-Put is Charlie Tinsley, and Otis Baker. The latter two shot from nowhere to become heralded fieldmen. Emerson Packer, Junior from Birmingham has become a great competitor in the one-mile run. Alfred Ellis and Leon Carlton are still the hottest javelin throwers in the Conference, throwing one and two. It's hard to beat these stiff competitors. In the High-Jumping department Charles Green and Eddie Johnson have shown the wares as stiff cornpetitors ; they are also one and two. Wi th the complimentary cinder capers of Algia Barnett, Roosevelt Taylor, James Foster, Jasper Kemp, and Theodore Thompson, Coach Epps "tracked" the greatest thinclad squad Clarkites have seen in many years. They are a well-balanced, hard-working squad. The Panthers warmed up with a dual meet against Morris Brown in the middle of April and then entered their season into full swing when they traveled to Alabama State for the Alabama State Relays where they racked up 27 points to place second behind some stiff competition. Here Leon Carleton and Alfred Ellis placed first and second, respectively for 8 points. Green and Johnson repeated their performances in the high jump and received 8 additional pts. The 440 yard relay team (Algia Barnett, James Foster, Theodore Thompson, and Roosevelt Taylor) acquired a second for 3 pts. Algia Barnett took a fourth in the hurdles for 1 pt. Again Charles Green and Eddie Johnson showed their wares with a second and third in the pole vault for 5. pt Alfred Ellis brought one point in the discus throw. Returning home before a good crowd at the Atlanta University Track Field, the Eppsmen racked up 92 points in the Triangle Meet with Morris Brown and Morehouse. In completely vanquishing their opponents, the Panthers won the annual Meet by a larger margin than any previous Cardinal and Black cinder crew. Morehouse came second with 35 pts. and Morri Brown brought up the rear with 18. This was the sixth consecutive City Championship. Emerson Packer showed form, peed, and slamina to place first in the mile and two-mile run. Packer followed Lenny Law with agonizing tenacity until the final lap then sped past the fre hman to fini h in a blazing purt. Shot Putters Howard Tyler Eugene Walker Charlie Tinsley Otis Baker 156

9 The SSO-yard relay team (Kemp, Thompson, Barnett, and Foster) copped first place with a spectacular gallop. James Foster placed second in the century. Barnett took a first in the 220-yard low hurdles by defeating his teammate, James Foster, and Asa Spaulding of Morehouse in a sparkling Roosevelt Taylor scintillated in the 220- yard run with another first while James Foster ran a close second. Sophomore Eugene Walker piled up more points with a first in the discus. Freshman shot-putter Howard Tyler won first place in his specialty with Charley Tinsley, and Otis Baker following in that order. Otis Baker, Freshman from David T. Howard, is a stiff competitor with the discus where he received a third. Leon Carlton and Alfred Ellis won the javelin throw placing first and second respectively. Jasper Kemp fattened the lead by copping third in the javelin. Alfred Ellis placed second in the discus throw. Charles Green and Eddie Johnson brought first and second in the broad jump, pole vault, and high jump. Jasper Kemp again showed his ability by receiving third. Emerson Packer, Distance Runner The Eppsmen are preparing to compete in the Tuskegee Relays followed by the Annual SIAC Track and Field Meet at the Atlanta University field. Alfred Ellis, Leon Carleton, Javelin Algia Barnett, Low Hurdles