squad on his heels. Suddenly he leaped in the air and passed back to Newt Solomon on the opposite side of the field.

Transcription

1 .'

2 Though the Clark football team has yet to become a power in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football, the team has built a reputation for having that "never say down:' spirit which, even though the years have not smiled on it, the team is never one thought of as the underdog in the true sense of the word. The past season saw Clark held one of its smallest teams In many years, small in numbers and small in weight. Frank Odum, the [50-pound center who showed an undying desire to win while playing 60 minutes of nearly every game carried on the traditions made by such flyweights as Harvard Jennings, '50, Johnnie Richards, '5 l, Aubrey Chatters, '5 l, Add to that Arthur Johnson, John Cannon, Lee McNeil and Norris Muldrow, for [95 l, and you have part of the scrappiest team that ever donned the Cardinal and Black. The Panthers ended the season on Thanksgiving Day by falling 50-6 to SIAC National Champions Morris Brown. The greatest weakness this year-other than weightwas in our passing attack. With a line averaging [60, the passers were not offered the type of cover to get off good passes. Too many interceptions were made of our passes at critical moments. Johnson and Clark, however, showed real determination passing from the quarterback slot and Leon Carlton, playing his first year-as quarterback-showed exceptional promise of becoming a triple-threat. Probably the best pass play of the season came in the Alabama State game-johnson to Hartsfield for the touchdown which tied the count at 6-6 and set the stage for Johnson's conversion which won the game. The most spectacular play of the season came in the last game. On Morris Brown's kickoff, Arthur Johnson took the ball and ran for the sideline with the entire Morris Brown squad on his heels. Suddenly he leaped in the air and passed back to Newt Solomon on the opposite side of the field. Newt went 60 yards, backed by the best display of blocking of the season, and would have gone he one more good block. the distance had

3 ATHLETIC COMMITTEE First row: A. T. Wilson, Nurse C. Chandler, Pauline Postell, '53, S. V. Jeter; second row: H. C. Williams, C. R. Hamilton, J. J. Dennis, J. W.Harris; third row: Harold Hamilton, '52, Edwin Pratt, '53, Coach Leonidas Epps, I.eonard Lumpkin, '54-, and J. F. Summersette. Seniors J. Hobbs L. Bell P. Bell CAPTAINS Lewis L. Bell EPPS Director of Athletics

4 THE SEASON When head coach Sonny Epps looked over his Foo+bel] roster for the season he found that he had only three two hundred pounders, a squad of forty players, and perhaps one of the lightest teams in the history of the college. Thus, with "beef" greatly in need, Coach Epps decided that speed the team's best bet to have a successful season. would be Operating from the T formation with quick openers and hand-offs backed up by a passing attack which was plagued by a shortage of ends and passers, the Panthers got off to a winning start against Fort Valley State, at Fort Valley, Georgia, on September 23. CLARK 6 CLARK FORT VALLEY. o S. C. STATE...21 After three quarters of play in torrential rain with neither team able to score, Offie Clark, on a quick opening play, handed the ball off to freshman Laurence Gates, who romped thirty ver ds untouched for the only score of the ball game. Muldrow, Evans, L. Bell, T urmo nand Odum set the stage for the score with their rugged line and backfield play. Carolina's Bulldoqs came from behind and handed the Panthers their second loss of the season on October 12 in Herndon Stadium. Percy Evans crossed State's goal for the first Clark TO and Offie Clark tossed to Freddie Jackson for the second. Arthur Johnson made the sole Clark conversion. and State hit paydirt three times in the second half made good all conversion attempts. CLARK 7 TUSKEGEE 13 CLARK. ALABAMA STATE With a third quarter lead of 6-0 at Birmingham's Rickwood Stadium, the Eppsmen were well on the way to their second victory, but intercepted passes and blocked punts turned the tide as Tuskegee's "Radio Red" pulled in a pass in the Clark end zone, and a Tuskegee fullback smashed through the Panthers' line for the cincher. The Panthers felt the Hornets' sting early in the second quarter of the October 19 contest in Montgomery and trailed for thirty minutes before Arthur Johnson hit halfback Wallace Hartsfield on a pass play for the tying tally. Johnson kicked the extra point which won the game.

5 THE SEASON End Coach "Biff" Jones CLARK MOREHOUSE For the tenth s+re iqh+ season Morehouse's Maroon Tigers were unable to withstand the Cardinal and Black tide which surged over themo n Odober 27 at Herndon Stadium. Holding their punch until the fourth period, Clark pene+re+ed deep into 'House territory but failed to cross the s+ri pee, In the final stanza Percy Evans smashed over from +wo yards out. 'Larkin Bell set upthe second tally when he blocked a Morehouse kick. Arthur Johnson handed off to Gates who raced +hir+v-fivs yards for the clincher. CLARK XAVIER Undefeated Xavier University scored withi n three minutes after the opening whistle at their hornecoming on November 15 and went on to humble the Panthers, 45 0, as McClain and McKee took e dve n tage of the gaps made in the Clark line by AII American Willie Bloxton. Gales With Lewis and Bell disqualified in the first period, Turmon, Daniels and L. Bell were forced to play the en r; re 'Jame. CLARK FISK Homecoming. Fisk struck early in the second period at Herndon Stadium on November 10, then again in the third period the Bulldogs crossed the stripes twice for their second and third tallies. The lone Clark TO came after Larkin Bell covered a Fisk fumble on the Bulldogs' 40. Barrett picked up two yards, and on the next play Johnson passed to Jackson for the score. Johnson kicked the PAT. CLARK... 6 MORRIS BltOWN 50 Johnson A sellout crowd at Herndon Stadium on Thanksgiving Day saw a diehard Panther team push National Champs Morris Brown around for the first few rnoments of the game before falling to a highly polished passing attack which soon put the Brownies far in rhe lead. Freddie Jackson caught Offie Clark's touchdown pass in the end zone for 'the Panthers' only tally of rhe day. f

6 CLARK CAGERS COOL OFF IN HOME STRET.CH The greatest han d i cap overcome by Coach Epps this year was one of substitutes. Bolstered by the seasoning of Roman T urmon, Freddie Jackson, and Leon Carlton, and by the arrival of Malcolm Turner and Darius Hairston, the Panthers had their best season since 1940 when a Clark team won the SIAC Championship. This year's team set a new Clark winning record by going undefeated through seventeen consecutive games. It broke the "Ole Morris Brown jinx" for the first time in five seasons, but it could not break a comparatively new jinx-the one which has given Alabama State over victory Clark in all but one game since With seventeen consecutive wins on the record, the Panthers began the cooling off on process February 16 in Montgomery, Alabama. After taking a decision from Tuskegee the night before, the Eppsmen moved into the capital city to meet Alabama State's upset-minded Hornets in what was destined to be the only regular season defeat handed the Panthers. Alabama won After shocking the local sports world, the Eppsmen made are covery of their winning ways and toppled Allen and Fisk at the Magnolia. But, at the National Tournament in Nashville, the Panthers were again on the short end of the scoring as Tennessee State won a a -victory nd went on to win the national championship. Predictions on the SIAC T ournament favored Clark and Florida to meet in the finals. Clark drew Alabama State for the fi rs+ round. The was jinx not broken. Alabama State edged the Panthers with a last minute free throw and went to the finals. Thus, after a brilliant season, the Panthers lost three games which upset the hopes of Clark fans for a clean sweep of both SIAC and National championships. However, the early victories us brought the Visitation Championship trophy which now stands in Haven Warren and all was not lost.

7 The Panthers (Left to Right) Kneeling: Forrest Patterson, Avery Burress, Leon Carlton, Bennie Lowe, Freddie Jackson, Bobby Palmer, Norris Muldrow. Standing: Offie Clark, Malcolm Turner, Darius Hairston, Roman Turmon, Warren Rouse, William Powell, James Trice, and Leon Alexander. When "Sonny" Epps floored his starting five against Savannah State at the Magnolia on December 7 there was little doubt in the minds of Clark fans but that the Panthers were stronger than any Clark team in recent seasons. Lowe, Turner, T urmon, Patterson, and Carlton took the helm in the firs+ half to give the' Panthers a advantage as the second quarter ended. A smooth working team of substitutes widened the gap in the second half and piled on a score for the first victory. In Savannah for their second and third encounters it was the same story. Clark easily The Season won and Knoxville College proved to be a stronger team than was expeted but team captain Lowe and freshman Darius Hairston and Offie Clark made the difference in scoring power-as slight as it was-and the Eppsmen edged a decision from the Tennesseans. On january 4, in Knoxville the Panthers made easy work of the Tigers with a score. With five victories on the record the Panthers still had not thoroughly convinced sports writers that Clark was a team to watch. On january 5 in the Clark-Fisk game they said the tale would be told. Fisk showed real determination that night and for the first time all season the Panthers trailed in scoring. We saw the Bennie Lowe of old that night in the fourth quarter as he tied the score after the Bulldogs had pulled ahead. His five straight goals in this period set the stage for Leon Carlton to slip under for a lay up shot when Fisk held a lead and there was less than one minute remaining in the game. Carlton's goal ended the scoring for the evening and won for Clark a victory. On january 12 at the Magnolia Tigers hands of the Eppsmen. the Maroon were handed a decisiv.e loss at the The Purple Wolverines of Morris Brown were now the team to stop the Panthers, but for the first time in recent seasons the were Eppsmen not rated as underdogs. Carlton again saved the day in the waning moments of the game with a lay up shot thirty seconds before the final whistle sounded. A victory over Brown was an inspiration to the team and in the next three games Tuskegee, South Carolina, and Benedict were practically helpless before the now well-polished Panthers. The Benedict game saw the Eppsmen reach the peak of scoring perfection as T urmon hit the hoops for 38 points of the score. The Xavier threat never mater.ialized at the Magnolia court on February 2 and it was Clark's game all the way to a victory in the 12 game. Bethune-Cookman came to Atlanta on February 4 with an impressive win streak and one only loss. Behind john Cheney the Floridians on piled 75

8 points, but Lowe hit his season's high of 29 points toward a 83 point Clark score and Cheney's effor+s proved to be in vain. Morehouse, showing vast improvement, proved to be a diseppoin+ed host at the "barn" in the next game and after leading the Panthers in the firsl quarter, the Maroon Tigers fell to the tune of as Clark virtually cinched its claim on the ciiy cha mpionshi p. 9 South Carolina State showed bril On February liancy in spots and a played close second to the Panthers throughout game number sixteen but ill the homestretch wiih Lowe, Hairston, Turman and Patterson scoring in the final period, the Panthers forged ahead for the kill, the I n the second Cia rk-morris Brown of the season Panthers were favored for the first time over the Wolverines. The still undefeated Eppsmen knew, however, that it would be no push-over, and the final score, proved that Brown still had the determination, if not the power, to beat Clark. The ill-fated day draws nigh. After turning the Tuskegee Tigers back in a decision at Loga n Hall on February 15, the Eppsmen moved into the Hornet's nest-montgomery, Alabama. The upsetminded Hornets had a just few days before, swamped the Xavier "Gold Rush" in what at thai time was considered "a major upset." With that victory to their credit, the Alabamians were convinced that they would be the "dark horse" team of the SIAC-a conviction which was later to be proved. The supercharged Hornets threw a fastbreak and set-shot attack at the Eppsmen which netted them 27 points at half time and put up a zone defense which continually baffled the Panthers and allowed them only 17 points. When Stamps and Smith were disqualified the Panthers breathed a sigh of relief, but the relief was short-lived, for Askew, who had been on the bench for three quarters, made his debut in the final period and down the drain went the game in the final moments as Askew poured four consecutive goals in for Alabama to give his team a win. Burress, who had played brilliantly the night before against Tuskegee with 20 points was held to only 4, Turmon and Lowe got 10 and 18. Trice, whose timely set shots put the Panthers ahead three times in the waning moments of the game could not elude the bulldog tenacity of the Alabama guards. There was great joy in Alabama that night, but there was no joy at Clark. A hapless Allen was University quintet the next opponent of the Panthers who, still stinging from the Alabama State defeat, went all out to administer an overwhelming victory team scoring. Fisk University was expected to give with the entire more trouble to the Panthers in the last game of the season, but T urmon hit his 35 points, Lowe and Burress fell below par wtih 9 apiece, Trice hit for 5 and Powell tallied 3 points for Clark's 67 point total while Fisk scored 58 poi n+s.

9 CLARK PLAYS IN FIRST NATIONAL TOURN'AMENT When news first reached Atlanta that the 1 s+ National Basketball Tournament would be played this year, the "by-word" among Clark basketball players became, "Do you want to go?" They wanted to go-and they did go. On the strength of Clark's outstanding record for the season, tournament officials selected the Panthers as one of the teams to play in the National Invitational Basketball Tournament February 28, 29 and March 1 at Fisk University's field house. Even though the team was eliminated in the first round by Tennessee State, it is significant in the annals of Clark basketball history that the Panthers were invited to the first such tournament, and that they played in the first game of the tournament. Thus, Clark basketball emerged from comparative obscurity to national recognition in two years. In 1949 the basketball team won only two games, only nine in 1950, seventeen in 1951 and nineteen in the season. past a It is also noteworthy that in this first tournament Clark placed man on the first "All-National Tournament Team." Roman "Doc" T urmon, sophomore from Thomaston, Georgia, while scoring only 19 points against Tennessee State in the tournament, convinced the selecting committee that he deserved the center on position the tournament first team. Panthers Fall At SIAC Meet, But Win Visitation Championship,. _j _. once Only since 1948 has a Clark basketball team defeated Alabama State, This year the two losses to the.hcrne+s nearly proved fatal on one occasion and prevented a possible celan-sweep of both SIAC championships the on other. that the Visita to Clark or Florida A & M. Early in February it became apparent tion championship would go Neither team had lost a game. Clark had passed most of the stiffer opposition without a setback and it seemed as though we had clear sailing all the way. Florida still had to meet Xavier twice, Bethune-Cookman, and a possible winner-take-all game with the Panthers. Hope dimmed in Clark's corner on, February 16 when Alabama State ended the Panthers' win streak, but shortly after, Xavier broke Florida's back in New Orleans. This game decided the race. The Clark-Florida game was cancelled because of crowded schedules and because of the invitation both teams received to play in the National Tournament. Cla.rk eased on, t? win the Visitation Championship' according to the Dickinson Rating System, by 1.90 points to Florida's

10 While winning only one meet during the season, the track team showed more form than has any Clark Track Team since On Saturday, April 26, the Panthers rolled up 69 points in the annual City Triangle capture the 1952 city championship. With eight first places the Track and Field Meet to Panthers outdistanced by far second place Morris Brown's Wolverines who netted only 51 points for second place and the Maroon Tigers of Morehouse who scored 39 points. Leon Carlton has been defeated only once in his participation as a javelin thrower. The sophomore from New York City was defeated in the Tuskegee Relays by an independent contestant. John Cannon, who won the conference hurdles championship his freshman year, came back after losing that honor last year to win first place in low hurdles championship both the high and at the SIAC Meet. Laurence Gates, freshman, was Cannon's stiffest competition all season. With a sprained ankle Gates managed to come in behind Cannon for second place in the high hurdles Outstanding in event at the SIAC Meet and the City Meet. the individual events were John Cannon, Charles Stinson, Edward Clemmons, Roman T urmon, Leon Carlton, Arthur Johnson, Hubert Ricks, and Laurence Gates. Barrett, Clark, and Stinson brought the baton across the finish line in three minutes and thirty-eight seconds to cop first place honors in the mile relay. At the SIAC Meet the Clark team trailed championship Xavier University by one point throughout the afternoon, but when Xavier took fi rst place at the pole vault and Tuskegee took a first in the 880 Relay, the Panthers were forced into third place-five points behind Xavier and two points behind second place Tuskegee Institute.