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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1982)
No sweat Taylor is a picture ol concentration as he focuses in on the free throw that defeated Rhode Island earlier in the season. Rookie Taylor handles pressure like a veteran By Steve Turcotte Of tha Emerald Time was running out on the McArthur Court scoreboard when Rodnie Taylor toed the free throw line Just a few ticks remained on the clock in the University of Oregon-Rhode Island basketball game With the score tied, Taylor proceeded to sink one of two free throws to lift the Ducks to a 96-95 victory. What kind of freshman could handle pressure like that? A kind of freshman like Taylor, a 6-8 forward on the Duck basketball squad. “I’ve always admired guys who can step to the free throw line in that kind of situation and make the free throws," Taylor said. "That free throw is the most prestigous highlight for me so far this season I thought probably when I am a senior I'd do something like that, but not as a freshman." Taylor is no stranger to pressure He has faced pressure in high school, in recruiting and now as a Duck. And so far, he has overcome all those obstacles of pressure. As a senior at Juanita High School in Kirkland, Wash , Taylor was bestowed with honor after honor. First there was first team All-State Then there was All-Kingco Conference and Kingco leading scorer at 21.5 a game And finally there was a sixth-place team honor in the Washington high school state tournament. After high school hoops, came the business that every prep star faces — recruiting. Taylor says that there were 187 schools who courted him with scholarship offers — only one could come away with his services so there were going to be 186 unhappy schools. “I thought recruiting was great fun,” Taylor said. "It’s so prestigous To be recruited makes you think that you are important. When someone offers you a scholarship it really makes you feel good, like someone cares If I wouldn't have been recruited, I probably wouldn’t have played basketball.” But he was, and he is. Taylor narrowed his choices down to three schools — Lousiana State, Oregon and hometown Washington Those three schools could have given him the things he wanted in a college — a top-flight academic insitution and a school with a building program in basketball. "Oregon was the first school ever to contact me and that made a big impression,” Taylor said. "Oregon’s program spoke for itself. The community down here is good and I like the atmosphere. The Oregon recruiters never gave me the hard sell, either. But they didn’t have to, the school sold itself.” There was one thing which bothered Taylor during the course of recruiting, though. "I was sensitive about illegal recruiting,” said Taylor. “Oregon gave me a recruiting handbook — I didn’t want anything to go wrong. There was a nice deal offered to me (by someone else), but I didn’t take it.” Already, Taylor has defined his role He sees himself as a person who plays behind the lettermen, but still, is waiting in the wings for his opportunity. "I see my role as to push the veterans,” admits Taylor. “It doesn’t seem like there is really a middle man on the team. There are the seniors and veterans, and then there are the freshmen. “Also, I think my role entails me to rebound and score But if it takes me to do something like hit the boards all night, I'll do it. I like to go in and pick up the team.” “Right now I’m learning out of determination,” Taylor said. “I want to make myself better.” And that’s what it takes to be a winner. MEETINGS Bind for tho World will hold an organizational meeting today at 4 30 p m at 1414 Kincaid St Students seeking involvement in the world hunger issue are encouraged to attend The Christian Science Organization invites you to our weekly meeting today at 5 p m in the EMU Room to be posted Share the inspiration and help in a growing understanding of God The University Sailing Team is holding a meeting today at 8 p m in the EMU Room to be posted WORKSHOPS Interested In Mstoring In Architecture? A workshop on the philosophy policy and procedures lor admission to the architecture school will be presented today at 3 30 p m by Mike Utsey, assistant department head tor admissions and advising The wokshop will be held in the Academic Resource Area Room 164 Oregon Hall SPEAKERS "Context Sensitive Coding and Serial Order In Speech" is the topic of a lecture today by Psychology Prof Wayne Wickelgren at 3:30 p m in Room 204, Chapman Hall "Mobilizing Information" e the title of a presentation by Dr James Lemert, a professor in the University s journalism school, today at 7 p m in the lower level meeting room at the Ben Franklin Savings and Loan. 20 E 11 th Ave . CLASSES "Ethical and Biblical Perspectives on Human Sex uality" is the topic of a class which meets Thursdays at 12 30 pm in the Wesley Center (downstairs) at 1236 Kincaid St It's still possible to join the class For more information, call 686-4694 MISCELLANEOUS Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity, Is having an open house today at 6:30 p m in Room 112. EMU for students interested in membership We are open to all students enrolled at the University "Changing Ealing Habits" — A group for individuals who go on eating binges which are followed by self-in duced vomiting, purging, or restrictive dieting Meets on Mondays, 3-4:30 p m Call the Counseling Center at 686-3227 The Gay Peoples' Alliance is having a potluck in their new open space at the Koinonia Center, 1414 Kincaid St The kitchen will open at 5 p m for persons wishing to cook their meals Dinner will be served at 6 p m Please bring a dish and something to drink For more informa tion, contact the Gay Peoples Alliance at 686-3360, or stop by Suite 318, EMU Curious about registration and the draft? Come and talk with members of the Coalition Opposing Registra tion and the Draft and Vietnam veterans They will lead a discussion of the draft and the alternatives available in McAlister Dorm tonight at 7:30 For more information, call 485-4611 BLOOM COUNTY yep. \ £ mi we cockroaches AREN'T/ WERE Ml FOR If.'HECK../ WERE 457* LESS UANERABtE TO EXTH0eE5 Of HEAT, 00U> OR NUOEAR RAHAT10N THAN WT OTHER BEING ONfAflW/ . t by Berke Breathed so push m BUTTON, W SUICIDAL GOONS/ DOONESBURY by Garry Trudeau YEAH, I GUESS THAT'S TRUE f I1WUBHT NOT FOR me ITM5 0N REAUY 016 LY THREE PEALS FOR MARTINS. THOSEYOU S’ PHIL NEEPFIVE. ( 1 JP ? * \__ > €^t
