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
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