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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 26, 1978)
f Hage 6 Portland Observer Thursday January 26, 1978 Sports Talk Robinson adds another successful season by Ron Syfcee Sparta Editor by (o llie J. Nicholsoo Oregon Duck basketball appears to be at it's lowest point since Dick Harter took over the reins in the Eugene City. Ironically it was almost a year ago (January 13th) that Oregon lost four in a row, losing to WSU. 4548; OSU. 52 53 and 53-64; and St. John's 51-61. But Oregon came back strong to win seven of its next ten games, to finish second in the PAC-8 and earn a third straight spot in the National Invitational Tourney. Dick Harter's program has always been de manding and not everyone can play for the tough mentor. Harter has lost three highly regarded players this year in Beau McCloud, Gary Nelson and Joe Moreck. Harter has proven through his career that he is a winner and he said many- times this year that he has to find five guys that really want to play basketball. Knowing Dick Harter...if it's humanly possible...then believe he will. Oregon's defense is not their problem. It has continued to be tough limiting opponents to 65 points a game. But the offense has sputtered. During the OSU loss last Saturday. 6248, it took Oregon 8:13 to score. And you don't win ball games like that. At times the Ducks seem too hesitant to shoot...sure defense is fine but you still have to put it thru the hoop to win games. No one yet has emerged as the man Oregon can turn to for consistent point production or a lift in the clutch, in the style it was provided by All-American Greg Ballard and Ron I^ee in the imine diate year;, past. This years leading scorer, center Dan Hartshorne, is barely in double figures hitting a paltry 10.4. Saturday . Oregon takes on Cal-Davis at McArthur Court. This could be the first step on the long road back, or it could also be a close encounter...with disaster. Portland University 67. California Bears 66. Wow! Now who could believe the Pilots would win over the PAC-8 Bears. Granted California is not one of the PAC-8 powers but still figured to be too strong for Coach Avina's men on the Bluff. Jack Avina has said repeatedly that his program is on the move...after the victory over the Bears...we believe. The battle of the P.IX. Division lead ers Grant and Jeff was won by a lethargic Demo squad 4846 last Friday in the General Gym. This was to give bragging rights to the winner...so the Demos can now do the talking until they meet again. The once highly regarded Jeffersonians, but now lightly regarded, just might now be readv to dominate. "Free:' proves pressure-proof game after he fired a court-record 44 at Colorado State. As a junior, his consis tency was amazing. In all but three of 27 games. ''Free" totaled more than 30 points; in 14 of 27 he was over 40. Things didn't look quite so rosy a few weeks ago, however. The Vikings got off slowly, losing their first five. Playing an unaccustomed “man" defense. PSU strug gled offensively also. With the other team setting the tempo, Freeman was averag ing “only” 25.3 after six games. Coach Ken Edwards dropped his team back into a zone, started to press, the Vikings started to run and dictate what happened on the court. Freeman averaged 33 as the Viks won seven out of eight. The last four games have put Williams back on top of the basketball world. Hitting 49.45 percent from the field, "Free” has averaged 50.7 points per game to crank his average up to 34.3. And the impressive thing about Wil liams is that the competition matters not. He has had some of his biggest games against the big timers: 39 against Ken tucky. 49 against USC, 48 and 44 against St. Mary's, and 41 against Colorado State this season; 43 against Nevada-Las Ve gas, 46 against Utah State. 36 against Arizona State, and 43 against Long Beach State last year; and as a sophomore, 35 against Arizona. 33 against Nevada-Ve gas, and 31 against New Mexico. Williams has always shot well against Oregon State, also. Including a sub-par 9 of 25 as a freshman and team-high 19 points. “Free” - in three games against the Beavers - has hit 38 of 76 from the field and 20 of 25 from the line. As a sophomore, Williams scored 36, as a junior he had 39. It’s been a great show, a great trip for PSU basketball fans, great exposure for Portland State University. But admitted ly. it may be a long time before Portland State finds another Freeman Williams. After all...one like him comes along only five times in basketball history. Admittedly, it may be a long time before Portland State University finds another Freeman Williams. The 6'4” guard is the odds-on favorite to become only the fifth college basketball player in history to successfully defend an NCAA scoring title. He is certain to become the third player in NCAA history to score over 3,000 points in a career. (He now has 2.898.) He has already become one of only nine players to ever score more than 1,000 points in one season; he holds the fourth-highest scoring average in NCAA history for a season. 38.846: and he ranks third all-time for most points scored in one game. 71. “Free" was named to the Helms Foun dation All-America team last season and to the third team All-America squad by both United Press and Associated Press. He was named first team All-West in both his sophomore and junior years by United Press, joining such notables as Richard Washington. Steve Puidokas. Ronnie Lee. and Eddie Owens (Nevada Vegasl as the only sophomore selected in 1975-76. then last year teamed writh Greg Ballard. Bill Cartwright (USP). James Edwards (Washington! and Marques Johnson (you've heard of him), on UPl's first five. As a sophomore. Williams was picked first team Independents' All-American with people like Adrian Dantley of Notre Dame. Earl Tatum of Marquette. Robert Parrish of Centenary, and Cedrec Max well of North Carolina-Charlotte. An extra curricular honor, and perhaps the most meaningful, was his selection to the U.S. World University Games' team last summer. Freeman, playing point guard, was one of the key factors in the U.S. winning the Gold Medal under Coach Denny Crum of Louisville, who called Williams "possibly" our best all-around player.” As a sophomore, his average never dipped below 30 from the season's second Demos guidelines The Democratic Party will hold a hearing on its Delegate Selection and Affirmative Action Policy on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at the Gateway Branch of Far West Federal Savings. The purpose of the hearing is to create a policy for selecting delegates to the National Democratic Party's Midterm Convention next December. The State party is required to draw up guidelines for selection that will insure participation by minorities and other groups that have been under-represented in party decision making. National rules on affirmative action are very strong but they have not been converted into action in the state. All persons are invited to attend and participate in the hearing. GRAMBLING |SPEC I A t] - Coach Eddie Robinson scoffs at the notion that he is reshaping the hero symbol of college football. Robinson, the veteran Grambling State University mentor who has blended athletic pragmatism with missionary zeal, pursuing both with single minded dedication, emphatically rejects this the sis. But the evidence is there for everyone to see. As almost anyone who followed the college football scene will attest, the gentile, mild mannered coach has become a highly visible sociological phenomenon in 36 seasons marked by remarkable growth and progress. Robinson has accomplished a rare feat among coaching giants. He has sent more than 160 players into professional football - an achievement that eluded every other member of his peer group - while compiling a 264 86-11 won-loss record in a long and illustrious career. More than anything else, it is this disproportionately high percentage of successful professional athletes de veloped that made him a dominant force on the national football scene. He has brought Grambling football to full maturity, instilling self-confidence, leadership, pride and competitive spirit in his players. Robinson's efforts have opened a route upward for hundreds of youngsters out of the ghetto through the development of athletic excellence. Robinson has achieved remarkable sue cess against a myriad of problems that plague Black schools. But he has been widely exalted for the enormous in fluence he has had on the game. In 1966. the Football Writers of America cited him as "the man who made the biggest contribution to college-division football during the last 25 years. Only Paul “Bear" Bryant of the Univer sity of Alabama, with a 274-75-16 career standard, has scored more wins among active coaches. Robinson is fourth on the list of top college winners behind the late Alonzo Staggs (315) and Pop Warner (312). Even skeptics who argue opposing convictions dispassionately but persua sively, admit that he is in a class by himself...a master planner with zeal, total dedication, intelligence and imagination. He seems to improve his handicap each year. The past season represented a Methu selan milestone for the veteran coach. 2 7 3 7 N.E. Union 282-2216 SH O P lENOW'S FOR BRANDS you know VARIETIES you lik e SIZES you w a n t Th« Frtwndl»«*» tor«* In Town Since 1908 MtlM .M W wwnts S M I lm U n w S . lam tU M eeW M » U H « NX M w m k » t n « « « M .i so»«» row. « ».«. M t.w n.rS «• G*«*«*, IV « a Wee» lerneMe teUK Ste»• la ta (Vwew%**O• I tin « « » U . M « n w «beg O r O» U M T » QftDCUS players like Tank Younger and Ernie I «add. plus the success of Jackson State's Walter Payton, the NCAA all time, all division career scorer. “Heading the list nevertheless, are the facts - Williams' statistics are incredible and his personal life and background rival Campbell's.“ He makes 2.6 grades, will graduate in June, lives in a dormitory, has dated the same girl for three years and makes frequent trips home to see his father, a disabled veteran, and a mother, a school luncnroom cook, “In many ways statistically. Williams' season was like Dennis Shaw's in 1969 - San Diego State's first season as a major. As mentioned. Williams 38 TD's passes is second in history to Shaw's 39 that year. Also, his 41 TD-responsible-for ranks second to Shaw's 45 and his 9.34 yards per attempted pass second to Shaw's record 9.51 for passers with at least 300 attempts. “But Williams threw for more yards - 3,286 to Shaw s 3,185 - and had 18 passes intercepted to Shaw's 26, "Williams set only one season record - 18.15 yards per completion, highest ever for passers with at least 150 completions. Besides ranking second to Shaw in the three categories, he was third in three others. "Overall, a remarkable season for Williams one record, three seconds and three thirds in seven categories. No player ever did so well in all seven combined. ‘That serves to make one more point about Williams his season high was only 378 passing, with seven more games between 372 and 312 - amazing consis tency. He was stopped only by Tennes see State, at just 102 yards, but that 372 came against Jackson State the total-de fense champion. “On the career charts, Williams set all-time, all-division NCAA records for TD passes (93) and TDRs (96). ranked No. 2 in both passing yards (8,411) and total-offense yards (8,195) to Abeline Christian’s Jim Lindsay. 8,521 and 8,385, respectively, in 1967 70 (while throwing 228 more passes than Williams)." The entire Grambling squad displayed unusual consistency throughout the sea son. Coach Robinson did it with a minimum of crunch and a maximum of razzle-dazzle. Grambling won the national scoring title (42.0 points per game) and the punt return wreath (16.9 yards average on 31 runbacks for 523 yards and four TDs). Williams tormented the opposition to annex the NCAA individual total offense crown, and Robert Woods, a dazzling speedster with a genial grin and the On the threshold of a whole new era in football, the Tigers dominated major college statistics in 1977 and progressed steadily upward on the strong right arm of All-American Doug Williams. Williams, the all-time Division I pass ing standard bearer, completed 488 of 1,009 passes attempted for 8.411 yards and 93 touchdowns in a brilliant four year career. He was named to the Associated Press, The Sporting News. Walter Camp, Pitts burgh Courier and Mutual Black Network All American teams. The NCAA Statistical Service Bulletin lauded him in its summary of season highlights, pointing out his predictable flair for the dramatic. According to the NCAA, Williams belted the opposition with abandon. “Since the No. 1 goal of every passer is to put the ball in the end zone, you really have to hand it to Grambling's Doug Williams - his 93 career TD passes (in forty games) are more than any college player ever in any division, NCAA or NAIA," the Bulletin pointed out. The analyses continued. “This season. Williams won the major college total-offense championship and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting (but drew more votes than any other quarterback). En route, he threw 38 TD passes, just missing the record 39 by San Diego State's Dennis Shaw in 1969. “Williams? Well, this was Grambling's first season in Division I and coach Eddie Robinson waged a determined campaign to (1) make sure Williams was given the same Heisman chance as players from established majors like Stanford: and (2) make it possible for Williams to enter pro football as the first Black quarterback whose skills and character are taken for granted. “So far, you’d have to give Robinson high marks - and don't forget one of his players. James Harris, regarded by Wil iiams almost as a father figure. 'James paved the way for the Black quarter back.' says Williams (who was helped, too. by Grambling's long line of great i A 1 1 DOUG W IL L IA M S instincts of a tiger shark, won the punt return toga (25.4 yards per return). Grambling left an indelible imprint in other categories, finishing second in team total offense (384.5 yards per game), and second in passing offense (averaging 305.5 yards in 11 games). Woods' effort in scoring (84 points), all purpose running (147.7 yards per game), and kick-off returns (26.1 yards) were listed among national leaders. The NCAA Bulletin paid him the follov'ing tribute! “Punt return champion Woods, a dangerous all around game breaker like Nebraska's Johnny Rodgers (the 1972 Heisman winner), averaged 18.9 yards per pass reception, 26.1 yards per kick off return (8th nationally) and 4.6 per rush along with his 25.4 in punt returns. “The TD log for Woods reminds you of Rodgers, too. He had punt return TDs of 72, 62 and 42 yards, and kick off-return TDs of 97 and 87 and TD pass receptions 85. 68, 56 and 52 yards." Miracles are entirely too fleeting. The triumphs and brilliant performances of Williams, Woods, All Americans Carlos Pennywell, Russell Halt. Mike Moore. Charles Johnson. Wayne Price and all the Tigers who made significant contribu tions will become dim memories in another campaign. Grambling played its usual coast to coast schedule, posted a sparkling 10-1 record and ended the season with its second annual trek to Tokyo, Japan. Robinson ended a remarkable year by coaching the West squad to a 23 8 victory in the prestigious East West Shrine game in Palo Alto. California. OMSI sets classes A month-long series of Saturday class es for youngsters begins February 4th at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. Course studies range from rocks and fossils to breadmaking and beginning chess. Classes are aimed at many age groups, from pre-schoolers to children in the upper grades. For information, call OMSI Classes, 248 5907. Of interest to high school students and adults are several evening classes at OMSI. Courses range from rapid reading to lapidary. On Tuesday evenings, January 24th through February 28th. 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., a La.iidary Lab will be offered for both novice and intermediate rockhounds. OMSI's well-equipped lab provides an opportunity to practice the techniques of cutting, grinding, and polishing. To re gister, call OMSI Classes, 248 5907. A special Get Acquainted W ith Astro nomy class is scheduled at OMSI for students grades seven through adult on Saturday m ornings. February 4th through March 4th. from 9:00 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. The program is designed for those who want to look at the sky and learn to recognize the familiar constella tions and planets. A visit to the solar observatory at Mt. Hood Community College will be included in the class activities. To register, call OMSI ('lasses. 248 5907. Assembly language Programming I American State Bank while emphasizing his role in reshaping the hero symbol. Playing its first season in NCAA Division I, Grambling demonstrated that the Eddie Robinson mystique has lost none of its luster. Brad Pye, Jr., sports editor of the law Angeles Sentinel, calls Robinson a dis tinct reality. “He is like a long playing record...an acknowledged titan who is finally getting the full-beam national spotlight." will be offered for high school students and adults on Mondays and Wednesdays. January 16th through February 22ml. 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., in OMSI's Research Center. The class will focus on machine and assembly language and com piilcr architecture. Previous programming experience is required. Call OMSI. 248 5907. PORTLAND CLEANING WORKS NO R TH A N.E. PORTLAND ONE DAY SERVICE Minor Repair* Ne Charge Pick up A I tell very 282-8361 K N IT B LO CKING OUR SPECIALTY 3 9 6 6 N Williams Ave. N. Alexander, Proprietor Dwayne W hite and Chris Johnson d e le tin g Dr. King's dream. ; »oster Fenton ( am,»bell. Hugo Smith and Michael Johnson were among the ,»artiei;»anls in celebration of Dr. King's birthday. St. Andrews hosts Martin Luther King celebration Over 150 parents and students gather cd in St. Andrew Community Center on January 17th for a belated celebration of Martin Luther King's birthday. They joined in a pot-luck dinner and enjoyed presentations from each class about the life and impact of Dr. Martin Luther King. Such gatherings are part of the on going parent involvement in St. Andrew School. 9th and Alberta. In addition to an eighth grade elementary school, there is also after school tutoring Monday through Thursday for high schisil stu dents in the neighborhood and adult basic education classes each Monday and Wed nesday evening. The fabulous A family to help build a new life for a Black girl, age 10. This youngster needs personal attention and to be the youngest member of an active family. If interested, please contact Joe Cob stro at Catholic Services for Children 228 6531. The Agency will pay for the child’s care and will also assume financial responsibi lily for her clothing, school, medical and dental needs. Being a foster family is a very reward ing experience. 'MB W Hflsum GlOteTftOTTCRS in person! SUNDAY, WANTED Those interested in any of these pro grams, should contact the school, 284 1620. FEB. 5 2 30 PM MEMORIAL COLISEUM Adults S4 and $6 Students thru H S S3 and $4 TICKETS AT ALL REGULAR TRAILBLAZER OUTLETS - m A