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Sykes is Grambling's Main ManBy O.K. DAVIS Executive Sports Editor ALEX AN DR IA- -Terry Sykes isn't a One Man Team, but you'd have a hard time convincing Crambling State University's Fred Hobdy.He's made me a heckuva coach, laughed Hobdy at the annual l/iuislana Basketball Press Day’1 here Thursday.Then the veteran coach of 22 years, which covers a record of 44ft victories and 161 losses (only six other active coaches In America: have won more), added that Terry Sykes is an All-Americar. if I’ve ever seen one and one of the greatest players in the country.Sykes, indeed, was the focal point of most of Hobdy’a 1977-78 prospectus revealed to the state's other coaches and members of themedia the 6-foot-7senior forward from Colfax averaged 22 7 points and 11.1 rebounds a game last year en route to being chosen All-American and an All-Southwestern Athletic Conference player for the third consecutive season.Considered as a top draft candidate next year, Sykes is the key to Grambling improving on its 1976-77 record of 16-11.We're In the NCAA's Division One now, said Hobdy, and we’re anxious to prove we can play with the big boys. It’s an exciting challenge for us. We had our best recruiting ever and we feel hke we've gDl a bright future.Besides Sykes, the Tigershave 6-ioot-9 junior forward Herbie Collins and 6 foot-2 sophomore guard Martin Lemelle returning from last year.Collins, from Baton Rouge, averaged 6.4 points and 5.3 rebounds a game and Lemelle had a 9.4 scoring average.We feel like we have somevery adequate guards this season. said Hobdy, who traditionally relies on a fast-breaking attack. Lemelle did a fine Job as a starter for us last season and we’re also looking for a lot of playing time frcm Danlon Wilson.Wilson, at 6-foot-2, averaged 16 points last year for Charllon-Pollard High ofBeaumont, Tex., and was reportedly recruited by 14 olher major colleges. Hobdy and his staff say he's “in the same mold as former Tiger greats such as Larry Wright and Fred Hillton.Sylvester Jones, a G-foot-6 freshman forward, starred forDeQuincy High School forfour years Bnd is considered by many college coaches as the best prep player in Louisiana during 1976-77” he averaged 32.5points and 15 rebounds a game and was sought by approximately 75 schools.“He'll he one of our probable starters this year, said Hobdy. and he has theV.*:•••.VVV:•*.**:Colgate, ECU, or Louisville In Independence Bowl?BY O.K. DAVIS Executive Sports Editor Will it be Colgate, East Carolina or Louisville as Louisiana Tech’s opponent in Ihe Independence Bowl in Shreveport on Dec. 17?Those are the schools considered as the leading candidates for the at-largc berth in the second annual NCAA bowl and who'll be the subject of discussions by the selection committee at a meeting on Sunday.The six-member committee is scheduled for a meeting al 2:00 p.m., almost 24 hours after NCAA bowl groups can contact teams for the post -season c x -travanganzas...according to regulations of college athletics’ highest ruling body, committees can begin contacting teams at 6:pC p.fti. Sflturday.Tech, with a 7*0*2 record, has already clinched the hostberth in the Independence Bowl by winning Ihe championship of the Southland Confere nee.. the Bulldogs are one of only three 'undefeated NCAA Division One teams in the nation.The Independence committee isn’t expected to extend an invitation thisweekend, but reportedly may be contacting one of itscandidates early nextweek...the likely choices include unbeaten Colgate (10-0 0) esplosive East Carolina (8-3-0) and aspiring Louisville (0-4-0).Colgate, among thoseDivision One clubs without a setback, finishes its season Saturday at Delaware. East Carolina has completed Its seheduie.and Louisville plays host to’ Indian^ . State ,on Saturday.Colgate featured in a recent issue of Sports Illustrated, isthe No. 1 ranked offensive team in the nation with over 500 yards a game. The Red Raiders’ Henry White, a senior halfback, is ranked No.I in all-purpose running and senior quarterback Bob Realph is among the leading passers.E8St Carolina averaged approximately 370 yards a game on offense and features speedy running backs such as halfback Eddie Hicks and Willie Hawkins and fullback Theodore Sutton In its wishbone attack...all of those backs run the 40-yard dash in 4.4 or less.The Pirates finished their schedule this past weekend with a 21-17 loss to William and Mary and had lost earlier to Southland Conference•V.V.•VI.*.•:*•VI IUniversity of North Carolina and Duke, the latter game setting an all-time attendance record (38,1)00) for an opening game at Wallace Wade Sladium at Duke.Louisville, an 18-13 winner over Drake this pastweekend, has a veer offense spotlighted with Ihe near 1,000-yard rushing of senior halfback Calvin Prince (18! for 951 yards) and Junior fullback Nathan Poole (149 for S16).Other teams reportedly included on Independence Rowl committee lists this week are Army (64-0), Georgia Tech (5-5-0) North Texas State (6-2-0), and Cincinnati (5-2-2).But the names of Colgate,championship hopeful South- ..gasl Carolina and Louisville western Louisiana 9*7. ?c,re expected to be the namesECU claimed the unofficial mentioned most often whenchampionship of North committeemen gatherCarolina by defeating the Sunday afternoon.potential to be one of the finest players in Grambling’s history. He was an All-American al DeQuincy last year and already plays like a seasoned veteran.Hobdy says’that our probable starters will be Lemelle and Wilson at the guards and Sykes, Jones, and Collins in the middle.We’re planning to play a lot of our freshman, he said. We had the finest recruiting campaign in Grambling's history and eight of our first 12 players will be freshmen.Included on Ihe first-year list are 6-foot-2 guard Mike Emerson of Ruslan, 6-foot-2 guard Johnny Carson of Chicago, 111., Vfoot-3 guard Herbert Andrews of New Orleans, 6-foot-ft center Robert Williams of Little Rock, Ark., 6-fcot-€ Gery Travillion of Jackson, Miss., 6-foot-4l* guard-forward Albert Raybon of Detroit, Mich., 6-foci-6 forward Varn Williams of Colfax, and 5-foot-10 forward Raydell Jasper of New Orleans.With his' height, Jasper could figure in our plans early, said Hobdy. He's one of several freshmen who could see a lot of playing time this season.Jasper, Williams, Andrews. Roach and Emerson are listed on the second unit on Grambling’s current depth chart.Emerson was a two-time all-district choice and averaged 15 points a game during his career at Ruslon High. •
Newspaper Details
Ruston Daily Leader
Ruston, Louisiana, US
Fri, Nov 18, 1977
Page 1
Full Page
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Akron S.
OH, USA 06 Mar 2019
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