Atlanta Daily World

ATLANTA DAILY WORLD
Sunday, November 4, 1956

SPORTS OF THE WORLD
BY
MARION E.
JACKSON

The grapevine reveals that Fort Valley State's home field attendance has declined to point zero and the Wildcat athletic budget is dangerously low. Gate receipts have dwindled because of the condition of its present playing field which has poor seating and a faulty enclosure which permits gate-crashers to beat the turnstiles.

However, Fort Valley State is rushing to completion a new athletic stadium which is expected to bolster revenue. However, FVS is in trouble financially regarding athletics and hopes to ride out the storm until next season when the new field will allow added revenue.

Julian Bell, Chairman of the SIAC Schedule Committee has written all 17 members of the conference asking if they would be willing to conform to a schedule that would guarantee each member school playing each other. The questionnaire would pinpoint the date the schedule would go into effect (1957-58); (1958-59); (1959-60); (1960-61).

If the member colleges vote no against the proposition they are asked to cite which of the following reasons is most nearly responsible for the reply: distance, (b) budget (c) alumni pressure; (d) faculty pressure, (e) attitudes of the director of athletics and (f) others.

SIAC executives have been asked to return their answers no later than Nov. 10.

B. T. Harvey, chairman of NAIA District 6, has written the 29-member colleges that comprise the unit a request that Alexander Durley of Texas Southern U., Houston, Texas, be selected as vice-chairman. Marion E. Jackson, of the Atlanta Daily World publicity chairman, Atlanta, Ga.; and Armstead Pierro, Dillard U., New Orleans, La., secretary-treasurer.

Because of the wide geographic area in which the colleges are located most of the business will be transacted by mail.

Alcorn A&M, Mississippi Vocational College and Tougaloo Christian College have been switched from the Eastern division of District 29 to District 6.

OFF THE CUFF - In 13 Olympics, the U. S. has won 168 first places in track, the rest of the world 151. In six of them, the U. S. has won more firsts than the combined opposition. Since 1932, no country has come within challenging distance of our teams. Still experts see the '56 Olympics as a two nation duel between the U. S. and Soviet Russia.

Its puzzling to me why SIAC colleges passing through Albany, Ga. fail to break the long trip by playing Albany State College. The South Georgia institution has a brand new gymnasium, an excellent squad and the play of the Rams is on par with many member institutions of the SIAC.

Coach Obie W. O'Neal is willing and able to schedule any of the SIAC teams that pass through Albany enroute to Tallahassee. It might be a profitable stop for those teams who have to make the long trek to and from Florida A & M.

OFF THE CUFF - I promised to remember two Atlanta students studying at Fisk University in this column. Their names escaped observation in my notebook until now. You know, Miss Charlotte Giles and Johnny Waters.

You hear a whole lot of carping on officiating by SIAC coaches but there is a question in my mind whether they really mean it or they are merely just letting off steam. I visited a coach recently whose comments on officiating has been acid. Yet, there were stacks of cards and questionnaires regarding the performance of officials unanswered on his desk. Now, I wonder.

SIAC requests weekly reports on officiating. MOST COACHES ARE TOO BUSY TO ANSWER!!! NOW, whom are we to blame if these guys deliberate like the nation's Supreme Court on the simplest violation.

William M. Nix, director of student personnel, Morehouse College is contacting local merchants regarding advertisements for souvenir program for the Georgia Invitational Basketball Tournament scheduled for Booker T. Washington Gymnasium, Dec. 6-8.

Teams invited are Alabama State, Albany State, Clark College, Florida A&M, Fort Valley State, Morehouse, Morris Brown College, and South Carolina State College.

Mr. Nix plans to have a program chocked full of informational and statistical lore on the Georgia Invitational Tournament.

Participating colleges are requested to forward to him immediately the following information on each player prospect: name, age, height, weight, college class and home town.

Basketball Schedule Committee to decide on conference teams playing each other years. Florida A&M playing in the proposed NAIA Bowl. Tennessee State broke the colorline in City. B. T. Harvey of Morehouse chairman of the new District 6 of the ate plagued to the poorest home attendance the SIAC!!!!! Fort ing distance of our teams.