Inside
Hotlanta and The SIAC
November 10, 2006
by Hal Lamar
Onnidan Online Columnist
Morehouse tries on Division I with exhibition game versus Georgia Tech
Morehouse Head Coach Grady "Brew" Brewer decided to give his Maroon Tigers shooters and dribblers a taste of life at the Division I level.
 After several years, "The House" and Georgia Tech met on the hardwood (on Tech turf of course) on November 4 for the first time in either school's history. The game was, well lopsided if you only factor in the score. Tech won it 96-52. For the first 9:31, though, Morehouse kept it fairly tight with their Yellow Jacket hosts. But then at the 9:23 mark, Tech went on a 15-point run that almost eliminated any possibility of Morehouse inching back toward the lead.
But lay aside the score and you have the makings of what could be an annual D1-D2 rivalry between schools separated only by a scant few miles of Interstate. In fact, Brewer said he is hoping they could do that and even have Tech come to their gym. "Imagine what that would do for this community," he said. Brewer also pointed out to INSIDE that back in 1990, both schools made the final fours of their respected NCAA Divisions. That was not lost either on a member of that august Morehouse squad, all American Harold Ellis who was sitting at the Morehouse bench Saturday. " I had no intentions of missing this, " said the native Atlantan who now works with the Atlanta Hawks.
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Meanwhile in Birmingham Alabama, Morehouse College's football team, desperately hoping to shake off some kind of hex which has resulted in three straight losses including homecoming, got treated (or perhaps victimized) by Miles College's best offensive performance of the year.They wound up losing again 38-9. Jeremy Spears, a junior from Jasper Alabama, led the Golden Bears in rushing. He ran through the Morehouse defensive front as if they weren't there. By halftime, the young brother had 133 yards on just 11 carries and was averaging 12.1 yards per carry.
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Traveling to the campus of Miles College also provided me a look-see at relatively new Albert Sloan stadium, so named for that school's former president. I was deeply impressed by the design and the layout of the press box. There were glass-encased booths for all media, including TV ( no cramming everybody into one room). and that can only be credited to the forward thinking of Sports Information Director Willie Patterson. After leaving the school for a season to do similar SID duties at Memphis's Lemoyne Owen College, Patterson returned to Miles as their fulltime SID and it was a decision that has paid huge dividends for the college. I only hope that Miles can hang on to the talented SID
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.jpg) Kudos to the coaching staffs of Miles and Morehouse for avoiding what could have been an ugly, TV- highlight- film incident that occurred just a scant few minutes before the game ended. A Miles tackle on the Morehouse sideline generated some heat. But before any blows could be exchanged, Miles Wade Streeter and Morehouse's Terry Beauford immediately restrained their players. Then referee WJ Maye ordered the benches cleared and the players not on the field to withdraw to their respective dressing rooms. His sharp thinking and those of the coaches avoided another Florida International-Miami incident that will forever stain what should have become a great football rivalry...
The Miles-Morehouse game was broadcast over ESPN-U with 'ole pro Charlie Neal doing play-by -play with sidekick Stan Lewter. I watched Neal in the booth and noticed how well he maintains his composure in a broadcast that more often than not is one hectic place. I cut into Charlie doing BET football games back in the middle 70s when the games were taped one week and played back the next
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 Birmingham, Alabama is steeped in civil rights history. While visiting the city last weekend, my fiancé and I toured the civil rights institute, worshipped at historic 16th Baptist Church and then strolled through Kelly Ingram Park's walk of freedom. We also moved over a block to view a monument set up for hometown crooner Eddie Kendricks and the Temptations. Special thanks Vicki Ashford of the Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau for her help in navigating us through the magic city.
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Fort Valley State's women cagers are ranked 22nd in the top 25 poll by WBCA-USA Today. Last year, the lady Wildcats finished at 28-3 and earned another trip to the NCAA Division II tournament. Whether the 2006 squad is as good as the preliminary polls claimed will be learned November 17 when they host Delta State. The Mississippi ladies are ranked 13th on the same poll.
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 Our condolences to the family of CBS reporter-anchor Ed Bradley. The 65-year-old veteran of TV journalism and a hopeless jazz enthusiast succumbed to leukemia. Bradley graduated from historically black Cheyney State (now Cheyney University) and joined the staff of CBS TV news in 1971. I happen to know that his love of jazz extended into 'Nam. An Army friend of mine stationed there with me on Armed Forces Radio in 1972 told me he had Bradley co host a jazz program on AFVN called "Purple Grotto" in 1973. "He knew his jazz," said Emmanuel Harper, now retired.
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Contact Hal at hrldlamar@yahoo.com
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