The Wilmington morning star., 1946-10-13
TO SPONSOR E. M. l. GRID TUSSLE
Along
The SidelineS
WITH ELTON CASEY
OFFICIATING STIMULATES HOT TALK!

OFFICIATING STIMULATES HOT TALK!
"A sports columnist has one duty-to present lac.s
and this pillar certainly makes an earnest effort 10 do
just that! However, on many occasions we nave oeen
led astray by our fellow comrades when they related
incidents to us. They either told us wrong lnten'lonahy'
or it could be that they didn't know better.
But, We must admit that there were plenty OF true
facts to make this operator think that
RECEIVED A RAW DEAL FRIDAY NIGHT In IT'S
CONFERENCE GAME WITH RALEIGH. 1t was quite
obvious that the Wildcats were constant victims OF
Door officiating. Yes, We are sincere WEen we Say
that the officials were mot on the ball"
The average outsider would think that Wilmington
is making an excuse for dropping a close tussle to Its
most bitter rival. But, such is not the case. We nave
seen right much football, but never have we seen one
team get all the breaks-and especially when the de-
cision of the supposedly impartial official was the de-
Gliding factor.
We covered Durham High School athletic programs
for five years and saw the Wake Forest Demon Deacons
all last year while we were handling sports publicity
at the Baptist Institution. But, never before has a
team been as unfortunate as were the Wildcats.
1t appeared as if every break was dished up to the
cocky %gridders from the Capital City on a gold platter.
Never before have we been so blue and disheartened as
we were following Friday nights game, which was
reeled off before a handsome turnout in the 5000 mark.
For four weeks we have worked with the Wildcats and
We have learned that no better high school lads ever
walked on this universe than these boys. The same can
be said for the local cOaches-Leon Brogden, Tom and
Jap Davis. 1t is the policy of this skippering trio to
always stress clean craftsmanship, but we can't say the
Sdmc U oil tIc puOIS Ill CHIS ycd1 . O1I nASIcI
Class AA Conference race.
1t is a shame and a disgrace that a hard fighting
team like Wilmington was "robbed' by the officials.
We think that this was the case. Naturally, we will
have readers who disagree. But, this corner is the
opinion of one person. But, let it be understood that we
would have never devoted this corner on this sickening
subject had we not been asked to by over so people.
There are a couple of decisions that We don't under
stand, and neither do the local coaches. Why was Billy
Mason not credited with a touchdown when he made
that beautiful catch in the second quarter with about
one minute before intermission? Here's why: The Of
ficias said that Mason's knee was on the ground when
he went over. They put the ball on the sixinch stripe
and then the half came. When asked where Mason's
knee touched, the decision-makers looked at each other
in astonishing embarrassment.
What happened when Wilmington blocked that Ra-
leigh put in the fourth quarter? The Wildcats blocked
it and recovered on the Raleigh II. But, the officials
gave the ball to Raleigh. Why? This is Just another
question that will never be answered. What about the
time when Raleigh tailed it's second I'D. and little Co.
Captain Jimmy Piner hit the busting Raleigh fu1back
and he fumbIed? Wilmington recovered, but Raleigh
was given a I'd.
Brogden said he had mo comment to make on the
officiating. "The only thing that I want to say is that
| have never seen one team get all the breaks before.'
the friendly local mentor declared.
One Of the many things that we didn't like about some of the
ol1lcials was the way In which they hustled over to the Raleigh
bench after the game and shook hands with Raleigh fans. That
In the Duke-Tennessee game: ut is water over the dam" VIII
mington fans must take the same attitude. There is but me CON
ISOLATION for the Wildcats: Durham beat Wilson and the Eastern
Is Wloe open.