Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1956-09-01
Tigers Hard Hit
BY Graduation

"Big John" Merritt, head man of
the Jackson State College Tigers
checked in a few days ago and i'm
mediately went to work completing
plans for the Tigers two-a-day
workouts which begin September
I. Merritt and Joe Gillian, back
field coach, spent considerable time
selecting and planning Offenses
which they hope will carry them
to a victorious season over ten
tough opponents. Although quar-
terback continues as the major
problem in these pre-bump and
bruise conferences, key to the Tig-
ers success may be found in
Charles Sparrow Grant, slippery
hipped halfback from Meridian's
T. J. Harris High School, who re-
turns to the grid wars after COM
pleting his tour of Army duty.
The Tigers have had some flashy
pint-sized backs in recent years
but the consensus is that pound
for pound the fleet Meridian half
back is the best of the lot. What
! the Tigers "hope" lacks in size,
he makes up in courage, determi-
nation, and agility. Sparrow likes
! the wide open spaces where his
speed and balance make him an
unwilling target for Tiger oppon-
ents. He is undaunted, however,
when he is cornered and drives as
hard as his 165 pounds will let him.
The Tigers lost several standout
backs by graduation and compile
ton of eligibility including Jack
Witty, quarterback; Thomas Stew
art, George Johnson, and Stanlee
Green, halfbacks; and Robert Hill,
fullback, but the return of the
Woodworking Sparrow is expected
to lessen the effects of their loss
greatly. Strictly a team man his
efforts to perfect his assignments
are expected to exude some influ-
ence upon some Of his lethargiC
team mates. Although he earned
a starting berth and was unani-
nous choice for conference hOnOrs
ALL SCAC before the Tigers be-
came members of the MWAA), he
never shirks an opportunity to per-
feet the minutest detail. Although
the Tigers face the stiffest SEIZED
ule in the history of the College,
if this contagion works Tiger OPP
position is in for many surprises
before the halfway mark is
reached. Extensively, the Tigers
supporting cast is expected to in
clude Henry baltimore, halfback,
who will be playing his final sea-
son with the Bengals. Ernest Will
liams, who has been used sparingly
during the past two seasons at
quarterback and halfback, Ercell
Butler, a real speedster from Mo-
bile, Samuel Crosby, Willie NJ. Neal
and Maxelle Sprigs from Laurers
Oak Park High School, and John
King, fullback. baltimore has lots
! of potential but needs to work much
harder to reach stardom. Williams,
a junior from Pascagoula, may find
his niche at the halfback slot. Per-
haps the most under-rated player
on the squad last season, he is
capable and ready to fill one Of
the halfback posts if the quarter
back riddle is solved. 1t is at this
position that the toughest battle
will be waged. Tiger backs Crosby
and Butler, two speed merchants
who, by the way, ran on the Tiger
relay team last spring will, simply,
add to the confusion. Like Will
liams, Sprigs saw service at quar-
terback and halfback last fall.
King and Neal will furnish the
power in what could be a very
potent backfield. 1t is almost a
certainty that King will be the
top man at fullback with Neal be-
cause of his versatility looked upon
as a tremendous prospect for just
about any position of the team.
Neal passes well, runs hard, and
gets good height and distance into
his punts. In a wide open battle
for quarterback, he could be just