The Charleston Daily Mail from Charleston, West Virginia • Page 16

Jerry Gives Gardner Tremendous' Boost No West So WVU Hires His Roommate! Wk JOEDY GARDNER WVU's New Coach By BILL SMITH I Daily Mail Sports Editor West Virginia University couldn't lure Jerry West back to coach its basketball team. So, it did the next best thing. It hired a former roommate of his as the 17th basketball coach in the history of the school. Joseph E. Joedy' Gardner, 38, who played with Jerry on the 1958 team that was 26 2 and No.

1 in the nation, has been named to replace Sonny Moran as the Mountaineers' head man. Gardner roomed with Jerry and was a tri captain on that great team. He was the playmaker and averaged 12 points a game. The announcement on Thursday evening by WVU athletic director Dr. Leland Byrd ended speculation concerning Gardner and the job.

The word had leaked out 24 hours earlier that Gardner had been offered the position. Gardner has been coach at Arizona Western Junior College in Yuma, Ariz. His team this year compiled a 30 3 record and ranked No. 6 in the country. In two seasons as head coach at Arizona Western, Gardner's teams compiled an outstanding 50 12 record.

DAILY MAIL WORTS CHARLESTON, MARCH 8, 1974 PAGE ID INSIDE SPORTS S. Birdman p. 2D Hot Roger Haley 2D DriscoH's Hawks P. 2D New NBA Team P. 3D G.

W. Has Its Own Garbage Collector! By CHUCK LANDON Daily Mail Sports Writer Most trash in the Kanawha Valley is collected Tuesday. Except by Bruce Gresham, that is. Garbageman Gresham made his own private run Thursday night and ended up with a tremendous haul 14 baskets. The senior George Washington guard picked up everything that wasn't nailed down around the lane and popped in 14 of his 15 finds for 31 points.

The 'trashy" 95 58 win over Sissonville gives the Patriots the Section 2 title of Region 6. "Yeah. I'm kind of a gar bageman," Gresham grinned. "But. I don't mind especially when it means scoring 31 Roints." Of course.

Gresham wasn't always a garbageman. For nearly half the season, he was GW playmaking guard. Then. Coach Fred Aldridge moved Bill Williams back to forward and put superb ball handler Monty Monk into the backcourt. "that was the key," Gresham said.

"Monty handling the ball has really helped me. Now I don't have the pressure of setting up plays or getting the ball up court. I don't have to worry about getting back on defense, either." That means Gresham is free to roam the court on offense. And, he comes as near to being a perpetual motion machine as GW has. "He's always on the move, isn't he?" Aldridge said.

"That's because he's so strong physically. He's just as strong in the last minute of the game as he is in the first. He never runs down. "That's how he picks up all the garbage around the basket, he continued. "He's always on the move around the lane." BRUCE GRESHAM Give And Go Go Gresham only made four jump shots, hitting from 10.

12. 15 and 18 feet. The rest were driving layups. "It was the old simple give and go." Aldridge pointed out. "Sissonville let us have it all night so we took advantage of it.

Gresham was just a natural to be on the other end of it with Jeff Cook and Bill Williams doing the feeding." Gresham missed his second shot of the game, but ended with a string of 13 successful shots. One came straight out of GWs football playbook. "Hey, that one looked like football season, didn't it?" Williams, who quarterbacked the Patriots gridders, said. Indeed it did. Williams came down with a rebound, spotted Gresham, a halfback in football, racing down court and hit him with a perfect 80 foot pass.

"That was 26 long." Williams laughed. Williams was the only Patriot with an off shooting night. 5 12. and he committed the only GW missed shot in the third quarter. As GW rolled to a 68 36 third period lead.

Cook hit all six of his shots. Gresham four. Monk one and Williams was two for three. "We were ready to play." Aldridge stated. "I could tell we were ready in Tuesday's practice.

We've been playing good ball for the last six games and I just hope we can keep it up." Gresham hopes he can keep it up. too. "I don't know what I did," he said, "but whatever it was I sure hope I don't forget it." That isn't likely, because it's hard for a garbageman to mend his ways. In fact. Gresham was still collecting after the game.

When he walked out of the Civic Center he carried one basketball net in one hand and the game ball in the other. Not bad for a trashy basketball player! 40 41 15 65 1 Upon accepting the WVU basketball job, Gardner said. "It was no big decision for me. When was offered the job. I immediately accepted.

"Anyone in coaching wants to go back to his alma mater. I'm really looking forward to coming Byrd said. "Gardner has great credentials, is an excellent recruiter and has established great rapport with players and fans. We are fortunate to acquire the services of this dedicated and talented man." WUV sports publicist Dick Polen said. "Gardner received tremendous recommendations from West." Also, he received high recommendations from his former coach.

Fred Schaus. now coach at Purdue. Gardner, a native of Ellwood City, was an all stater in high school and a three year letterman at WVU. playing on Mountaineer teams that compiled records of 21 9. 25 5 and 26 2.

He played with two WVU All America ns West and Rod Hundley. After ending his playing career, Gardner helped coach the WVU freshmen for one year while finishing work on his degree. Gardner talked about the WVU program. "The name of West Virginia in regard to basketball has electricity. 1 think West Virginia basketball is like a sleeping giant.

With the new facility (Coliseum), reputation and resources. I think this giant can be awakened." Before taking over the reins at Arizona Western. Gardner was an assistant for four years. During that time the team compiled a 132 33 mark and won five state and three regional titles. This year he was named Arizona Coach of the Prior to joining the Arizona Western staff.

Gardner was in the U.S. Marine Corps. He is a 10 year veteran anJ attained the rank of major. As a Marine pilot, he flew high performance jet attack aircraft with conventional and nuclear capabilities. He is a Vietnam veteran.

One thing is sure, the new Mountaineers' basketball coach ought to really have his feet on the ground now. And, everyone who follows the team's ups and downs mostly down in recent years hopes ex Major Gardner can pull the Mountaineers out of their nosedive. Gardner will be introduced to the news media at a press conference in Morgantown at 4 p.m. on Saturday, prior to the Pitt St. Joseph's NCAA first round regional game.

II I I A ll I STILL POPPING with enthusiasm are these Nitro Wildcats, losers of 19 of 20 games. They play Dunbar in sectional tournament action tonight at Morris Harvey. Wildcats, from left are Joe Botkin, Mike Trawick, Bill Howard, Scott Bowlin and Reed Cassell. Daily Mail Photo by Earl Benton. For Nitro, A Tarnished Rainbow It Was Still Fun To Botkin What goes through a basketball player's mind when he sees the end of a tarnished rainbow? "Thank goodness it's over" "It's about time" "We're going to get clobbered again" No, at least not for senior Joe Botkin of the 1 19 Nitro Wildcats.

"Even though we've won only one game. I'll probably miss basketball, Botkin said. "It's been a lot of losing, but it's been a lot of fun. too." Fun? Losing 19 games is fun! "You learn to take it in stridp." Bol 1 ityti Chuck London Daily Mail Sports' Writer kin explained. "I never get depressed.

I don't know about the other guys, but I don't think they do either. "You just have to keep thinking that you can win. You can't think about the past, you have to be optimistic," he continued. "Take right now. I think we can win when we play Dunbar in the sectionals." But, after 19 losses how can a player maintain his enthusiasm? "I think mostly about giving 100 per cent." Botkin said.

"I like to play and whenever I do I always try to do my best. That's the way it has to be." And. if by chance his teammates are stricken by a case of the doldrums 'Afro Joe' gets them going again with his circus act. Botkin can juggle three basketballs. "Yes, every now and then when things get too slow.

Botkin juggles the basketballs, Nitro coach Jim Higginbotham laughed. "But, things don't get slow too often. "It's hard to describe, but this bunch has always been enthused," he said. "We can lose and the next day in practice they'll be all charged up and ready to go again. Our attitude has just been great.

"I had a class this summer with Joe Snod grass (former DuPont basketball coach) and he was telling me about the year his team went 0 21. He said he would never forget those kids because they always tried and never gave up. He said they always felt they'd get the next one. "Basically it's the same thing with us." he continued. "They work in practice, they don't just go through the motions like some losers.

I haven't had to try and keep them enthused or built up at all they've never gotten down. "You have to give them credit, they've never given up. They always think they can get the next one." The "next one" and maybe the last one comes tonight when Nitro and Dunbar meet in sectional play at 9 p.m. at Morris Harvey gym. In the first game of the twinbill, Hurricane and St.

Albans battle at 7 o'clock. In other games tonight, Charleston and South Charleston meet at 7:30 at the Civic Center for a sectional championship and DuPont travels to Scott Madison in a battle for their sectional 'A PLACE TO RAISE MY KIDS AWAY FROM BIG CITIES' Raiders' Hubbard Looking For A West Virginia Farm THEY DON'T PLAY football forever. I'm always amazed at the way stories pop up. Take this one that 'streaked' right out of the blue on Thursday afternoon. The Charleston Charlies had held a press luncheon in the business we call it a free meal) at the Elk River Holiday Inn.

Purpose was to announce plans for two Carbide 'Family Nights' on June 7 and June 21 at Watt Powell Park. As I left the luncheon, I spied this fancy sports car sitting in the parking lot. On the side was lettering that read "MARV HUBBARD, Oakland AW, IT COULDN'T be! Could it? Only one way to find out. So, I went back into the desk and asked, "Do you have a Mr. Marv Hubbard registered?" "Yes, we do.

He's in the dining room now." Well, I'll be darned. Wonder what the fullback for the Oakland Raiders is doing in West Virginia? Sure, I know his younger brother Mike is a fullback for the WVU Mountaineers But, WVU is in Morgantown, not Charleston. Anyhow. I wandered into the dining room and looked for a fullback type. There was none I looked around again.

There was a young looking guy sitting alone at a table. Aw. that couldn't be him. But, it was. I SAID.

"ARE you Marv Hubbard?" ALL BASES By BILL SMITH "Yes," was the friendly reply. For some reason, his appearance in the sinister black and silver uniform of the Raiders didn't give me a picture of warmth. "Sit down." I did and began to talk to this 27 year old five year pro veteran. I had dozens of questions about the talk of an NFL players' strike, about drugs in professional sports and about some of his teammates (because I'll be honest, the Radiers are good, but have never been one of my favorite teams. He may kill me for that).

"MARV, ARE you in favor of a players' strike?" "Well, first let me say that until this year I had never been a member of the NFLPA. I've always been sort of outspoken when I've had something to say. I'm in favor of most of the things the players are asking for. "As for a strike? Well, I'll have to wait and see what they want to strike about. The only thing that bugs me is that a union means that some so so players are going to get their money right along with the better players.

That sort of kills individuality." "WHAT ABOUT drugs in sports, Marv? I'm sure you've read all the stuff about the San Diego Chargers." "Oh, we take pills and shots but it's not like most think. It has nothing to do with narcotics. "Some guvs take steroids to build muscle. And, players take pills and shots for pain killers. That may sound cruel, but a professional athlete is a different breed.

He has to perform. He may feel good on Thursday, Friday and Saturday Well, that doesn't count. "He has to ieel good and be ready to perform on Sunday afternoon. I've taken shots and played on a sprained an kle. II I hadn dulled the pain, 1 couldn have played.

"As for nacotics? No, I don't, know of any widespread use." "WHAT ABOUT some of the great players you play with and against, Marv?" "Well, Ken Stabler is going to be one of the great quarterbacks in the league. He has a sharp football mind. All he needs is experience. "George Blanda? Well, what can I say about him. He's a gentleman and a fine athlete.

He still boots field goals 55 yards in practice and he is a two handicappor in golf. He'll be kicking 'cm as long as he can swing his leg. "And, we have a young punter, Ray Guy from Southern I honeslly believe he will be the first man in the history of football to boot one 100 yards in a game. He is fantastic." "ANY OTHERS, Marv?" "Oh. I guess I could talk about Larry Csonka of the Dolphins.

He's a lineman at a running back spot. They list him at 230. That's a joke. He plays at about 255." "WHAT ARE YOU doing in West Virginia? "Well, it may sound funny, but I'm looking for some land to buy. I want a farm and some timberland.

I want a place to raise my kids away from the crowded big cities. I want to get out of California and come back so my kids will be near their grandparents. "You know, I was raised on a farm in Red House. N.Y., population 136. 1 grew up and learned to do a lot of things.

I learned to work and earn my way. Nobody ever gave me anything. I want my kids to have the same thing. "Out in California, there are just too many people. My kids go to school, run around with other children and I don't really know what they're doing.

"ALSO, I CAN'T play football forever. I've been in the league five years and the average career for a running back is 4.8 years. I'm running on borrowed time right now. "My brother plays at West Virginia and he loves the state. So, here I am.

I'll be around for a while, so if you know anyone who has some land I'm looking." We talked for about three hours. About football, raising kids, land, raising kids, more football, raising kids MARV WILL BE around for a few days and you may seo his sports car drive by. If you do, wave. He'll wave back. A friendly down to earth guy..