SnortsRevtow Pro Football f ' l MM t, I PUBLISHER Will ever Ernest H. Pitt things change EDfTOR STAFF WRITERS Craig T. Greenlee Rolando Simmons Roscoe Nance for PRODUCTION Steve Zimmerman Andre Waters? Mike Philly's Henderson PHOTOGRAPHERS Mary Fleming J.D. Schwalm Andre Waters doesnl enjoy being called a dirty play¬ knee injury and a nagging back suffered the Use Raines . -- injury during Joe Daniels er. The ' helmet-popping strong safety final half of the season Max OunNI has a regular developed reputation throughout the NFL as a The feisty defender has been a battler on the shot artist because of his altiays cheap aggressive which field. The 5-1 1 , 200 has style pounds veteran was a four-year letter- Sounds like a case denial produced (in some people's minds) an excessive man as a defensive back at As a of number of late hits. Cheyney State. senior In Here we go again. *83, he was a Division II All-America and an all-star pick in , ABC-TVs pro football commentator, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. The NCAA Presidents Commission wants to has been vocal about it. very He was quite upset with Waters earned a spot on the roster as a rook- toughen freshmen eligibility standards known as Waters' low hit on Minnesota Eagles' 48. Vikings' Rich ie free agent in B4, leading the team in kick returns that Proposition Gannon during a Monday Night Football telecast last sea¬ year, an that the That wants to increase minimum son. including 89-yard propelled august body Dierdorf, a former NFL offensive lineman, didnt Eagles to a come-from-behind win over the requirements from a 2.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 Redskins. Washington in ircore courses to 2.5 in 13 course scale curriculum In *85, he led the teams with 39 tackles and es. It also wants to include a scale with an ath- special sliding saw limited duty as a defensive back. tete 900 on the Scholastic Te6t able to scoring Aptitudo The following year, Waters emerged as the starting qualify with a 2.0. strong safety in former head coach 's first The Commission says its actions focus on aca¬ training camp. He shared the team lead in tackles, inter¬ demic integrity in college athletics. That may be so. But ceptions and forced fumbles. in effect, the Commission's proposal will only further Over the next two seasons, he continued to be whiten big-time college athletics if it is passed at the Philly's leading hit man. Along the way, he gained respect NCAA Convention in January. An NCAA report showed that 68.6 percent of Prop 48 athletes in 1990-91 were black. That figure is bound to increase with tougher standards. Proponents of the "I'll admit that I've made tougher requirements say the percentage of black ath¬ a few mistakes in the letes in big-time college athletics won't change past. because ineligible black athletes would be replaced by But I was never to other black athletes whose academic credentials are trying better, not white ones. hurt anybody. I wasn't try¬ That sounds good in theory, but in reality the ath¬ to end letes .¦ black and white . with the best academic cre¬ ing anybody's dentials are going to go to the Dukes, Notre Dames career. Ijustplay a very and Stanfords just like they do now. Everybody else is going to be left holding the bag. aggressive style of foot¬ And guess whose bag is going to be empty? ball. I'm a hitter. " That's right, the historically black colleges and universi¬ ties. Just like always, those who can afford it the least, - Andre Waters are going to suffer the most. . if . this is can When not proposal passed, you around the as a But that somewhere, in a league tough competitor. in *89, he bet your last money somebody, lost his starting job to Todd Bed a hold¬ will concoct some other of during pre-season few years piece legislation out. He returned to the starting lineup following Beffs sea¬ aimed at "protecting academic integrity." son-ending knee injury against the Chicago Bears. Waters It's time that historically black colleges and univer¬ went on to rank third on the team in tackles with 137. sities recognized that membership in the NCAA . par¬ "IVe had to work hard for everything," Waters said. "I ticularly at the Division I level . is counterproductive. don't think anything has come really easy for me. IVe had Division 1 membership affords them big bucks from the to climb the ladder each year I didn't play my college foot¬ men's basketball tournament and allows them to be ball at a big-time school. whipping boys for the powerhouses during the regular "But Cheyney gave me the opportunity to play football season. Beyond that, the benefits are zero. and get my degree (business administration). I had to Are the tournament dollars worth it? Is it necessary Photo courtesy of PNIadelphia Eagles make the Eagles as a free agent. After that, I never Waters has a for to an education to the educationally and financial¬ Safetyman developed reputation stopped working until I got into the starting lineup. And deny hard-nosed even I . play. want ly disadvantaged the same target group that has now, to continue to get better." been served by historically black colleges and mince words when he pubHcy voiced his displeasureIn about addition to improving as a player, Waters would like always that on national to to the play television. . help the Eagles get Super Bowl. universities? "It Think about it. Waters would like to be known as a solid football play¬ would be nice to play in the Pro Bowl," Waters er. However, he realizes that it's to take some time admitted. "That would be a for me. - Roscoe Nance going great accomplishment to bolster his image. But my goal is to get to the Super Bowl. We have a lot of Black Cofege Sports Review k published oy Slack Sports Inc., 617 N. Ltoerty St, Win- "I donl know if things will ever^change," Waters said. talented players like Reggie While, , ston-Salem. N.C. 27102. Unsolicited manuscripts and photographs win not bo "1 dont lice labeled as a and Ben Smith on returned. Inqulrlee should ba addressed to *m»st H. Pitt, PMbHshw, Black College being dirty player. Ill admit that defense. We're capable of stopping Sports Review, P.O. Box 1636, WineiorvSawm. *.C. 27102. IVe mads a few mistakes in the past But I was never try¬ anybody. PHOTO CflEOTTS: Cover photo . Antonio ^vtigrw* by Mike Pows^AISport USA; to hurt I wasn't to end career. "WeVe been knocked out of the Charfe Meal pholo by Louis Myrie; Central State onoto by BCSR Staff; Black College ing anybody. trying anyone's playoffs the last three Oof photoby Max Dunhfl. I just play a very aggressive style of football. Pm a hitler." years. This year, we want to go aU the way. It wont be ¦CM supplement to thee nowapepers: Aflanta Voice. The Buietln, Baltimore Waters led the In tackles last easy to the Bowl Of course Afco-Amwfcen,Jaa Baton Rouge Commonly Leedw, Birmingham 71m®, Caroina Peace- Eagles' secondary year getting Super anything is pos¬ msfcsr, Caroina Times, Charleston Chronicle, Dates Examiner. Iradef County News. and was fourth on the club in that category with 101 stops. sible if you work hard. IVe found that out over the The Metro County Court*. Phlattofrhto Titjune, Ptaburgh Courier. Rich- years." Meaeenger, He a season a - mono Affv*Ai i vfCVt| fll^O WWnBTDO* V#f fiva tIClR. enjoyed productive despite pre-season Donald Hunt