Marshall University Marshall Digital Scholar Marshall Alumnus Marshall Publications Spring 5-1977 Marshall Alumnus, Vol. XVIII, May, 1977, No. 2 Marshall University Follow this and additional works at: http://mds.marshall.edu/marshall_alumnus Recommended Citation Marshall University, "Marshall Alumnus, Vol. XVIII, May, 1977, No. 2" (1977). Marshall Alumnus. 32. http://mds.marshall.edu/marshall_alumnus/32 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Marshall Publications at Marshall Digital Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Marshall Alumnus by an authorized administrator of Marshall Digital Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. ~oamiH J tlte (/!ip) (jreeu By C. T. MITCHELL on del'elopment of the Medical School and more on athletics. There have been similar comments in regard to the Com­ As older alumni will recall, the song goes something like munity College. this. "It's a long, long while from May to December, but the The truth is, a tremendous effort is going into the athletic days grow short when you reach September... " program. But the same holds true for the Medical School, the For some of us here at Marshall in May, it does indeed seem Community College, the Multi-Purpose Physical Education a long, long time until December-and September, for that Building, the development of physical facilities throughout the matter. We're looking forward to the arrival of both. campus, the building of stronger academic programs. September heralds the beginning of football season; basket­ It's all part of a very simple philosophy on which Marshall's ball action will be under way in December. We're looking ·'Decade of Progress" is being built: "If we're going to do it, forward to exciting, rewarding seasons in both sports. let's do it right." In other words, if we're going to teach Unfortunately, Marshall athletic fans learned long ago of journalism, let's employ the best available people to conduct the dangers of expecting too much. Still, it's difficult to the courses and let's provide them with the tools they need to restrain the optimism on campus in regard to the entire do the job. If we're going to have a marching band, let's make athletic program, particularly the major sports of football it a good one. If we're going to play football, let's be and basketball. competitive. Why optimism? Why now? The theme of this magazine is "in pursuit of excellence" The answer lies in the word "program." Across the board, in athletics. At the same time, we are pursuing excellence Marshall has been involved for the last few years in building in every activity in which Marshall is involved. Needless to a strong program in athletics. say, there's much to be done in many areas. And we intend Those of us who have watched closely are enthusiastic. to do it. Tremendous strides have been made and are being made in As far as excellence in athletics is concerned, we believe providing top-notch facilities. We're now competing in an we've turned the comer. At the same time, we know a great excellent conference. The Big Green Club (now the Big Green deal remains to be done. We need your help. Scholarship Foundation) has done a good job in raising Elsewhere in this edition of the magazine you'll find a money-and has plans to do an even better job. The word couple of "sales pitches" in the form of full-page ads and clip­ "class" is being used more and more in discussions about the out coupons. We're trying to sell you football tickets and coaching staffs in all sports, along with support personnel we're seeking support for the Big Green Scholarship in the Athletic Department. Foundation. Football Coach Frank Ellwood has completed his third When we can consistently fill Fairfield Stadium and straight year of outstanding recruiting. New Basketball Coach Memorial Field House-and, after 1980, the new arena­ Stu Aberdeen has come into the picture with agressiveness, Marshall will be in a position to build a much stronger athletic vigor and personality which have impressed the most skeptical program. When the local newspapers start producing columns of us. Teams competing in the non-revenue sports are having and editorials proclaiming the need for an addition to Fair­ fine seasons, even as this is being written. field Stadium, you'll know Marshall athletics is on a strong All of these things are significant in their own right. But financial footing. more significantly, they are part of an athletic program-a You can help by ordering your football tickets, and later program built by Athletic Director Joe McMullen and his staff your basketball tickets-and attending the games. You'll with the enthusiastic support of President Robert B. Hayes get your money's worth. and others. And you can help greatly by becoming a regular contri­ Hayes isn't without his critics. There have been some who butor to the Big Green Scholarship Foundation. Those dollars have referred to him as a "jock" president. Ironically, there can mean the difference between mediocrity and excellence. are others who have said he should spend less time and effort And excellence is what it's all about. "Stu" Aberdeen, Marshall Uni­ versity's new head basketball coach, displays artist's conception of the planned Multi-Purpose Physical Education Facility. MARSHALL VOL. XVIII May, 1977 No. 2 Published for Marshall Alumni by the Marshall University Alumni Association in cooperation with the Marshall Office of Informational Services CONTENTS Aberdeen, Ellwood ......................................... 4 Big Green Fund ............................................ 8 Look Out Southern Conference ...............................10 MU's 'Other' Athletes ....................................... 15 Merry Mood .............................................. 17 Facilities ................................................. 19 MAGAZINE STAFF Editor Everett N. Roush Managing Editor John C. McKinney YOUR ADDRESS: Production Changing your address? Please let the Office of Alumni Affairs Shirley Dyer know about it. This will insure that you continue to receive Deborah Caldwell the Marshall Alumnus and the Green Line. Simply write the Brenda Robertson Office of Alumni Affairs, Marshall University, Huntington, W. Rick Mccann Va. 25701. Photography Lee Bernard Chris Spencer Rick Haye Mark Mott Aberdeen, 81/wDDd: Higlt eati/Jer eDacltes By ERNIE SALVATORE '48 Included were two tours with his old coach at Ohio State, Columnist, The Herald-Dispatch one at Air Force academy under Ben Martin, and another at Ohio University under Bill Hess-a Woody Hayes disciple-that To say Frank Ellwood and Stu Aberdeen are physical lasted ten years. opposites is to employ the obvious. But, as with a tiger and a When Frank Ellwood said "Yes" to Marshall he was 39 billy goat, they do have their hidden similarities. years old, long married to Pat Angle, his hometown sweetheart Let's take the obvious first, then, by way of introducing from Dover, Ohio, and the father of three children. them. Stu Aberdeen's journey to Marshall took even longer, a few Frank D. Ellwood is average sized, darkly handsome, and months beyond 1 9 years. The first eight were as a head coach articulate, a genuine throwback to the All-American Boys of at a small school--Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, song and story in less cynical times. He's the strong, silent, of all places-the last 11 as associate head basketball coach almost shy type who can bare his teeth and growl when alongside Ray Mears at the University of Tennessee. necessary. Stu Aberdeen had already celebrated 41 birthdays when Stuart W. Aberdeen, on the other hand, is supposed to be introduced as Marshall's basketball successor to Bob Daniels 5-5 going on 5-3, depending on his heels. He's bald, wears this year. The date: March 17, St. Patrick's Day when green glasses and talks emotionally, a real Hell's fire preacher man takes on an added significance, a point Stu Aberdeen didn't pricking consciences on hangover Sundays. But, he knows how overlook. to strum soft, sentimental ballads on heart strings, too. He'd flown into Huntington that morning on the double Size and style had little, if anything, to do with their wings of a small airplane and a reputation as one of the best coming to Marshall, however. It's what was found deep inside college recruiters in the country. He arrived, also, with other each that, eventually, joined their destinies as the newest head proven reputations-as a coach with a flair for the spectacular, coaches of Thundering Herd football and basketball, the and an insatiable appetite for work. showcase sports that ignite the human spirit and keep fast the Stu Aberdeen has been an instant "hit," a star of the talk old school ties. , ' circuit, wowing luncheon club audiences and banqueteers. It was these inner discoveries, the intangibles so often Within two weeks after his arrival he was drawing crowds to missed by casual screening committees, which caught the eyes his side at various state high school tournaments. Alumni were of Marshall's searchers. Not only were they similar, but they coming away impressed. orchestrated perfectly with Marshall's avowed pursuit of But, Stu Aberdeen will remain an unknown quantity until excellence. his first season here is finished, one that will also be the Frank Ellwood and Stu Aberdeen, Marshall found to be Thundering Herd's first as a challenger in the Southern pursuers of excellence, also. Well, isn't everybody to a certain Conference. For the present, his tremendous reputation is degree? Of course, on paper at least. providing much food for thought. Quite appetizing food for However, what set Ellwood and Aberdeen apart from the thought.