The top 10 sports stories of 1963 for fans in this area, as reported in the Sunday Telegram on January 5, 1964: 1—The lead-off spot has to go to Rocky Mount Senior High, for the trio of Class 4-A state titles was the kind of sports story that comes once in a lifetime. As 1962 bowed out, local fans were still celebrating that state football crown, first in the schools history. There was not much serious talk of further state honors as 1963 was ushered in, but before the year was over the fabulous Blackbirds had won them all. In basketball, then baseball and a repeat in football, Rocky Mount High proved itself best in the state. And the citys fans roared their approval in a frenzy of support and acclaim. 2—North Edgecombe High School’s basketball team also gave the fans of that small community a state championship to treasure. Marching through a great undefeated season, the Red Devils of coach James Fulghum shot their way to the Class A state crown, the first such honor ever for North Edgecombe. 3--- The University of North Carolina and N. C. State College football teams posted excellent 8-2 records, ruled as co-champions of the Atlantic Coast Conference and earned post-season bowl bids. Going into 1963 it had been 17 years since State had gone to a bowl game and 14 years since Carolina had gained bowl honors. This time they made it together, State’s Wolfpack accepting a bid to the Liberty Bowl in Philadelphia and the UNC Tar Heels grabbing off a spot in the Gator Bowl. 4—Duke University made its big news of the year during the basketball season, going to the NCAA semi-finals before losing out in a bid for national championship honors. It was a great year for Blue Devil basketball, and a major part of that story was the selection of Duke star Art Heyman as the national Player of The Year, adding more stature to the proud athletic history of Duke University. 5—East Carolina Colleges Pirates marched through a near-perfect football season arid captured a bowl victory to put ECC high up in the big news of 1963. The Pirates lost their opener to Richmond in a close game, then won nine straight, including a proud victory over Wake Forest of the ACC. The record earned the Pirates an invitation to the Eastern Bowl, which they won handily. Included in the East Carolina story was the heart attack that sidelined coach Clarence Stasavich in midseason, and the announcement that the school is expected to be accepted for membership in the Southern Conference next year. 6-- Danny Talbott, fabulous Rocky Mount Senior High School athlete, made the headlines again when he accepted an athletic scholarship from the University of North Carolina. Professional baseball scouts and football, baseball and basketball recruiters from more than 50 colleges sought the services of this outstanding youngster who was All-State in all three sports. At Carolina he had a great season in leading the Tar Heel freshman football team. 7—Wake Forest Colleges football Deacons added something other than success to the top 10. Wakes dismal gridiron losing streak went to 18 games before the Deacons finally snapped out of it with a win over South Carolina. But that was the only taste of victory for Wake Forest, and at seasons end, coach Billy Hildebrand and athletic director Bill Gibson were both fired, first steps in a movement .to rebuild he football destruction on the Winston-Salem campus. 8—Another rebuilding program got underway on the local professional baseball scene, involving the Rocky Mount Leafs. The ball club switched from the control of outside interests to complete local ownership, changed major league affiliation from the Cincinnati Redlegs of the National League to the Washington Senators of the American League. The news broke after the 1963 baseball season, and it was announced that in 1964 the Citys entry in the Class A Carolina League will be called the Rocky Mount Senators. 9—Class A high school football teams in the area rolled up honors in 1963, conference championships going to Benvenue, Weldon and Farmville, with Weldon adding district championship acclaim to its credit. Farmville lost in the district and Benvenue bowed out of the playoffs in the first round. 10--- Carolina Wesleyan College made some history of its own, the local school fielding its first basketball team and beginning constriction of a gymnasium on the campus. Playing in the newly-organized Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the Battling Bishops of Wesleyan lost their first five games, but had high hopes for better things the rest of the season as 1963 bowed out.
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 02:30:13 +0000
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