T R Robinson High School - Excalibur Yearbook (Tampa, FL)

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Cindy Tourville I Terry Nobles We have the best athletes around. - Cindy Tourville Athletics are not the main reason for school: sometimes we forget and scholars suffer. - Terry Nobles Sports are fun for everyone -in the stands and on the field. SPORTS FOOTBALL ....... .... BASKETBALL' . . . . . . . TRACK ........ .... WRESTLING . .. .... SWIMMING ... .... BASEBALL . . . . . . TENNIS .... .... - Karen Wolf 234 244 251 254 257 258 262 GOLF .... .... 2 63 Q-I-ur ' 1

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Knights finish 8 It has been said that football is a game of seconds and inches. For the 1972 Knights, nothing could be truer. They missed the trip to the state playoffs by just that: seconds and inches - by seconds in the Plant City game, by inches in the King showdown. The Knights finished with a record of 8-2, one game short of the playoffs, but with a bagful of impressive team and individual statistics. The of- fense rolled up an average of 306.8 yards per game, the best in the Western Conference. The defense allowed only 148.8 yards per game, the best in the Western Conference. Quarterback and kicker Nick Ray finished the season with 76 points, the best in the Western Conference. Surpris- ing fullback Michael Long gained over 800 yards rush- ing, also the best in the West- ern Conference. One of the most potent of- fenses in Robinson's history scored 269 points in ten games behind the signal-call- ing of Nick Ray. Ray, a bril- liant junior, passed for 1281 yards on 96 completions. His receiving corps was led by All-State tight end Franklin Williams, who fielded 19 pas- ses for 241 yards, and sure- fingered wing-back Larry Symmonds, who gained 253 yards on 18 receptions. The split end position was occu- pied by Denny Groves and jun- ior Roger Overby who, be- tween them, were responsible for 431 yards on 27 catches. The most dangerous facet of the Robinson offense was the running game. Mike Long, who was one of the area's top 234 ! Football 25 King loss ruins state title hopes linebackers last year, aver- aged 6.3 yards per carry as a fullback. Speedster Clannie Greene gave Robinson a break-away threat, gaining 610 yards in 136 carries. The two also combined for 286 yards in pass receptions. A most important factor in the performance of the Knight attack was the offensive line. For most of the year, Carroll Jones, Tommy Eckerson, Paul Bowdoin, Howard Johnson, and Gavin Sprietsma protec- ted Ray beautifully in addition to opening holes for backs. Defense has always been a Robinson trademark, and the 1972 model was no lemon. Anchoring the line were ends Gary Moates, James O'Nolan, and All-State Otis Rodgers. Tackles David Hill and Head Jones aided them in plugging up the middle of the field and in occasionally mounting a fierce rush. Although hit hard by the in- jury to Bobby Seville, the linebacking corps was the heart of the defense. Hard- hitting Brian Moore and sen- sational junior Dewey Mitch- ell, along with Keith Liv- ingston and Bob Swanz, combined to terrorize op- ponents. Mitchell and Moore each intercepted two passes. The secondary featured cornerbacks Walt Walker and Johnny Williams, who led the team in intercepted passes with five and four, respec- tively. Safety Nat Terry and reserve backs Roosevelt Thompson and Craig Popalis rounded out the defensive team that gave up only 90 points in ten games. This powerful team, after a poor showing in the Football Jamboree, began the 1972 season on September 15, against a favored Plant Panther team. Clannie Greene scored in the first quarter on a 24-yard run, while Long tal- lied once in the second period following a Keith Livingston interception. The running game worked for 240 yards, while the defense, which pres- sured Plant quarterback Bill Kynes into three costly inter- ceptions, made 14-0 stick. Chamberlain's Chiefs trav- eled to Peters Field as the Knights' second foe. Robin- son scored twice in the first period: once following a fumble recovery, once after a Brian Moore interception. Clannie Greene ripped 14 yards for one, while Ray passed 13 yards to Franklin Williams for the second. The Chiefs fought back behind Pat Winters and Brad Gordon, scoring twice in three min- utes. But Ray rallied the of- fense and marched 72 yards for a touchdown, with Ray himself scoring from seven yards out. ln the second half, the Knights took a close game and blew it open with two in- surance touchdowns. Ray hit Denny Groves and Larry Symmonds on 13 and 17 yard scoring passes and the Knights won, 33-14. With the Plant City game, which was delayed a night because of turmoil at Plant City, came disaster. Seconds into the game, Raider Mike Edwards picked off a Ray pass and ran 35 yards to score. Long was dumped for a safety and Plant City scored again in the second period to