The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/197085
tracking the PACK Wolfpack Women's Basketball Program Getting Infusion Of Talent Huckabee's 1941 Pack squad defeated North Carolina 13-7 thanks in part to a 16-yard touchdown run by quarterback Bob Cathey (shown above). photo courtesy NC State Media Relations Two-Way Player Jack Huckabee Has Fond Memories Of Wolfpack Football In the fall of 1939, Jack Huckabee and his NC State football teammates were on a train, headed to Detroit for a college football game. Two of the Wolfpack players were standing in a corridor talking to a white-haired gentleman who was quite interested in hearing all about North Carolina, particularly the undeveloped part of the Outer Banks. Huckabee, a native of Charlotte, joined in, wanting to know if the stranger was also a North Carolina native. "No, but I helped make North Carolina famous," he said. "My name is Orville Wright." Imagine that, riding on a train and running into one of the fathers of aviation. "We did chuckle a little bit about that," said Huckabee, who still wishes to this day he had asked for an autograph. The 93-year-old Huckabee, who lives in Greenwood, S.C., was an end for NC State, playing from 1939-41 under head coach Williams "Doc" Newton back in the days before World War II, back when football at NC State was played at Riddick Stadium and basketball was played in Thompson Gym. Football was much different then, since it was the last season that there were no free substitutions allowed and all players had to play on both sides of the ball.There was limited substitution allowed from 1941-64, but most players in Huckabee's days were grid-ironmen. "I always tried really hard on defense to go after people and get the ball back, because I liked playing offense better," Huckabee recalled. The highlight of the 1941 season, no doubt, was in Chapel Hill, where the Wolfpack ended 14 years of futility by upsetting UNC at Kenan Stadium, thanks to a blocked punt by Woody Jones, and quarterback Bob Cathey scored on a 16-yard jaunt from the single-wing formation to secure the victory. State College players — bothered by the fleet of tractors displayed on UNC's fraternity courtyard to welcome the Wolfpack — had prepared for such an outcome on this Homecoming day in Chapel Hill, taking a hack saw to Kenan's metal goalposts and cutting halfway through. When the game ended — the score was reported in The Agromeck as "Culture 7, Agriculture 13" — a big fight ensued on the field, while State fans tore down the goal posts and tried to drag them back home. "There was no brotherly love lost during the game, or after the game when several thousand State and Carolina fans fought over the goal posts," the yearbook dutifully reported. "Part of the posts stayed in Chapel Hill, part came to Raleigh." The Pack finished the 1941 season with a 4-5-2 record. Eight days after the season ended with a 13-0 victory over William & Mary, Japan destroyed much of the U.S. Naval fleet in a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. When Huckabee graduated with his degree in textile management the following spring, he was immediately enrolled in the U.S. Army Air Corps, the predecessor of the Air Force. He spent two years as a ground officer in Europe and helped deliver gliders and paratroopers over France on D-Day, June 6, 1944, the plans for which were developed by former NC State football and baseball player Gen. William Lee, the father of the U.S. Airborne. When the war ended, Huckabee interviewed for a textile manufacturing job in Greensboro and was introduced by J.P. Stevens executives Harry and W.P. "Nick" Carter, who 15 years later gave the naming gift for Carter Stadium. Huckabee retired from J.P. Stevens in 1985 and settled in his wife Maxine's hometown of Greenwood, S.C. While the game he played is much different than what fans flock to see at modern-day CarterFinley Stadium, Huckabee said the purpose of competing is still the same. "I don't know if players today have any more fun than we had," Huckabee said. And none of them ever got to meet one of the Wright Brothers. — Tim Peeler You may contact Tim Peeler at tmpeeler@ncsu.edu. The NC State women's basketball program is poised to sign at least three players during the early signing period Nov. 13-20, and already has a jump on the class of 2015. NC State's latest commits include Des Moines Area Community College sophomore power forward Carlee Schuhmacher, who pledged Sept. 19, and Buford (Ga.) High junior combo guard Camille Anderson, who picked the Wolfpack Oct. 6. Schuhmacher took an official visit to NC State Sept. 6-8 and became the third member of NCSU's class of 2014 shortly after. Schuhmacher joins shooting guard Chloe Jackson of Upper Marlboro (Md.) Riverdale Baptist and center Akela Maize of Thomasville (N.C.) New Hope Christian. "He [Moore] really wanted me and was super genuine," said Schuhmacher, who wants to get a master's in social work one day. "It felt right. I had such a great visits and no doubts about the school. I just felt like I needed to commit right away." Schuhmacher averaged an impressive 16.2 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game in helping DMACC to a 24-8 mark last year. The Watertown, Wis., native had 20 double-doubles in 32 games for coach Steve Krafcsin, who is quite familiar himself with the Triangle. Krafcsin played a year for coach Dean Smith at North Carolina before transferring to play for Iowa coach Lute Olson, where he helped the Hawkeyes reach the 1980 Final Four. Schuhmacher also officially visited Cleveland State, and earned offers from Loyola (Ill.), Duquesne, Bradley, Utah State, South Alabama, Murray State, and North Dakota. Iowa State, Nebraska, Illinois, Drake and Creighton were also showing interest. "She has a high motor," Krafcsin said. "She is incredibly all-in and has been focused on Carlee what she wants to accomplish, and has set her Schuhmacher mind to do so. "She has really long arms and scores well around the basket. Our offense last year was to get the ball to Carlee on the block or around the basket. Our second part of the offense was to shoot it, so Carlee can go get it." The 5-8 Anderson becomes a third generation Division I athlete in her family. Her father, Deollo Anderson, played strong safety at Michigan from 1992-96, and her grandfather, Dennis Mosley, rushed for 1,267 yards and 12 touchdowns on 270 carries, and finished with 16 touchdowns total en route to team MVP accolades at Iowa in 1979. Mosley also ran track for the Hawkeyes and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the ninth round of the 1980 NFL Draft. Her aunt, Joh'vonnie Mosley, is a junior at Kent State, who does the throwing events in track and field. "I really like the campus and the library really interested me," said Anderson, 16, who wants to study in the biomedical engineering field. "Coach Moore is a good coach. I really enjoyed being around the team. "He asked me if I was sure. He was very excited. He told me I made his week and year." Anderson called Moore a "live coach" due to his enthusiasm, and she believes he is similar to her prep coach Gene Durden. "They coach in the exact same style," Anderson said. "I shoot the three pretty well and the pull-up jumper is pretty good. I need to improve scoring off the move a little bit better, and my mid-range game." Durden has known Moore for over 20 years. Durden previously coached for 14 years at Dade County High in Trenton, Ga., which is just outside of Chattanooga, Tenn. Moore coached at Tennessee-Chattanooga prior to taking the NC State job. Buford won AA state titles from 2009-11, and finished runner-up in 2012, so knowing how to play for big goals isn't something Anderson will need to learn in Raleigh. Buford reached the Elite Eight last year. ACC programs Clemson and Pittsburgh also offered her, plus Georgia State, Belmont, and Kennesaw State. Louisville, New Mexico, Alabama, Ole Miss, Miami, Tennessee-Chattanooga and Tennessee-Martin, also showed interest. — Jacey Zembal 16 ■ the wolfpacker 14-16,18-20.Tracking The Pack.indd 16 10/22/13 12:39 PM