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Show Tfie Tfumdcrfiinf Tuesday September 25, 1984 Page 47 On and off the field, Juan Henderson eyes a pro career A man who used to only watch Monday Night Football now plans to be there himself someday by Stewart Smith and also a stroke of luck, Henderson earned a scholarship and a starting role at running back at Dixie Junior College. ' i I Juan Henderson sits in the musty weight room, breathing deeply and staring at the wall. Like massive rivers, sweat begins to stream down the muscular black athletes arms. Slowly, silently he psyches himself for his next lift, the bench press. With a nod Henderson, an SUSC football player, slides under a sagging barbell loaded with weights and signals the two spotters that hex is ready. The bar droops even more as he suddenly lifts it from the stand. At SUSC, Henderson quickly began to emerge as a team leader and powerful running back. Last season against New Mexico Highlands, a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foe, he scored three touchdowns. It was a personal best for Henderson and a feeling he cant quite describe or ever forget. He also remembers a vicious tack'e delivered to him last season, a feeling he also will never forget and a feeling he can descnbe. A dozen other lifters momentarily halt their workouts to watch as he strains and sweats. How much weight is that anyway? one of them asks. Henderson, sweat now pouring from his face, successfully finishes lifting the iron weights and slides out from under them. 385 pounds, another lifter answers. His face glistening with sweat; Henderson momentarily frowns and then flashes a brilliant smile. That was heavy, he laughs as the other lifters shake their heads in awe and resume their workouts. We were playing Western State and were on their line. On third down I got the call to carry the ball to the left side. My roommate, Stuart Brooks, was a lineman and played on the left side, but he wasnt in the game. I ran it through his hole but it just wasnt there. I got hit on the left side first. The second hit was on my right side, and the third hit I got head on. That was the first time that I ever got knocked flat on my butt. One of the guys that tackled me looked down and said, Welcome to the RMAC. Henderson, a 190 pound running back, hasnt always been so strong, nor has he always been a football player. In fact, he didnt begin playing football untill he was thirteen. I didnt even know about football until I moved from Ohio to Las Vegas. It didnt appeal to me. Partial credit for introducing football to Henderson should be given to Howard Cosell, Frank Gifford and Dandy Don Meredith. I started watching Monday Night Football, he smiles. From that time on football became a driving force in his life. Henderson started in eighth grade and readily admits that although he had a lot of heart, I was garbage. Eventually he landed the starting berth as halfback at Valley High School in Las Vegas, but not until he was a senior, and even then with much skepticism from his coach. He told me that Id never be a college player because I didnt have the tools. His coach was wrong. With the tools he did have, his heart and his desire, ! Lady cagers add players by i i I f 5 i f t S i i i t Jt make it, he says. r- Juan Henderson could have quit after his high school coach told him he didnt have the tools to play college football, but he didnt. The SUSC football team is glad he didnt. Its D:30 at night and Henderson closes the door to the weight room and begins to walk home. Somewhere is the coach that told him hed never play college football. Somewhere is the coach that told him he didnt have the tools. As a leader for the Thunderbirds and having formed the tools Henderson gives credit for the player he has become. The Lord and me, he smiles. L L vywvif tzazjuu Daniel Gowon Even though their season is a whole quarter away the SUSC womens basketball team is already preparing for it. This season team members have strong hopes of becoming the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champions. Lady basketball coach Boyd Adams feels several new players in addition to six returning lettermen will give his team the edge. t After he completes his collegiate career as a Thunderbird this year Henderson is looking forward to another welcome, one from a professional team. Hes already received letters from the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos and is optimistic about playing professional football, whether its with the NFL, USFL or Canadian Football League. I think Im good enough to play. If the coaches help me then I think I could Cherry Roper, a 6 foot center from Utah Technical College, Rene Ramsey, a 5 foot 10 inch forward from the University of Hawaii, and Rhonda Bagley, a 5 foot 6 inch guard from Long Beach Community College, California. New freshman players include Monica Moe, a 5 foot 6 inch guard who was an player at Dugway High School. Kelly McFalls, a 5 foot 11 inch player from Murray High School, also an player. Michelle Poulson, a 6 foot 1 inch freshman center from Alamo Nevada and Rebecca Wilkins, a 6 foot 1 inch center from Box Elder High School. St. George CedarQty1RichfieldFilImore V Christensen's offers a com plete line of clothing for Jr's, Men, and Vomen Sweaters k 'aaaaa Jr's Corduroy Jeans and Pants Men's Dress Shirts all-sta- all-sta- I H 1 |