News and Notes: Friday Edition

Above, a 1974 Cornell-Syracuse game program. Below, some news and notes for Friday...

• Above, The Cornell Rebounders Club wishes congratulations via Twitter to Cornell's award winners at the Big Red season ending banquet.
  

• Above, the itinerary for the 2011 Elite Cornell Basketball Prospect Camp. In addition to basketball instruction, the camp serves as a critical evaluation tool for the Big Red coaching staff in scouting potential recruits.
  

• The ESPN Radio, WPIE 1160 website has created its new space for Brian Delaney's blog home. Delaney, recently left the Ithaca Journal to join WPIE and will continue to serve a beat writer and on-air personality for Big Red basketball.
  

• The Morning Times of Sayre, PA, notes the passing of Cornell athletic legend, Richard C. "Dick" Jackson ('56). Jackson was a three-sport athlete at Cornell (basketball, baseball and football) and was a member of the Big Red's 1954 Ivy League (EIBL) Championship and NCAA Tournament team. He is a member of the Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame. Above photo, Jackson's basketball career stats, an excerpt from the Cornell Sun recapping his first appearance on the hardwood for the Big Red and his Hall of Fame entry. The Morning Times writes:

Passing of a Legend, Remembering former Athens standout Richard Jackson

Many residents of the Valley will be saddened to learn of the recent passing of a local sports legend, Richard C. Jackson, on March 6.

Mr. Jackson, born September 26, 1934, graduated from Athens High School in 1952. He was the last surviving child of Margaret and Charles Jackson, having out-lived his siblings, Charles, Kenneth, John, and Viola. During his high school career he distinguished himself as a fine athlete, and scholar, and served as class president.

In high school, he was a standout athlete in football, basketball, track and baseball. In the position of halfback, he scored 16 touchdowns, and four extra points in seven games on the undefeated 1951 Athens football team, earning the nickname “Mr. Touchdown.” He was also the leading scorer on the 1952 basketball team.

In his senior year of high school, coach Childs talked Mr. Jackson into going out for track. He was a runner and jumper on the undefeated 1952 track team earning league, district, and state first-place finishes. His track career was distinguished when he won the state title in the 100-yard dash and tied for first in the high jump. Jackson was coached/mentored by John Childs with whom he remained friends until Mr. Child’s death.

Jackson attended Cornell University. He was halfback on the 1953-54-55 football teams. The 1953 team won the Ivy League Championship and the 1954 team tied for the title. He led the nation in pass interceptions with seven in 1954. As a junior and senior he was an honorable mention selection on the UP and AP All-East teams, and in 1953 he received AP All-Ivy honorable mention honors as well. He was the first black man to captain the Cornell football team.

While at Cornell, he also lettered in basketball, and was an outfielder in baseball. He was only the second Cornellian to win varsity letters in football, basketball, and baseball in one year. Among the many accolades Richard received during his college career was an article written by nationally syndicated sports columnist, Red Smith praising his athletic ability.

During his lifetime, Mr. Jackson’s athletic ability was recognized when he was inducted into both the Athens High School and Cornell Hall of Fame.

Although Richard is gone, he will be long remembered for his athletic prowess, for the exciting moments he gave his fans, and for being a genuinely nice person. R.I.P. Rich.

• The Daily Princetonian selects Kareem Maddox as the school's athlete of the year and notes, "He also sank the occasional jump shot, the most important of which was a game-winner with 10 seconds left against three-time defending Ivy League champion Cornell on the road."