The night of November 22, 1963, a Friday, I was playing as a little league all-star at Riddick Stadium before the State-Wake Forest college football game.

I had mixed emotions that evening-- was really excited about playing, but wasn't sure that the little leaguers or the college teams should have suited up that night; however, Chancellor Caldwell's uplifting speech from the pressbox before the college game assured us that playing was the right thing to do.  Andy's dad was a great man, a great chancellor.

"Get in for Piccolo!"

We wore black and gold like Wake Forest and after our game were allowed to stand and sit in our uniforms along their bench. I was a bit nervous being around those great college stars (Brian Piccolo and Karl Sweetan being two of the best).  Suddenly, in the first quarter as the game was just underway, a Wake Forest coach roughly grabbed me (all of 94 pounds) and hollered at me to get in for Piccolo, giving me a powerful shove onto the field......for a few moments I found myself in my black and gold uniform playing for Wake Forest.  Then there was laughter from the players and coaches in the bench area, and a smiling referee pointed me back over to the sideline.

That was the night of the day President Kennedy was assassinated. And that was the night Brian Piccolo broke the single-season college rushing record.

Brian Piccolo Number 31

I remember Matt Healy, Jim Patton, John Soccles, Tommy Dozier, Butch Blake, John Thomas and Paul Horvitz playing.  And pretty Jane Wood along the sideline.

A lot of mixed emotions that night. 

I hope you enjoyed that memory. And I hope Jane is OK with me remembering her that night and including her in my story.  :-)

Jane W. Wood (Youngblood)

Dan(ny)