-- , -' . ~ 2 __________________________-...,(;';h;;",;;";;"::,'h::".;.,:';·;h,"::'::":,:,;"m - ( 'hr/I/"phl'f TIlt/till""" A Winning Combination Butch and Charles Gardner o.e of the most unusual one-two combinations in Arkansas athletic circles can be found here at Harding, where the Gardner brothers - one playing and one coaching - are making their mark on Arkansa!. basketball. Charles, the athlete, was one of the high scorers in the highly competitive Ale. Butch, on the coaching side, is in his second year as a full-time assistant for the Bison cage teams. In such a situation one might expect some unusual and perhaps awkward circumstances, but the Gardners have handled the situation without a ripple. At 6-6, Charles stepped into a starting for Coach Jess Buey's Bisoos in January of the 1979-80 season and finished the season with 19.2 scoring average, which happened to be second in the league. He also averaged 10.3 rebounds per game and was recognized as an AU-AIC honorable mention selection. As a coach, when Butch speaks players usually listen, brother or not. The 6-4 assistant was a three-time NAIA All-American basketball selection as a collegian. During his four years of competition, he scored 2,255 points and averaged 21.0 points for 107 collegiate games. He was a four-time All-AIC honoree and is still active as a member of the powerful Carder Buick AAU basketball team. When questioned about looking at the game from the bench. he said, "It's an adjustment, there's no doubt about that. You have to be more objective and try to see what actually is happening on the floor." As to their player-coach relationship, it seems to be working out fine for both individuals. "At first it was a funny kind of feeling," Charles said. "But you've got to be all business when you're on the floor for practice or a game. I respect But~h's knowledge of the game and he's helped me out a lot." For Butch, the coach, he says he hasn't adjusted to the situation completely. "I can see where it could be kind of sticky, all right. but so far it's been a pleasure. Charles has a good attitude, works hard in practice and the games, and that's all any coach can ask. II I try to work with him just like I do with the other players. I don't think he expects anything special, and so far it's worked out fine for both of us." Bison head coach Jess Bucy perhaps sums it up best when he says, "For my money, I'd like to have both of them in uniform!" -Stan Green HAMMING IT UP for the camero, Bu/ch Gordner shows brother Charles how /0 "move inside for position." - K~,. BiD«I 293 Basketball
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