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Errtert 'On Willie A By Vlcki Grooms Staff Wrttw Columbia's cowboys and cowgirls took to the road Sunday night as a sellout crowd flocked to the Coliseum to see the country outlaw, Willie Nelson. It' was a high-spirited group that assembled to greet Willie and family, but there was a ready welcome for the opening act of Delbert McClinton. McOnuon gave an impressive performance, mostly of tunes from his latest album, including his hit single, "Givin' It Up For Mm Willie Nelson emphas two-hour long perform Sunday. (Photo by Chip L W wiine One of the most amazing p place at the Carolina Colisei country star Willie Nelson toot Somebody, police think it ployee, executed the perfect I quadruple-locked vault. n\,^vi U1115 iu auui tea the money between 5:45 p.m. someone took $10,000 in $50 bill ONLY TWO use treasurers the money is housed. A third campus. The fourth key was 1< treasurers office employee wh< Writ By Chris Handat Staff Writer When William Price Fox cl of Dixiana Moon and left the p Auditorium Wendesday nigl annual Spring Writers Series to a close. During the semester the S series, sponsored by the Er ment and the College of Hu Social Sciences presented a w ;air~innRr T"1 i in< Jelson pi Your Love." For 50 minutes he sang, played harmonica, and performed with his excellent saxophone player for a rousing time that all enjoyed, as proven by his call for an encore. THE MAIN EVENT, however, was yet to come. /\ner a iz minute stint by Willie's family to "check out the sound," the crowd roared for Willie, and their efforts were quickly rewarded. The red-headed stranger appeared in his usual pigtails and jeans, launching 'flHH^BwSSiEraSE a * ^^^MI^H^HnKnS "M^Mi:''} "VH^Bjl^BH^H HHHBk. *JHBHHSHT H izes a point during his ance at the Coliseum owe//) : . - *"! notth Inside Entertainment Mark Platte erformances of the year took 1m Sunday night even before [ the stage. was a former coliseum emtheft of ?30.000 in rash frnm ? , somebody walked away with and 8 p.m. In that time span, s and $20,000 in $100 bills. have keys to the room in which remains locked in a vault on ost three months ago by a USC :> dropped a ring of keys while 11 ^JL O writers. Novell spoke as well a Seamus Heai osed his copy Plimpton and rwimm at Rollr ? ? "?\T7 \ ausan isontag al it, the third at USC came The Writers ! talks on Wedne pring writers George Geckle >glish depart- department an imanities and afternoon, a pi ride variety of then there is us phqpc r into "Whiskey River" against a backdrop of the Texas flag. From there he continued with a string of his classics such as "Crazy," and there were screams of recognition at one of his oldest called "Night Life." Confining his remarks to a -.1 ^ i in 1_ simpie uiariK you very much," it was apparent that Willie had full control over his audience. Barely pausing between songs, Willie slowed the tempo with his version of several Kris Kristofferson tunes, including "Loving You Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)" from the movie onnn^t m/ilr ^ ouuuuii av.iv HUIlCySUCMt Rose." Another crowd favorite was "Blue Eyes Cryin' In The Rain," closely followed by some downhome, bluegrass instrumentals that had the audience clapping along to the beat. Willie really shone when he reached the material recorded on his "Stardust" album. The flowing melodies of "Blue Skies" and "All Of Me" beside the easy sound of "Georeia On Mv Mind" displayed the distinct quality that is much of Wilie's appeal. YET THE NIGHT could not be complete without the rambling songs Willie has made famous. From "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys" to "Good Hearted i eonc playing basketball on the colis< Lt. Carl Stokes of he USC pol walked in and out of the area w Bob Horning of the coliseui questioned about the theft. T needed to pay the lighting an warm-up acts before Willie Nel Nobody is responsible for { money is kept because there is guarding the vault. The first is a combination dead bolt, ther vault and an alarm system insi IT'S IKONIC that a theft sue considering that the Souther guards for parking and enl Columbia city police control i they are called,are payed by tl to usher and tell kids to stop USC police can be called in for So, while Willie was enterta the coliseum, employees were who made off with $30,000, th history. It's not surprising, howeve happened. This is the same se <jamecocn reporters and on coliseum through an open doo n sts Reynolds Price and Fox s poets Stephen Spender and ney. Journalist George essayist/short story writer soappearea. Series is far more than just >sday night according to Dr. i, chairman of the English d series coordinator. In the ess conference is held and (ually ail autograph party to kSirl L owboy ( Willie takes a paus Woman," he sang of the troubles of the restless cowboy. He completed his set by bringing McClinton back to join him in a few old stan dards like "May The Circle Be Unbroken'' and "Amazing Grace." Amidst an ecstatic crowd that refused to be satisfied, Willie came back for an encore ? one that won't be forgotten. Willie returned to the stage, traded his red bandana for basebaU cap, and was joined by his band for an unexpected rendition of "Luckenbach, Texas," saying goodnight to Columbia with a second singing of "Whiskey River" as an American flag j < to ste ;um floor. ice said "a good many" people here the vault was located and n said 12-15 people will be he money that was lost was i sound people as well as the son. guarding the room where the . a four-way protection system a dead-bolt lock, the second is e is an alarm attached to the de the vault. :h as this could have happened n Security Services provides ranee to the coliseum; the the crowds; the red coats, as le coliseum's chief of security walking in the aisles; and the any extraordinary rioting. ining a near sell-out crowd at scrambling to try and discover le first such theft in coliseum r, that something of this sort :urity system that allowed two e photographer to enter the r more than one year ago and , give the students a chance authors. Finally after the ta wine and cheese reception is hi THE DAY after their talk, participated in a taping at th The taping session consists .asking the writer questions their work and how they h* problems. According to Dr. G interested in broadcasting th national basis. Having quality writers app< not cheap. The average cost fo around $2000, according co Gee "I would be happy if a ben< come forth from the communi a large sum. I'd be more willin seHes after him," said Geckle have funds in advance, then more we could do with the seri nm - Zolumbi ,:,W^; ',^i\'M wlfik fflf< 9mMtt^kW&^^- j-EMliiiW . ^i.v ji^?'^ wis mmmm e for applause. (Photo by Ci replaced that of the Lone Star state. Singing to a packed audience containing Deonle of all ages, Willie delivered two solid hours of entertainment that had everyone on their feet by the conclusion. He covered an enormous amount of material, and left no stone unturned from the many phases of his careeer, a great feat considering that all of his songs are popular in meir own rignt. Willie nad full command every moment he was on stage, and it is a good bet that all those folks, cowboys and cowgirls alike, were glad they were here when the outlaw came to, town. al the take the basketball net down fr threesome turned the court ligh through the same door before a SO ON this night of country Willie Nelson sang for two hour person who is now $30,000 rich< be called back by the police for I HE# 1 Brtsr< -.. WB * . /t;*;:';'': ' ,vM V t MIxBmFMMi ifter a $30,000 Co/iseur Stan Hawkins) to meet the someone like Ik at night, a coming here t\ 1 licit OV*l IVUUJI lead time." many writers e ETV studio. Despite the : ; of students the series up, pertaining to outcome. "In tl " ? iA. W J ? A A _ jnaJe writing 11, 1 aouni mc eckle, PBS is country with a I e tapes on a Geckle did * ,T?vn. students did n< jar "t USC is series r each visit .s students. res[> point of the seri talk about his ' ty and donate *?E?Lta g to name the . "If we could read 25 to 50 yej s is so much es such as get 9 in nns hip Lowell) K9 PIK::V Delbert McClinton provided some excellent backup to Willie Nelson. (Photo by Chip Lowell) show om one of the rims. Then the ts on, turned them off and leff illing campus police. music and good times, wh? s, the real entertainer was tl *r, wondering if he or she w an encore. nes more than an hour n robbery. (Photo by a John Updike committed no and half years in advar s are so busy you need t short time Geckle has to he is still pleased with fie three years that we've h ;re is anotner school in t better series." note disappointment tha )t show more interest in the university of 26,000, the onse should be better. The IAS is In a firct.rnfn .ww *w M III UV & ?VV VY I liCl work. So much on campus is t with this series we have {from works that will still be ars from now." 90m Wrftmrs, page 12