Old Gold & Black, Feb. 18th, 1952. Article by Clara Ellen Francis under the title COED DEBATER TELLS OF MIAMI TRIP.

Professor Franklin Shirley's '51 Chevrolet glides down the highway and "off we go in the good ole bull Ship, on our way night and day" floats out to the tune of the Army Air Corps song.

The car, nicknamed the "bull Ship" because it's always running over with debaters "shooting bull," flies along the road, its destination a debate tournament somewhere in U.S.A.

You've probably heard the old saying, "You can spot a debater a mile off." One may see a person talking at 50 words a minute, never stopping to take a breath, occupying the entire conversation and being just a wee bit dogmatic, and you can bet your life that the "talking machine" will be a college debater.
What are the ingredients that go into the making of a typical Wake forest debater? First, an old hand at debating convinces you that debating is the "most fun" in the words and paints for you a beautiful picture of the life a debater leads. Having a natural tendency to run your mouth all the time anyway. You go to a debate meeting.

For two months you plunder for information on the national debate query. Three afternoons a week you drag yourself up to the third floor of the Alumni Building and have quite heated discussions on the query.

Then the fateful day comes when you're ready for the first tournament of the year. You are instructed to put everything you need for the entire week in an overnight bag and be ready to leave sharply at 3 o'clock. Well, by 5 o'clock everyone had finally said their goodbyes, and we're off.

After driving for about 209 miles, one of the team (let's don't mention names!) finds that the only suit he brought along is the one he has on. "How horrible!" These two words, the favorite of the team, are repeated several times when the "certain member" realizes that he is to appear in that same suit all week.
Several hours later, the Bull Ship, reeking with jokes and songs and having been driven on "empty" for 50 miles, is finally halted, at the order of the commodore, to be filled with gas--23 cents a gallon. (after all, we must be considerate of the school budget!)

Of course, debaters always stop at a nice place to spend the night and always stop early--early in the morning that is. You pile in some strange bed about 4 o'clock, only to be awakened at 7 o'clock in order not to be more than an hour late for the tournament.

The Bull Ship is very fortunate in having some expert drivers aboard, and the familiar "Go, Suicide!" can be heard as the ship cruises down the highway. After a few "near" mishaps with the sound of screeching brakes dominating the air, the team arrives at its destination safe and sound, although a little shaky.

The opening meeting of the tournament is held. You take one look at the names of the big schools that you have to debate against, and you're ready to pack you little red bag and head back to Deaconland.

You debate from 6 to 8 rounds at any tournament; and by the end of the fourth round, you naturally have laryngitis. The first morning, you just can't possibly get tot he first round by 8 o'clock, and the opposing team is just getting ready to declare a forfeit when the sleepy-eyed team straggles in.
All the days at a tournament aren't spent in debating, and the host school always has planned a dance, party or some form of entertainment. On this trip, the team spends a very enjoyable afternoon swimming and basking in the Miami sun.

When the tournament is over, whether the Wake Forest team has won or lost, all realize that the days have been filled with experiences, knowledge and enjoyment. Tired, but content, the debates head back to North Carolina, on the good ole WFC Bull Ship.