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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1995)
iher 1,1995 rial crew to AMU televi- or, said pro- "h charge up ‘e not neces - channel 15 ie same fed- i standards i channels, rur videos, eet picture itandardsof ions, are ac- rcited about ‘ plan to air people a ng on with ilic educa- se diked the charged aid. to scrape k it puts it ion.” e Univer- fees, it mething need to d to add needs to pend so Center, library," Friday September 1,1995 The Battalion Sports 13 Kyle Field fans big part of title shot Lisa Nance Sportswriter W hen the Aggies take the field tomorrow for the first game of the final season of the South west Conference, they’re going to have more than a shot at the national championship to motivate them. Sure, they have the No. 3 ranking and players like Corey Pullig, Leeland McElroy, Ray Mickens to make the big plays, but they have to have more than 11 men on the field. They have to have something that no other college team in the nation can boast. They have to have the Twelfth Man. That’s right, Ags, the long awaited and much-hyped 1995 Aggie football season starts to morrow, and the team needs there, suited up with sun screen and 12th Man towels, to ioyour part When LSU takes the field tomorrow, we need to give them more to worry about stopping Leeland from scoring. We need to show them »hywe haven’t lost a game at lyie Field since 1989 and have raly been outscored once at tie since 1984. A&M has the greatest home field advantage in college foot- hall. The nation’s longest home winning streak proves that. It is the same streak that is cur- See Nance, Page 15 Aggie Football ’95 A&M’s Secret Weapon: The Detron Bomb □ The senior fullback has cleared holes for some of A&M's greatest running backs. By David Winder The: Battalion Asking Aggie fullback Detron Smith to name his favorite block is like picking the Rolling Stones’ best song. There are too many big hits to choose just one. “I’ve had my share of pancake blocks (blocks that put opponents on the ground),” Smith said. “But there’s not one specific block that I remember. I’ve had a bunch of pancake blocks that I’ve enjoyed watching. But I just take those plays and put them past me to become a better player.” Smith may put the blocks behind him but most of his blocks put opponents on the ground. “Detron always grades real high,” Texas A&M running backs coach Ken Rucker said. “I thought he blocked extremely well against Baylor (last year). He and Clif (Groce, who graduated in 1994) are both very physical backs. Winning means a lot to Detron, and it shows in his play.” And for Detron Smith to win, he has to _ block. “It’s every running back’s dream to get the ball and have 200 yards a game,” Smith said. “But I know my role in this offense. My job is to block for the tailback, or whoev er is behind nje, and get the ball out of the backfield. I’m here to do whatever they (coaches) ask me.” When the coaches have asked Smith to carry the ball, he has responded. Last year Smith rushed 16 times for 73 yards and a touchdown while catching 11 passes for 115 yards. Smith’s numbers might have been more impressive if he did not have to battle Clif Groce for time at the fullback position. “I think Clif helped me just because he pushed me the whole way,” Smith said. “I had no time to slack off because I was al ways fighting for a job. I think that was the big thing because I was always trying to get ahead of him or get the edge or trying to do something just a little bit better than Clif.” Smith’s and Groce’s jobs were made harder because they always had to adjust to the different running styles of the three main A&M tailbacks. In the two years that Smith played with Greg Hill, the current Kansas City Chiefs running back collected 2,046 yards and scored 21 touchdowns. “I think Greg was probably the hardest (to block for) because he was more elusive than all the rest,” Smith said. “He always ran the ball where he saw the first opening, which is what I guess helped him.” In the three-year span that Smith and former running back Rodney Thomas shared the backfield, Thomas gained 2,720 yards and made it to the end zone 39 times. “Rodney made me work for mine because he ran more straight ahead,” Smith said. “They knew he wasn’t going to cut anywhere, so most of the blockers came straight to me because they knew Rodney was n’t going anywhere else.” Current A&M tailback Leeland McElroy has rushed for 1,320 yards and 16 touchdowns with Smith and Groce leading the way. “I much rather block for Leeland because most of the time he stays with me,” Smith said. “And he’s been right most of the time.” Smith said he will touch the ball more this season than he has in the past. “I think they’re going to try to take a lot of the pressure off of Lee land because he’s going to be the main focus of this offense,” Smith said. “I think they’re going to send it every which way so everybody does n’t go straight at Leeland.” Even with his Heisman Trophy candidate teammate getting the ball more this year, Smith would rather throw a block than score a touch down. “I’d get more excited about mak ing a good block,” Smith said. “Scor ing a touchdown, it’s more like the whole team has helped out. There’s a lot of individual things. “But a good block, it’s me one-on- one against him. Knowing that he’s feeling bad because I put him on his back makes me feel pretty good Texas A&M senior fullback Detron Smith levels a Texas Tech defender while clearing a the line of scrimmage in A&M's 23-17 victory last season. Bennett’s style: Senior leadership, aggressive play jA&M's new defensive coordinator will face his old team in the Aggies' home opener Saturday at Kyle Field. 8y Tom Day The Baitalion There was never a doubt in R.C. Slocum’s Bind. When the Aggie football team’s Defensive Coordinator Tommy Tuberville left A&M in January to accept the head coaching job at Mis- iJissippi, the vacated coaching position was only open to one candidate. As a former second-team All-Southwest Confer ence defensive end for the Aggies and a colleague of Slocum at A&M in the early 1970s, Phil Bennett was Slocum’s man. "I talked to several people, but I did not offer the job to anyone else,” Slocum said. “(Phil) is someone I’ve known and kept up with for a long time, and Td always had it in the back of my mind that some day we would try to hire him.” After being a position and assistant head coach at Louisiana State for five years, Bennett moved up to the position of defensive coordinator last sea son. In 1993, LSU’s defense ranked dead-last in the Southeast Conference and 99th in the country. In one year, Bennett transformed the Tigers into the SEC’s top defensive unit, finishing 10th nationally. “We wanted someone who believes in the same philosophy we do, and (LSU’s) scheme was very similar to ours,” Slocum said. “Phil was an easy choice.” Bennett said he was thrilled to have the oppor tunity to return to A&M. “I played here and I started my coaching career here,” Bennett said. “R.C. has been really instru mental in developing my coaching career and through his leadership, A&M has become so promi nent. It was a nice chance to get back into this en vironment.” With the addition of Bennett to the A&M staff, the program has picked up several years of coach ing experience. Before coaching at LSU, Bennett served four years as the defensive coordinator at Iowa State and another four years in the same po sition at Purdue. Senior free safety Den nis Allen said Bennett had the respect of the A&M de fense right from the start. “He did a good job at LSU, so he knows what he’s doing,” Allen said. “He likes to compete and is very intense on the field. I have no reason to think that he won’t do a great job here.” With the exception of a few new wrinkles, Ben nett said the defense will follow the same philoso phy of past seasons. “There are things I’ve brought that I think will make us a better defense,” Bennett said. “There are also things that other guys on the staff have that fit into our package. “We had a bunch of new players last year that "I have no reason to believe he won't do a good job here." weren’t as aggressive in a lot of ways, but they were very sound. I’d like to be more aggressive and get more turnovers without giving up the big play. I want the best of both worlds.” Bennett said the senior players will have a ma jor role in leading the defense. “I always believe in senior leadership,” Bennett said. “Guys who have been through a program de velop a winning attitude through their work habits, their intensity in practice and how they handle their business on the field. “With three guys like Allen, (Ray) Mickens, and (Reggie) Brown to look up to, you’ll have players wanting to play at a level that is measured with great suc cess.” Bennett harbors no ill feelings towards his former team. Howev er, when LSU visits Kyle Field on Saturday, Bennett expects noth ing less than an Aggie victory. “I like those kids there and I have great respect for LSU,” Bennett said. “But come (Saturday), there’s no question where my loyalty is. It’s just like playing your brother. You like him, but you want to beat him.” With A&M gunning for a national championship this season, Bennett said his defense cannot let down at any time. “R.C. has got the people expecting to win and our players to perform on that level,” Bennett said. “We could very possibly win every game, but it won’t happen because you want it to. You’ve got to go out there and do it.” Dennis Allen A&M senior safety A&M Defensive Coordinator Phil Bennett gives ad vice to sophomore linebacker Trent Driver. The Battalion’s 1995 Football picks o md So 'ti k Match-ups jlSUat Texas A&M Baylor at Tulsa Arkansas at SMU Houston at Florida L'NLV at Rice Miami at ‘18- Texas at Hawaii '^Colorado at #21 Wisconsin ’Michigan at Illinois Oilers at Jaguars fkargers at Raiders Towboys at Giants last Week's Record: I Cumulative Record: Nick Georgandis A&M Baylor SMU Florida Rice Miami Texas Wisconsin Michigan Oilers Raiders Giants 0-0 0-0 Kristina Buffin A&M Baylor Arkansas Florida Rice UCLA Texas Colorado Michigan Oilers Raiders Giants 0-0 0-0 David Winder A&M Baylor Arkansas Florida Rice Miami Texas Colorado Michigan Oilers Raiders Cowboys 0-0 0-0 Tom Day A&M Baylor SMU Florida Rice Miami Texas Colorado Michigan Oilers Chargers Giants 0-0 0-0 Lisa Nance A&M Baylor Arkansas Florida Rice Miami Texas Colorado Michigan Oilers Raiders Cowboys 0-0 0-0 Philip Leone A&M Baylor Arkansas Florida Rice UCLA Texas Colorado Illinois Jaguars Raiders Cowboys 0-0 0-0 Robin Rob Sterling Stew Kyle Michael Gretchen Stacy Jody /”'/ r ~)/V./C£A/C/ /C PI/ 'lS' Greathouse Clark Hayman Milne Littlefield Landauer Perrenot Stanton Holley 3 C_K A&M A&M A&M A&M A&M A&M A&M A&M A&M A&M: The championship journey begins... Baylor Baylor Baylor Baylor Baylor Baylor Baylor Baylor Baylor Baylor: Bears huff and puff past Hurricane... Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas SMU SMU Arkansas SMU Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas: Ex-SWC rival still haunts Ponies ... Florida Florida Florida Florida Florida Florida. Florida Florida Florida Florida: UH needs Remedial Scheduling 101 Rice Rice Rice Rice Rice Rice Rice Rice Rice Rice: Hey, this ain't basketball UCLA Miami UCLA UCLA Miami UCLA Miami Miami Miami Miami: Not much luck for teams from L.A... Hawaii Texas Texas Texas Texas Texas Texas Texas Texas Texas: Hey teasips, real tough opener Colorado Wisconsin Colorado Colorado Colorado Colorado Colorado Colorado Colorado Colorado: Buffalo trample Badgers Michigan Illinois Michigan Michigan Illinois Michigan Michigan Michigan Michigan Michigan: Wolverines spoil Simeon Rice..... Oilers Oilers Oilers Oilers Oilers Oilers Oilers Oilers Oilers Oilers: Houston gets half'94 win total in 3 hours Raiders Raiders Raiders Raiders Raiders Raiders Raiders Raiders Raiders Raiders: Oakland crowd grounds Chargers Cowboys Cowboys Cowboys Cowboys Cowboys Cowboys Cowboys Giants Cowboys Cowboys: They might be Giants, but not contenders 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 New season begins with startlingly fifteen-way 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 tie for first place