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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 23, 1955)
Aggies Get Favorite’s Role In Annual Turkey Day Clash By RONNIE GREATHOUSE Battalion Sports Editor A 15-year-old tradition was brok- |e* this year when the Aggies were i picked as favorites over the Texas I Longhorns, but Southwesterners i will tell you “it don’t mean a thing.” The University of Texas is an i underdog at Kyle Field for the ' first time since 1939 in the 62nd renewal of the Southwest Confer ence’s oldest and bitterest rival ry. The series dates back to 1894 and shows the Longhorns holding a big edge with 40 wins to 16 for the Aggies and five ties. Tomorrow’s nationally televised Game of the Week begins at 1:15 p.m. A play-by-play description of the game can be heard over WTAW with Kern Tipps bringing a run ning account of the action. A&M can gain its first SWC championship in 15 long years by defeating the Steers. A defeat would hand TCU the title, provid ing the Horned Toads clip their arch-rivals, the SMU Mustangs, next Saturday. Texas is trying to escape its most dismal season since 1938, and brings a 4-5 season record into the Turkey Day battle. The Long- horns rank third in the conference race at pi'esent with three wins and two 1 osses. On the other hand, the Aggies a7’e enjoying their best season since 1941. They currently rank eighth in the nation on the Asso ciated Press poll and have a fine f-1-1 won-lost mark to show for the season. A&M paces league play with four wins, no losses and a tie. The last time A&M had a chance to win the title was in 1943. That year the Cadets also boasted a 7-1-1 record going into the Thanks giving bout. Texas won the game, 27-13, and the title. In 1915 Texas had a great ball club. It had lost only one game all year, and that was a one-point decision to Oklahoma. Texas had slaughtered Rice earlier in the season, 59-0, and Rice had beaten the Aggies, 7-0. The two teams met on Kyle Field. A&M won it 13-0. Both teams have made good, use of the breaks so far this season. A&M has been the prime exponent of taking opponent’s bobbles and turning them into touchdowns. The Cadets have intercepted 17 passes, recovered 23 fumbles and blocked five punts. The Longhorns, too, have given a good account of themselves. They have recovered 23 fumbles and in tercepted five aerials. Texas has an amazing record for cashing in on these mistakes. Of the 17 touchdowns scored by the Steers in Southwest Conference play, 11 resulted from fumbles, pass inter ceptions and poor punts. Texas has been guilty of some costly errors themselves, having had 18 passes picked off and has lost 12 fumbles. The game shapes up as a battle between Texas’ talented Joe Clem ents and Walter Fondren and A&M’s bevy of ground gaining backs. Clements is the leading Southwest Conference passer to date with 772 yards gained on 62 completions. He has passed for five TD’s and his passes have av eraged 12.5 yards per completion. Menan Schriewer, Texas’ all- conference end candidate, leads the loop in pass receiving. Schriewer has caught 19 passes for 262 yai'ds. Texas’ super - sophomore, Fon dren, is ainong the conference’s best in several departments. He is third in ball carrying with 479 yards on 87 trips. Fondren has averaged 5.5 yards per carry. Fondren is fifth in total offense with a total of 569 yards. He is fifth in punting with a 37.2 aver age, third in punt returns, thh’d in kick off returns and third in pass receiving. His 41 points scored this season are good enough to rank him second in that department. Aggie fullback Jack Pardee is fifth in SWC rushing with a total of 438 yards on 78 carrys. Jimmy Wxdght, despite his poor percent age of pass completions, has hit his mark at crucial times. He has passed for six touchdowns and his tosses average 15.1 yards. H i s timely throwing won the SMU and Rice games. In size the two teams are vir tually equal, with the Longhorns holding a slight edge. On paper the Aggies rate the nod. A&M has the second best ground attack in the conference and has gained an average of 232.6 yards per game. Texas has the lowest average gain rushing in the league. Texas boasts the conference’s top passing average per game with 132.8 yards. A&M’s is lowest at 46.1. A&M and Texas have gained HONORARY CAPTAINS—Aggie honorary captains for this season, shown with Coach Paul (Bear) Bryant, are the six seniors on the team. Left to right are Billy Pete Hud dleston, Herb Wolf, Gene Henderson, George Johnson, Henry Clark and Donald Robbins. The Battalion Number 53: Volume 55 COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1955 PRICE 5 CENTS Five Get FSA Achivement Awards 278.7 and 270.7 yards per game on offense respectively. A&M has the best pass defense in the SWC, having allowed op ponents only 72.2 yards per game. “I don’t know whether we’re up or not. We’d better be though, I’ll tell you that,” said Coach Paul Bryant. “If we don’t win it’ll be the saddest Thanksgiving around here in a long time.” Both teams appear to be in fine physical shape for the game. Two A&M players are on the doubtful list. Tackle A. L. Simmons and end Bobby Marks were on the in jury list this week. Texas’ Fondren is still nursing bruises received in the Baylor game and aggravated in the TCU game. Joe Youngblood, right halfback, will probably not see action tomor row, nor will fullback Larry George, who injured his knee in practice last week. Charley Brewer, senior quarter back, has had considerable suc cess in passing against A&M in the past two years. His long pass es to Gilmer Spring and Carlton Massey two years ago at College Station set up two TD’s. Brewer passed to Youngblood and Schriew er last year for two touchdowns. The Aggies finished up contact work Monday and put in 40 min utes polishing their offense and defense yesterday. Coach Bi’yant termed the final days of practice this week as “satisfactory.” An Open Letter To The Aggies This Thursday A&M will possibly be in 50,000,000 living rooms. This Thanksgiving day we will have some 35,000 guests on our campus. Though each will come temporarily to see or to look at the ball game, they will take away with them a living impression of us. This is not a plea for good behaviour, but a request that we be ourselves at our best. We don’t want to forget, in our haste or excitement, our traditional friendliness to everyone, or the need for courtesy toward strangers. We need no reminder that the rivalry be tween the University of Texas and A&M has always been sharp. But we must remember that the actions of each of us is a reflection upon A&M’s honor. If we can remember the rule of the “Three C’s”—keep cool, keep calm, and keep collected—then each of us will have assisted in making this the greatest Turkey Day in A&M’s history. Not only will the eyes of the Southwest be upon us, but also those of the entire nation. So, it’s up to us, Old Army. We can do it if we but try. Scottj r Parham President, Student Senate Allan Greer President, Senior Class Dick Howard President, Ji/iior Class A. G. Newby President, Sophomore Class Neill Perry Freshman Yell Leader Sarran’s Condition Critical Five Faculty Distinguished Achievement Awai’ds of $500 each were presented yesterday during reremonies hqld in Guion Hajl. Dr. David H. Morgan presided. The awai’ds, established this year by the Former Students Associa tion thi'ough its A&M Development Fund, went to Travis J. Parker, professor of geology; Robert L. Skrabanek, associate professor of rural sociology; Fred E. Ekfelt, professor of English; Wayne C. Hall, professor of plant physiology; and W. D. (Pete) Hardesty, busi ness manager of student activities. NOMINATIONS WERE submit ted by faculty and students and Selections were made by a faculty committee. Parker, Ekfelt and Skrabanek were selected through teaching achievements; Hall, through the field of research; and Hardesty through his cooperation with stu dents in their extracurricular func tions. Plaques emblamatic of the award were also awarded to the five men. The teaching award plaques read: “In recognition and appreciation of his ability, personality and methods which have resulted in dis tinguished achievements in the teaching and in the inspiration of his students.” The plaque for student relations read: “In recognition and in apprecia tion of his unselfish and sympa thetic interest in the welfare of individual students which has been helpful and inspiring.” THE RESEARCH PLAQUE read: “In recognition and appreciation of his distinguished achievement in research performed in addition to his duties as a teacher.” W. L. Ballard of Longview, presi dent of the FSA, made.the presen tation and O. T. Hotchkiss of Port Aidhur, immediate past president, explained the program, i Parker’s nomination read “His ability to interest his students in his subject and hold their interest throughout the term, while giving them a sound basis for their subse quent courses in Geology is out standing.” Weather Today .CLOUDY A slight cold front arrived early this morning cooling the area. Forecast is cloudy all day with winds from the northwest. Yester day’s high was 86 degrees and low 62 degrees. Readings at 10:30 a.m. were 61 degrees. Skrabanek’s dean said “He is the young man who took over a course which was in distress, made the boys like it, made them feel that they were getting a lot out of it, and at the same time did not per mit it to become a ‘grade point’ course.” ECKFELT’S NOMINATION stat ed “He holds his students to high requirements and at the same time stimulates them to extra woi'k. He has a rare capacity of attracting students to personal conferences. Seldom is there found a professor who takes the extreme interest in his own field while at the same time maintaining an all-around in- tei'est in the knowledge that he feels is necessary to the students.” Hall was selected because his work is “recognized as the highest type of practical experiments. His interests revolve chiefly about the effects of major environmental in fluences, such as temperature, light, and water, on the growth and reproduction of crop plants. As a teacher, he is recognized for the thoroughness and clarity of his presentation of highly technical material.” Hardesty’s nomination and selec tion on the basis of individual stu dent relationship declared “as Bus iness Manager of Student Activi ties, he is directly responsible for the proper conduct of the business affairs of more .than 200 student societies and clubs, besides many other activities. His advice and good judgement are sought by stu dents of all classes.” THE FSA plans to increase the awards to $1,000 for the presenta tion ceremonies next May for win ners during the present school year. James Sari'an, sophomore stu dent from Brownsville, who was injured in an accident Monday morning, was reported by author ities at St. Joseph’s Hospital this morning still in critical condition. He had not regained consciousness this morning after spending a rest less night, authorities said. His parents arrived Monday night and are at his bedside. To help pay expenses, collections are being taken up throughout the campus. The Student Senate, with Wayne Young acting as coordina tor, is sponsoring the collections from students. Money should be turned in to Young. Another collection is being held by J. Gordon Gay, YMCA secre tary, for faculty members and others who wish to make a contri- bution. Money should be sent to him at the YMCA. Travis Bryan Jr. of Bryan do nated $500 to the fund this morn ing. Waco F&R Club Hears Butler Talk Dr. O. B. Butler, of the Animal Husbandry Department, spoke to the Waco Farm and Ranch Club last week on “The Influence of Conformation and Fatness on the Yield of Wholesale Cuts of Beef.” TWO STUB CHECKS Students must show both stu dent activities stub and I.D. card at both gate and ramp, said Pat Dial, business manager of the Athletic Department. Reserve seat tickets will not be honored in the student section, he said. World’s Largest Bonfire Burns At 8 - Ten days of work, sweat and blisters will go up in smoke tonight when senior yell leaders light the oil soaked Aggie bonfire at 8. Main speakers for the occasion will be P. L. (Pinky) Downs, offi cial college greeter; Jim Owens, as sistant head coach; and the 1955- 56 yell leaders. A reading of the Last Corps Trip will follow the speeches. More than 10,000 per sons are expected to be on hand to witness the burning of the world’s largest bonfire. Hundreds of students bave work ed either on the drill field stacking logs or in the cutting area for the past ten days, in keeping with Ag gie tradition. The bonfire symbo lizes the burning desh-e of every A&M student to beat the Univer sity of Texas on Thanksgiving Day. Advisor to the project has been Lt. Col. Taylor Wilkins, assistant commandant. Paul Holladay, head yell leader, has been in charge of construction. Armor units will guard the bon fire until time for the ceremony to begin. They also will pour the oil needed to ignite the huge logs. The privilege of guarding Kyle Field was revoked by the Athletic Department yesterday because of the continued loss of property in 3 Aggies’ Poems Accepted By NPA Three students at A&M have had poems accepted for publication in the annual Anthology of College Poetry, according to Dennis Hart man, secretary of the National Poetry Association. The poets and their poems are James M. LoCaste, senior from College View, “Soldier”; Oswald H. White, junior from Texas City, “Peace of the World”; and William R. Buckley, senior from Sherman, “Tehuacana Creek.” The Anthology is a compilation of poetry written by college men and women around the nation, rep resenting every section of the country. the area. » Wood for this year’s bonfire was given by Dr. J. E. Marsh, head of the College Hospital and Dr. L. P. Gabbard of the Agricultural Eco nomics and Sociology Department. The center pole, which is 60 feet in height, was donated by S. J. Buchanan of the Civil Engineering Department. According to Holladay, this bon fire is larger than last year’s. “It is not quite as tall,” he said, “but it is bigger around.” Excellent weather conditions have prevailed during the bonfire period. This is the first time in about 20 years that it hasn’t rain ed during the building of an Aggie bonfire. Humble Oil Company’s “Texas In Review” television newscast will carry a report on all phases of this year’s bonfire. ■ ^ "'f FROM NOTHING—The bonfire, as it Jooked Saturday, was a puny little stack of logs. Al though many students attended the Fish- Shorthorn game in Austin Saturday, work continued. Power saws were running from dawn to dark to keep ahead of the haulings. IT GREW—By Sunday, the bonfire had grown to this size and was beginning to show resemblance to Aggie bonfires of the past. Trucks hauled logs all day Saturday and Sunday and cutting continued through Monday. AND GREW — Monday, the bonfire had grown enough to be officially declared larger than last year’s by Paul Holladay, head yell leader. Without the help of the weather man and several winch trucks, work would have been kept to a minimum. AND GREW—Finishing touches were ap plied late yesterday afternoon as the Aggie bonfire grows to become the world’s largest bonfire. Logs will be soaked with oil begin ning at 5 this evening and will be ignited at 8 tonight.