i *
Freshmen
Edition
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS, THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 1956
Aggies Favored to Win Conference
With Eleven Regulars Returning
Bryant After Title
In 3rd A&M Year
Coach Paul (Bear) Bryant
Aggies Use Split-T
To Move Ball in ’56
Aftei’ a season of heartache fol
lowed by one filled with hope for the
future. Head Football Coach and
Athletic Director Paul (Bear) Bry
ant looks to his third year at A&M
and finds his Aggies chosen to
win the Southwest Conference
the preseason guesses.
The 19th coach at Aggieland,
Bryant came to the SWC from
Kentucky in 1954, after compiling
an impressive record of 60 wins,
23 losses and five ties. He received
recognition as one of the nation’s
finest gridiron mentors while build
ing the Wildcats into a major foot
ball power from 1946 to 1954.
Bryant took his Kentucky teams
-Agg
ies
College football teams ai*e be
coming increasingly difficult to
“type” and the 1956 Aggie team
is no exception.
The Cadets will be basically a
“split-T” team and much of their
hopes for moving the ball will de
pend on this quick hitting, “fire-
away” type of offense. Running
is the keynote but the option run
or pass will be utilized more fully
this year.
The Aggie version of the split-T
is fundamentally a straight ahead,
man - for - man blocking attack.
There is very little “pulling” of
linemen and emphasis is on speed
in hitting the point of attack rather
than faking the defense out of
position. Some “delayed attack”
plays will spice the offense much
in the same manner as a baseball
pitcher uses a change of pace.
Coach Bryant and his staff will
also exploit some of the facets of
the multiple-type offense and a
greater variety of offense forma
tions can be expected by A&M fans
in 1956.
Have
Four for Six
Bowl Record
The Aggies have won four of
the six bowl games in which they
have participated.
Victims of A&M were Centre
College in the Dixie Classic of
1922; Tulane in the Sugar Bowl,
1940; Fordham in the 1941 Cotton
Bowl; and Georgia in the Presi
dent’s Cup Bowl of 1950.
In 1942 the Ags lost to Alabama,
29-21, in the Cotton Bowl and LSU
defeated the Cadets, 19-14, in the
1944 Orange Bowl.
to the Orange, Cotton and Great
Lakes Bowl games, but the high
light of his brilliant careet came
on January 1, 1951, when his Wild
cat eleven downed the powerful
University of Oklahoma Sooners,
National champs in 1950, in the
Sugar Bowl.
Coach Bryant stepped into the
head coaching job at A&M and, al
though the Aggies lost all but one
of 10 games, was lauded nation
ally for his work. The outmanned
“thin 30” fought a losing battle
against overwhelming odds, out
playing many of their opponents,
including a 7-14 loss to conference
champion Arkansas, and a 3-6
heartbreaker to the SMU Mustangs
in Dallas.
Last year Bryant took his team
to their first season since 1943 with
a 7-2-1 record and second-place in
the SWC. The Ags took champion
TCU to the cleaners, 19-16, but a
spirited Texas eleven rode herd on
the Farmers to the tune of 21-6
on Thanksgiving day, knocking
them out of the title.
One of the most successful
coaches in collegiate ranks, Bryant
has completed 11 years as a head
coach after being an assistant at
his alma matei', Alabama, and
Vanderbilt.
His head coaching record is one
of the nation’s best—74 wins, 36
losses and seven ties. He coached
“■ Heavily favored to remain in the
Southwest conference cellar a year
ago, Coach Paul Bryant’s Aggies
are picked right at the top of the
heap this season.
Following a survey of the other
conference teams, the general con
census of opinion around the league
is that the Aggies of 1956 could
have a better team than in 1955
but they could end up with a
worse record. All will be stronger
and it appears that a much more
balanced race is in store for the
coming campaign.
The Ags will have a good, sound Jimmy Wright, Don Watson, Roddy
first team with 11 starters re
turning from the 1955 squad that
fashioned a surprising 7-2-1 record.
Beyond the first team it’s a big
question mark. 21 lettermen re
turn, but many of the sophomore
who must step into second team
roles are doubtful and inexperienc
ed.
A&M’s offense will be better,
both in running and passing, with
the defense a good one, although
only one deep. The number/ one
problem is at quarterback where
Osborne and Luther Hall appear
to have equal shots at the starting
position.
The strongest positions are at
fullback and center. Big Jack Par
dee, all-SWC in 1955 and bidding
for all-America honors this season,
returns to the middle of the back-
field. Behind him is hard-hitting
Richaid Gay, the Louisiana new
comer that loves contact.
Aggressive Lloyd Hale will be
back at the center position he has
(See AGGIES, Page 7)
m. m
AGGIE TRI-CAPTAINS FOR 1956—(left to right) Eugene Stallings, left end; Loyd Hale,
center; Jack Pardee, fullback. These are the three two-lettermen seniors who will lead the
Maroon and White during the coming football, season.
/ ¥
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