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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (June 28, 1962)
Thursday, June 28, 19R2 Papre 6 College Station, Texas THE BATTALION Coaclies Sought Quality During Spring Drills Tommy Blake, A&M’s sports publicity director, recently came out with the 1962 A&M Football Press, Radio and TV Guide and in doing so became the first in the Southwest Conference to get the mag-azine off the press. Last year in Blake’s first at A&M, he was second behind the brochure put out by George Wright of Baylor. “I just like to be first,” Blake replied after taking the first prize this summer. He’s not the only one on the A&M Athletic Depart ment staff who wants to be first in something. Here’s what Blake’s colorful brochure says about the prospects for ’62: A&,M’s football coaches devoted much of their spring- training time seeking quality. They sought, and found, the top- ranked 44 athletes on the A&M squad. The overall strength of these 44? That remains to be determined when Coach Hank Foldherg sends his first edition of the Aggies onto the playing field in September. Personnel changes were made almost daily during the spring drills as Foldberg and his assist ant coaches shuffled and re shuffled the candidates from one team to another—and sometimes from one position to another. The shuffling and four weeks of drills sifted out the best 44 boys, yet failed to produce a three or four deep lineup by positions. Foldberg declares all posts still wide open and any candidate will have a chance to move up or down when fall workouts begin. “From the standpoint of actual playing time (1961 season), we should be most experienced at full back and guard. The 44 players thought our quarterbacks came along real well and we have five or six boys contesting for the posi tion. The work of several sopho mores-to-be was pleasing,” Fold berg said. Returning to the fullback slot are Sam Byer, a two-year letter- man who was second in team rush ing with 256 yards in 74 carries last season, and Jerry Rogers, a junior who won his first letter as an outstanding sophomore last year. Rogers netted 174 yards in 49 carries. Lee Roy Caffey, a two-year numeral winner at fullback, was moved to halfback in the spring. He led the Aggies on the ground last season with 371 yards in 85 carries. Five letterman guards return, and four of them—Jim Harper, Keith Huggins, Walter LaGrone and Jim Phillips—have won two letter awards. The fifth is Jerry Pizzitola, a sophomore letterman. All started games last season. John Erickson, Ronnie Brice and Jim Keller did most of the quarter- backing for the 1961 Aggies, but Brice has been moved to halfback to take advantage of his fine run ning ability. Last year’s pass com pletion records show Erickson with 34 of 73 for 468 yards and two touchdowns, Brice with 13 of 23 for 149 yards and two TD’s and Keller with 7 of 18 for 83 yards. Their respective completion per centages were .466, .542 and .389. Newcomers who will contest with Erickson and Keller for start- we ‘found’ in spring training will do the playing next season. I ing assignment are sophomores Joe Mcllhany, John Sparling and James Willenborg. All three of the first-year sig nal-callers impressed the coaches in spring training, and they were among the sophomores whose work was pleasing to Foldberg. The others were Tackle Melvin Simmons, Guard Yancy Bounds, End Ben McLean, End John Brotherton, Tackle Ray Gene Hinze, and Fullback Mike Kohl- man. Two other highly regarded sophs miss much of the spring training work due to slight in juries. They are Tackles Ray Chancellor and Ronney Moore. It is possible that any one of these sophomores could break into the starting lineup when the Aggies take the field for their opening game against nationally ranked LSU on Sept. 22. Taking a cue from their accom plishments in spring training, the “Aggies to watch” include Center Jerry Hopkins, Byer, Rogers, Half back Jim Linnstaedter and Sim mons. Foldberg calls Hopkins “the best blocking center I have ever coached,” and Linnstaedter was A&M’s third leading rusher last season with 243 yards on 60 car ries, connected on three of eight passes for 29 yards, caught four passes for 76 yards, intercepted three passes for 21 yards, return ing eight punts for 50 yards and eight kickoffs for 126 yards. A brief background of the 1962 football prospects from the A&M brochure will be featured in next week’s Battalion. A Trio Of Aggie Standouts Seniors (L-R) Sam Byer, Jerry Hopkins and Lee Roy Caffey are among the top A&M prospects who will report for fall practice on Sept. 1 when the Aggies prep for their opening game against LSU on Sept. 22. Byer, a 220-pound fullback, w r as one of the top performers in spring drills. He has never lost a yard in his varsity career. Hop kins, a 6-1, 215-pound center, was cited by Coach Hank Foldberg as “the best blocking center I’ve ever coached.” Caffey, a 220- pounder from Thorndale, was the leading ground gainer for the Aggies last fall and was moved to halfback during the spring. Win 12 Games: Get New Car PHILADELPHIA, June 27—<dP> -—A fellow back in Morning Sun, Iowa (population 800), promised Philadelphia Phillies’ rookie Jack Hamilton he would give him a new car if the righthander won 12 games this season. And if Hamilton continues to pitch anything like he did Tuesday night when he beat Houston 2-0 on a two-hitter in the opener of a doubleheader, John Edwards will have to shell out. “I’m just trying to win,” said Hamilton when asked if the car were his goal. Then he quickly added, “I’d like to, sure (get the car). I know he’d give it to me.” Edwards, incidentally, is the owner of a construction firm where H-amilton works during the off season. For Hamilton, it was his first major league shutout and evened his recoi'd at 5-5. The victory also enhanced his chances of getting more frequent starts. He had made only two starts since May 30, be ing chased after three innings against Cincinnati on June 10, his last start prior to Tuesday night. Hamilton didn’t give up a base hit after the second inning. Nei ther did Houston’s Dick Farrel, who lost it on a three-hitter. The 23-year-old righthander, once owned by the Saint Louis Cardinals, said being shunted to the bullpen the past couple of weeks actually helped him out. “I concentrated more on my con- trol,” he explained. “I worked on an off-beat slider (taking a little off the pitch) and a change up and got the ball over a lot better. © hove a WE WILL BE CLOSE!) ALL DAY THE 4TH BAMS Volu Save | S&H v fjl ^ Green 1. Stamps! -s: - i AS COFFEE—FLAVOR-RICH FOLGER'S AH Grinds, 1-Lb. Can Hi-C Drink Refreshingly Delicious, Orange or Grape Special At Minimax! net ;udei > pre r. R( epar MELLORINE AIlL” V2 sXe 49c Specials Thur. - Fri. - Sat.—Quantity Rights ReseF