The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, August 08, 1968, Image 10
Page 2 College Station, Texas Thursday, August 8, 1968 THE BATTALia ^ SWC Champs Working Harder To Defend Title ‘Opportunists’ Return 14 Letterraen And Determination For Another In Continual improvement remains the basic theme i Texas A&M as Gene Stallings prepares his Aggies to d fend their Southwest Conference football championship. Despite the championship, the ensuing 20-16 victor over Alabama in the Cotton Bowl and the seven-game m ning streak the Aggies carry into 1968, there is roomfs a lot of improvement. Strange as it might seem, the 1967 SWC champ! finished dead last in per-game offensive averages in tl eight-team league. And, they were fifth in per-game d fensive averages. The reason they won is that they made the Big Pla when it was mandatory. During the 10-game regular seasor the Aggies intercepted 27 enemy passes and recovered; dozen enemy fumbles. Admittedly, they were a wild band of opportunity who capitalized on their foes’ mistakes time and again. Bit never did they monoplize a contest, either offensively* defensively. Stallings, a candid realist, admits his team “should lit improved” but adds “there is no way we can have a greai offensive line.” The offensive line is the team’s main weakness. Last season, Stallings made some position switches that sa« end Mark Weaver moving to guard, linebacker Robert Cor. tez moving to guard and fullback Dan Schneider movingtn tackle. They were all seniors who knew what the heat of battle was all about. Informed On Campus After the Cotton Bowl, game, both Weaver and Schnei. der were named to the All-Bowl offensive team, signifying the great development they had made in one season. But, at the close of spring training last May, ttirw sophomores were in the spots vacated by Cortez, Weaver and Schneider. They were guards Rusty Stallings and Jim Parker and tackle Mike Fields. Whether they can retain their hard-won berths won’t be decided until fall drills art well under way. Even so, they lack that all-important battle field experience and it can’t be attained on the practice lot Otherwise, A&M is pretty well set at starting positions, Sophomore Mike DeNiro stepped in and took over right end, the one vacated spot on defense that Grady Allen left. However, there is a decided dropoff between first and second units on the Aggie squad. Injuries to key personnel hurt all football teams but such could be disastrous for the Aggies. “I thought our first units put out more effort than anyone during the spring,” Stallings commented, “but I was disappointed with the second and third units.” He added, however, that “It could have been partially my fault because I didn’t give the youngsters as much work as I did the vet erans.” On the credit side, the Aggies have 14 senior lettermen on hand, including 10 two-year starters. Senior leadership, a vital factor in Stallings’ outlook, will be strong m 1968, Happenings EXCEPTIONAL VALUE? CERTAINLY! With A Subscription To advertised in esquire Battalion When you slip your feet into the supple luxury of this distinctive, fine leather shoo and experience its made-for* you fit... you'll agree that rarely has so little money bought so much downright comfort and walking pleasure. CLIP OUT THIS COUPON AND MAIL TODAY PUBLISHED 4 TIMES WEEKLY RATES: $6.50 Full Year $3.50 Semester Please Start My Subscription September 1st To: THE BATTALION College Station, Texas 77843 Enclosed You Will Find My Check or Money Order for: $6.50 per | year , $6.00 per school year , $3.50 per semester , $1.00 | per month ...- , Plus 3% sales tax. (Check one wanted). $6.00 School Year $1.00 Plus 3% Sales Tax .Month NAME. 1395 (Regular $16.00) THE ONLY SHOE WITH A GUARANTEE Past performance has been so good that we ast performance has been so good tn unconditionally guarantee the wearaoin y of these Yorktown shoes ( ..(Over 500 Boys Wearing These Shoes — Ask the Man Who Own If your sole wears out by Christmas we w g you a NEW pair of shoes If your sole wears out by Easter we will resole your shoes FREE OF CHARGE You are protected when you buy YORKTOWN SHOES Order by mail now and have your shoes “broken in” by September. Heel taps furnished free. ADDRESS. CITY STATE. J Lou pot s North Gate GIFTS GIFTS GIFTS For the unusual gift, come to the sQfyfyielcinci ower an Flowers, Candy, and Perfume Sent Out Of Town d Shoppe 209 University Dr. North Gate Shopping Center member of FTD TeleFlora for out of town orders.