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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 8, 1971)
THE BATTALION Wednesday, September 8, 1971 College Station, Texas Page 9 At weekly press conference Stallings discusses team’s shape and season opener By JOHN CURYLO Battalion Sports Editor Injuries, Wichita State, and the development of the Texas Aggies were the main points dis cussed yesterday by Coach Gene Stallings. “I’m pleased with the attitude the players have had up to this point,” he said. “They’re trying to be good. In practice, every phase of the game has looked good. I am worried about in juries, which have hurt our depth at quarterback, tackle, and cen ter.” Physically, Lex James is ready to play after his thumb injury. Mark Green is doubtful, having ENGINEERING AND OFFICE SUPPLY CORP. 10% Discount To Students • ENG. & ARCH. SUPPLIES • GRAPHIC ART SUPPLIES • OFFSET & BLUE LINE COPIES Credit Terms 402 West 25th — 828-0939 OUR SPECIALTY 1/5 Carat Eye Clean Diamond For Senior Ring, $40 plus tax C. W. Varner & Sons Jewelers North Gate 846-5816 wmmt. NOW SHOWING 1:30 - 3:30 - 5:30 - 7:30 - 9:30 Candice Bergen In “HUNTING PARTY” A MRUS') START TODAY DOUBLE FEATURE “BOB, CAROL, TED & ALICE” With Elliot Gould & “CACTUS FLOWER” With Walter Matthau QUEEN LAST NITE — ADULT ART “WHO DID ROCK ROBIN” Skyway Twin 'WEST SCREEN AT 8:10 P. M. “BEAST OF THE YELLOW NITE” At 9:50 p. m. “CREATURE WITH BLUE HAND” EAST SCREEN AT 8:15 P. M. “SCANDALOUS JOHN” At 10:15 p. m. “DARBY O’GILL” TONITE AT 8:15 P. M. “CROMWELL” With Richard Harris At 10:30 p. m. “McKENNA’S GOLD” With Gregory Peck suffered a foot injury. Ralph Sacra still has water on the knee and may not play Saturday, but Butch Kamps did work out Mon day. Dennis Carruth, a lineback er who has had leg troubles, practiced a little Monday, also. “Naturally, I’m concerned about getting more people hurt,” Stall ings said, “but we do need some full speed work on punt and pass protection. Our kickers haven’t had a good rush yet, and our passers have to learn to throw under pressure. Working on this without contact is like telling a kid to go swimming without get ting wet.” Indicating that Wichita will not be a pushover, he said that he looked for the Shockers to do a lot of passing, mixed with let ting tailback Randy Jackson run as much as possible. “I’m usually more concerned about A&M than our opponents,” the coach explained. “I want to throw the football to help move the ball on the ground, but I don’t want to have to pass just so we can run.” Elaborating more on the Ag gies’ workouts thus far, Stallings said that the effort to correct last year’s mental errors and pe nalties has been excellent. “The concentration is real good on avoiding penalties and fum bles,” he said. “To say that we won’t make any mistakes is fool ish, but we’ll try to keep them to a minimum.” The kicking game is ready, with Joey Herr and Mitch Rob ertson battling it out for the punting chores, and Pat McDer mott trying to keep his job, al though Roberto Payan has been strong. Mike Bellar returns as the kickoff man. “Herr and Robertson are pret ty close,” Stallings said. “We’ll use the full speed punt protec tion work to see who’s better. Joey kicks the ball a little too far, which allows a longer run- back. Pat and Roberto are both good kickers. Pat’s more accur ate, but Roberto can kick further. Mike Bellar’s been kicking off into the end zone, and that’s what we want.” Auburn, Sullivan are strong again AUBURN, Ala. hT)—Auburn’s touchdown team of quarterback Pat Sullivan and split end Terry Beasley is expected to provide a lot of scoring, but the Tigers run ning game this season may also produce its share of points to take some of the pressure off the passing game. One of the reasons is James Owens, a 6-2, 212-pound junior from Birmingham. Owens, Auburn’s first black scholarship football player, is currently the man to beat for the starting fullback slot. He played in the defensive secondary last season after playing five posi tions on both offense and defense as a freshman. In addition, Owens will be deep for kick returns. Last year he returned a punt against Florida for an 89-yard TD. Joining Owens and Sullivan in the backfield at the running back positions are fullbacks Terry Page, Tommy Lowry and Harry Unger and tailbacks Terry Hen ley. Henley, playing behind gradu ated Micky Zofko last season, averaged 6.6 yards on 40 carries and scored three TDs. Defense is where the Tigers need work with the most needed at strong linebacker. Co-captain Tommy Yearout has shifted to the position from his spring starting right tackle spot. The Tiger coaches figure their No. 1 problem on defense is to develop depth at strong lineback er. Two-year starter Bobby Strickland had graduated and his presence will he missed. Tennessee, Alabama and Geor gia all figure to be running teams this year and strong linebacker will be the key to stopping them. Sophomore defensive back Da vid Langer has earned a spot on the starting team and is consid ered the most punishing tackier on the team. His small 5-9, 168- pounds is deceptive to opponents. Last year he blocked three punts and returned one for a touch down. Nevertheless, the bread and butter play for the Tigers in 1971 will still be Sullivan to Beasley. One question about the effectiveness of the combination is the ability of other receivers to catch the football if Beasley is covered. Zofko and fullback Wallace Clark will not be returning. AGGIES v.s. TIGERS BATON ROUGE, LA Saturday, Sept. 18th MAKE RESERVATIONS NOW RAMADA INN 10 MIN. FROM TIGER STADIUM 1-10 i U.S. 61 Phone your local Ramada Inn or dial toll free 1/800/235/5800 Convention and banquet -facilities • Coffee Shop • Restau rant • Lounge • 175 beautiful air conditioned rooms • Color TV • 50' Pool • Room Service • Laundry Service • Display rooms • Children free • Kiddy pool • Free ice. lIVlWiaiirnnVIWNNMrinM^yAVlNNI'IIMIIMiWIM 10330 AIRLINE HIGHWAY * BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA 70815 A portion of Sullivan’s success in hitting Beasley last year was the choice of optional receivers. But tight end Ronnie Ross, wing- back Alvin Bressler, tailback When weight was discussed, he said that all the players were keeping the weights they report ed in at. He attributed this to the excellent condition they were in when they reported. “Van Odom’s regained all the weight he lost last summer,” Stallings said. “Marc Black is in better shape than he’s ever been in at A&M. Brad Dusek is down to 199, but I wouldn’t mind him losing a few more pounds. The only player who has had a significant loss is Roberto Payan. He came in at 218, and now he’s 210.” With Sacra hurt, Ted Smith will start in his place. “Big Cliff” (Clifton) Thomas will back him up. To add depth at guard, Robert Gerasimonwicz, a center, is working out on both sides. Lee Hitt is still the number two man at all four defensive backfield positions, and “Little Cliff” (Clif ford) Thomas, a player Stallings says has come along well this fall, is playing behind Steve Burks at tailback. Last year’s 41-14 victory over Wichita State saw the Aggies use nearly every player with a number on his back. Asked if this would be an objective this year, Stallings hesitated to pre dict a repetition. “I don’t plan to go crazy and play everybody,” he said, “but I’d like to use about 50 guys.” OPPORTUNITIES FOR ELECTRONIC TECHNICIANS INSTITUTE OF ELECTRONIC SCIENCE ENGINEERING EXTENSION SERVICE Texas A&M University 18 Mos. of Training- Next Class Begins — Sept. 13, 1971 TEXAS A&M RESEARCH ANNEX 822-2323 •WHEN YOU (Tml CALL ON US FOR ... 846-3773 MEMBER VISIT OUR NEW OFFICE MSC BEVERLEY BRALEY UNIVERSITY TRAVEL . .a &m UNIVERSITY IS RECONCILIATION POSSIBLE ? v<> an. analysis by WALT W. ROSTOW . , former advisor to President Johnson on Foreign Affairs. Deputy Special Assistant to President Kennedy for National Security Affairs. presently professor of History and Economics at the University of Texas at Austin. Thursday ' Sept. 9 ~ 8:00p.m. - MSC Admission Free