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
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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.
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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.”
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