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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 30, 1971)
• Y v ; V .v:: ■ be Battalion Cloudy and warmer 4-l(H I 2 Of) 6-S) 3—jj y 0 l. 67 No. 50 College Station, Texas Tuesday, November 30, 1971 Wednesday — Cloudy, intermit tent rain. Easterly winds 10-15 mph. High 61°, low 51°. Thursday — Cloudy. Rain in the morning. Easterly winds 10- 15 mph, becoming northerly 10- 15 mph late afternoon. High 66°, low 54°. 845-2226 Stallings fired as coach, no replacement is named Thursday was a hard day for Gene Stallings and it is lirrored in his face as he walks the side line at the Texas- pM game. Despite the 34-14 loss, the worst was yet to pe. He was fired following the game. See accompanying «»y. (Photo by Sue Davis) By JOHN CURYLO Battalion Sports Editor In a terse statement issued late Thursday night, the Board of Di rectors fired Gene Stallings as A&M’s head football coach and athletic director. The board met immediately af ter the Aggies’ 34-14 loss to twelfth-ranked Texas and took the action after meeting with Stallings and the Athletic Coun cil. Stallings had been the object of numerous rumors attributed to “informed sources” and “of ficials close to the university” for over a year, but the 1957 gradu ate of A&M was confident until the end that he would be allowed to continue his job here. “I think they’ll tell me I can coach here for another year,” he said at his postgame press con ference. He met with sports writ ers covering the annual Thanks giving Day game before he went to a meeting with Dr. Jack K. Williams, University President, and Dr. O. D. Butler, chairman of the Athletic Council and head of the Animal Science Depart ment. “I don’t think I’ve done a poor coaching job,” Stallings said. “I’m not quitting and I’ve never considered resigning. If I were on the board, I’d vote in favor of keeping me on. Had we continued losing or if we’d played poorly today (against Texas), I’d vote for dismissal. But we were in con tention for the title until last Saturday and we could have gone to the Liberty Bowl had we won today, so I think the decision will be favorable.” In discussing his contract terms, Stallings said that following the 1967 conference championship, he was given a five-year extension on his verbal agreement with the late Gen. Earl Rudder, who was president at that time. This re newal came after three years, but his original contract was for four years, so. the extra five years made a total of eight years. This would have the contract running out in 1972. “After the ’67 season I suggest ed to Gen. Rudder that I have a written contract,” Stallings ex plained. “He said that wasn’t necessary and that I could coach here as long as I wanted. He said that he didn’t even have a written contract, so I could operate on a man-to-man agreement.” Stallings was hired in 1964 to take over from Hank Foldberg. He played at A&M under Bear Bryant, then stayed on as a stu dent assistant. When Bryant re turned to Alabama in 1958, Stall ings went with him. He reached the post of assistant head coach before returning to Aggieland. In 1967 the Aggies won the South west Conference championship and defeated Alabama in the Cot ton Bowl. “I don’t think it’s a negative decision,” Stallings said at the press conference. “That’s because I think I know A&M people better than you (the writers) do. Of course, I'm probably the only one in this room who thinks so, but we’ll find out who’s right. There’s a good quote for you.” He was scheduled to meet with Williams and Butler at the presi dent’s on-campus residence at 8 p.m. He departed that conference at 9 and it was announced 45 minutes later that a decision had been reached and an announce ment was forthcoming. At 10:15, a 90-word statement was delivered to the Aggie Press Room at the Ramada Inn to the writers wait ing there. “Gene Stallings, Texas A&M University’s head football coach and athletic director, will be re lieved of all athletic responsibil ities, effective Dec. 1. “The action was taken Thurs day night at a special board of directors meeting attended by representatives of the university’s administration and athletic coun cil. “A committee consisting of rep resentatives of the athletic coun cil, administration and board of directors will be formed to begin a search for Stallings’ successor. “Marvin Tate, associate ath letic director, was named acting athletic director. "Stallings, 36, compiled a 27- 45-1 record during seven seasons at Texas A&M.” Stallings revealed that he had met with Williams before the season began to discuss his status and his chances of keeping his job. “He told me at that time that it would be necessary to have a ‘pretty good year’,” he said. “He gave no basis of a won-lost rec ord, but said that we ‘had to be contenders.’ We’ve had no dis cussion since then.” The screening committee to find a new coach consists of Williams, Butler and Clyde Wells, president of the Board of Directors. Wil liams left for Florida Friday morning to attend an educators’ convention. Butler left at the same time for a Chicago meeting in connection with his position in the university’s College of Agri culture. Stallings ranks third in tenure among A&M coaches. His seven years is exceeded by D. X. Bible with 11 seasons and Homer Nor ton with 14. Sen. Barbara Jordan brought by BAC Friday approved by Board Bioengineering degree sought I A&M was authorized by its of directors Wednesday to state approval to offer the jrthwest’s first undergraduate free program in bioengineer- A program in bioengineering opportunity to apply the abilities of engineering and jplogy with the needs that ® arising in all medical and ^ tklds,” A&M President K- Williams told members the A&M University System ir <l of Directors. ® r ' Williams said these needs t hospitals, medical 100 f> industry and government. 6 cited predictions that the th field will be the nation’s cst single “industry” by the “4-1970’s. ^h® bioengineering program ™<I combine approximately 12 courses with current offer- ln engineering, science, lib- ^ arts and education. r ' Williams said the program 1 now be submitted for ap- by the Coordinating . Texas College and Uni- "5% System. h® A&M board authorized the university to establish a Mechan ics and Materials Research Cen-« ter, utilizing personnel and re sources from the institution’s aerospace, civil and mechanical engineering departments. Per sonnel involved in the new center already have an extensive re search program sponsored by in dustry and other off-campus sources, university officials noted. Contracts totaling $701,742 were awarded by the board for construction and related projects throughout the state. A $472,432 contract was awarded to Eddleblute Construc tion Co. of La Feria for construc tion of an auditorium and other additions to the headquarters building of the agricultural re search and extension center at Weslaco. Barclay-Owens Inc. of Beau mont received a $43,500 contract to install a waste collection and treatment facility at the agri cultural research and extension center at Beaumont. A new poultry disease labora tory will be built at Gonzales under a $59,155 contract awarded to Robert A. Machemehl Co. of Seguin. Other contracts included $69,405 to Sentry Construction Co. of Bryan for an addition to the A&M Press building; $35,950 to Lane Electric Co. of Brenham for dormitory telephone conduit systems at Prairie View A&M College, and $21,300 to S&B En gineers Inc.-S&B Constructors Inc. of Houston for modifications to the power distribution system at Prairie View. The board also appropriated $451,000 for nine other projects, including $350,000 for equipment and related activities for the new auditorium complex at A&M. Other appropriations were au thorized for design of a mall and five parking lots, remodeling the geosciences building and Bolton Hall, and compiling a program of requirements for an intra mural complex, all at A&M, and campus planning at Prairie View. Board members formally ac cepted a $140,000 gift from Uvalde citizens and a $10,000 grant from the Caesar Kleberg Foundation for use in construc tion of an agricultural research and extension center at Uvalde. ystery stories written during Prof’s spare time The gift was made through the Uvalde Chamber of Commerce. In other business, the board approved a rate of $570 per semester for room and boar<T at A&M’s new l,000-'3tudent resi dence hall, which includes one wing designated for women’s housing. The facility will be ready for occupancy next fall. The policy for refunding prop erty deposits to students enrolled in the various parts of the A&M University System was revised to provide for refunds at the ear liest possible date upon request after enrollment is terminated. The new procedure, similar to that adopted by other institutions of higher education in Texas, stipulates that any unclaimed property deposits will be used in making scholarship awards. Board members also authorized distribution of $35,000 from Ex change Store profits for financial assistance to 81 student organiza tions. Determination of organiza tions supported and the alloca tions were recommended by the Exchange Store Advisory Com mittee composed of faculty-staff and students. Sen. Barbara Jordan of Hous ton will speak on the Black po litical movement Friday at A&M in a Black Awareness Committee presentation. Senator Jordan became the first Black woman senator in Texas and has been honored as one of the “100 1 Women in Touch With Our Time.” Her address in the Memorial Student Center Assembly Room will begin at 8 p.m. and is public free, announced Marvin L. Bridges, BAC chairman of San Angelo. Black Awareness is one of 16 student committees in the MSC Directorate. It is in its second year of activity at TAMU. A practicing attorney and for mer administrative assistant to the county judge of Harris Coun ty, Senator Jordan was first elect ed to the Texas Senate in 1966. She was unopposed for a second four-year term in 1968. Senator Jordan has credentials as a legislative pioneer for Black Texans. As the first Black to preside over the state Senate, she also held the distinction for the entire U. S. The Houston-born lawmaker was the first Black to chair a major committee of the Senate. She also was the first freshman Senator named to the five-seat Texas Legislative Council, re search arm of the state legisla ture. Senator Jordan was a dele gate to the 1968 Democratic Na tional Convention and was ap pointed' permanent secretary at the 1970 State Democratic Con vention. The member of Texas, Massa chusetts and American bar asso ciations became a member of the executive committee of the Na tional Democratic Policy Council in 1969. Several honors and prestigious appointments include income, pub lic service and environmental health assignments by former President Lyndon B. Johnson, Governor Preston Smith and Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes. Barbara Jordan was selected by UPI in 1967 as one of the 10 most influential women in Texas and was named last January to Har pers Bazaar Magazine’s list of “100 Women in Touch With Our Time.” The 1956 Texas Southern University graduate completed law school at Boston University in 1959 and was awarded an hon orary doctor of laws degree from the latter in 1969. Senator Jordan’s memberships include the NAACP, National Ur ban League board of directors and Good Hope Baptist Church of Houston. Aggie senior injured slightly at A&M-Texas football game Dudley Vickers, Aggie senior who was struck on the head by a falling tripod and camera in the first period of the A&M-Texas football game here last Thursday, was released from Bryan Clinic Friday morning in good condi tion after the freak accident. Early in the first quarter, a University of Texas Longhorn Band camera fell from atop the pressbox landing in the stands on Vickers. He was rushed to Bryan Clinic by ambulance where exten-* sive tests were performed to find out the extent of injury. Vickers was sitting with his wife on about the 30-yard line three rows down from the press- box on the upper level when the accident occurred. Word was received from the clinic in the third period that Vickers’ condition was termed good but that he would be kept overnight for observations. His injuries were termed a slight con cussion with head lascerations. A&M faculty member hurt in bicycle-automobile crash A&M faculty member Howard Eilers suffered a broken collar bone last Wednesday morning in a bicycle-automobile accident in u ones ome mountain climber, | ^ ^ ror o his journey, sat down L y a s k° rt story to lift his He read “The Man Who L a , Nation Wagon” in “Ellery ®n s Mystery Magazine” and ime 80 inspired that he wrote u. aut J 10rs proclaiming that the L5 rea ffirmed his faith in nature.” IJ} 13 *' Was the only piece of fan J tJl ft Frank Peirce has re- e since he published his first ^ a nationwide magazine |JJ e s t°ry the mountain climber p. Was the creation of Frank ifj* 6 an 4 Fred Rodewald, the ! (Ve j er 0: t which teaches a junior- Crea ti Ve writing course at on ^ >e * rce has been writing atl d off for “Ellery Queen’s ry Magazine” since 1964. a dition he has sold stories to J P u blications as “Playboy,” Sc apad e ,” “Tiger,” “Rake” and iter’s Digest.” ^®>rce has seriously considered Univi raster ''ersity National n the side of Texas Bank A&M.” —Adv. free lance writing as a profession. When he first began writing for publications he sold three stories within the first three months. However, he decided that teaching meant more to him than just writing. The decision was a wise one because it was two long years before he was able to sell another Record total will graduate this mid-term A record 1,198 students have applied for mid-term graduation at A&M, announced Robert A. Lacey. Commencement exercises be conducted Dec. 11* Lacey said this year s term class represents an increase of 32 over last year, the previous high. Included in the totals are 318 students applying for master’s degrees and 138 for doctorates. Registrar will mid story. “Some people start with a char acter or a plot as a basis for writ ing a story but I begin with an idea and develop the other two around it,” Peirce said. He went on to say that his ideas can stem from an interesting quote or from a relationship that he wishes to express. He comments about peo ple and relationships but does not try to attach a moral. Peirce spends several hours a day writing but it takes him sev eral weeks to months to complete a story. He receives from $50 to $250' per story, depending on the length. “I seek to solve writing prob lems,” Peirce said. Peirce has written a total of eight stories for “Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine” including “The Hot Tamales Murder Case” which appears in this December’s issue. “Nothing New” will be pub lished in the next few months. Peirce is currently working on his first radio play, a geneology of classical mythology and an other short story. linn iihiiBb A&M MAY HAVE LOST THE GAME, but they won the half-time Thursday when two armadillos appeared on the 50 yard line, just before the Longhorn Band started on the field. The armadillo, which evaded distraught teasips for some minutes, was the high point of the game for most Ags. Bryan. Eilers, assistant professor of journalism photography, was rid ing his bicycle south on Texas Avenue when a car headed north on Texas Avenue turned across his path at 27th Street. The bicycle hit the right rear of the car and Eilers was thrown from the bike. Police said the accident occurred at 9:10 a.m. He is now in Methodist Hospital in Houston and is expected to be released soon. Eilers lives at 3707 Old Hearne Road and daily rides his 10-speed bike the seven miles to the A&M campus. Suicide is ruled in shotgun death of grad student Suicide was ruled in the death of A&M student Maj. William John Scharrett which took place early Monday morning. The shooting occurred at his home on Streamside Way, off Turkey Creek Road in Bryan. Scharrett was originally from West Brookfield, Mass., where he received his bachelor’s degree. He was currently working on his master’s degree in civil engineer ing. Brazos County Justice of the Peace Jess McGee, who ruled the death suicide, said a long note was found beside the body.