Page 6 College Station, Texas Wednesday, August 8, 1973 THE BAH; % | g : : kii 2 £ 1 Sr % ¥ SWC Preview—Another Tough Yea The i last 3 ence behin< By TED BORISKIE The Southwest Conference has a reputation for being an incredi bly tough conference. Upsets are almost the rule rather than the exception. This year looks to be no differ ent. Texas has won the conference for the last five years, ever since shifting to the wishbone forma tion. This year they are back with one of their strongest teams in recent years, so they are naturally favored to win the conference title once again. Pre-season favorites in the SWC, however, have a strange habit of not being on top when the shouting is over. This will un doubtedly be an exciting year with Texas having a powerhouse and Rice, A&M and SMQ featur ing explosive teams capable of surprise. Here’s how the teams stack up. their biggest guns, Dickey Mor ton, is back and with a runner like Morton on the squad, the problems may not be so big after all. Morton was a consensus all- SWC last year picking up 1188 yards in 242 carries for a 4.9 av erage. This was accomplished in an offense that featured mainly the aerial antics of Ferguson. This year, the offense will be geared a bit more toward Morton und if some of the young players give class performances, Arkansas could be awesome indeed. The Razorbacks are counting on Junior Scott Bull to fill the gap left by Ferguson. Bull quar terbacked the season finale last year and guided Arkansas to a 24-14 victory. Arkansas is also looking to linebacker ' Danny Rhodes and fullback Marsh White to re-instill the winning tradition in the Razorback squad. stars SE Alcy Jackson and RB- LB Mike Ebow. Baylor may not have room for them with such class players as quarterback Neal Jeffrey, and running backs God frey White, Brian Kilgore, Pat McNeil and Gary Lacy already occupying the backfield. Even though the Bears lost most heavily to graduation on the defensive squad, Head coach Grant Teaff said “Despite losing all-America Roger Goree, I think we will be as good or better de fensively.” Baylor is probably still a year away but their back- field could run them to a fine ord because his youth laden team of last year is one year older and wiser. RICE ARKANSAS BAYLOR Arkansas was pictured for big things last year but had a disap pointing 6-5 season with an even more frustrating 3-4 record in the SWC. It is all in the past now with most of the team grad uated. Arkansas is returning only six starters (two offensive, four defensive) with big guns QB Joe Ferguson and SE Mike Reppond gone to the pros. However, one of , Baylor is returning 14 starters from last year’s 5-6 team. Eight returning starters are on the of fensive squad so Baylor needs only to fill a couple of holes to have a killer of an offense. They have more speed and more depth in the backfield than almost any one else in the conference in re turning players and to add to that the Bears recruited high school Rice lost all-star quarterback Bruce Gadd and nine other start ers to graduation but they return their three starting running backs and all-America candidate safety Bruce Henley. Henley has thh-teen interceptions in two years and needs only six more for a new conference record. Running Backs John Coleman, Gary Ferguson, and Ron Arce- neaux and ends Edwin Collins and Carl Swierc could provide all the offensive punch anyone could need if the Owls can just find a quarterback. Coach A1 Conover expects to improve on last year’s 5-5-1 rec SMU Southern Methodist returns 33 lettermen, along with Rice the most in the conference. Their of fensive strength is almost fright ening returning eight starters. Alvin Maxson is a definite all- America candidate as he could become only the second collegian in history to rush for more than 1,000 yards three years in a row. He has 2,017 yards for the last two years and made all-SWC both times. He led SMU in scor ing with 77 points. Halfback Wayne Monis was the leading freshman rusher in the nation last year with 884 yards and a 5.1 average. He was named most outstanding offensive newcomer in the SWC last year. End Kenny Harrison became the first freshman to make all- SWC since Doak Walker in 1945. He didn’t start until the fifth game when he caught eight passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns. He runs the 100 in 9.6. DT Louie Kelcher made all- SWC last year and has been pick ed to several pre-season all-Amer ica teams this year. As a sopho- mox-e last year he made the De troit Sports Extra all-America team. All SMU has to do is fill the six holes left by gi'aduation in the defense. If they can accom plish that, the Ponies could be smiling for the rest of the year. TEXAS It is easy to see why Texas is so heavily favored. The Long horns return 13 starters from last year’s 10-1 team. They return the entire defensive line that gave up only seven touchdowns, just three by rushing, in 11 games last yeax\ Standing behind them is lineback er Glenn Gaspard, all-American selection on several pre-season lists. If Texas has a problem, it would have to be the offensive line where four members of last year’s line are gone. With Texas’ depth, however, the problem would have to be a small one. With running backs Tommy Landry and Roosevelt Leaks, an offensive line seems only incidental. Leaks is a crushing fullback who de lights in running over defenders. He ran for 1,099 yards with six games of over 100 yards. Marty Akins should fit into the quarter back spot quite nicely. Texas is going to play tough football for the entire season and it will take a super effort to un seat them. TCU Texas Christian will return 13 starters with eight coming back on offense. The Horned Frogs could have trouble on offense as they will have to almost complete ly rebuild the offensive line. They have plenty of stars, the bright est being DT Charlie Davis. Davis made the AP third-team all-Amer ica team last year and was picked on the Football Writer’s pre-sea son first team this year. QB Kent Marshall was off to a great start last year before he broke his collar bone and missed the last seven games. He ran for 115 yards in the opening game victory over Indiana last year and was completing 59% of his passes when injury took him out. Mike Luttrell was the fourth leading rusher in the SWC last year and if the Frogs can build a good line, he could better his out put this year. It will be hard to score on the Frogs this year, so to beat them, it will take a good defensive stand. With Marshall and Lut trell banging against it, a good defensive stand will be hail come by. TEXAS TECH Tech is returning 13 stai but has a serious problem a! building both lines. The bad will have relatively the faces as last year. QB Joe Barnes is a big artist and master of the o(Mj He ran for 510 yards an(i|| touchdowns while passing | 1,148 yards and another TD’s. His two favorite Calvin Jones and Andre Tilla are both returning. Also returning will be tail George Smith who ran for yards and an incredible 6.?n age. He had 174 yards and 11 touchdowns against North 0 lina in last year’s Sun Bowl In rebuilding the defensivel the Red Raiders are looking Ecomet Burley for help. I! primarily in reserve, he still the only Tech freshman tot a varsity letter last year. Hti voted the outstanding linemr the Sun Bowl, Both lines will be young Tech could develop into a po* house toward the end of thes the hot dog place with the bright red roof VMerferechnrizel Sun.-Thur. Till-1:00 A.M. Fri.-Sat. Till-3:00 A.M. ALWAYS A DAILY SPECIAL 501 S. Texas Bryan 822-0621 Women Field Winner In its first year at A&M the Women’s Sports Association fielded several successful teams and gave A&M women the chance to compete in intercol legiate athletics. Not officially affiliated with the Physical Education depart ment, the organization is co-spon sored by Kay Don, P.E. instruc tor, and Dr. Mickey Little, asso ciate pi’ofessor of P.E. Finances have been an obstacle for the WSA. Aid was received earlier in the year from Exchange Store funds and the Former Students Association. The club has had fund-raising projects and membership dues to supple ment the treasury. Entrance fees and travel expenses have been its major expenses. The club is now looking for other sources of funds. Last fall at the district bowling tournament, the coeds took sec ond and fifth in singles. Bernie Ponzio and Jerri Lampkin won first in doubles. A&M also took thixd and fifth in that event. The team placed second in the tourney and Ponzio became the individual high point winner. At the state meet, Ponzio again was high point winner and took first in singles. The swimming season was both successful and yet disappointing. The team won second overall the state with several individs taking first and second p!i medals in various events. F women (jualified for the natioi in Moscow, Idaho, but due money problems only one w attend. Jean Collins plan eighth in the 50-yard backsta twelfth in the 100-yard indivii medley, and 50th in the lOO-j backstroke. She won all ti events at the state meet. A&M gymnists competed three meets this season. Ii team won the dual meet t Pan American College. KayC bell and Elaine Eike were top performers. H,t> *«.! !*»■ m »&(