Page 6
College Station, Texas
Wednesday, August 8, 1973
THE BAH;
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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.
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