Losing ground and money
Page 8
THE BATTALION
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1974
WFL—‘New poker game in town’
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By ROBERT CESSNA
The World Football League started
as the new big poker game in town.
They were publicized as big gam
blers, entertainers and most of all
they offered action.
They had chips to burn and threw
some of them to the biggest names
in professional football. Calvin Hill,
Paul Warfield, Larry Csonka and
Ted Kwalick promised to join the
new game but not till next year.
Now the chips are not so plenti
ful for there is not enough to go
around. Florida and Portland are
complaining about no paychecks.
Some of the big gamblers are fold
ing; the Detroit Wheels and Jack
sonville Sharks are no more. That
leaves only ten players still drawing
cards.
Quick, name me the twelve ’’orig
inal” members of the WFL. Profs
could flunk a lot of students with
that question.
The poker players that changed
their chairs to improve their luck
are Houston to Shreveport and New
York to Charlotte. The dealer (the
ever talkative WFL commissioner
Gary Davidson) was forced to pick
up the tabs of the gamblers in
Shreveport and Florida.
Thus the poker game does not re
semble one that started at 9 and it’s
getting too close to 12 for some of
the players. The people holding
good hands (Memphis, Birmingham
and Southern California) can not
look forward to winning a big pot,
but losing money. What kind of
poker game is carried on where there
are only losers?
The once big crowds of over 50,000
that came to watch the Philadelphia
Bells are over. This week Philadel
phia’s crowd hit an all time low rec
ord of 750. That’s right olny 750
and it was ESTIMATED.
The league was supposed to give
trouble to the NFL. In the NFL last
year only two out of twenty-six lost
money and you can expect the same
this year. The big players who prom
ised to help the WFL next year are
finding out that their contracts don’t
have clauses saying that they don’t
have to go if the franchises switch.
“If you want to look at the WFL
optimistically you can make a hell
uva story,” said John Bassett, owner
of the Memphis Southmen. “If you
want to look at the situation pessi-
mestically, you can make a helluva
story. If you want to look at things
realistically, you’ve got problems.”
Yet dealer Davidson contends that
the game will succeed and not fold.
Bob Wolff, who runs the biggest and
one of the best advisory agencies for
athletes in the country said, “The
WFL actually has made greater
strides than any other league at a
comparable points. I predict that
nearly every team will lose $1.5 mil
lion the first year and maybe that
Amoco is
engineering
from your first doy
on the job.
Paul J. Dudenas,
Penn State '73:
"I am in charge of
an oilfield."
At Amoco Production Company
we believe that working is better
than watching. Like the young
Engineers pictured here, you’ll
be given a direct engineering
assignment the first day on the
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a leader, a member of the
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Production Company is a young
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ticing engineers are 30 years of
age or younger, and our
salaries and comprehensive
benefits are among the best in
Leslie D. Skinner,
Texas Tech ’72:
"Amoco gives you
experience in a hurry.
I. Grays, right, Texas A&M '73:
can see your skills blossom. ”
Bruce H. Stover,
U. of Oklahoma '71:
"I have total
responsibility. ”
all of U.S. industry. If you are
a Senior majoring in Engineer
ing, we’d consider it a privilege
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Sign up for an interview now.
Recruiters will be on campus
Oct. 22, 23, 24.
and Nov. 19, 20, 21.
Steve Shaw, U. of Missouri-Rolla '73:
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Frank D. Henderson, right,
U. of Texas'72:
"I'm getting all the experience
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Amoco Production Company
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An Equal Opportunity Employer
much next year. Eventually they’ll
make it up. The WFL is definitely
here to stay."
The sports fan however is very
suspect to the WFL and their hopes.
Didn’t a former president say \
would not resign right up until;
did? I forget his name . . . wu
. . . Gary Davidson?
S portfolio
1
TCU ’
omorrov
By MIKE BRUTON
A lot of people ask me: why doesn’t Bellard pass
more? I didn’t really have a good answer until I was
scanning over the NCAA statistics and found that
teams who run the ball are doing a lot better than
those who throw. Of the top 20 passing teams (teams
which feature a predominant passing attack) nine
have losing records, three are just one game over .500
and as a group they’ve lost 42 times.
Statistics also show that teams who run the ball
have had success in the won-lost column. The top
20 rushing teams have lost only 24 times, six are un
beaten and seven have lost once. This elite group
includes Texas A&M which ranks eighth nationally
in rushing with 304.4 yards per game. Apparently,
Head Coach Emory Bellard has the Aggies headed
in the right direction.
. The Southwest Conference, which is growing
stronger every week, ranked third in the nation in
rushing with a 223.0 yard per game average, and has
the fourth best win-loss record with 16 wins, 11 losses,
and two ties.
Speaking of the SWC, let’s see what goodies we
have for this upcoming Saturday. Arkansas and Tex
as will have their annual shootout, but this season
they’re using .22 caliber pistols rather than the usual
.45 caliber. The Aggies, Baylor and SMU are carrying
the big guns right now.
The Horns were soaring last week when they
faced the fearsome Oklahoma team, but can they
reach the same heights for the Hogs. The Ozark
mountain men are going to be plenty angry about
their last minute loss to Baylor last Saturday, and
they’ll be going for blood. Both teams are fighting
for survival in the conference race. Remember Dar
win’s theory; survival of the fittest. ARKANSAS BY 3.
The Aggies stung Texas Tech here in Kyle Field
Saturday in an important conference clash, so the
Raiders will be on the comeback trail. Arizona is fifth
nationally in total offense rolling up 435.0 yards a
game and ninth in rushing defense allowing 117.0
yards per game. The Red Raiders have a quality foot
ball team and is not to lx: denied. TECH BY 7.
Sparks will fly when SMU meets Rice in a contest
that should reveal what both teams are made of. SMU
is already in the win column for conference play
downing TCU 33-13 last week. The Owls carded a
lot of respect by giving Notre Dame a hard game, Sat
urday. RICE BY 4.
The Texas Aggies finally have a good chance to
have one of those 50 point and 500 yard games. TCU
has some quality athletes in quarterback Lee Cook
and linebacker Dede Terveen, but they haven’t per
formed solidly as a team this season. The Aggies have
shown everyone what they can accomplish when they
put their minds to it. I remember hearing some A&M
football players say in June that they wouldn’t be
eating New Y'ear dinner at home. I guess they’ve put
their minds to it. A&M BY 28.
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Aggie:
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