J. P. McCrumbly thunders
through enemy offensive line
paul McGrath
Staff Sports Writer
When “The Train” gets up a head
of steam you had better move out of
the way.
“The Train”, also known as Aggie
middle linebacker John Paul
McCrumbly, often hits opposing
running backs with the violent force
that his nickname denotes. Time
and again a halfback will dart up the
middle, momentarily finding an
open crack in the Aggie line, only to
be greeted by the open arms of
McCrumbly. It’s like finding a time
bomb in your Halloween bag, and
baby, that’s no treat.
Another thing that probably dis
comforts other teams is that it
doesn’t matter to McCrumbly who
he hits. Take for example the Clem-
son game. Coach Bellard was ques
tioning the defense prior to game
time on which Clemson players
each Aggie defender was assigned to
key on. When McCrumbly was
asked he replied that he didn’t
know. The mildly surprised Bellard
inquired why. McCrumbly then
answered, “I can’t remember. All I
know is they’re Clemson.”
McCrumbly got his nickname
“The Train” at Woodrow Wilson
High School in Dallas where he
played fullback. He added to that
image by obtaining an engineer’s
cap and wearing it while on the
sidelines.
That engineer’s cap has become
McCrumbly’s trademark. He said
he began wearing the hat “just to be
different because not too many peo
ple were wearing that kind” al
though some people told him that it
might bring him good luck. When it
got cold he just threw it on his head.
Of course, it was only natural for
McCrumbly to have “The Train” in
scribed on the front of the cap.
The cap may or may not have
brought him good luck, but it man
aged to follow him to Tyler Junior
College and then to A&M. He
bought a new one, but still has the
original at his home.
He didn’t wear it that much in
1973, his first year at A&M and also
didn’t wear it with any regularity in
the four non-conference games this
year. The hat made its introduction
to A&M fans during the Tech game
and now McCrumbly wears it in all
SWC games.
Like the hat, McCrumbly also
didn’t make many appearances that
first year. He now is one of the
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mainstays ot the Aggie defense.
“I enjoy playing. I got kind of
used to playing a lot and wasn’t used
to sitting on the bench,” said
McCrumbly.
At 6-2, 253 lbs. McCrumbly pro
vides an imposing figure in the
A&M center, one that opponents
are usually careful with. McCrum
bly states that most teams will
threaten the middle until “they get
their respect.”
The Aggie defense has been par
ticularly impressive in the last two
games against TCU and Baylor and
has in fact had only one bad game,
that being with Kansas.
McCrumbly said the Ags may
have been looking ahead to Tech
that day and caused them to play
poorly. But since that game only
one touchdown has been scored
against A&M.
“If we don’t let them score they
can’t beat us,” says McCrumbly.
“Our offense has to get at least three
points and-if we can hold them, we
win.”
Personally, McCrumbly feels he
has “done all right”. Nevertheless,
McCrumbly thought he didn’t play
as well against Baylor because he
“didn’t have the same feeling” he
usually has.
oame feeling or not, most players
and coaches will tell you that the
play of McCrumbly has thus far
been exceptional. As far as the Ag
gies are concerned, as long as “The
Train” stays on the right track ev
erything will be all right.
J. P. McCRUMBLY sits on sideline wearing his train hat at the
Baylor game. The big linebacker is seated by Ted Lamp. (Photo
by Glen Johnson)
Attendance
up for SWC
Official football ticket
distribution policy set
NOW APPEARING AT THE
AGGIELAND INN
Glenda Roberts
from Baytown
APPEARING IN
HARRY-J’S
TUESDAY THRU THURSDAY
ALUMNI CLUB
FRIDAY NIGHT
THE BEST IN TOP 40 FOLK AND COUNTRY
DALLAS (AP) — The Southwest
Conference appears headed for the
best attendance figures in its
60-year football history.
Attendance at 28 home games
this fall has averaged
39,100-compared to the all-time re
cord average attendance of 39,040
for 39 home games in 1968.
The 1974 attendance so far is an
increase of 8.8 per cent over last
year when the SWC dropped to a
nine-year low average crowd of
35,943 for 46 home games.
The 28 home games to date have
drawn 1,094,810with ISgamesleft.
Texas is the only team with a de
crease from last season — down 11.4
per cent. However, Texas has the
top attendance average of 56,283.
Rice leads the increase — up 40
per cent. Baylor is up 37, Arkansas
14, Texas Tech 9, TCU 6, Texas
A&M 4, and SMU 2 per cent.
A new policy for securing student
football tickets has gone into effect.
There will be five days set aside for
students to get tickets.
A student may obtain tickets ac-
cordir.j, to his activity card which
states his academic classification or
according to his tenure at A&M.
The first two numbers of the Stu
dent Identification Card represent a
tenure classification (71 or below —
senior, 72-junior, 73-sophomore,
74-freshman).
Whenever a student’s activity
card is lower in classification than
his identification card, the identifi
cation card shall take precedence.
Graduate students and seniors
are eligible to pick up tickets on the
first day, juniors on the second day,
sophomores on the third day, and
freshmen on the fourth day. A fifth
day shall be open to all students.
Students may pick up a maximum
of 20 tickets for home games. These
may either be student tickets or
guest tickets. At least one-half of the
tickets must be student tickets of
the class eligible to obtain tickets on
that day.
Students may pick up a maximum
of 10 tickets for away games. These
may either be student tickets or
guest tickets. At least one-half of the
ticket must be student tickets of
the class eligible to obtain tickets on
that day.
Students must have an identifica
tion card and an activity card to pick
up tickets.
Scouts view top
teams for Cotton
Seniors!
Mark Your Calendars
November 13th
(Wort
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We Will Have Our Representative on Campus Wednesday, November 13 to
Discuss Career Opportunities With Our Multi-Billion Dollar Insurance Com
pany. Contact The Placement Office For An Appointment.
m
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IIMSURAIMCE COIVIPAIMY
HOME OFFICE - BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA
DALLAS (AP) — Cotton Bowl
scouts will visit five of the seven
leading contenders for the guest
spot on New Year’s Day this Satur
day.
Four contenders will be playing
each other — Maryland at Penn
State and Auburn at Florida.
Alabama will also Be viewed in its
game with Mississippi State.
The other two contenders, Notre
Dame and Nebraska, are playing
away from home Saturday.
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