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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 8, 1977)
Page 10 THE BATTALION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1977 TIPTT0P Walker tells his side of the story RECORDS AND TAPES 1000 S. COULTER — BRYAN — 823-5745 GIVE THE GIFT OF MUSIC THIS CHRISTMAS TAPES • STEREOS • MUSIC BOOKS • NEEDLES We now carry “Rolling Stone” magazine COMPLETE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TAMU TEXAS AVE. INSTALLATIONS s h- ★ Store Hours: S > z LD TIP 9:00-6:30 Mon.-Sat. O TOP By DAVID E. WALKER This message is from me, David Earl Walker. It was not written by some sportswriter trying to inter pret my meanings, bnt by my own band. Tin from Sulphur, La., and 1 have been here at Texas A&M since 1973. I m very proud of being an Aggie and of having the opportunity to represent Texas A&M. I did not come to A&M to use it as a stepping stone to the pros. 1 came because of its great reputation and I wished to be a part of it. I did not represent A&M in the manner that I should have this Saturday after the game. 1 am sure Tired of a long bus ride? Fed up with driving so far to class? Afraid of losing your deposit? you all know what I am speaking of. I regret the things that were writ ten. Before the season began I had great expectations for myself and the team, as everyone did. Things do not always go as you imagine or woidd like for them to. I understand this only too well. Prior to the game, mentally I was just not ready to play. The loss of the championship hurt me a great deal the week preceding the game because of the confidence I had had in this team. I was totally frustrated with my career as a whole, somehow forgetting the good fortune I had known. Just before the game, inside the locker room, I began remember ing the games in which I d been a part of, the good friends I’d met through the years, the fellowship and the bull we had all gone through, the experiences I d had here. I get emotional sometimes. I’ll never forget that last pre-game warmup on Kyle Field. Yet, I just wasn’t sharp when the game began. I misread the defense time after time. My ribs were hurting. We were stopping ourselves on offense and I accept my part of the blame for that. I knew we weren’t in any serious trouble, down 7-3, and I felt we’d blow it wide open at any mo ment. But, yes, physically and men tally I just wasn’t rolling. I could see that. Why I spoke in the manner I did, only I can understand. I will make this point to try to explain. I am very much like an Aggie fan myself. The Aggie fan is very optimistic and enthusiastic about his team. He dreams of the battles and the wars he will have to fight, of the victories and the glory. He gives unselfishly and in this manner, makes his greatest contribution to the team. He suffers deep pain when we lose. Yet, the fan is not exactly a member of the team, not by any means. The true winners and losers are the players, the managers and trainers, the coaching staff. We play for the fans, certainly, but the driv- Now You Can Make Your Move! We guarantee your loss of deposit Shuttle Bus Route - 10 minute walk Friendly & Helpful Staff Ask for Betty or Sylvia Old College Main Apartments 4302 College Main 846-2089 FOR THE KRUEGER FORMAL 10% Off on Corsages With Student I.D. Green Jungle 700 E. University Drive • 846-3778 (Across from Fed Mart) We wire flowers worldwide ing force is playing for ourselves and each other. And 1 am greedy, very greedy. When Mike Mosley replaced me in the second quarter, I was mildly surprised at the crowd’s reaction. But the coaches had seen what I had yet to realize. I wasn’t performing and it didn’t look to them as if 1 was going to. At that moment, bitterness just welled up inside of me. By game s end I was dejected. 1 found it impossible to control my tongue. I have no excuses or alibies except to say this. At the time, I wished not to speak with any sportswriters, so I un dressed quickly and jumped into the shower. This writer comes in fully dressed and asks if 1 would talk to him. I honestly did not know who he was but I did guess that lie was a writer. I said I was humiliated but that is not exactly the word for it. I was very happy for the team but person ally I was embarrassed and disap pointed. Excuse me, but that is the way I felt. Mike Mosley is a super athlete, the best athlete to play QB here in the history of the school. I feel he should start in the Bluebonnet ol. 71 10 Page Bowl, not demeaning my on! abilities, but recognizing his. Hi* never physically been able to firm a season at full-speed becauseofll beatings 1 have taken. And 14 think I am physically able topi* now. We have basically a young ten and they re excited about Mile,} are the fans. I le gives themhopefe I the future, a leader to rallyaromi f— I understand this fact far bettertl* anyone. Playing in the Bluebom* would he a great honor, but it’s 4 1 to step down. I’m ready for otlj things, a career, the rest ofmytit I have great respect for Mike* I definitely did not refer to himss j freshman. He’s simply one of|| I greatest athletes I’ve ever been* sociated with. Mike knows lio»l feel about him and I know his pi. g busin cuts do, too. He’ll do well rniJa jg govr pressure. [S t 0 ne. l \ e done my best and I've lx-; ia t’s ho honest with myself. 1 knowhimj ts to tl ity. I’ve established goals and4 d durir to achiev e them. I will not dwell leColle; the past. I think for myself,u >presen allow others the same privilege, ion Ho I wish to thank everyone fori ed the nice phone calls and letters. 11 ie amei cherish and remember them all, departr no ame A \jy | repress I ding P' mg fire othe