THE BATTALION TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1978 Page 13 Davis, Cougars ‘think cotton this year United Press International HOUSTON — If there is such an animal as a Southwest Conference defending champion-emeritus, the Houston Cougars are it. As football fans know, Texas won the league title last season with a perfect record which included a solid thumping of the Cougars. But that 35-21 Longhorns win was against Houston’s “interim” team, in the opinion of quarterback Danny Davis. “We prefer to look back and say : are coming off the season before Conference notes last, Davis said. “Why not? Those were the good times. And many of the players who went to the Cotton Bowl are still here.” The 1976 season was the one in which unknown sophomore quar terback Davis whipped the Cougars to a surprise conference co championship and a victory in the Cotton Bowl. Then, in the second game of 1977, Davis suffered a shoulder sep aration. Stellar linebacker David Hodge, selected to one preseason All-America squad, quit school. Then the Houston football program was slapped with a one-year proba tion for the illegal recruitment of Darrel Shepard. A rash of injuries added weight to the incredible nosedive and made it impossible for the Cougars to ap proach their preseason goal, the na tional championship. In all, 47 players in practice this fall were on hand when Houston beat Maryland 30-21 in the Cotton Bowl. Davis, for one, is more conserva tive in his choice of T-shirts this sea son. During preseason 1976 he wore a shirt which had "1976 SWC champs” stenciled on it. Then he upped the ante and during pre- season 1977 he wore one which read “1977 National Champs.” This train ing camp his shirt says simply, “Think Cotton. “Sometimes,” he said, “you can feel things. We didn’t have much to talk about last year. The players around now want to go somewhere, not just stay home. ” Davis appears fully recovered from shoulder surgery and he has already been tabbed as the starter over Dehick Brown, a shellshocked sophomore who performed as well as could be expected after Davis’ in jury. “He understands,” Davis said of Brown’s acceptance of his back-up role. The brash quarterback’s support ing cast, as talented as anyone in the conference except possibly Arkan sas, includes linebacker Hodge and two other defenders who were in jured last season, tackle Theodis Williams and nose guard Robert Og lesby. “Getting Hodge, Davis, Oglesby and Williams back definitely helps,” said Cougars head coach Bill Yeoman. “We are a year older and that means a great deal to us.” Because Houston coaches were forced to play younger players in a disappointing 6-5 season, defensive coach Don Todd admitted, “We’ve got better depth than we’ve had in a long, long time.” The most inexperienced position on the field may be at running back. Last year’s backups, Randy Love and Emmett King, lead the compe tition which includes youngsters Terald Clark, John Ncwhouse and Allen Folk. Houston, with Yeoman directing the team for J6 years, has not lacked for offense, averaging 435 yards per game. But with the 6-3, 2-1 L Hodge back, the defense may outplay the offense. Hodge left school before last sea son saying he was tired of football. After a year of work, he returned to school and to the team. According to linebacker coach Gary Mullins, “Hodge alone would have made the difference in the outcome of a couple of games last year.” Davis added, Lin sure glad he’s back. Ags work on passing David Dm] United Press International I COLLEGE STATION — Texas |4&M, known chiefly as a running learn, worked exclusively on its 1 massing attack Monday with quar- lerbacks Mike Mosley and David i Beal drawing praise from coach I Emory Bellard. 1 The two sophomore quarterbacks ivorked with receivers Doug Teague, Gerald Carter and Mike | A'hitwell against the No. 3 defense. AUSTIN — Texas coach Fred titers said Monday he was pleased vith the continued improvement of lis freshmen, but said the defensive mitis far ahead of the offense at this ranged for a trip to the Soviet Union for special treatment. Doctors in Leningrad have had success in dealing with spinal in juries. “Congressman Jim Wright and President Carter are just a few of the people responsible for helping clear the red tape for Waldrep’s trip to Russia,” said Windegger. :arly stage in fall workouts. “But that’s the way it should be," aid Akers. “Because the defensive isonSe|> mithas nine starters back while the [iiinsttl* fensc is rebuilding.” Randy McEachern, Mark rfcBath, Jon Aune and Sammy Insley were working in that order at [uarterback. Johnny “Ham” Jones nd Kermit Goode were the No. 1 II cou unning backs while “Lam” Jones nd Brad Beck were running with I II he third offensive backfield. sound FORT WORTH — The TCU nningtoi caching staff moved defensive ebasketti ineman Mike Isaac, a 6-3, 245- lound sophomore, to offensive $1 thisB tckle Monday, the first day of seballs 1 ^ sses F° r the Homed Frogs. UroH H was the first day TCU had had les anJ'J in b one workout and it is also the add up! i rs t day that coach F. A. Dry ex- iressed displeasure with a practice ;y wants ^sion. askethal "It just wasn’t a good practice,” cost t || lesaid. “We lacked execution and 'ot y« didn’t have the explosiveness I Tl u ,de expected today.” ison pis diiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiitiiiiiimmiiiiiiiimiimiiiiiiiiinmimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii^ 1 MAMA'S PIZZA 1 4* DELIVERS m PIZZA, SPAGHETTI, LASAGNA, SALADS, & DRINKS < Jri = ($5.00 MINIMUM)