The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, October 03, 1978, Image 10

Texas A&M Newspaper Collection

The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, October 03, 1978, Image 10

Newspaper Page TextPage 10 THE BATTALION Football game with world-wide appeal Horns prepare for OU firepower PT United Press International AUSTIN — The Texas Longhorns have been the leading defensive team in the nation, but Coach Fred Akers said there is little chance the Longhorns will be able to shut down the powerful rushing attack of top rated Oklahoma Saturday at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. “When you’re looking at a team like Oklahoma, you think in terms of slowing them down rather than shutting them down,” said Akers, whose team has given up only one touchdown in three games. “We haven’t faced anyone that has come close to the firepower that Oklahoma has. Of course, this time a year ago we hadn’t faced anybody like that either,” he said, recalling the Longhorns 13-6 upset of the Sooners. The Horns’ sputtering offense showed improvement in a 24-7 Southwest Conference victory over Texas Tech Saturday, but Akers said it still lacks consistency. “We’ve got to have a better ba lanced offense than we had a year ago,” he said. “We don’t have any one individual that is as overpower ing as Earl Campbell was last year, so we must be consistent, and to do tbat we have to avoid errors. Akers sidestepped questions about how much he plans to use freshman quarterback Donnie Little against the Soonexs, but said Little is tbe Horns’ No. 2 signal caller and he wouldn’t hesitate to call on Little at any time. The Texas coach said Oklahoma is running a more varied offense this year, utilizing more passes, an unba lanced line and more power plays. “But when the ball is snapped they do the same thing — here they come,” he said. Asked if he planned any special tactics to defense against the Sooner speed on outside plays, Akers said, “What we always try to do is defend the field. “When they go outside, you hope they don’t outrun you; when they come up the middle you hope they don’t overpower you; and when they throw a pass you hope you have somebody back there with him.” He cited halfback Johnny “Ham” Jones as the team’s outstanding of fensive player in the win over Texas Tech. Jones’ 128 yards rushing was the best of his career at Texas. The nationally televised contest against Oklahoma, the 73rd meeting of the two teams, is a classic. “This thing goes beyond Dallas and Austin and Norman, this thing has world wide appeal,” he said. “It’s a classic and one of those games where, whether you’re a coach or a player, you look forward to playing in it.” Sooners respect Erxlebens kicks / • 7 T / i / / i f i \ ! \ / i i \ \ . r-. 7 *• ' z: . 1/ COTTON BOWL I! 11 *1*\ ' 1 United Press International NORMAN, Okla. — It will be Oklahoma’s freewheeling offense against a stingy Texas defense in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas Saturday, hut the kicking game is what worries Sooner Coach Barry Switzer most. “I expect it to be a lowscoring, defensive, kicking game, as it always is,” Switzer predicted Monday at his weekly press luncheon. Switzer said the Longhorns’ Rus sell Erxleben, whose booming punts kept the Sooners pinned deep in their own territory in the 13-6 loss to Texas a year ago, would play a vital role again Saturday. “He will be the most influential weapon in this ball game, Switzer said. “His presence will have more influence on the game than anything else.” The kicking game will match Erx leben against Oklahoma’s Uwe von Schamann, an adequate field goal kicker who holds the NCAA record of 93 consecutive points after touchdown and has a 42-yard punt ing average, hut lacks Erxleben s power. Switzer said Erxleben still would be a threat from any place on the field in a tight game, despite a new rule that returns the ball to the line of scrimmage instead of the 20 yard line on long field goal attempts that miss. “I doubt they would try that 64- yarder that he hit last year a chance on giving us thel^ middle of the field,” Swit f "But if it’s a win or losei they have nothing to lose.’ Switzer said Texas, | couple of years, has been™ defensive team in college! "What they have accomp almost unbelievable,” he sa_ Texas will go into the gam 2 in NCAA statistics in fense, with an average yiel points per game; third in fense, at 102.7 yards, and rushing defense, 62 yards. Oklahoma ranks first major offensive categories ing, 439.5 yards; total offen. yards, and scoring, 49.5 po Switzer said Texas probil as strong offensively this ye, because of the loss Campbell, who scored touchdown for either te< 1977 Texas victory. ''Anybody will miss, Campbell, " he said. "Farlf may be the best football pi ever seen. For doing even don’t think there’s a better™ suited up.” The coach indicated he surprised at his team’s offen formance, which netted & per rush. "I thought we’d move ball,” he said. Hunter sorry he took job with Hangers Top 20 United Press International ARLINGTON — Billy Hunter says he is sorry he ever took the job as manager of the Texas Rangers, and he vows his firing has ended his baseball career. Conference notes United Press International WACO — Baylor coach Grant Teaff Monday expressed disap pointment for running back Greg Hawthorne, whose college football career ended last Saturday with a hip injury suffered against Ohio State. “It hurts when you lose a player of Greg’s ability,” said Teaff. “I am mostly concerned for him because he wanted badly to excell and make a contribution to this team.” And Teaff called the Houston Cougars — Baylor’s foe this week — the darkhorse team in the South west Conference. FORT WORTH — Texas Chris tian coach F.A. Dry said Monday the Horned Frogs would be without the services of starting noseguard Fred Williams for the remainder of the season. Williams, a 6-4, 230-pound junior, is out with a knee injury. He was the foux th leading tackier on the squad with 19. Both he and Ranger officials have acknowledged his poor relationships with players led to Sunday’s an nouncement, just before the season-ending game against Seattle, that Hunter would be replaced by third base coach Pat Corrales. Hunter, the third manager fired by owner Brad Corbett since he gained controlling interest of the team in 1974, talked to reporters at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport after arriving from Seattle, where the Rangeis won their first game under Corrales, 9-4. The 50-year-old Hunter said he met with Eddie Robinson, the team’s executive vice president, Saturday night and “he told me the bad news, the good news or what ever you want to call it. “I’m out of it, period,” Hunter stated in what he said was a retire ment announcement. Asked if he would take another manager posi tion, he said, “I wouldn’t. ” The only baseball job he would be interested in, the longtime Balti more Orioles coach said, would be Towson State University near his home in Lutherville, Md. Asked if he was sorry he had ac cepted the Rangers job in 1977, Hunter said, “Yes.” Corbett, known for his impetuous personnel moves, friendships with plays and free-spending ways in the free agent market, has put together one of baseball’s most expensive teams during the past two years and the Rangers were considered one of the league’s most solid clubs this season. However, several key players had sub-standard performances in 1978 and the team was a disappointing second in the American League West with an 86-75 record. Hunt er’s Rangers compiled a total record for IV2 seasons of 146-108. Hunter has said he was aloof from his players and was considered somewhat strict. Most theories say Hunter’s problems became serious in May when pitcher Dock Ellis, a Corbett favorite, encouraged other players to disobey the manager’s ban against, drinking on airplanes. “I’m sure that had something to do with the situation that later de veloped,” Hunter said. “And I agree that there were communication problems. But the problems weren’t goirig to be here next year. At least that’s what I was told (by Corbett). But they were also going to get rid of him (Ellis) after the incident in May. But he’s still here and I’m gone. “I might be pleased about this in the long run,” he said. “I was only going to manage one more year anyway. I hope the fans aren’t pleased with it. But all I can say is that I am not unhappy about my ef fort. Evidently someone else was.” “Dock said enough and did enough at that time,” said catcher Jim Sundberg, “where no one would have been surprised if he had been cut loose immediately. Then when nothing was done — maybe because Hunter’s hands were tied — he let Dock get away with it and he lost the team. Corbett maintains Hunter’s de sire to coach only one more year was an important factor in the firing. At mid-season Hunter rejected a five- year contract and later turned down a three-year deal before orally agre eing to a one-year pact. “If he signed that contract fox- three or five yeaxs then none of this is done,” Corbett said Sunday. "But when he only wanted the one-year deal, we knew that he’d be with us for just one more year. That being the case, we didn’t think it wa§ worth gambling over what might barmen next vear “Actually I started feeling some pressure at mid-season to fire him. That came from a couple of other (Rangers) owners, and some players were also grumbling. “But there’s no way I’m going to sit here and blame what happened on Hunter. The fault rests with the team, the players on. that team. But the communications problems and the apparent personality conflicts between Hunter and many of the players was so strained that we didn’t feel we coidd start another season like this.” Several other players, especially third baseman Toby Harrah last sea son and shortstop Bert Cam pane ris United Press Internitia this year, have criticized the man ager openly. Campaneris, who was benched by Hunter late this season after hitting less than .200 and ap peared destined for a reserve role next year, criticized the manager’s tactics last week in a newspaper re port. Including two interim managers, Corrales becomes Texas’ ninth man ager in seven years. T think he’ll be a fine manager and able to relate better to our younger players,” said outfielder Richie Zisk. “I’m sorry for Billy Hunter because some of us didn’t perform the way we were expected to. But I’m happy for Pat Corrales." 1. Oklahoma (29) (4-0) 2. So. Calif. (II) (4-0) 3. Michigan (1) (3-0) 4. Penn St. (1) (54)) 5. Arkansas (3-0) 6. Texas (3-0) 7. Texas A&M (3-0) 8. Alabama (3-1) 9. Pittsburgh (3-0) 10. Nebraska (3-1) 11. LSU (3-0) 12. Colorado (4-0) 13. Maryland (4-0) 14. Ohio St. (2-1) 15. Iowa St. (4-0) 16. UCLA (3-1) 17. Houston (2-1) 18. Stanford (3-1) 19. N.C. State (44)) 20. Auburn (3-0) Saturday Special 913 Harvey Rd. (Hwy. 30) College Station Bloody Mary’s before the game Happy Hour doubles 4:30-6:30 Mon.-Fri. 11 A.M. Mon.-Sat. 5 p.m. Sunday BUFFET SPECIALS ENJOY ALL THE PIZZA (thick or thin crust), SPAC1 AND SALAD YOU CAN EAT FOR ONLY $2.29 NOON BUFFET Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. TUESDAY NIGHT BUFFET Every Tuesday Night 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Unit USTIN, ’ say the sdiction h and speei Act and >eals will itional. Pizza inn be court sday on I itors try ; days or c 413 Texas Ave. (Across from Ramada Inn) 846-6164 1803 Greenfield Plaza (Next to Bryan High) 846-1784 1 least f n freed ators bile EVERY WEDNESDAY 10% discount is not valid on merchandise already on sale or for FERTI-LOME products GARDENS 1127 Villa Maria Bryan 846-8319 'rosecutoi 7 Legisla ngemeni eminent ■uesday’s Jnk-drivii Austin, v ) dismiss bin 120 ( The Wad ether the e Wade fee of tht WHAT A BARGAIN! BRASS BELT BUCKLES AGGIE SPECIAL ONLY AT THE $Q98 SSI OF SOOTS 112 NAGLE • IN THE GREYHOUND BUS STATION #NORTHGATE DON’T EVEN THINKING OF BUYING BOOTS • UNTIL YOU’VE COMPARED OUR PRICES! NOCONA BOOTS/CASUAL SHOES - r'-r-r^r-^ -rr-MKIlO OLJrXCTQ ■ • v ' V&b • ' :.W! .TiUbMUCVfl

Texas A&M Newspaper Collection

Texas A&M Newspaper Collection

The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, October 03, 1978, Image 10

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