liddle Easteri lar ed at the M$C nts. The slm tier till be takej< vice presides academic pi;, i. social and sion is 55 pa kies and bn». wn; lemic Buil4( . RollieWtii ded for a v». pants mustli mimately Sa l at 1 p.m, sted. Inforo 313. larnes, a std Ti U.S n Service, n be helplii] managemeotjars ojects. Bam be a untain for ik prizes willli is Center, lurnament m will playi igh Saturdai cilled figbten army, willk ,ocker room tears Aggie players react to Bellard’s resignation iMIimMiii By MARK PATTERSON and STEVE LEE Battalion Staff Atapproximately 4 p.m. Tuesday vin Tate stepped before the xasA&M football team and read a written by Emory Bellard to e players. The team was in tears after what heard: I just resigned as head football inch. This is the toughest thing edone in my life. I’m asking Mr. ite to read it to you because I luldn’t keep my composure and what I want to say. You’re great ig men and I love all of you. The rest of the season will be a big challenge for you. Give the hes your best and if you can get few guys well you can play with best of them. Please try to understand. I know t it’s tough to understand, but try.” That's how a coach, who loved :h member of his team individu- |y, said goodbye. It ended a career has A&M that lasted over six lease The players were stunned by the nouncement. First shock, then butt “After playing for him (Bellard) four years I feel like I’ve practi- lived with the man,” Russell ikeska said after the announce- ent. "I didn’t find out about it itiUp.m. I had no idea. Football players are suppose to big and strong, but there was a lot of crying going on. “For all those people who have written letters to The Battalion against Coach Bellard, they’ve got what they deserved. They don’t know what kind of a man they’ve lost.” Defensive back Carl Grulich was just one of many Aggies who couldn’t believe what hadjust hap pened. “I’m shocked like the rest of the guys,” Grulich said. “I’m having a difficult time understanding if Coach Bellard quit on his own or from pressure from the alumni and the University. I never imagined he’d resign in the middle of the sea son.” Quarterback Mike Mosley, re cruited by Bellard two years ago to become the quarterback in his wishbone offense, echoed the disbe lief felt by Grulich and the rest of the Aggie players. “This is a hard way for him to leave after all he’s done for this Uni versity, ” Mosley said. “Somebody as popular as Coach Bellard should go out a lot better. “I know personally he wouldn’t quit. He got a lot of pressure from people who didn’t know what their talking about, from the alumni mostly and the student newspaper. “He doesn’t play. Everybody got too greedy. They wanted to win every game. They have no self con trol. ” When questioned about the day’s events, offensive tackle Cody Re- ison said, “I don’t have much to say New Aggie coach Tom Wilson to The Battalion.” Defensive end Jacob Green likened the loss of Bellard to that of a family member. “I just feel like a member of my family has just passed away,” Green said. “Mainly because Coach Bel lard was a member of my family. He was a big part of my family.” The resignation must be felt har dest by the 16 seniors on this year’s squad. After playing three years under Bellard they must now adjust to a new coach for the last five games of their college careers. “Every time I step on the field these last five games I’ll be playing for the man,” defensive tackle Eugene Sanders said about Bellard. “I started here with Bellard and I’ll end with Bellard. "He’s still my head coach.” pressure from alumni, 4ggie Club official claims sion 3-5 pi ten. StudfE5 ■d roommat: 15 p.m. By MARK PATTERSON Battalion Staff Most people will blame the mini from Texas A&M for the reed” resignation of Emory Bel- Collegelf d. But word from The Aggie 'atTp.mi ub, the athletic department’s lin source of revenue at Texas is that the alumni were, as a ^ ^backing BelUrd. As far as I know, there was no mni pressure put upon Emory Hard,” Aggie Club Executive :e President Don Brister said rtly after Bellard’s resignation. id I’m certain that there was no ssure put on him by any execu- ;s of the Aggie Club. ” ic Texas A&M athletic depart- nt receives income from four as; ticket sales, TV-radio reve- s, post-season bowl revenue and vate donations. The Aggie Club rated $785,000 to the depart- st Soutlwfent, yet Brister contends the or- yastheklgs defeat Rice ill be sho* ides journo be Texas A&M water polo team the mystfli tinued in its winning ways by de- ing Rice 16-2 Tuesday night in i. Downs Natitorium. or the Aggies, Dutchy Kuete- , Jim Woodman, Mike Newsom Steve Sampson each made pals. [riday the Aggies play the Uni- iity of Illinois Chicago Circle at 4 . and Saturday at noon they play 'la. Both games are in Wofford Pool. d elemenl Room 141 tsatthedi party will rs are inviti s at7 p.m.i ton State al ganization has no input into the workings or decisions reguarding Texas A&M athletics. “The department couldn’t do without us,” Brister said. “Well, maybe without us, but not without the donations. “We have virtually no pidl with the department. They have their own problems without us adding to them. We have no say in any decision-making process.” As a group. The Aggie Club is si lent. But individual members seem to talk with a loud voice on athletic matters. For the past two weeks rumors have been circualting that the alumni were turning against Bel lard and that there was a movement afoot to buy up the remaining year and a half left on his contract. The rumors may now be laid to rest. “The rumor that there were people sending us donations to buy his contract is completely and abso lutely false,” Brister said. “I hon estly thought that the mood against Bellard would be greater this week than it has been, but it hasn’t. “People who belong to the club usually call and ask who’s hurt and won’t be ready for the next game. But most of the calls this week have been to express disappointment over the fact that we’ve lost the last two weeks. m I fifth n at Rudi ipating izes incl jonsored iwarded. 4aid of O' Room didate m( 23, befri* r , and be