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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 1979)
Page 16 THE BATTALION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1979 Maroon Madness Arp ready to fire up Aggies By KURT ALLEN Battalion Sports Staff You see it on bumper stickers all the time now. There’s “Mustang Mania,” “Frog Fever,” and even “Orange Crush.” But is the world ready for “Maroon Madness?” Well, Jerry Arp thinks so, al though he may not want to refer to it in such carnival-like terms. Arp, Texas A&M’s new assistant athletic director for sports promo tions, says he thinks a promotion program for the university’s teams would be readily accepted by both students and the surrounding com munity, but that it must be done in a first class way. “While slogans might work to build up enthusiasm in the short run, as shown by other Southwest Con ference schools, I don’t think they’re good for building up a long term in terest, especially here at Texas A&M. “The student body here is loyal and intelligent. This school gets the scholastic cream of the crop in Texas, and they deserve to be treated in a first-class manner.” The 34-year-old Arp said the best way to build a long-term interest is through community involvement. “If we’re going to get anywhere at all, I think we need to have the sup port of the local community. I feel like that means we have to start on the campus and create some en thusiasm to get the students in volved. ” Arp should have plenty of ideas on how to involve students more in Aggie athletics. Before joining Texas A&M’s athletic department Sep tember 1st, Arp was sports promo- “I think we need to have the support of the local community,” said Texas Air M’s new assistant athletic director for sports promotions. tions director at Clemson University for five years. During that time, he supervised a number of projects aimed at building student en thusiasm. “For instance,” Arp said, “one year we were looking for ways to in crease student attendance at basket ball games. Finally, one day, I came across the idea of having a basketball shooting contest during halftime. After randomly selecting a list of names, we picked three students to compete out on the court. “The winner was the best overall shooter and he won a new car do nated by a local dealership. ” Another successful tool used by Arp was having students make ban ners before the games. “I found the student body really got excited about the banners,” Arp said. “It got to the point that student organizations like fraternities and sororities were competing against each other to see who could come up with the best banner. Of course, the enthusiasm shown by the students and banners helped the team get up for a game, especially when it was televised. ” Once he gets the Aggie student body more involved, Arp said his job won’t be done until he does the same with the surrounding community, especially businesses. “When I was at Clemson, we found ourselves spending $30,000 a year on plastic drinking cups for football games. Needless to say, that’s a lot of money to spend just for cups. “We were looking for a way to re duce that cost and I came up with the idea of having a local advertiser pay the cost of the cups. In exchange for the advertiser paying the cost, he was given the right to put a small version of his logo on the cup in an inconspicuous place.” Arp says the goal his promotions are aimed at is filling every seat at every Aggie athletic event. “I would like to be able to create such enthusiasm that seats would be filled on the basis of season ticket holders and students alone. At Clemson, we created such a demand for season tickets that we got to the point that we couldn’t sell any more. I think we can do the same thing here.” Arp stresses he is dedicated to be coming involved in not just athletics, but all Aggie activities. “I want to get to know the stu dents, that’s why I attend everything I can. In the short two weeks I’ve been here,. I’ve been to a lot of events including Silver Taps. I’m really im pressed how the students here turn out for things. Why there were more people at Silver Taps than I’ve seen at many basketball games.” Once he gets to know students. FROLIC IN FEATHERLIGHT BASS CLASSICS Up, up and away in your new super lightweight shoes from Bass. You’ll adore the cushiony sole, topped with genuine Leather: the saddle and back in Tan Leather, the Suede in Burgandy, Tan, or Bone. $35. testers Villa Maria at Kent Bryan, Texas Yell Practice — Drink & Drown Beer Bust They all happen Thursday at the New Sports Club Free Beer - Wine - Champagne 25c Bar 50c Call 7:30 til 12:00 Q^Q Guys - 3 50 cover Ladies - 2 50 cover call 846-2415 Arp said he hopes they will call him “Jerry. “I don’t think I could handle being called Mr. Arp. I can’t work in that kind of atmosphere. ” Arp said he is Open for suggestions from students on how to improve his promotions. “I want to get to know the stu dents,” Arp said. “I really want to hear what they have to say and I hope they’ll stop by. After all, this university is here for the students.” Would Arp like to hear from stu dents regarding using the slogan “Maroon Madness?” “You bet I would. Maybe they wonder like I do whether such a thing is necessary. I think we ll prob ably survey the student body on that. ” Chamberlain back on cot to lead the Volcanos United Press International HONOLULU — Wilt Cham berlain, who holds most of the NBA s scoring records, will come out of retirement and return to professional basketball as a part- owner and part-time player for the fledgling Hawaii Volcanos of the United Basketball Associa tion, the team announced Tues day. A Volcanos’ spokesman said the 43-year-old Chamberlain “will be involved in ownership, promo tion, competition and many other aspects currently being negotiated.” Bruce O N6il, general manager and head coach of the team, said Chamberlain was one of 25 players who took part in a Angeles tryout last week. “Wilt feels he’s in better si now than during his last tl years in the NBA,” said O’i He said Chamberlain made of-58 field goal attempts da the three-day camp. The five teams in the U] Western Division are Ha Great Falls, Mont., San) Calif., Anaheim, Calif, Alaska. Originally, the division eight teams scheduled, butt of them — the Fresno, Ci Stars, the Reno Bighorn! Vegas — decided to sitoutai to reorganize. Reds sweep Astros: Texas bombs Seattli When Are Services You Need No Secret; At All? WHEN OVER 30.000 PEOPLE \7J n READ IT IN THE BATTALION Looking for a housekeeper? Baby sitter? Someone to repair your lawn mower? Rely on our classifieds to service your needs! 845-2611 United Press International CINCINNATI — Sparked by the heavy hitting of Ray Knight and Doug Collins, the Cincinnati Reds routed 18-game winner Joe Niekro and whipped Houston 7-4 Wednes day night to move 1 Vz games ahead of the Astros in the National League West. Knight and Collins each had three hits as the Reds pounded six pitchers for 12 hits. Frank Pastore, 4-6, took over for Mike LaCoss in the fourth inning and pitched Sinnings to get the victory. Tom Hume worked the ninth to get his 15th save. Trailing 1-0 in the first inning, the Reds ripped Niekro for three runs in their half of the inning on ast Collins, a passed ball bycatcl Pujols, run-scoring doubles Morgan and Dave Conc^ another passed ball, awalktol Foster and a double playgiu The Reds added three nw in the fourth off Niekro, b Dan Driessen’s sacrifice flyt scoring singles by Ray Kni$ Collins. Houston made it 64 wii runs in the fifth on Terry Puli rifice fly and Jose Cruz’ double, but Cincinnati gotan in the sixth when Driessen\tz a pitch, went to third on single and scored as CesarGe hit into a double play. In Ait Willie Montanez drove infii with the second grand career and a single Wednesdf to spark an 18-hit attack dial the Texas Rangers to a 13-3 the Seattle Mariners. Montanez connected o! Honeycutt, 10-11, in the fa ning to cap a five-run rally ! singled home a run during a sixth that featured a home Richie Zisk. Buddy Bell went 3-for4fci and drove in two runs. Bell'sfi. a single in the fourth, washii base hit of the year, setting record. Doc Medich, 9-6, pitche innings to get credit for the International Student’s Association The first general assembly will be held on Thursday, September, 13 at 7:30 p.m. in Room 504 Rudder. All interested persons are encour aged to attend. We’re tooting our own horn Battalion Classified! Call 845-2611 FREE 91 16 OZ. COKES OR DR. PEPPERS NOW Order any 16’ Pizza and receive 4 FREE 16 oz. drinks OR Order any 12” or 14” Pizza and receive 2 FREE 16 oz. Drinks 319 Patricia 846-7785 s. WHAT’S UP