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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 3, 1980)
THE BATTALION Page 11 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1980 A&M loses 4th straight game ^ A IT Staff photo by Pat O’Malley II Aggie Head Football Coach Tom Wilson son requested. Wilson, whose A&M squad has Jakes his point to an official Saturday after the lost four in a row, is under fire from some the higlii official didn’t measure for a first down as Wil- superiors because of his record. er had,’’said By RICHARD OLIVER Sports Editor Despite beating SMU on paper, the Texas Aggies were smeared on the field Saturday by the Mustangs, 27-0. The loss was A&M’s fourth in a row, the first time since 1972 the Ags had accomplished that less-than-notable feat. “We’re still learning,” said wide reciever David Scott. What the Aggies learned however, was just another way to lose a ballgame. After fumbling one away one week against Rice in a 10-6 loss and committing a costly penalty against Houston in a 17-13 heartbreaker, the Aggies simply couldn’t get the ball rolling against SMU. Not their way, anyway. For SMU, the ball rolled the right direction all day. With 7:48 left in the first quarter, freshman A&M punter Kyle Stuard had to leap to snag a high snap and then watched in dismay as white jerseys were all over him as he stepped forward. The result was a blocked punt (the seventh of the year against the Aggies) by Mustang Byron Hunt that caromed backwards for a few yards before Hunt snagged it and ran it in for a 59-yard touchdown. Once again, that first opposing score proved to be the downfall for the Aggies. Approximately a minute later, Stuard finally got off a punt. SMU’s John Simmons, however, took the punt and raced 66 yards for another score. In a little over a minute’s time, the Mustangs had put the game away. With 55 seconds left in the half, Alan Smith entered to try a 44-yard field goal. Once again, John Simmons rammed through the line to block the attempt and Hunt picked up the ball and sped 51 yards. Only a fine spirited effort by Mike Whitwell to catch Hunt stopped a TD. A field goal resulted instead and the Mustangs had a 17-0 lead at the intermission. A third quarter field goal and a pass TD in the fourth quarter rounded out the scoring for SMU. The Aggies offensively ran up 273 yards to the Mustangs’ 257, but could not get into the end zone. Sophomore Gary Kubiak, starting his third game ever as an Aggie, was eight-for-22 for only 108 yards. A&M’s pass defense, meanwhile, was having another fine game, holding freshman SMU quarterback Lance Mcllhenny to 29 yards on three completions. On the ground, however, the Mustangs were racking up 228 yards using sterling starters Craig James (92 yards) and Eric Dickerson (71 yards). After the game, the scene in the A&M lockerroom was an all-too- common one, as players quickly dressed and readied for another long bus ride home. “They beat us with our kicking team,” said fullback David Hill. “We basically did a good job. The kicking game is just breaking down. “We haven’t fallen apart yet. Our defense has never played better. They (SMU) only got one legitimate TD. They ran one punt back and the blocked field goal. The rest of the time, they weren’t in scoring range.” Scott agreed. “We had so many penalties,” he said. “We’ve just got to get ready and learn (because of off-week this week). I just hope everybody keeps a good head about all this. We need to get ready to play Arkansas and TCU.” Kubiak was quiet after the game. “Something always seems to go wrong. Everything’s happening. We’ve got to bounce back. We made a lot of mental mistakes.” Hill said most of the team’s effort is good. “We moved the ball on them,” he said. “We’re just having some trouble getting points. I’d say 90 percent of the things we do are good, it’s just the 10 percent that are stopping us. “For instance, we had one 80-yard drive and then a holding penalty. That stopped us.” n n ti ti ti tt n n n n n n n n n ^ — — ^ r ilson needs support to build Ags’ future 'ou’d haven Longhorns, t ol Sullivan J :h scored hi laddedanoi By RICHARD OLIVER 1th and 12ll« Sports Editor ix games, ii|takes time to build a winning in any sport. Success doesn’t Carol Gil|ng up overnight. Ask Bear th goal oftMt. Ask Tom Landry. Even ask Barrett nettrfcry Bellard. V, the Aggieifi don’t ask Royce Wisenbaker. again for i fisenbaker, one of the Texas in event tlrn University System Board of past two veients, took it upon himself to tell tedalotoftewvorld of Wilson’s failures in an orgeson. I'Eje in the Fort Worth Star- :y.” Erarn last Thursday. In that arti- t the nationiijfjie was quoted as saying he kM tookfilpht Wilson would be fired at the i Stanford (if of the season. In 1979-81),with that statement, weeks of 22-2-1 reraUrcover talk about a possible ing change at Texas A&M be- public, and Wilson did not ex- ake the news with open arms. :, Wilson was downright indig- their betteriibllowing Saturday’s 27-0 whip- to Arizonaig at the hands of the SMU Mus- 15,15-11.' gs, Wilson angrily lashed out at ked fifth intlltersecutor(s). n straightsarOur program’s got to go on,” he ine also metol emphatically. “I can’t do any- team beforeug with just a couple of years re- , 15-11, 111: ng. 1 must have have a legiti- of Washinjj chance to build a program. No. 1USC,a |son glanced out his dressing kM before li door as a group of somber [4-16,15-8,1 A&M players filed past. Jniversityol iey’re (the regents) going to the nation, i to say they go with me and be- iwncast A&Mte in the program, knowing our hg players are going to get bet- iow 19-30oiii Tllere s 8 0t t0 be an end to all the ie Texas Stall rs '„ EventuaI1 y ft hurts the weekend atCil™' iny intelligent athletic official can you that. But, talk has it Wilson 0 | not have his chance. jfilson caused comment early in season after a bold move which se action. )cd the removal of two players • j :i,K ^ ru § possession and several vin raise Binary moves afterward. This ie after Georgia stomped the s 42-0. four losses later, Wilson is g comment again, jmebody has got to stand up jhy and say, ‘Yeah we caused the problems ourselves,”’ he iturday. t statement takes us back to §|n e of Emory Bellard. | winningest coach in Texas s “htory, Bellard entered the eason with high hopes. After imes, the Aggies were undefe- (nd riding high. But then came BILL’S AND JAY’S AUTO TUNE UP all cars $ 9 7*5 PLUSES change filter 1 * on $4.00 pe up & 0 j| change ■Jr 5 oil $ partq 3 * „ S12.75 B V appointment only 846-9086 361 1 South College Ave a 33-0 whitewash by Houston and a following loss to Baylor, and the all- too-prevalent talk started. Bellard listened to the criticism of groups such as the Association of Former Students and decided he’d had enough. Winning may be important, but Bellard noted it wasn’t every thing. Two years later, Bellard has guided Mississippi State to a brilliant Comment season, capped by a 6-3 stunning win over No. 1-ranked Alabama Saturday. The Association of Former Stu dents is strangely silent now. Whereas Bellard decided he’d lis tened to enough babbling and left, Wilson is not so easily swayed. “Either I’m going to coach or they’re going to get another one,” Wilson commented simply Sunday night. “Problems this year have been caused by us, by me, by what I’ve done. It’s also been a basic inexperi ence, and problems caused by disci plinary actions. “It’s all been done to help the program. I just hope somebody will realize how much we’ve done. I’m the one that’s being criticized. I just want to be able to continue in an atmosphere that is conducive to growth and improvement. The seemingly hot war between Wilson and the vocal Wisenbaker quieted notably Sunday. When The Battalion called Wisen baker Sunday night, he refused to comment about the situation, except to say he really didn’t want to talk about it. “This thing’s gone a little far,” he said. “We’re just gonna be quiet ab out it.” After being more than happy to JUST ARRIVED: Pate Caviar Smoked Salmon Fillo Dough 3609 Place Pill TEAS BLENDS Of GIM-GIVING j Daniel Caron * Cashmere Sweaters] at blaspheme Wilson’s name in one of Texas’ larger newspapers and in front of several of Texas A&M’s hierarchy during the week, Wisenbaker said he hadn’t brought on the situation. “The gravity of the situation was not caused by me.” Some would refute that claim. The talk was just that — talk — until Wisenbaker took to the streets. “The comments really came to light when one of our Board mem bers made some of the statements he’s made,” said Wilson. “Unfortun ately, that is now out in the open. “I don’t care to get in a word battle with him, though.” While Wisenbaker seems to have made up his mind about Wilson’s future as Texas A&M head football coach, other Aggie officials have found more solace in being patient and waiting. “Tom Wilson is a head football coach at Texas A&M University and he has a two-year contract,” said Athletic Director Marvin Tate Sun day night. “I’m reading the paper and hearing those things, too. “Last year, we recommended a one-year extension on his contract, and that’s all we’re going on. “Oh sure, there’s talk and rumors. It’s unfortunate. Arkansas has lost three, but I don’t see any rumors there. Maybe we can’t parallel those two programs. I’m getting calls and letters, and some are in support of Tom.” Tate said no action against Wilson has occurred thus far. “Nothing official has been done,” he said. “Not one thing has been done.” Wilson, however, has already pre sented his case before the Board of Regents. That meeting, on Oct. 24, was set up to allow Wilson to willing ly answer questions the Board might have. A news leak before the meet- iiaiim :er/Across from A&N Cal! 846-6714 For Correct Times Open at 7:00. Times and Discounts for Today only. possible to look at this brillantly executed film without being moved to tears." Kathleen Carroll, N.Y. Dally News ptf ‘ffr * "Your NewJ' A Paramount Picture CopyngW (c) MCMLXXX J Paramount Pictures Corporation b Alt Rights Reserved Donald Sutherland Mary Tyler Moore Judd Hirsch Directed by Robert Bedford Shows at 7:25 9:45 Your New/York Connection" 4340 Carter Creek Parkway Oft 29th Street '846-8709 Mon.-Sat., 10 108 Vote Aggie Elect ohn B. Patrick Democrat associate justice 14th Court of Civil Appeals Position 1 t andidate in 14 Counties: Austin, Brazos, Brazoria, Burle- K n ’ Ch ambers, Colorado, Ft. Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Jatris, Trinity, Walker, Waller and Washington. 15 Years Trial & Appellate Experience before local, state, federal and Jfnited States Supreme Courts Former City Attorney, Pasadena, Texas ★ Texas A&M “58” Native Houstonian ★ Honor Graduate-South Southern Baptist Texas Law School y 0UR VOTE for honesty and experience is appreciated Paid for by Campaign to Elect John B. Patrick, 108 Main, Houston, Tx. 77002 Ken Lindsey, Treasurer ing, though, had speculation of a pos sible firing flying all over the state. “He (Wilson) asked to meet with the Board, ” said Texas A&M Acting President Charles Samson. “(Board of Regents Chairman Clyde) Wells and the chancellor agreed to set it up. It was in no way requested by the Board. Some info got out. “There was some misunderstand ing ... and Wilson wanted to give them an indication of some of the things that had happened. “There hasn’t been any pressure from me or from the athletic director or the Athletic Council.” And the pressure hasn’t come from the Aggie players, either. “We went out trying,” said full back David Hill after the SMU game. “Coach Wilson’s a damn good coach. I’d like to talk to anybody that’s giving him a hard time. If there’s some people giving him any flak I’ll talk to them. If there are, they don’t know a thing about foot ball.” Wide receiver David Scott agreed. “He’s one of the best coaches around,” he said. “It definitely was not a coaching problem. We’re just not executing. Boy, do I feel sorry for him. 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