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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 23, 1981)
! : I: ! f ; Page 14 THE BATTALION .'I , | j | i MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1981 J * Sports , But season not over yet; Texas game Thursday Aggies smash Frogs 37-7 to gain bowl bertli I: i By RITCHIE PRIDDY Sports Editor It was a costly victory for the Aggies, but one well deserved. The Texas Aggies not only took care of the TCU Horned Frogs and gained a post-season bowl berth, but they also ensured themselves a winning season with a 6-4 record. The Aggies thumped the Frogs 37-7 in Fort Worth Saturday and were greeted in the locker room with an invitation to face Oklaho ma State University in the Inde pendence Bowl Dec. 12. But, the victory was a costly one for the Ags. Quarterback Gary Kubiak suffered a bruised right shoulder and could miss Thurs day’s game with Texas. His status may not be known until gametime Thursday. “We won’t know for sure about Gary’s shoulder until we get back,” coach Tom Wilson said af ter the game. “The doctors say it’s a bad bruise. As to how much he’ll work out or play is up in the air. ” The most serious injury, however, occured when backup free safety Chris Brown was tack ling a TCU ballcarrier and frac tured his first cervical vertebrate. Brown was taken to a Fort Worth hospital where doctors said the injury would end his football career. In addition, backup quarter back John Elkins suffered a mild concussion. Elkins, who was hurt when he ran around left end in the fourth quarter, could not remem ber that he was in the game. Split end Mike Whitwell, who broke his thumb last week, played most of the game and will play against Texas. Safety Mark McQueen, filling in for Cannon, suffered a broken finger and con cussion but will also be ready Thursday. was one of the team’s goals going into the season. He said the Ags were in the Cotton Bowl picture until losing to Arkansas Nov. 14 and that he was disappointed with that loss, but added the team didn’t fold. Wilson spent little time celeb rating the convincing victory and immediately began preparations for Texas. “We are looking forward to the bowl game - everyone under stands that”, he told his players after the game. “But, we’ve got a little business to conduct first. You’ve got to get your minds off this one and get ready for Texas. ” Wilson held several players out of the game because of injuries. Safety Billy Cannon didn’t make the trip because of a shoul der injury. Cannon got into a fight Wednesday in Huntsville and cut his right shoulder, requiring 14 stitches. Wilson said that no disci plinary action will be taken against Cannon and that he should be ready for Texas. Linebacker Mike Little suited up but did not play Saturday be cause of a pinched nerve in his neck. In addition, tailback Johnny Hector did not play. Wilson said Hector injured his foot but could have played if needed. He was not needed though, as teammate Thomas Sanders took up the slack, gaining 72 yards on 18 carries. The offensive line performed admirably almost the entire game, creating huge holes in the TCU defensive line. “The only time their defensive line looked good was when we missed our assignments,” offen sive tackle Tommy Robison said. The Aggies played their most productive game of the year, gain ing 512 yards in total offense. The Ags finished the day with 414 yards rushing and 119 yards pas sing. TCU ran for 90 yards and passed for 211 for a total output of 301 yards. TCU all-SWC receiver Stanley Washington did not suit up for the game because of a rib injury. His presence was missed, but most likely he would not have played a major role in the outcome of the game. “We were surprised that Washington didn’t play,” Wilson said. “We did not know he was hurt. But, I think we were in con trol the whole game.” The Aggie defense put enos T pressure on TCU quarterls Reuben Jones to cause an inti ception and several bad “We were struggling o ly in the first half,” TCU It coach F.A. Dry said, “Mainly! ■ cause that Guthrie kid (defenj tackle Keith Guthrie) number.” “A lot of people have undets mated our defense this ysl Guthrie said. “Everybody i pected teams like Arkansas loi 500 yards against us, but they 1 been lucky to get 100." The Aggies took a 13-0 lead; the half and Wilson said that, cause of the explosiveness ofT( the third quarter was going!) tough. “I felt like it was goingtoh big quarter. We took the ck that our offense could control ball and that our defense o control them. Plus, we did want to let TCU have thewhl the fourth quarter." Bowl game likd to be sellout \L The big story of the day, howev er, was the running and receiving of fullback Earnest Jackson. Jack- son rushed for 219 yards on 19 carries for three touchdowns. Jackson’s last score came on a 80- yard run late in the game. In addi tion, he caught a pass for 40 yards. “Jackson is a quality back,” Wil son said, “there’s no doubt about that.” The Texas Aggies will face the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Independence Bowl Dec. 12 in Shreveport, La. The Cowboys secured the bowl berth by defeating Iowa State 27-7 Saturday. They Cowboys own a 7-3 record going into their season finale against Oklahoma. The Aggies are 6-4 with Texas re maining. pie and will most likey beasd | ( | a since both schools are noi than a five-hour drive I Shreveport. Students interested in goi y ha\ the bowl, to be held the Sail With before finals, are asked to I their coupon books to paid their tickets. Senior cornerback Danny Davis (21) leaps high to block a Reuben Jones pass to Russell Bates (4) during Saturday’s game with TCU. Photo by Mark Berrier Davis and the Aggies beat the Frogs 37-7 to earn a spot opposite Oklahoma State Universi ty in the Independence Bowl. Wilson said the victory was well deserved, and the opportunity to play in a bowl was a just reward for his team. “I think our football team de served a bowl bid and I’m excited for the players that we were in vited to play a fine Oklahoma State team in the Independence bowl. ” Wilson said that a bowl game “We used him a lot. They were overshifting their defense to our strongside and that gave him the opportunity to carry the ball many times,” he said. “Everybody in the line blocked well on my 80-yard td run,” Jack- son said. “We just kept hitting at them and finally the holes began to open up.” Independence Bowl committee members Orvis Sigler and Norm Hodgins were in the Aggie locker room after Saturday’s game to ex tend the invitation. “We are extremely pleased to invite you all in our bowl,” Sigler said amid cheers from the Aggie players. The stadium in Shreveport holds approximately 50,000 peo- Tickets are $15 and Ticket applications are beinsj to Aggies in a six state \ according to Interim Athlets| rector Wally Groff. IT |H led ol “We’ll be mailing applical •' oat * to Mississippi, Oklahoma, [: n< j nessee, Arkansas, Louisian) 1 Aggies in northeast Texas ini t() tion to our season ticket ho! !. • and the Aggie Club,” Grofs K 1 The team will leave for Shim 01 ■. j port Wednesday, Dec. 9. f Tion, |sper isurc UNION TEXAS PETROLEUM will be on campus CORF. the nks^ ■el t< and NOVEMBER 23 & 24 to interview for o BBA/Accounting MBA/Finance :ne' h pas rthC Visits and offers to work with our growth orientated company in the beautiful Woodway-Memorial area of Houston, Texas will be made no later than December 9, 1981. You owe it to yourself to seek an alternative. We offer excellent exposure in all facets of Accounting and Finance, one of the best benefit packages, top salary offers, and a high quality work life. 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