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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 1984)
Thursday, October 18, 1984/The Battalion/Page 13 The rest of the story. This past spring, State Representative Neeley Lewis was elected in a special election when former State Representa tive Bill Presnal stepped down. In a hotly contested election, a record number of Texas A&M University students voted, disputing any claim that the Aggie stu dents who desired to vote were “disen franchised” because of the date of the election. State Representative Neeley Lewis was sworn in on March 20, 1984 and immedi ately went to work to represent the best interests of Brazos County and Texas A&M University. He stepped in at a polit ically tough time when the legislature would be asked to “bite the bullet” and deal with two of the most important issues facing Texans, present and future: public education and highways. Representative Lewis could have played the game and done the politically expedient thing. He could have voted for the education reform and highway package to look good, and then voted against the tax bill which was necessary to fund the education and highway bill. That would have been hypo critical and dishonest. State Representa tive Neeley Lewis chose to do the right thing. That took courage. Texas had not had a tax increase in 13 years yet its growth was unparalleled in that period with a population increase of some 4 1 /2 million people. The demands on our schools and education had attained over bearing levels, and traffic had deteriorat ed our once excellent highway system to the point that the safety of Texans was being threatened. Because Neeley Lewis had the courage to vote for improving education, paying teachers a fairer salary and meeting our highway needs, the kids won, teachers won and so did every Texan who drives our roads and highways. Moreover, because Neeley Lewis stood up and forthrightly fought an “ill conceived tuition increase” at our state colleges and universities, the students of TAMU were winners as well. That also took courage, and it proved that Representative Lewis can stand up for his constituents and not succumb to the leadership of The House. He proved he could effectively work with the leadership when he felt it was right, and could differ with them and win when he felt it was wrong. Thus the real issue of this contest to elect a State Representative boils down to who can most effectively represent the needs of Brazos County and Texas A&M University, not who can spout cliches and screech ideologies. Representative Lewis, has proven he is a responsible legislator who understands the legislative process and deals with the real issues the way he sees them, not as he would dream them to be. He has work ed hard for the 14th Legislative District for the past eight months and he has the respect of those members of the Texas House with whom he works for the ulti mate benefit of all his constituents. Lewis RE-ELECT NEELEY STATE REPRESENTATIVE * ★ M ★ * * * * -X * * -X * * * -X -X * -X * -X -X -X * -X -X -X -X -X -X * * -X -X -X -X * -X -X -X -X -X -X * -X -X -X -X -X * -X -X * -X -X * -X -X * * -X -X -X -X -X -X -X * * -X * -X -X -X -X * -X ★ * * * * * -X -x * -X -X -X -X -X * * -X * -X Paid for by the Neeley Lewis Campaign, Stuart F, Lewis, Treasurer 4500 Carter Creek Parkway, Bryan ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ Arkansas’ back alters his style United Press International LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Texas has seen plenty of the Wishbone for mation in four games this year, but Longhorn coach Fred Akers said Wednesday that Arkansas’ Flexbone version of the attack offers new chal lenges. “Arkansas executes the option far more than Auburn or Oklahoma,” Akers told Arkansas reporters in a telephone news conference from Austin. “I’m talking about reading the option. Their passing game is better. They have a better passing quarterback. The line splits and depth of the backs is different.” “They’re much more of a chal lenge to defend,” Akers said. “They’re much more consistent. They pin you down more. That puts a premium on one-on-one tackling.” The Texas defense has stuffed opponents all season, allowing only 283 yards and 14.5 points per game through its 3-0-1 start. Arkansas, 3- 1-1, took a few hints from Okla homa, which tied Texas, 15-15, last week, on how to attack the Long- Arkansas’ Ken Hatfield horn defense. “We picked up the schemes Okla homa had off the film,” Razorback coach Ken Hatfield said. “They did some things that were successful. We pick up ideas more than anything on the films.” Hatfield jokingly said he would put in his biggest linemen on offense to hide 5-9 fullback Marshall Fore man from the massive Longhorn de fenders. “Texas will never see Mar shall,” he said. United Press International FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Mar shall Foreman came to Arkansas to be one of college football’s top I-for- mation tailbacks, but the Houston native has made his mark at a differ ent position in another formation. Former Arkansas codch Lou Holtz installed the I in hopes of lur ing a top tailback, and Foreman was impressed. The Razorbacks unveiled their new alignment against Florida in the 1982 Bluebonnet Bowl. Fore man was in the stands at the Hous ton Astrodome for the 28-24 Hog victory. As a senior at Cypress-Fairbanks High near Houston, Foreman rushed for 1,409 yards, third-best among prep running backs in Texas’ Class 5A. He seriously considered schol arship offers from three major col leges, Southern Methodist, Okla homa and Arkansas, but accepted the Arkansas offer after the Bluebonnet Bowl. “I saw that game and that helped me make my decision,” Foreman said. “I wanted to go somewhere where they used the I because it fa vors tailbacks.” Foreman spent 1983, his fresh man year, as a backup to several more experienced players, but thought he would be ready for a shot at the starting position in 1984. “I really thought I would have a shot at starting this year,” Foreman said. “I thought I was ready to play more last year, but Coach Holtz didn’t like to use freshmen if he could help it.” Holtz left in December, taking the I with him to Minnesota. Foreman, at 5-9 and 175 pounds, suddenly be came a fullback in Ken Hatfield’s Flexbone version of the Wishbone. The move to fullback took some adjustment, but Foreman said he now wants to stay there. “I’m happy at fullback,” he said. “I don’t think they’ll move me as long as I’m get ting the yards like I am.” “He's not your typical fullback, but then we’re not your typical Wish-_ Arkansas’ Marshall Foreman bone team,” David Lee, the Arkan sas assistant in charge of fullbacks, said. “We run the Flexbone, a fi nesse-type of Wishbone. We need a finesse fullback. “Marshall’s an ideal fullback for us,” Lee said. “We don’t have the big gaping holes to run through like Ok lahoma does. We have small cracks or seams that the fullback has to find. Marshall can find them.” Foreman has found enough holes this year to be Arkansas’ top rusher, with 386 yards on 72 carries in five games. He gained more than 100 yards in the last two weeks — 150 against TCU and 118 more against Texas Tech. If Foreman can add another 100- yard afternoon against Texas Satur day at Austin, he would be the first Razorback ball carrier to do it three straight weeks. Ben Cowins turned the trick in 1977. “I didn’t know it had been that long,” Foreman said. “I’d sure like to tie it this week. That would be in our game plan, but it won’t be easy. Texas has one of the best defenses we’ll see this year. When our outside option is working, the fullback will get some holes inside. They can’t take away everything we’ve got.” Cotton Bowl fever still haunts Aggies As Vice President George Bush would say, there is a malaise in Aggieland. It’s Cotton Bowl fever. The symptoms have been around A&M for years. Aggie students and alumni are growing more impatient with every loss. With A&M’s last Cotton Bowl ap pearance coming in 1967, fans are searching for an instant rem edy to end the drought. It’s still a little early to say what’s going to be done to cure this 17 year disease, but specu lation is beginning to mount. Sure, the Aggies are 3-2 this season. Last year at this time they were 2-3. But two of three non conference opponents last year were respectable teams (Califor nia and Oklahoma State). This year, the Ags played cellar dwell ers of the Western Athletic and Big Eight conferences (UTEP and Iowa State), along with a Di vision I AA team (Arkansas State). Thank Jackie Sherrill for that creative scheduling. With all the woes the team has suffered in ’84, there is one bright spot for the Ags — excit ing defense. Without that rugged bastion, the Houston Cougars could have turned a 9-7 defensive struggle into an embarrassing rout. Unfortunately, the A&M de fense can’t win without offensive help. Someone has to score points. Free safety Domingo Bry ant can’t be expected to make an interception and run it back for a touchdown every game. In Houston, Craig Stump and Co. looked pretty lethargic. Im potent would be a better word. Perhaps the athletes who com prise the infamous Aggie offense don’t deserve all of the blame. Poor play selection seems to be the offense’s biggest problem. Ponder this play called Satur day night. It’s third-and-one with the Ags on their own 30 yard line. The score is 9-7 midway through the third quarter. After several sputtering drives and JOHN HALLETT Sports Writer blown opportunities, A&M needs a first down to gain some mo mentum. You make the call. The Ags threw deep to tight end Rich Siler. Incomplete. In the second half, the Aggies were 0 of 6 in third-down situa tions. Of those six attempts, the Ags gained just 1 yard. Prior to the Cougar game the Aggie running game was almost non-existent. But in the third quarter the Aggies’ offensive line began to open up holes for tail back Thomas Sanders. In the second-half, except for one broken play where Stump kept the ball, the Ags’ running at tack was predictable. If the Ag gies ran once, they ran again. The Cougars seemed content to let Sanders and Roger Vick pound out short gains. Of 18 of fensive plays in the third-quarter, other than fourth-downs, punts and Alan Smith’s missed 47-yard field goal, Sherrill’s Ags gave the ball to Sanders 11 times. Al though the Ags gained most of their 175 yards on the ground in the second-half, they never man aged to get inside Houston’s 30 yard line. Based on past performances, the future doesn’t look bright. This won’t be the Ags’ year to go all the way. No team with two conference losses has ever gone on to the Cotton Bowl. Jackie’s prediction of a sixth E lace finish in the SWC may not e far off the mark. Looking ahead at the rest of the season (Baylor, Rice and TCU at home; SMU, Arkansas and Texas away) a seventh place finish might be more realistic. Respectability is the only way to force the dreaded Cotton Bowl fever into remission until next year. We want to be believers, Jackie, if you could only give us a sign. Arkansas Flexbone challenges Texas Arkansas’ passing success will be essential to the Hogs’ chances at 1 p.m. Saturday at Austin, Hatfield said. “We’ve worked hard on pass pro tection to give us time to throw,” Hatfield said. “You’ve got to have a way to beat them. They’ll be in man coverage so receivers might come open with enough time.” Speedy receiver Donnie Centers is out for the season with a broken col larbone sustained last week against Texas Tech, but Hatfield said Rod ney Forte has enough speed to run deep patterns and has looked good since moving to receiver Monday. “He hasn’t played in a while be cause of his ankle (injury),” Hatfield said of Forte, “so he’s fresh.” The Hogs benefitted from the Tech game because the Red Raiders use the same 4-3 defense Texas em ploys. “We learned from playing it and seeing people in different angles of pursuit,” Hatfield said. “They’re (Texas) so sound. They never give up a lot of points or a lot of yard age.” The Arkansas defensive line, con siderably smaller than the Longhorn blockers, must find a way to pressure Texas quarterback Todd Dodge, Hatfield said. Akers said Dodge is still slowed by an ankle injury but is closer to full speed than he was in the Oklahoma game. Dodge’s 6-for-24 passing day at Dallas last week was attributable to day-long rain and pressure from the Sooner defense, Akers said. The Texas offense, benefitting from the defensive dominance and Dodge’s passing, has averaged 26 points per game. Akers said the ground game has been oriented to power, although the emergence of freshman Kevin Nelson against Ok lahoma has given them a new big- play threat. “We’ve had to show a lot of bal ance on offense,” Akers said. “We don’t have a lot of game-breaking backs.” 75th Annual Bonfire Bash 8 p.m., October 25 at the Brazos County Pavilion Tickets are $4 for Guys & $3 for Ladies and are available at Sbisa, Duncan and the MSC All proceed will be donated to Bonfire Music provided by KTAM & KORA —