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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 17, 1985)
Page ^A'he BattaliorVTuesday, September 17, 1985 Bruises, blood, parties all a part of Ag rugby The whole scene made me ner vous— and / was on the sidelines. The trainer’s kit, bulging with tape, scissors and extra mouth pieces, was lying wide-open in front of the bleachers. It was open, I assumed, because it would get a lot of use on this day. Over-inflated footballs flew by my head, only to be caught by over-inflated, yet well-propor tioned, men. Rugby, that physical European game you thought only existed on -ESPN, was being played here at Texas A&M. Last week, I did a routine in terview with several A&M rugby players. No big deal, I thought. I found out that the Aggies have won 15 consecutive‘Texas Collegiate championships and have an unbeaten Southwest Conference record over the last 20 years. Impressive, I thought, but it’s still just another game with over inflated ball. Last Saturday, however, after watching 30 men (and one ref eree) run up and down an ex tended football field playing an organized version or “kill-the- man-with-the-ball,” I learned my lesson. Rugby is a big deal. Fifteen-minute quarters with a 30-minute half-time? No way, that’s football. This is rugby, where real men shun quiche and play two 40-minute halves with only a five-minute break. Rugby was everything I thought it would be — rough, tough and full of excitement. Before the game started, the 15 Aggie players huddled on the field. Shouts of encouragement and motivation could be heard on the sidelines. As the referee’s whistle blew, someone shouted, “Let’s beat the f s... out of them.” This wasn’t going to be a friendly game. Play began and immediately I was lost. But so was the group of Oriental men with their Nikon cameras, so I didn’t feel too bad. “What are they doing out the re,” I asked in amazement. “It’s a ‘scrum’,” someone said. Oh, thanks. A “scrum,” it seems, has eight players from each team lock arms and try to push the other team backwards. Meanwhile, the “scrum-half’ throws the ball into this herd of feet at which time the “hooker” tries to kick the ball back to the “scrum-half,” who started this whole mess. If that sounds confusing, you should try explaining it. Meanwhile, the game wore on and the bruises got bigger. Blood on uniforms, elbows and fore heads was as common as the six packs of, uh, “beverages” many of the 100-plus fans carried around. The crowd, though not as large as its European counterpart, was friendly and boisterous. Every one seemed to know each other. Surprisingly, no one told me to get lost, even though I was the only one walking around with pen and paper in hand, instead of “beverage” can. The players, however, weren’t so kind to each other. One crushing blow came after the other, until finally one of the Austin players stayed on the ground, having apparently been stepped on. “That’ll teach him to stay off of the ground,” one Aggie player said. But everyone applauded when they carried the injured player off the field. He was replaced by another brave spartan. Did I feel sorry for the players? No way. They willingly subject themselves to the rigors of this rough-and-tough sport. The referee, however, I felt different about. He too ran around for the full 80-minutes al ways chasing down that missha pen ball and calling penalties. On one such penalty, the Ag gies kicked the ball straight up in the air. At least 10 of these large men fought for position, as if they were going up for a re bound. And who was caught in the middle of this ferocious mass? The referee, who, even in rugby, everyone loves to hate. He paid his dues on that play. The game was over and the Aggies had been “outscored” by a team ranked second in the state’s first division. A&M, which is a second division club, had proven itself a worthy opponent in its season-opener. Afterwards, the players attrib uted the loss to inexperience, youth and the lack of physical fit ness. “Oh well,” an Aggie player said. “It’s just the first game of the season. We held our own.” “Besides,” another Ag said, “what time’s the party tonight?” Astros win sixth straight by blasting Braves, 7-2 Associated Press ATLANTA — There was little about Houston right-hander Jeff Heathcock’s first inning Monday night that would indicate what was to happen in his final eight. Heathcock gave up a two-run homer to Dale Murphy in the first, then shut out the Braves the rest of the way to lead the Astros to a 7-2 triumph. It was the Astros’ sixth straight victoxy and 17th in 20 games. “I just made a bad pitch,” said Heathcock, referring to the one Murphy hit for his 36th homer, high in the major leagues. “I didn’t get the outside far enough.” Heathcock (2-1) who allowed only three baserunners after the first in ning and finished with a four-hitter, was a little surprised about his first career complete game. “I completed only three at Tuc son,” he said, “and I guess it was back in 1983 when I last pitched a game like this, with all the balls hit on the ground.” Heathcock, whose record at Tuc son this season was an unimpressive 7-10, struck out two and walked one. Jose Cruz, Jerry Mumphrey and Denny Walling each hit his seventh homer of the season to lead Houston offensively. Joe Johnson, 4-1, was the loser for Atlanta, yielding eight hits in seven innings while striking out five and walking two. Walling hit a sacrifice fly and Cruz got his home run in the first inning, giving Heathcock a 2-0 lead. Other Monday games: (Home team in capitals) AMERICAN LEAGUE Cleveland 9, NEW YORK 5 Baltimore 14, DETROIT 7 Seattle 5, KANSAS CITY 1 MILWAUKEE 5, Boston 3 NATIONAL LEAGUE St. Louis 8-3, PITTSBURGH 4-1 MONTREAL 8, Chicago 5 NEW YORK 9, Philadelphia 0 CINCINNATI 7, S. Francisco 6(11) SAN DIEGO 4, Los Angeles 2 Mets vs. Phillies NEW YORK — Dwight Gooden itched a two-hitter and extended is scoreless-inning streak to 31 Monday night to lead the New York Mets to a 9-0 rout of the Philadel phia Phillies. Cardinals vs. Pirates PITTSBURGH — Willie McGee singled home Vince Coleman with the go-ahead run in the eighth in ning to help the first-place St. Louis Cardinals capture a 3-1 victox y and a doubleheader sweep of the Pitts burgh Pirates Monday. Expos vs. Cubs MONTREAL — Tim Raines capped a three-run seventh inning with a two-out, two-run single as the Montreal Expos beat Chicago 8-5 Monday night, sending the Cubs to their fifth straight defeat. Reds vs. Giants CINCINNATI — Gary Redus drew a one-out walk from Mark Da vis, stole second and third and raced home on a wild pitch to give the Cin cinnati Reds a 7-6 victory over the San Francisco Giants in 11 innings Monday night. Orioles vs. Tigers DETROIT — Cal Ripken hom- ered twice and Rick Dempsey, John Shelby, Eddie Murray and Fxed Lynn hit one each as the Baltimore Orioles outslugged the Detroit Ti gers 14-7 Monday night. Mariners vs. Royals KANSAS CITY — Mike Moore’s five-hitter and a two-run homer by Danny Tartabull carried the Seattle Mariners to a 5-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals Monday night. Indians vs. Yankees NEW YORK — Julio Franco’s two-run triple with two out in the ninth inning and Andre Thornton’s two-run homer, his second of the game, highlighted a six-run rally that gave the Cleveland Indians a 9- 5 victory over the slumping New York Yankees Monday. OSU football player found dead Associated Press STILLWATER, Okla. — James W. Clark, a freshman who was a member of the Oklahoma State Uni versity football squad, was found dead in his room Monday, victim of an apparent suicide, school officials said. Oklahoma State Police Chief Ev erett Eaton said the Clark, 18, was found in his dormitory room Mori- day afternoon by a teammate, who immediately notified OSU police and emergency personnel. Officials would not reveal exactly how Clark died. Efforts to revive Clark were started by ambulance crews and he was pronounced dead on arrival at Stillwater Medical Center, Eaton said. The police chief said no evidence was found in the room to give reason for Clark’s death. Clark, a 6-3, 240-pound defensive linemen, was a highly recruited player from Wilmer-Hutchins High Schpol in Dallas. He chose to attend Oklahoma State over Colorado, Texas Tech and Kansas State. He had not played in Oklahoma State’s first two games. “Our deepest and most sincere sympathies are with James’ family,” Oklahoma State Coach Pat Jones said. “It was a complete shock to our staff and team. “Of course, everyone’s immediate concern is with the family. At this moment, we have no other concerns or thoughts.” A brief memorial service for Clark in Stillwater, conducted by Jones and the Rev. James Struthers of the First Presbyterian Church, is sched uled for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the var sity lounge on the second floor of the school’s football building. UNIVERSAL GROCERY & SNACK BAR CHINESE LUNCH SPECIAL $2 00 -Eggrolls & Wontons- Imported Oriental Groceries-Exotic Foods All within walking distance of Campus Across from Blocker Bldg. & St. Mary Center 110 Nagle-C.S 846-1210 we listen, we care, wehelp ♦ Free pregnancy ttsts concerned counselors Brazos Valley Crisis Pregnancy Service We’re local! 1301 Memorial Dr. 24 hr. Hotline 823-CARE Mr. Bill says. . . "No Big Bucks No Bad Cuts. At Bill’s Appointments Available Monday - Saturday Barber o Blll’Styl e Shop 215 University Dr. 846-2228 Appointments Available Monday-Saturday OVERSEAS LOAN FUND The MSC TRAVEL COMMITTEE announces that applications for the Overseas Loan Fund are now available. Fall 1 35 Applications for Overseas Loans for Spring or Summer 1986 Sept 16 Applications available in room 216 MSC Oct 14 Deadline - Close loan applications Oct 14-18 Review applications Oct 21-25 Interviews Eligibility: Any present member of the student body, faculty, and staff of the Texas A&M University, who is not currently repaying an MSC Travel Overseas Loan, is eligible to apply. Anyone needing further clarification may contact the MSC Travel Committee or their advisor - Paul Henry at 845-1515. FREE MINI- COURSES September ^^ 18 19 |2 No registration required. For more information, call the Department of English, 845- 3452 18 T5 * How to Decode Your Writing 1:00 104CZachaiy * Strategies of In vention 11:00 135 Blocker * A Look at That, Where, Who, Whom 11:00 305 Academic * Generation En glish Sentences 4:00 128D Zachary * The Business Letter 3:30 223C Zachary * Outlining 6:00 111 Blocker 23 24 25 26 > 27 Writing Essay Exams 1:00 104D Zachary * Possession 1:00 105D Zachary * Using Commas 3:00 2230Zachary * Pronouns 2:00 006 Zachary * Eliminating Wordi ness 2:00 106 Academic * Composing Proc- PSSPS 6:00 111 Blocker * Logically Writing 6:00 111 Blocker * The Resume and Letter of Application 6:00 164 Blocker Texas A&M Hying Club Monthly Meeting Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., Sept. 17 at the Airport Clubhouse. For More Information Call Don Read, 696-9339 SPREADING THE NEWS Battalion -Since 1878